PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 17th December, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on all Statutory Instruments and General Notices gazetted during the month of November, 2015.
HON. SPEAKER’S RULING
POINT OF ORDER BY HON. ZWIZWAI ON HON. CHINAMASA’S
STATEMENT
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yesterday, I promised that I will make a short ruling on some statement so alleged.
On the 16th of November 2015, Hon. Zwizwai raised a point of order where-in you averred that Hon. Minister Chinamasa has personalised debate made by Hon. Maridadi by stating that what the
Hon. Member had contributed was nothing, I quote “nothing”. The Chair promised this august House that he was going to listen to the digital audio recording in order to make an informed ruling. The Chair has listened to the audio recording and observed that the statement by the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development was not completed as it was interrupted before he could finish it. What was indeed uttered, neither impugns on the integrity of Hon. Maridadi nor does it amount to personalisation of the debate. Therefore, it is hereby ruled that the point of order raised by Hon. Zwizwai is devoid of merit and is hereby dismissed.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON
DEFINITE MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
HON. MARIDADI: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to move the adjournment of the House for the purpose of a definite matter of urgent public importance relating to trapped artisanal miners at Pickstone and Gadzima mines in Chegutu.
HON. SPEAKER: I consider the motion to be one contemplated by Standing Order Number 59 (1) and accordingly call upon members who support the motion to rise in their places.
More than 25 members having rose in their places
HON. SPEAKER: As no fewer than 25 members have supported the contemplated motion, I declare leave of the House to discuss the motion to have been duly granted and at 1715 hours, I shall call upon Hon. Maridadi to move the motion accordingly.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
OF INDIA
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker, I move the
motion standing in my name:
THAT WHEREAS, Section 327(3) of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe provides that an agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS, a Loan agreement between Government of
Zimbabwe and Export – Import Bank of India relating to a US$87 million dollars Line of Credit for the renovation and upgrading of
Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant being implemented by Zimbabwe
Power Company was concluded on the 27th day of October, 2015 in
New Delhi, India; and
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327(3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
I take the opportunity to advise the august House that on 27 October, 2015, the Government of Zimbabwe and the India EXIM Bank signed a loan agreement for $87 million for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant. The purpose of the loan facility is to rehabilitate and upgrade the Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant from the current generating capacity of 30 megawatts to 90 megawatts. Thus, facility was arranged after Government had taken cognisance of the challenges of power shortages faced by the nation.
Furthermore, it has been noted Mr. Speaker Sir that the demand supply gap is resulting in reduced industrial and agricultural production leading to the economic decline of our country. Under the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant Project, generation of electricity will increase from the current 30 megawatts to 90 megawatts through:
- replacement of existing boilers and turbines with circulating fluidised bed combustion (CFBC) boilers (2x60 MW) and (2x60 MW) turbo alternators, and
- rehabilitation of existing balance of plant (BOP).
Mr. Speaker, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) will be the executing agents responsible for the implementation of the project. The project is earmarked to commence in 2016 and will be implemented over a period of two years. The total cost of the project is $87 million. The loan facility has a tenure of 10 years with three years grace period and will attract an interest rate of 2%, commitment fee of 2% and management fee of 0.5%. The loan will be repaid by the Zimbabwe Power Company.
The implementation of the rehabilitation and upgrading of
Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant will help to improve the availability and reliability of electricity supply resulting in increased agricultural and industrial production, and increased economic activity. I therefore plead with the Hon. Members to approve the loan which is in the interest of our economic recovery. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. CROSS: Mr. Speaker Sir, I am concerned about the water
aspects of this particular project proposal and I just want to ask the Minister – I have welcomed the loan agreement, I think it is a good one and we should welcome it as it also has good conditions. However, Bulawayo is perpetually under water rationing and increasing the power generation to the Bulawayo Power Plant is going to require quite substantial additional water. I would like to see the extension of this project just to cover the supply of recycled water from Khami Dam rather than drawing on clean portable water from our existing water system, just to protect the remaining residents of the city with their water supplies.
HON. MUDARIKWA: The Committee on Mines and Energy
was in Bulawayo and the issue of water has been clarified. They will be drawing water from Khami Dam. There is enough water to supply the project, which is critical. Any economic development without electricity is doomed to fail. It is critical because Bulawayo is our industrial hub and Government has done the right thing to support our industrial hub.
Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I want to thank Hon.
Cross and Hon. Mudarikwa for their support for the project. The concern on water has been answered correctly by Hon. Mudarikwa but I also want to say that in the long term, we are looking to Gwayi-Shangani Dam to supply Bulawayo with water. We have also recently commissioned the Mtshabezi pipeline. I know your concern is that we should not use clean water for doing this but I think we should do everything in our power to make sure that there is power and water in Bulawayo.
As you know, there are initiatives to have Bulawayo as a Special
Purpose Zone with respect to leather and leather products as well as cotton and cotton products. We are already very much geared to making Bulawayo a Special Purpose Vehicle so that we resuscitate those two industries. Already, with the developments that are taking place in the leather sector, I am very pleased with the direction that we are taking. As you know, Hon. Members will remember that through my 2014 budget, I banned the export of raw hides in order to find throughput into the tanneries. I am happy to say that the measure is now beginning to bear fruit. At least all the tanneries who are coming to my office are reporting that they are now reaching optimal utilization of their capacity.
So, the next thing is to proceed beyond weight blue leather.
Bulawayo is well situated given the fact that it is at the centre of the livestock industry. Yesterday we were also talking about what we could do to intervene given the devastating drought, which is causing havoc to the livestock industry in Matabeleland. I discussed with Dr. Made and we are working out a policy of intervention so that we support the livestock farmers in the areas where livestock is the mainstay of the economy. I want to thank you very much and I now move that the loan be approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND THE OPEC FUND FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the motion
standing in my name;
THAT WHEREAS, Section 327(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an Agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS, a Loan agreement between Government of Zimbabwe and the OPEC Fund for International Development relating to a US$20 million Line of Credit for the construction of twelve (12) primary and five (5) secondary schools in rural areas in eight (8) provinces, provide relevant equipment, furniture and standard teachers’ houses for the targeted schools.
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327 (3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise to seek approval of this august House to the Loan Agreement that I signed with OFID that is OPEC Fund in LIMA, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the World Bank. I signed a
Loan Agreement for US$20 million, under the First Education Project Facility and the signature was on the 9th October, 2015. The purpose of the loan facility is to construct 12 primary, five secondary schools and standard teachers’ houses in the rural and newly resettled areas in eight provinces of the country. The project will also provide relevant equipment and furniture for the targeted schools. This facility was arranged after Government had taken cognizance of the challenges faced by pupils in rural and newly resettled areas in accessing quality education. These challenges include walking long distances to access a school, inadequate learning and teaching materials, deteriorating education infrastructure and poor supply of water and sanitation services. Furthermore, it has also been noted that most of the satellite schools in the newly resettled areas were below the minimum stipulated requirements for a standard school, namely; two classroom blocks, two teachers’ houses, reliable safe water and sanitation services.
Under the First Education Project, the Government of Zimbabwe has prioritized the development of five secondary and 12 primary schools in rural and newly resettled areas of Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo,
Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands Provinces. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will be the executing agent responsible for the implementation of the project. Mr. Speaker, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the project, a project management unit will be established under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Its mandate will be to oversee the day to day activities during the implementation of the project.
The project is earmarked Mr. Speaker Sir to commence in 2016 and will be implemented in three phases over a four-year period. The total cost of the project is US$22 million with OFID contributing a loan facility of US$20 million which is 90.9% of the project cost, whilst the Government of Zimbabwe will contribute the balance of US$2 million constituting 9.1% of the project cost. The loan facility has a tenure of 20 years with five years grace period and will attract an interest of 1.5% and a service charge of one percent. The loan will be repaid by the Government of Zimbabwe from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The implementation of the project Mr. Speaker Sir will help to improve learning outcomes and the performance of school pupils in the rural and newly resettled areas through firstly, improved conditions for teaching and learning, secondly, increased access to quality education. Mr. Speaker Sir, thirdly, is the provision of reliable water and sanitation in schools and lastly, the strengthening capacity of teachers and school management staff. With these remarks, I submit and call upon the august House to approve the loan. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. CHASI: I rise to support the approval of this agreement and to commend the Minister of Finance and Economic Development for working expeditiously to implement this agreement. It is quite clear from the terms of the agreement that it is going to fill a very clear void in the educational system, pursuant to the Land Reform Programme. The Land Reform Programme has affected the distribution of education in that a lot of children are now in areas where they cannot easily access education.
I am also delighted to note that the loan agreement is all embracive; it covers the construction of the schools, accommodation, furniture, water and all that is required. The terms are also quite attractive. Accordingly, I urge that the House approves this agreement.
HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also rise to support the motion. This loan will go a long way in improving the standard of education in satellite schools because pupils in these schools walk long distances to attend school. Most of these schools are very poorly built, actually pupils learn in barns which were used by the former white people. So, I would like to support this agreement especially that teachers’ houses are going to be constructed and also that the schools are going to be equipped with furniture. Also, the equipment is going to be provided. I am also particularly impressed that more primary schools are going to be built and five secondary schools. I note that the loan conditions are very favourable, 1.5% interest is very reasonable. Thank you very much.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I stand to
acknowledge the good thing for this loan. I believe it will go a long way in helping this country to have a better future with regard to the education system of this country. Mr. Speaker Sir, my appeal to the Hon. Minister is to look strongly into how the project will be implemented on the ground. In this I appeal to the Hon. Minister to manage strongly the element of corruption when allocating contracts for the schools which will be built.
On that note as well Mr. Speaker, Sir, I appeal to the Hon. Minister to do his job diligently in terms of allocating schools in certain areas which really have need to have those schools, not necessarily looking at the aspects of how an area is supporting a political party – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – Mr. Speaker Sir, this is so paramount. When distribution will be done for the schools to be built, it will be important for all the factors that the Hon. Minister has said to be looked into. Mr. Speaker, to prioritise in terms of need and in terms of desperation because we have seen challenges across the country especially in rural areas and the resettled farmers, whereby we have pupils who are walking long distances. So, I appeal to the Hon. Minister to look into that and to make sure that is done well above board.
However, the other thing Mr. Speaker Sir, with these loans, I appeal to the Hon. Minister to work more strongly for this country to do much more production, to create finance rather than looking into much of donations or looking into much of loans – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – We need to make sure that we sustain ourselves regardless of whether it is a loan or whatever but let us stop this behaviour of depending on loans. Let us work on a system of sustaining ourselves as a result of the minerals that we have, so that we create more funds to do our structures and everything else rather than coming to this Parliament on a daily basis, with loans to be approved. This will go a long way in affecting our future generation to pay these bills. So, it is important for the Hon. Minister to have a long future of appreciating a future generation which will not be burdened by all these loans so that they will be free to do their new things without burdening themselves with the loans that we get. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise just to seek
clarification from the Minister. If I heard the Minister correctly, he is talking of eight schools for $22 million in eight provinces. Basic computation would show you that each school is going to be built at about $2 million which I think is a lot of money. Now, given the gravity of the problem in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in terms of rural schools, I was going to suggest that if it was possible, in the scope of works in the implementation of the programme, are we not able to just do the basic two classroom blocks and two standard houses which will cost about a $100 000.
In that process, if we spend a $100 000 per primary school with two blocks and two teachers’ houses standard, then we could build about twenty primary schools in each province, which I think will go a long way. Just building one primary school in a province of about eight districts or so, I think it will be a drop in the ocean. Clearly of course when these figures are computed, people have a tendency of inflating the prices but a standard teacher’s house from experience is just $25 000 and standard classroom blocks 22 metres long, is not more than $30 000.
That is why I am proposing that if the Ministry of Primary and
Secondary education standards are that we can build the minimum standard two classrooms and two standard houses, why do we not just build that and the rest the SDCs are going to finish up.
Besides, these are satellite schools and they would not need 12 blocks. They just need three or four blocks which can be built by way less than a $100 000, then we multiply the number of primary schools that we would build in a province. I really feel that if that would be possible, it would go a long way because there are so many satellite schools and so many schools in the provinces. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I also want to support Hon. Chinamasa. Hon. Chinamasa, I think that once you get such an opportunity, you are in a better position and it would be good for you to build schools in newly resettled areas because these areas have a history that will never be forgotten. So that history, it does not matter whether you are going to be ridiculed by others who did not expect this resettlement but you should not listen to such ridicule. Continue building and building until people understand that the Government has the interests of people at heart. So, I just stood up to thank you Hon. Chinamasa and to say that this was a great leap forward and I heard you being applauded by those on my left and other Members of Parliament that you have done a good job. I was saying to myself, they now know that ZANU PF Members of Parliament can deliver. So, I want to urge you to continue working hard and continue building in the areas where we are now resettled and become independent. I thank you.
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir. I
also want to take this opportunity just to amplify my thoughts on this very important discussion and debate before the House. My intervention Hon. Speaker Sir is quite to the contrary of what Hon. Chinotimba and other hon. members have contributed. I think that we must also exercise caution when we are adopting loans as Parliament, whereas the cause might be noble, we must also be circumspect and introspective. When one looks at the debt overhang that we have in the country and when one looks at the $8 billion that we are supposed to be dealing with which is debt. Contracting debt is a very bad culture. It is symptomatic and indicative of a culture of consumption beyond our capacity. It shows a runaway appetite and an expenditure that is above what we are able to produce and for that simple reason, this is a very important aspect that has to be covered in the country.
The culture of contracting debt is not a good culture. It starts at a household level, it cascades into the nation. It is not a good culture because we are consuming resources on behalf of future generations and it is wrong, particularly in the context of our national dignity and sovereignty. Once you start to contract loans, you are also flying in the face of your dignity as a nation and to have a begging bowl cannot be something that we celebrate. I do not think that we should come here to celebrate having a loan. We cannot come here to sit as Members of Parliament with so much resources to say we are here, we want somebody to come and build our own schools for our own children.
Surely, these are some of the things that we can deal with Mr.
Speaker Sir. I say this particularly when one has regard to the
Constitution. If you look at the Constitution Section 300, there is supposed to be an Act of Parliament to limit borrowings by the State. This Act is supposed to be there constitutionally because there is a realisation that it is very easy for Government to be tempted beyond its capacity. Why are we supposed to have this Hon. Speaker Sir? It is because the State should be given a green light by Parliament on the payment and repayment of those loans that are guaranteed by the State.
Now, you will find that that is very difficult for us to exercise oversight. We do not know if Hon. Chinamasa is going to expedite the introduction of this Act which is going to be very useful. Because, within 60 days of a loan having been concluded, we are supposed to then have the Minister coming to Parliament. It does not end there – [HON. CHINAMASA: That is what I am doing] – You are supposed to then tell us how it is performing by way of a Gazette.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Address the Chair.
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. He is being very provocative.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, address the Chair.
HON. CHAMISA: I hear you Hon. Speaker Sir. It is a human
instinct to be very protective but, I hear you Hon. Speaker Sir. I was making the point that we have a duty to delimit and define the conditions and circumstances within which at least the loans are supposed to be guaranteed. Now, we cannot do that in the absence of an Act because that is the enabling legislation. We need in our quest to align our legislation and laws to have such Acts before we have the Minister being allowed to just come and contract, go into loans without our ability to prescribe the terms and conditions. It is in the Constitution. So, in as much as we would want to support the Minister and he is trying his best under the circumstances, this is why I want to limit his galloping ambition to be contracting loans. We want to make sure that he is within the confines of the law. Otherwise, if we allow the Minister to go and borrow willy-nilly, we are going to have a problem. We will end up borrowing for recurrent expenditure. It is not good for the country. We are honourable men and women and we do not want ten or twenty years down the line when most of us will not be there, to defend for our future generation to say, why did these men and women sit to preside over the mortgaging of a country.
The mortgaging of our future, we cannot afford to do that Mr. Speaker. This is why we must exercise caution in approving loans. We cannot just give carte blanche an open cheque. There has to be – [HON. CHINOTIMBA: What are you saying?] – I appreciate Hon. Chinotimba
is confessing that he is lost. I will try to interpret to him after I have completed my presentation. – [Laughter] –
Hon. Speaker Sir, without saying a lot, I honestly feel that we need to expedite the law that gives certain parameters. I will not support any contracting of a loan. So, given the chance, I would actually vote against. In fact, I believe that all progressive Zimbabweans should not just play a yes man. We do not want to be coming here and nodding to the Minister as he is driving the country into debt and mortgages. This is a debt that we are contracting and we cannot afford just to come here and support him for the sake of it. We have supported him in the Budget and we cannot support him on these aspects. If anything Hon. Speaker Sir, let there be expenditure retrenchment within Government. Let us reduce the number of our Ministers. Let us go and borrow from Magufuli. Just go and be under Magufuli for one week in Tanzania. He will tell and teach you how to cut expenditures Hon. Minister. That being done, I do not support any contracting of a loan by our Government at this particular juncture.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order Hon.
Maondera?
*HON. MAONDERA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am deeply
disturbed that the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development said he cannot provide 30% for local authorities because there is no Act of Parliament but today, we hear that he is able to get this loan and yet there is no Act of Parliament as in Section 300. So, what I am saying is that if we are not careful as an august House, we will be led astray and they will do what pleases them. For that reason I am saying that we will be led astray because they do not want to come up with legislation that is beneficial to the country. We need to consider that Mr. Speaker, to ensure that we have such legislation because right now, they are borrowing at will because there is no Act of Parliament that limits me, and so, I can do whatever I want. We need to be careful. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Hon. Minister will respond to that.
HON. MUKUPE: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me the
opportunity to participate in the debate. In as much as I would appreciate that the Hon. Member who has just spoken before me is well versed in legal matters, and might not necessarily have an appreciation of financial matters, – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – It might be necessary for some of us to be able to elaborate. I think the first thing that I would want to put across…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. The Hon. Member is far at
the back and I need to follow exactly what you are saying. Can you be heard? Are you alright there?
` HON. MUKUPE: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me the
opportunity to give my thoughts on the matter at hand. I think the first thing that I just wanted to point out was that in as much as I appreciate that the Hon. Member who has just made his contribution is well versed in legal matters and might not have a full appreciation of financial matters, – [HON. MEMEBRS: Hear, hear] – I felt that it was necessary for me to just put across some key basic points when it comes to finance.
If you find an institution giving the entire loan…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member, you have to be very careful with your statement otherwise -[HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections]- Order, you may by accident mean that the Hon. Minister who is a lawyer may not be versed in financial matters –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]- Order, order. If the Hon. Member could stick to the facts and not the professional background?
HON. MUKUPE: Thank you Mr. Speaker for the point of
correction. I think I will be more specific in the sense that I was referring to Hon. Chinamasa. I would want to address the issue of the loan that is coming from OPEC. I think the key thing that I want to bring out is that when you read our Budget, it was very clear in terms of how we were going to fund the entire infrastructure that was related to schools, that there were all sorts of levies that were going to be introduced. These levies were going to take care of any funding that we were going to borrow out there. As an institution, if you are going to go out and make any loan application, and that loan application is approved, what those who are giving loans are saying, that like your house is in order, you are doing a good job, and you have got the capacity for you to be able to pay back the loan. So in essence, for us to be able to get this loan from OPEC, what they were doing is that they were giving a vote of confidence in the plans that Hon. Chinamasa had put in front of them. They are saying that he is doing a very good job, he is a very good Finance Minister and the programme he has got in essence is a very good programme. So, this notion that loans are bad, is a notion which is archaic and it is a notion where someone does not comprehend and totally understand how financial institutions work. I thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Members, I will not allow repetition of what has been said. We are guided by the Standing Rules and Orders, so if you agree, just stand up and say I agree or I disagree. Let us have something new.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just want to add something that has not been said before and it is very pertinent. I also support the loan but it is my wish and believe that as we move with the SDGs, as these schools will be build, we also consider putting aside a budget that we build somewhere where women and girls will put their sanitary wear because there is a lot of messy in these schools because girls have nowhere to put sanitary wear.
Looking at those with disabilities, as we build these schools, they must be user friendly to the – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: They must be user friendly to people living with disabilities because in rural areas we are having so many parents accompanying their children to school, even though they have wheelchairs. When they get to school, they will have to lift the wheelchairs to get into the class. As they build these new schools, I hope that there is a budget aside for them to put ramps for them to move their wheelchairs. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. You took a while to recognize me and my point is almost escaping me. It is a fresh one anyway – [Laughter] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. The Chair will not accept veiled criticism. You are many here and we have to spread the debate alone, so please withdraw that statement.
HON. NDEBELE: I do Hon. Speaker with due respect. Hon. Speaker, first of all let me thank the Hon. Minister for a job well done under the circumstances. Hon. Chamisa, it is in the DNA of the ruling party to keep accruing debts. Under the circumstances, the Minister has done well this time because it is a debt not about supporting individuals in their own farms but it is a good debt in that it will go towards the education of our children. It has been said several times in this House that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is one of the most hard working. At times, at Church, we are asked to pray for our leaders and I pray for him, that in breathing life into a comatose status of things, he does not breathe life out of himself, Mr. Speaker.
The eight schools, I am told will go to eight provinces but it is my submission that all the schools could have easily gone to Matabeleland. Why? Often times it is said that we are not training children in sciences so that we feed into the National University of Science and Technology. That assumption is based on the fact that we are producing a good number of arts students from Matabeleland, which we are not. Show us statistics of those children that are doing arts in universities across the country? There are none. The number is equally poor. This owes to the fact that in Matabeleland, in some wards in the rural areas, you will find that there is no primary or secondary school at all, yet in some parts of the country a mere walk to the Holiday Inn, you come across about two or three primary schools and an equal number of secondary schools.
That is why my position is all those schools should have gone to
Matabeleland, truly speaking.
I also agree that resources are limited, so is it possible for the Minister to consider spreading the resources thinly so that they go far beyond the eight provinces. I know of communities in Matabeleland that are ready to receive material and start working towards building their own schools. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. DR. MUKANDURI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for
affording me this opportunity. First of all, I would like to say I support the loan agreement that has been contracted by the Hon. Minister of
Finance and Economic Development on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe. We should be cognisant of the fact that when the land reform started, not all of us supported that move. Even the NGOs that were operating and are still operating in Zimbabwe, did not support any infrastructure in terms of schools and health institutions in those areas where the land reform took place.
We are not surprised to hear some of our colleagues debating against this motion because it is natural. Those people who were against the land reform will never ever support any institution, be it academic or health in those resettlement areas for good reasons. We are aware that it is expected that if these schools were in the urban areas, some of our colleagues here, basing on the fact that they think that they have support in those areas, they would support this loan agreement.
This was the second motion on the loan agreement. We have debated the first motion that was introduced by the Minister of Finance concerning the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo power station and we were all in agreement. It is very difficult for the Minister of Finance to get loan agreements. We should also be cognisant of the fact that even those developed countries like the USA or China depend on borrowing and they are heavily borrowed. So, I honestly support the motion Mr.
Speaker Sir.
*HON. MUKWENA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to support Hon. Minister Chinamasa on the $87 million loan as well as the $22 million that he has allocated towards education. We would want to thank Hon. Chinamasa as someone who was given a Ministry, it is his job as Minister of Finance and Economic Development to see how he can run the economy. It is a great stride that he made in getting this US$87m.
*HON. CHIBAYA: On a point of order Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
*HON. CHIBAYA: My point of order is that I do not know if we are in the same august House because the US$87m that he is talking about, I have no idea where it is coming from. What we are talking about is the US$22m, so I think he is a bit lost. We are not at the same level. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The correct figure we are dealing with is US$20m.
*HON. MUKWENA: Sorry Hon. Speaker Sir. I had got the
figures mixed up. I want to thank the Minister for the US$20m that he has acquired for education. Our request is that this money be given to Minister Dokora so that he and his ministry and officials can work out a way of assisting the schools that require assistance. If we look at the schools that were given US$20m, there are 17 schools in the whole country. So, in English we say that there is no impact that will be felt if the schools have been built.
We all know our economic position. So we request Hon.
Chinamasa that the money that you have given to the Ministry of
Education be used for the purpose. I want to support the idea by Hon. Gabbuza that even if a school is given two blocks and maybe two houses for accommodation for teachers, we will feel the impact of the development, which means that next year it will actually add to what will have been done in this year. So, this money should be given to Hon. Dokora to cover schools that have a need.
In the rural areas, most schools do not have two blocks and above. Minister Dokora should sit down and see how he can allocate this money to the deserving schools. We have Matedzi Primary School, it has 1900 children. Most schools in resettlement areas have above 1000 studies. So, if we have at least two blocks, we will appreciate knowing that our Government has made efforts to assist these schools. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, the Hon. Minister of
Finance and Economic Development is required in the Senate. So, I will only allow Hon. Mudarikwa as the last speaker.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Hon. Speaker Sir, thank you very much
for allowing me to contribute. The issue here at stake is in the resettlement areas. We want to establish schools like Goromonzi where our sons and daughters will be able to have Science laboratories at ‘O’ level, Science laboratories at ‘A’ level and then we are able to produce scientists. All the nations that have done well - Japan and other countries, have relied on science. We cannot continue with this current situation where this nation has produced the largest numbers of priests and reverends than any other country in Africa.
We must now concentrate on the production of quality and this will help develop the country. The other theme that we must look at is where we have had a lot of people moving from urban areas, moving from rural areas into the commercial farming area and these commercial farming areas naturally have been disadvantaged. There were no schools at all, now people are learning in the barns and everything so, we need quality in this whole arrangement. Also, let us realise as legislators that 80% of our people live in the rural areas and this is where we must also focus our support because we cannot talk of democracy when there is no economic democracy. When we come here to contribute on roads for urban areas, it is easy it is said 135 for City of Harare - everybody claps hands.
We have 20 million for rural areas covering the whole of
Zimbabwe. People are saying it is wrong; we cannot live on these loans. Some of us who have a religious background realise the value of education in any given society and we must develop as a nation together in Harare and in Bulawayo and also in rural areas.
Hon. Speaker Sir, I want to thank the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development because even if you have the capacity to borrow; we produce a lot of tobacco, we produce a lot of maize in resettlement areas, they are able to repay without any problem. It is in the urban areas whereby when they are given loans, they buy 4 x 4 vehicles and nobody raises hell about it. We need to concentrate and realise that this is going to our brothers and sisters in the rural areas.
Thank you very much.
THE HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Hon. Speaker.
I want to thank all the hon. members who have contributed to this debate. All of the contributors are supporting the loan except the Hon. Chamisa and for very wrong reasons. Hon. Kwaramba, I want to thank you very much for supporting the loan. Hon. Mutseyami, you raised a concern about corruption. I want to assure you that this project will be implemented with efficiency and transparency. The Project
Management Unit within the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been established to oversee the implementation of this project and I do not anticipate any problems.
Hon Gabbuza, you made a very valid point and I am going to follow it up. The valid point you made is that with US$20m we could have more mileage, build more schools - that we are going to enquire and find out whether we can build and achieve what we wanted to do within and beyond – so, I take the point. You make reference of course to the fact that the loan is too little. This is not the only initiative that we are doing or we are undertaking as Government to put infrastructure at our primary schools. In the Budget that you just approved, I made reference to an infrastructure bond to put classroom blocks and laboratories in our primary and secondary schools, to take into account the new emphasis on promotion of Mathematics and Sciences. We want to start it early in primary and for that we need adequate and appropriate infrastructure. For that to happen, we are going to float a bond and I advised that in the 2016 Budget, which will be underwritten by school development levies.
To this end, it is also an answer to Hon. Chamisa that we are just not borrowing will-nilly for consumption. When you are spending money on education of your children, that is not consumption. You are investing in the future – [HON. MEMBERS: Yes!] – The future is children. What would the future mean for this country if we are going to be faced with an illiterate population and that is the thesis of Hon. Chamisa that we should not borrow. He makes a very absolute statement that he is completely opposed to borrowing. What would the commercial banks do if Hon. Chamisa was to succeed? Commercial banks are there to lend money ...
Hon. Chamisa having stood up on a point of order
HON. SPEAKER: I have not recognised you Hon. Chamisa and so far there is no problem – [HON. CHAMISA: There is.] – No, there is no problem. Can you allow the Minister to conclude his statement?
Kindly allow the Minister to conclude his statement.
HON. CHINAMASA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I did not heckle him as he was making his statements and if you read the Hansard, he was very categorical that he is opposed to the contracting of debt. I am saying, show me a country which does not borrow. The number one economy is heavily indebted to the People’s Republic of China through Treasury Bills. Show me a business which can start with its own resources without borrowing. The same applies to Government. Show me a Government which does not borrow. Show me one.
What is critical Mr. Speaker Sir, is the purpose for which you borrow the money. If you are borrowing it to eat it, yes that is wrong but if you are borrowing to create assets on the basis of which the economy can grow, that is purely justified. That is exactly what we are doing. The Hon. Member also forgets that it is not everyone who goes out into the debt market to borrow and gets the loan. So, we are given the money, it is a demonstration of confidence in our management of the economy – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Of course, they do not lend to you if you have no capacity or do not demonstrate capacity to pay. They do not lend you money if in fact they think you are mismanaging the economy. So, this is a demonstration of our sound macro-economic management and for that we should be congratulated.
Hon. Chamisa also is of the view that there is no limit to what we should borrow. There is a limit. There is a law and over and above that Mr. Speaker Sir, under our staff monitored programme with the IMF, we undertook an artificial ceiling below what the law provides because we wanted to build a track record and we have not exceeded that limit. So, the point raised is again not valid.
Hon. Chinotimba, thank you very much. I agree with Hon. Chinotimba. If I can borrow $1 billion now to put up the entire infrastructure in all our schools and the lender is willing to lend me the $1 billion, I will sign it without asking anybody. It is very important because you will gain the benefits now and you pay over a long period. If you wait until 20 years to have the resources, what will have happened during the period of 20 years? A wasted human capital and what we need in this country is human capital. We are number one in terms of human capital development. We cannot allow, permit or lag behind in the development of human capital. We must remain the leader in this area and our people are our greatest asset. We must invest in them without any apologies. We must be unapologetic in terms of resources we deploy towards investing in our people.
Hon. Mukupe, thank you very much for reinforcing what I am just saying. It is a vote of confidence in the country that we are able to secure loans and we are not using these loans for consumption. The loan is for the creation of very necessary infrastructure and I have already mentioned what we are going to do in 2016, that all these loans will be underwritten by school development levies.
Hon. Nyamupinga, I take the point you make and I will certainly refer it to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. In particular, your reference about appropriate facilities for the girl-child that I think is a matter which may have been overlooked. With respect to whether buildings are constructed to accommodate disabled persons, I think all buildings in terms of the law require that they should be appropriately designed to accommodate disabled pupils or teachers.
Hon. Ndebele, I think I have already answered him in my response
to Hon. Chamisa, I am also addressing him. This country, even on the basis of the loan as it stands, if this country did not suffer from the burdens which we all know – [HON. MEMBERS: Sanctions. ] – Yes, the sanctions. If we had a performing economy, our debt is nothing. This House also needs to know that when we negotiated with IMF, we did not qualify for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), which would mean that they regard our economy not as bad as all of us think. We do not qualify for HIPC which is why we did not, I can show you the assessments of our economy – [AN HON. MEMBER: Inaudible interjections.] – No, no, you do not know what you are talking about.
We did not qualify for HIPC because when they assessed our performance they said we do not qualify on all the indices that should establish whether you are a HIPC or not. Do not plead poverty when you are not poor please – [HON. CHAMISA: That was your argument.] – No, no, we are not poor. We are running through difficulties and we will overcome those challenges. We know why we went into those challenges. It was a price we had to pay to gain our resources. We now have our resources – [AN. HON. MEMBER: You are just corrupt.] –
Hon. Dr. Mukanduri, I thank you very much for your support and again, you make the point of course that there is no country on earth which does not borrow, either domestically or externally and more recently, I think we have had classic cases of huge sums of money running into billions being borrowed at any one show. Hon. Mukwena, thank you very much for your support also. I think you made the point that we need more schools. We are going to address this through the
Infrastructure Board that I made reference to in the budget. Hon. Mudarikwa, thank you very much for the support and also for emphasizing that what Zimbabwe now needs is quality education and it is within a short grasp of our country. We speak of quality education, science education, technology and mathematics. This is the emphasis we are going to give in our curriculum, both in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education. There will be a bias towards promotion of the sciences. Mr. Speaker Sir, with this response I accordingly move THAT WHEREAS, Section 327(3) of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe provides that an Agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS, a Loan agreement between Government of
Zimbabwe and the OPEC Fund for International Development relating to a US$20 million Line of Credit for the construction of twelve (12) primary and five (5) secondary schools in rural areas in eight (8) provinces, provide relevant equipment, furniture and standard teachers’ houses for the targeted schools.
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327(3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON A DEFINITE MATTER OF
URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE: TRAPPED ARTISANAL MINERS AT
PEAKSTONE MINE - CHEGUTU
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I rise to move the adjournment of the House on a definite matter of public importance. The matter relates to the trapping of artisanal miners at Peakstone Mine in Chegutu. This matter is raised in terms of Standing Order No. 59.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for affording me this opportunity to debate a very important issue. It is very important that I brought this motion to this august House because we are in this House to represent the interests of Zimbabweans. Without the people out there, there is no Parliament and as such, I felt it would be very important to debate this motion. As I speak, Hon. Nduna, the Member of Parliament for where this saga that I will unfold in the next few moments is in Chegutu right now, at Peakstone, where seven artisanal miners are feared dead because they are trapped underground. Hon. Nduna has staged a one man demonstration to stop those that are driving artisanal miners out of Peakstone and Gadzema and is urging the authorities to be civil in the way they handle evictions. The last time I heard from a source, it was said that Hon. Nduna parked his vehicle and said instead of the authorities doing what they have done to these artisanal miners, they must go past him first. So, he has put his life on the line and is telling the authorities to kill him first before they can get to the miners because those are the people that he represents. For that, I want to salute Hon. Nduna. [HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear]
Mr. Speaker, there is a term that we use in Zimbabwe called kukorokoza. It is a derogatory term in that it says you are doing things that are illicit in order to eke a living. 70% of the rural population in Zimbabwe survives on artisanal mining. 70% of that population is into gold mining while the other 30% will then go into other semi-precious metals like chromites etcetera. There was a time that the ZRP embarked on an operation called Chikorokoza chapera. When they embarked on this operation, they drove artisanal miners off claims and the level of gold that was then remitted to this country plunged by over 55%. What it means is that most of the gold that sees its way through Fidelity Refineries comes from artisanal miners. Artisanal mining in Zimbabwe employs 500,000 people directly and of this figure, 153,000 are either men or children. This is the money that they use for survival and school fees because we know that the Zimbabwean economy is heavily informalised.
When I go to England, I go to a place called Big Ben. When you look at Big Ben, it is pure gold that came from Africa and most of it came from the rural areas of this country, yet Zimbabweans are not able to enjoy that natural resource. That will be depleted in the next few years because it is not a renewable resource.
This incident has come at a time when just yesterday, the price of gold went up after having been down for the past 6 years because of speculative behaviour in the market. What this means is that all other artisanal miners are going to move off their claims and the level of gold being remitted to Fidelity is going to plunge. In 2008, Zimbabwe was only able to get three tonnes of gold. When you get less than ten tonnes of gold, it means you cannot export directly as a country; you need a threshold of ten tonnes. What it means is that Zimbabwe, then had to go through South Africa in order for us to export our gold. When artisanal miners were allowed to mine, the level of gold that is going to be received only this year, is 24 tonnes. I wish the Minister of Finance and Economic Development was here to vouch for me. Mr. Speaker Sir, 24 tonnes are going to be remitted to Fidelity and 60% of those 24 tonnes is coming from artisanal miners.
Mr. Speaker, the information that I have concerning what happened at Pixton and Gadzema is that there are gold claims there that are held by a company called ACR. ACR is an international mining company which is quoted on the London Stock Exchange. For the purpose of this discussion, I will say they are holding those claims for speculative reasons because there is nothing happening on those claims.
So, people in Chegutu, knowing that there is a precious resource underground, decided to go in there and do artisanal mining. They dug their pits and started mining. The information I have is that ACR approached our courts and they were given a court order to evict the miners. Obviously when you get a court order to evict, you are accompanied by the Deputy Sherriff who will then may be elicit the help of the Police to drive away people that are occupying a piece of land
illegally.
Mr. Speaker Sir, when they got there, they got there with bulldozers for the purpose of chasing people out and also for the purpose of filling up the holes and the shafts that have been dug. As they were driving out people, there is one person who came out of a pit and indicated as he was running away from Police, police dogs and so on; that I still have three of my friends that are underground. Regardless of this, the bulldozers went and filled that hole with three bonafide
Zimbabweans; shareholders to this country. People who hold national
IDs like I do, like you do, like everyone does, in the ground and they have been covered. Mr. Speaker, as if that was not enough, as one of the artisanal miners was running away from the Police, he was also shot.
Now, Hon. Nduna with the help of other artisanal miners brought that to the attention of the authorities and then they went and started to excavate. But the machine that they were using could not reach the depth that the soil had gone to. So, people are now doing it manually. As, they are digging, they have realised that some of the pits are now filled with water. What it means is that it is unlikely that there is anyone living underground there.
Mr. Speaker, I say this with a heavy heart. Why should
Zimbabweans be treated like trash in their own country? If people in Chegutu cannot enjoy life at Pixton and Gadzema, where should they go to enjoy life? Zimbabwe belongs to all of us – [HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.] – Mr. Speaker, I urge the authorities and I am happy the
Hon. Vice President of this country Hon. Mnangagwa is here, that the
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs, should be stationed at Gadzema and Pixton to ensure that excavation takes place.
Mr. Speaker Sir, not, only that, they must give the nation updates of what is happening but not only that, I think a Ministerial Statement will be in order to tell the people of Zimbabwe, the citizens of this country, what happened because what we are seeing here is another Marikana. In my eyes, there is no difference between losing six lives and losing 34 lives, the only difference, is in the number but the style of the loss of life is the same. This is not acceptable. As I am debating, I was looking to see if Hon. Matambanadzo is here, I know Hon. Matambanadzo is one person who deals with artisanal miners and he understands this field backwards. I would have wanted him to give a narration of the contribution that artisanal miners have done to this economy.
The problem we have in Zimbabwe is that we respect people when they are called with their titles, for example Dr. Maridadi, or Mr. so and so but the ordinary people that make this country are not recognised.
What has happened in Chegutu is a typical example of how this country is failing to look after its own citizens. It is typical and Mr. Speaker, I think the Government must be held to account.
Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Nduna cannot be with us here because he is there trying to fight the authorities to put across the case of the people of
Chegutu. When I last spoke to him, I promised him that after this
Parliament Session, I will also go to Chegutu and join him – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – There are three people in this country that have staged one-man demonstrations, it was firstly Dambudzo Marechera at the then University of Southern Rhodesia, when he staged a one-man demonstration from the University into town. Secondly, it was me, when I staged a demonstration in this House, when Members of Parliament in 2000 were debating the Budget and I staged a demonstration that resulted in the closure of this bar here, during debate. The third person who has done that is Hon. Nduna and because I know what it is when you feel strongly about something and you want to put a point across, so for that reason, I will go and join him in Chegutu and
also stage a two-men demonstration with Hon. Nduna. We will stage a demonstration until the authorities have given us a statement and have assured us that the heavy handedness of the police will not happen again. With that Mr. Speaker, I rest my case – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
HON. J. TSHUMA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir, for affording me this opportunity to also talk about this very sad, sensitive and touching event that has happened in Chegutu. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think this event must actually make us wake up and see that our country is now for long, still running on laws that were actually created by the white man to oppress us the black people – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – It is now our responsibility as the august House, to now quickly look into these laws. I am actually one of the practical artisan miner, I do artisan mining as well in Matabeleland, and I remember at one time I was in Shangani where there was a gold rush there, the police came there, they treated us like we were nothing. They treated us like we were crazy people and yet we were normal Zimbabweans who were trying to make a living.
Mr. Speaker, here is a person who is avoiding to go and steal, murder or to commit any crime to make a living – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – While they are doing that, here we are, our police force comes on that person. What are they trying to do? Are they trying to push that person from earning a decent living to being a criminal. At times I ask myself, are we trying to create candidates for our jails as if our jails are not empty, our jails are already full, why are we allowing such things to happen? This is not alright; this is not the way we are supposed to administer our beautiful country. Our elders fought for, it, blood was lost, so it is now high time that we start respecting the blood that was lost for our people.
Now, I want to call upon this House, I am also very glad because our Hon. Vice President is here. I think he will be able to help us to go through this thing because this is happening every day Mr. Speaker. Right now, I can tell you, last week, the boys in Matopos area were running battles with Police but they are trying to make a living, they are not stealing from anybody. The worst case scenario is that we are allowing these same white people to actually hold vast numbers of claims. There is a white man in Bulawayo called Van Rooyen who holds over 250 mining claims. This is one person and each mining claim is 10 hectares. So, you have somebody with 250 claims and which is about 2 500 hectares for one individual, yet one claim can sustain a family for their whole life. Why are we allowing such greed to happen – because he has money, he can be able to go and renew his mining licences and then we say it is correct? It is wrong and we must look at it that way.
Our people are suffering at the expense of people with money. Let us be honesty to ourselves and be sincere in this august House and say enough is enough – let these things stop. If they are not stopped, we are going to have a nation of very disgruntled and poor people. So, what I want us to zero on is to say from today, we have learnt a hard and painful lesson through what is happening in Chegutu. There are some other places which have not been reported like this but since this has come up to light, what are we doing from here and how are we going to correct it? It is up to this House and I sincerely hope Mr. Speaker Sir that the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, the Minister of Home Affairs and everybody who is concerned is going to take this thing seriously.
Let people go and mine and that gold will eventually come. Actually, the Makorokozas are not taking the gold out. It is the white man who has money who can afford to bring a plane and smuggle gold out. Those ones are actually selling the gold into our system. So, let us support them because they are the ones who are bringing in more gold for us as a nation. Let us legalise and make it easy for them. With that Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to say, my condolences to the families there. The people are dead. Mr. Speaker Sir, I hope that this is going to teach us a lesson to be sincere. With that, I want to thank you.
HON. ZINDI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I also rise to add my voice with a heavy heart because being Zimbabwe and 35 years after independence, we are still talking of repressive laws which were instituted by the Rhodesians. We still have those laws in place and we are using them against our own people, which is exactly what made us take up arms personally, as young as I was -13 years old. I had to go to war to remove such repressive laws instituted by the Rhodesian Government but we are still using them. I am equally old now but those laws are still in place and I have a heavy heart because of that.
Hon. Speaker, I do not know how many times I have heard this word Makorokoza, referring to our own people as Makorokoza. The very system that has been put in place by the very same people whom we are calling Makorokozas, we are looking down upon them. We are the system, the leadership, we are seated here in Parliament and we look down upon those people by naming them Makorokoza, yet those are the very same people who are voting and giving us the sits to be seated in this Parliament and appointed as Ministers. Those are the very same people and the majority of them when we go for campaigns we always make sure that we woo those Makorokozas to vote for us as Members of Parliament. We then have the privilege to be appointed as a Minister, which is because of those people but we are doing nothing in terms of having to alleviate their plight as artisanal miners, we call them Makorokoza.
I have a problem Hon. Speaker, with our system which only sees the foreigner as an investor but no Zimbabwean can be an investor. Most of our laws are crafted around the idea of FDI at the expense of the local investor. Why is it that we look down upon ourselves that we cannot have a local investor? I could go on naming the whole least of companies of Zimbabweans which have actually folded as a result of our system which is so despiteful of its own people at the expense of the foreigner whom we see to bring in the money. Alas, most of these foreigners that we think are the ones who bring money in Zimbabwe are coming and actually raising the money on the local market.
How many cases have we read in the papers, if I am to make reference to some of them? On the local market, coming with his or her briefcase with nothing and raise the money that foreign investor, raising it on the local market. The Kurotwi case is one of them. It came out in the paper and all visits were done in terms of an inspection in loco in South Africa to establish the foreign investor who had invested in that diamond company but, the truth of the matter or the evidence as we read in the papers was that it was a non-existent company. The money was raised on the local market, hence it folded up. This is the quest that we have as a system for the foreign investor, why at the expense of the Zimbabwean investor.
That is exactly the same thing which is happening in the case of the Pixton and Gadzema Mine incident, which is a foreign investor at the expense of the local investor whom we then call the Makorokoza. Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many times it has been raised in this House in terms of having to review the laws but still, I wonder what is holding us. It is the system, the Ministers, the Cabinet and the Executive who initiate these laws in terms of having to change and repeal those Acts which we think are not enabling in terms of facilitating for business opportunities for our local people. If we cannot facilitate for our local people and we can only facilitate for the foreigner, then I think that we are starting the whole thing from a wrong point of view altogether. We always hear that charity begins at home and it has to begin with us. Let us try and make it enabling for our local people and then we can always also look at the foreigner and together we can facilitate a system and move on and together.
Mr. Speaker, licencing fees - right now there is the topical issue of saying, Zimbabwe has to be investor friendly and it is again focusing on the foreign investor without also looking at the local investor – taxes, levies, you name them, everything has to be made user friendly and reformed but we are always looking at the foreigner. Why do we not also include the local investor because he or she would have created employment, contributing to the fiscus through the taxes and what have you. So, I think that together we need to move. Let us look at the local investor as well. Mr. Speaker, the mover of this motion talked about speculative purposes. I would also want to add the aspect of the law that we inherited from Rhodesia, where it gives importance of what is underground at the expense of agriculture and at the same time, ignoring the interests of the owners of that land. I think we need to be proactive and take the interest of both the owner of the land and at the same time, the investor. We need to come up with such laws which create a harmonious relationship other than having to create conflicts always as we are seeing today.
Our laws always want to create conflicts. I think it is high time we need to be living in harmony and create a peaceful society. We are the ones to make the laws. So, let us take cognisance of all interests and have a win-win situation. That is my recommendation on that. For instance, my constituency where I come from or where I am representing my constituents, it is a gold area, Penhalonga. I do not think that there is much that we want in terms of having to facilitate and enable our people to be able to be productive.
I give an example of the Russians. The Russians came with their equipment through DTZ, and just going about alluvial gold mining along the Mutare River, diverting the routes and what have you as well as diverting the route of the original flow of the river getting gold. If you were to visit that river, it is no more the same. I am not saying I am against the foreign investors, but I am saying the way things are being done is not good. Meanwhile, these makorokozas, mayouth who voted for me are folding their hands and watching the Russians making money.
I think we have since lost about two or three lives, the youth and the artisanal miners. It is rather a difficult word for me to pronounce but just bear with me. We have lost two or three lives. When these youth were now following where the Russians would have mined looking for muvhuru-vhuru, you know what I mean, I have always been asking myself a question and say, what does it take for the Government to just come up with exactly the same equipment. It is not anything that is very expensive in terms of equipment. I am looking at a dozer and this is what the Russians are using. I am looking at whatever they use to sieve through the rubble that they would have dug along the rivers and then they wash it using the same river and they bring out their gold.
When you look at it, it is simple. All what we need is to have the capital equipment. I am saying, what does it take for Government to facilitate and enable these makorokozas, these youth we are talking about to have that equipment. It is possible because it is not any equipment that is out of this world that I have seen the Russians using. I am making a recommendation to say, why can we not do that as a system to facilitate and remember what they have said in terms of the other contributors ahead of me, that this gold being mined by our own people is the one which is following the right channels in terms of being sold to Fidelity, other than these foreigners that we are talking about.
Mr. Speaker, I have a heavy heart when I am contributing to this motion. I may go on and on but I am saying, the laws of the Rhodesians, it is high time we should close that chapter and come up with a Zimbabwean law which we went to fight for. We cannot continue to be governed by Rhodesian laws when we say we are Zimbabweans. What is it that we fought for when we continue to be governed by Rhodesian laws? I thank you Mr. Speaker.
*HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for
affording me this opportunity to add my voice to this important motion. It is a painful motion. I believe that those that have been trapped will be found. It hates Mr. Speaker, to observe the manner which we are being treated in our own country. Before we go any further, I would want to thank the Minister of Mines and Mining Development for what he has done to us in Kwekwe. I would also want to thank the President because he has allowed us to work with any type of people in this country. We have the British and the Chinese. They have come to take over ZIMASCO and I am just coming from Kwekwe.
I thank the President for what he has done and may you send my thanks to the President because ZIMASCO had closed and it has opened. I know that you are not interested in the re-opening of ZIMASCO. As I go further, I would also want to express my gratitude for being given licences. All of us Hon. Members have now been given licences to buy gold, even those that are speaking now or heckling me have those licences to buy gold – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order Hon.
Member?
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, the Hon. Member is talking about what he has been doing today. I thought the mover of the motion introduced a motion which is talking about the tragic situation in Chegutu. It has nothing to do with licences and ZISCO Steel. So, I beg that the Hon. Member be guided on what he is supposed to be debating about. Thank you.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member, the issue is about the people that have been buried alive in a mine in Chegutu, that is the motion in this House which has been moved by Hon. Maridadi. Do not stray in that regard.
*HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you for the guidance Mr.
Speaker. I am overjoyed about the work that the Vice President is doing. I was praising him so that he would be aware of my appreciation. I am happy about Hon. Nduna’s position that he is going to fight until the bodies of those trapped are exhumed. I would want to give you a history about those that have been trapped, the artisanal miners. There is a time when we had to conducted feasibility study to find out who was producing more gold between the commercial miners and the small scale miners or artisanal miners, that was in 2004, we were given a target of 20 tonnes, 21.3 tonnes were produced and 60% was produced by the artisanal small scale miners. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has those statistics. In 2005, they were given a target because of what they had earlier produced, 60% of the previous years. They were given a target of 35 tonnes of gold to produce. They requested for machinery and the previous hon. member mentioned this. I spoke with the RBZ Governor, Mr. Gono and thereafter, they were arrested. A programme was embarked on called ‘chikorokoza chapera’. Our Vice President stood up in Kwekwe when 300 artisanal miners were arrested and jailed in Kwekwe. I wondered what was going on; I went there pleaded with the police and they were released.
In 2005, 35 tonnes were not reached because of the ideas or advice that was given to Government; where the advice emanated from, I am not aware. The point is that they failed to mine and less than 8 tonnes were produced. That was a sharp decline from 23 tonnes. I urge the Government to seriously look into this matter but I see where the problem is and where we are being confused is because of the legislation. A colonial legislation that was left behind by the whites; that legislation is against the small scale miners. Once they have achieved something, they will then point to the law and say they are not entitled to do that and their operations are set back. They want the Government to re-think and declare that artisanal mining is not good.
These things were being done by people who were not happy with the way that miners were producing. They wanted to sabotage us. Our target for this year is 92 tonnes but where did it come from? It came from the small scale miners. We introduced such a system which we had in 2004 and advised them to use the same modus operandi. The small scale miners produced 1.4 tonnes and this year, we produced eight tonnes. We did not have adequate support. They were licensed to buy gold and as hon. members, we also decided to move into that field so that we would find out the truth of the matter. We decided to acquire these licences and today, we have produced eight tonnes from a production of 19 tonnes.
What it simply does is that it defeats the targets that would have been set by the Government. It is the Government that is not meeting its target. How best can we be able to overcome such difficulties? My plea is, look into the colonial laws and assist us by removing these laws.
Secondly, what I have just said is that in Midlands more than 6 000 mines were forfeited. People were actually removed from those mines because they were failing to pay their fees or levies. The Minister said that they would be a reduction of those levies and licences and before that came into effect, the mines were confiscated. It is quite painful. Where are we going to get the gold from because the tariffs were too high? Even if they were not paying, we asked the Government to reduce the fees required.
These are some of the factors that lead into the sad scenario that has occurred in Chegutu; all such factors hamper the production of gold.
I have been remonstrated with earlier on and I will not repeat but Hon. Speaker, I urge you to be happy that even members of the MDC-T received these gold licences. They should know that the current Government is good. I thank you.
HON. MAJOME: I thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, for giving me an opportunity to lend my voice to this very tragic and very somber issue that unites us as Zimbabweans across the political divide. If you will pardon Hon. Matambanadzo, I believe he is not actually quite aware that the mover of this motion is in fact an MDC-T Member of Parliament, Hon. Maridadi, who is doing so not because he is MDC-T but he is doing so in a collegiate manner because he does not come from Chegutu. His constituency is right here in Harare in Mabvuku. It does not have artisanal miners.
I want to understand that he rose to support his colleague Hon. Nduna who is in ZANU PF he is not here but is a Zimbabwean. I say that so that we just remember that we are all Zimbabweans and all of us are moved by the loss and any tragedy that happens to a fellow Zimbabwe and as Hon. Members of Parliament, we must always desist at all cost to bring in issues that detract from the somberness and tragedy of this issue.
Hon. Speaker, I rise because I am deeply touched, grieved and alarmed by what has befallen these artisanal miners in Chegutu. I rise to lend my voice and to make my points to see what we can do as a nation and as indeed Members of Parliament, to do something about this urgent tragedy.
My approach is that this issue has happened in a mining context but I think the fundamental issue that is here is the lack of respect for human life and human dignity. Today, it is an artisanal miner, the next thing it will be another one. If we all as human beings remember that we are all just humans and the next human being, whatever their occupation in life, their political party or whatever it is, they have the right to their life.
I am applauded at how a bulldozer can be driven by a human being on the instructions of another human being and also with the support of what should be called law enforcement agency, to cover a mining shaft without taking any measures and any care to find out if there might still be any other human being that is there and to take all measures to ensure that they do not bury human beings alive. This is what alarms me and this is what makes me rise.
As we debate this, I would want us to focus on that fundamental issue on the value, the primary basic value of human life. I say this because it is a tragedy indeed, I think it is Hon. Tshuma said it is three days since this tragedy and Hon. Mpariwa was saying that she fears that these young people might actually be children. She was explaining that in artisanal mining, the mine shafts are very narrow and small. One who can fit in there is likely to be a child Mr. Speaker Sir. I think it is a blow on all of us. I say this because I think as a nation, we need to re-awaken our values and rally around certain core values that make us human beings and that is respect for the human rights of others starting with the right to life Mr. Speaker Sir. This kind of thing should never ever happen.
I can only again refer to our Constitution and say, whenever we keep on talking about the Constitution and its implementation, and issues like this bring to the fore the importance of inculcating in each of us those basic values and the human rights of others. Indeed, our Constitution now does not only require that the Government respects our rights. I am saying this to remind all of us Hon. Members and to do what we can in our constituencies and in our different ways, to remind each of us that each one of us as human beings has a duty to respect the human right of another being. Of course, the Government must also do so because if we get to that stage we will not find a person driving or using precious diesel that people cannot find, fuelling a bulldozer and burying other people alive.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to make particularly the point that Hon. Maridadi indicated that the Zimbabwe Republic Police are the ones that were enforcing the eviction order that they should, I suppose enforce in terms of the law. However, I am disturbed and have difficulty believing that the police would indeed supervise something like this and the loss of a life. I say so because the Constitution changed our police from being a Police Force to a Police Service.
I want to read here the functions of the Police Service because in writing the Constitution this word ‘service’ there were a lot of fights on whether it should be ‘force’ or ‘service’ but thankfully, the use of the word ‘service’ prevailed and we have the Zimbabwe Republic Police which are a ‘service’. I want to read something from Section 219 (1) (c) that says that ‘(1) There is a Police Service which is responsible for ...
(c) protecting and securing the lives and property of the people; ...’ of Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker, if indeed the police had been involved in the very reckless and negligent behaviour, surely I think something drastic must happen.
I rise Mr. Speaker Sir to say that sadly, it is three days ago that these people seem to have perished. I worry also whether indeed they can be found alive. I hope that this august House does not lose the urgency of the matter. It has happened in certain countries where there were earthquakes and even little babies have been found alive two or three weeks later in impossible circumstances Mr. Speaker. I want to urge this House that we remember that wherever there is life, there is hope and we must leave no stone unturned in excavating this pit very urgently to find out whether those people are indeed alive. I am glad that the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
I want to urge Hon. Maridadi to amend his motion, maybe to indicate that this House resolves that the Civil Protection Unit gets out there right now and does everything that it can, employs all the machinery and resources at its disposal to dig that pit and find out if those people are there. They could be alive and there is need for urgency. This is a disaster and that is really very sad. I am therefore hoping that Hon. Maridadi may amend his motion so that it may cause the House to resolve that a Select Committee of Parliament be appointed in order to investigate this activity. That it investigates it from the mining point of view, the livelihoods, the desperation that young people and children are in, who have no other means of livelihood, to investigate it also from a means of the way we deal with investment and share resources, and the welfare of others. Mr. Speaker Sir, even the issue of corruption because usually when something like this happens, somebody has some undue influence that they can use to manipulate.
Mr. Speaker, the committee to also investigate even from the issue of law enforcement and the role of the police and its role as a police service. I say this in particular Mr. Speaker, because I am saddened, in a lot of respects, as a Zimbabwean, to see the police usually playing a role, doing everything else except what they are supposed to do and that is, to serve and protect the lives of the people of Zimbabwe and make the people feel secure. Just yesterday during the Budget debate, the issue of roadblocks was raised that the average Zimbabweans and even the nonaverage, that is if Hon. Members of Parliament can be non-average, feels really harassed by the police. I seem to see the police at roadblocks stopping traffic, disrupting the flow of traffic and just doing all sorts of other things that do not really make us secure.
If indeed the police are involved in this very horrible tragedy, I think it is time that we really do something in terms of a cultural mindset. Let us not keep on talking about the Smith regime and that the Smith regime did this. I do not think the Smith regime is in the police that are there today. I think we as Zimbabweans need to take up the challenge to decolonise also our minds so that we stop aping those very terrible things that we saw the Smith regime doing. Let us behave with respect for each other so that we do not keep on acting like the way our colonisers did because we will have no one to blame.
I say this and do hope that the motion can be amended as I indicated to have the Civil Protection Unit go, dig out and find those people, and hopefully alive. Secondly, that there is a Select Committee of Parliament that is formed to investigate so that something like this never happens again. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. HARITATOS: Mr. Speaker Sir, I do agree that there are certain Rhodesian wrongs that we have got to change but we cannot change too many. There are lessons in mining that we have got to change that is why we keep on having accidents because we do not follow the regulations. You see, when you are mining, mining is a very expensive game. It is not like farming. In farming, if you got $5 000 you can grow crops and make money but in mining if you have got $5 000, you buy three wheelbarrows and that is the end of the story.
First of all, in Zimbabwe, what we are doing in mining, we sink the shaft on the rift because we take the extract out and sell the gold and try to make money but mining is not like that. Mining on rift is you have got to go about 200 to 300 metres further down. Most of the mines in Zimbabwe are inclining so you go 400 to 500 metres away from the rift and sink a vertical shaft. You go down to 100 metres and then sub-lift your shaft.
Before you do anything on the mine, you have to get the explosive to work, which is very expensive. Each borehole you drill is more than $50 000 to $60 000 and unless you have investors, you cannot do good and safe mining. The proper mining, when you go below the ground you leave pillars of one metre or 1.5 by 1.5 metres. What we do, we cut mapango from a tree and you put underneath and hope that it is going to hold. Mining is not that easy, it is like njunga ...
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that the Hon. Member is actually a miner but we are not here to be lectured about mining methods and whatever. We are here to discuss the tragedy in Chegutu. Mr. Speaker, I beg, can he be reminded instead of debating about 200 or 300 metres.
HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Haritatos, can you be pointed in your debated please as far as the tragedy is concerned.
HON. HARITATOS: Yes, safety, unless you spend money on the mining, you cannot make mining safe. So you have got to spend money to make the mines safe.
HON. DR. SHUMBA: I would like to thank Hon. Maridadi for his very incisive and somewhat emotional presentation which is clearly an explanation of how heavily vested his heart is in the painful issues that he enunciated. The beginning of this whole issue ought to be dissected very carefully. We ought to understand the processes and exactly what happened. I have heard presentations from earlier speakers who have clearly elaborated the causes of artisanal mining and the issues relating to the economics thereof.
I am aware that as Parliament, oversight recommendations have been made for the formalization of this sector. But more focus has been given to the revenue collection processes and not to the complete mining processes in order to avert possible accidents on mines. I know we have delved on issues of ownership, which may have led the courts to issue the judgments that may have led to the eviction, maybe in an overzealous manner, hasty manner or non coordinated manner. These have come out here. I have also noted the cause from my other Hon. Members for enquiries and committees to be set up, but what is key to understand is due process. What does the law say, so that we, as Parliament, cannot be trigger happy and circumvent processes.
In terms of the Mines and Minerals Act, processes are enunciated clearly as to what happens during accidents. What has been said in here maybe very true but it is also possible that there may be errors with the information that we are getting here because the professionals - the mining inspectors that are on the ground, have not identified the truth that we now hear in this House. We have not been given, in terms of the Mines and Minerals Act; categorically the names of the individuals that we profess have demised in these mines. It is very important if we declare that people have demised and we call for all sorts of punitive measures. We ought to be sure that what we are saying is both correct procedurally and right at law. What is true is that the Mining and Engineering Inspectors are on the ground as we speak. This accident occurred on Monday and they have not as yet asserted whether there are indeed people that are underground.
We can come here and become emotional about it and cause a stir in the nation as well as cause emotions to flow but the truth is we must abide by the legal processes that are provided. I am very much touched myself and it is possible that people may have demised. As the Chairman of the Mines Portfolio Committee, I indeed want to go and demonstrate. I would also want to go and dig out these people but there are experts – the engineers and mining inspectors. It is provided for by the laws of this country and we ought to follow them. - [HON
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-
Those that are shouting are the ones that most ask for adherence to the law of Zimbabwe. Now let us follow the law unless we are declaring that the experts on the ground are incompetent. What we are attempting to do here in circumventing this process is becoming alarmists and cause the situation to deteriorate. If indeed there are people who have demised in this accident, it has to be a matter of fact and the facts can only be ascertained through the use of due process, which entails that we follow the rules as enunciated in the Mines and Minerals Act. The Act is clear that mining inspectors have got to come up with a report, identify the people that are missing by name and identity. Every Zimbabwean has got an I.D, names, locus- standi and jurisdictions. So, we should not come here, start being trigger happy and cause the nation to panic. In the event that we do not find people underground, are we going to be able to retract the damage that we would have caused?
It is important that this motion be brought to this House as it is so important except that it has been prematurely tabled.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I also rise to contribute to this motion and in doing so, I want to explain to the House what happened in March, 2015 at Peakstone. There was a young man who was positively identified to have disappeared in a shaft and the shaft collapsed. We knew the person that we were looking for, and we went there in the company of the police, unlike some of the alarmist sentiments we are hearing that the police are doing this and that. We spent two days – day and night with the police trying to retrieve a person we knew, from the shaft. Luckily, we managed to retrieve the body and we duly buried the young man, may his soul rest in peace. Why am I saying this? I have never heard the names of the missing people who went into the shaft and were reported missing. What we are merely hearing are alarmist stories of people who went into the shaft and now it has almost been six days of digging and no one has been found.
I rise to support Dr. Shumba when he asked why we do not allow due process to be followed. My learned colleague said we should follow the laws. We have talked about Rhodesian laws but Mr. Speaker Sir, in 2013, we passed a new Constitution with a whole Chapter (4) and if you read it carefully the statutory interpretation that we have now enjoined us to have regard to Chapter 4 in interpreting any law. If we have any law that is inconsistent with the declaration of rights, we have to follow it. In fact we have gone to town about realigning laws or whatever but the Constitution is very clear on what we have to follow. If anything is inconsistent with the Constitution, we have to follow the Constitution. I am saying, why are we going to town about something that we have not even given due regard to the Minister or the Police to come and report to us that this is what has happened and then we go on and say, can we now move a motion to investigate whether the company has flouted any laws of the country. I believe, this motion is premature, let us give the Police time to do their job – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] – I happen to have worked with the Police from my previous post, they do an excellent job. I have alluded to the fact that at Pixton where this mishap is alleged to have happened, we spent two nights with the Police there, trying to retrieve the bodies until we retrieved them, I believe that, why not allow the due process to go on? When we have tangible evidence that so and so was buried in the shaft and this is what transpired, we then deliberate about it. I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have listened
to the last two speakers, a motion was introduced in this House based on information that has come out through the media. I remember, when I heard the news, it was a few days ago and the report was precise to say people had been buried underground. When you dig people out from a mine shaft, it does not take two or three days, it can even take longer.
We had this experience in Chile but however, I am suspicious Mr. Speaker that the two previous speakers could be shareholders at Pixton Mine.
HON. DR. SHUMBA: The Hon. Member needs to dissuade
himself of the wondering mind that causes him to be suspicious of everything.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Let us not make very wild allegations. If we do not know, we do not know. Let us not allege that which we do not know. There must be an element of probability. If it is not there, then we cannot proceed to allege. I ask the Hon. Member to withdraw the statement that the previous two Hon Members might be shareholders of Pixton Mine.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: I want to qualify my statement, I said, I am suspicious that the last two speakers but however under those circumstances, I withdraw my statement but I was suspicious. Mr. Speaker, Pixton Mine as reported in the media, the role of the media is to inform and educate. I believe that when they make these reports, they carry a certain amount of truth but what is it that we should be focusing on. I think Mr. Speaker, the process of formalising the status of the so called makorokoza has taken unnecessarily too long. I remember, Mr. Speaker, in October 2010, when I was Deputy Minister of Mines, I was the first to propose the formalisation – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – after a tour of duty, familiarising myself with what was going on …
HON. ZIYAMBI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. My point of order is the speaker is now talking about formalising artisanal miners, we have a situation of alleged young people who are buried in a shaft, that is the original. I understand the speaker was speaking strongly about confining ourselves to the motion. Now, he is talking about formalisation of artisanal miners which is not the original content by Hon. Maridadi.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please stick to the
motion.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: I appreciate what the point of order was
all about but the same speaker does not believe that we are talking about people who are buried underground. So, it is very interesting, when it suits him…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, the Hon. Member cannot
rule against the Chair, you are being very unprocedural, withdraw that statement.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my statement.
The issue that I wanted to emphasise was that as we focus on what is alleged to have occurred at Pixton Mine, there is need to also look at areas where the so called makorokoza become victims. We have
Kitsiyatota in Bindura - [AN HON. MEMBER: Haasati anwa mapiritsi] - A few months ago, people were driven out into the roads and in the cold weather, they were ordered ….
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is very important for us to be parliamentary. Hon. Mukupe said kuti vaChimanikire varikutaura the way he is speaking because havasati vanwa mapiritsi – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – I think he should withdraw.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I did not take note of the interjection but
in any case, it is a wild statement if it was stated, pills can be pills for anything – [Laughter.]
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: I shudder to think in terms of the
attitude that other people are displaying in view of the seriousness of this topic. Taking it as a joke to talk about drinking Viagra or otherwise, because that allegation came from a woman, that is why I think it is Viagra she is talking about but she has not tested me at all.
I was talking about how the so called makorokoza have been illtreated in this country. I was giving an example of what happened in Bindura where they were driven out in their hundreds, left by the road side and in cold weather. The system is such that we can talk about laws but the system is so cruel against these people who are contributing to the fiscus in one way or the other. They have no accommodation, there is no health and safety that safeguards them, they are even exploited at the mills because they only get 30% of what they are supposed to get from what they will have actually unearthed from underneath.
Mr. Speaker, I believe in various mines, there is Primrose mine in Kwekwe where the so called Makorokoza are only allowed to dig six metres and after six metres they are supposed to go to the mills and whatever ore they produce is then milled. In actual fact, they are being exploited as explorers, they do the exploration on behalf on the mine owners. So left, right or centre, these people are being ill-treated under laws that are allowing to remain in force when we could have changed them. The proposal first came in 2010 and I remember we passed it in the Ministry. Several consultations were done. So, what I am recommending, in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, is that if it is confirmed that people died in Chegutu, if it is confirmed - please do not point at me, you are not a policeman.
ACR, which is actually the company which is alleged to be owning claims in this particular area, should have their licences withdrawn because of the inhuman nature in which they have approached this issue, disregarding the value of human life in that area. Also, the person who drove the caterpillar or otherwise, should also be arrested should it be proven that people died in this particular mine shaft.
Yes, ACR is a Canadian Company. They did exploration in this country and flew out of the country without giving us details of where the diamonds were. So, these are culprits that are well known that we have allowed to get away with murder. This time they should be made accountable. In the mean time, this is what I am appealing to the Ministry. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, either through a Statutory Instrument, should actually bring about a moratorium against the prosecution of makorokoza in the interim before they bring the Bill to this House.
Why am I saying that, Mr. Speaker? Some years ago during a drought situation, the makorokozas were allowed to mine. So, why should the Minister of Mines and Mining Development right now not bring a moratorium for the makorokozas simply because he is the one who has delayed the tabling of the Bill. There has been talk about the
Bill coming, but we are still waiting for it to come. There should be a Statutory Instrument at the moment, to allow the makorokozas to be able to earn a living since we are approaching another drought through El Nino. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Firstly, I wish to thank you for indulging me to bring this motion to this House and I wish to thank all Hon. Members for their contributions. In winding up the debate, Mr. Speaker, I want to say the reason why there seems to be disagreement between debaters is that we have not been able to get the authorities, the Executive, going in there and giving us information. So, the reason some are saying there are people underground and some are saying there are no people underground is because we have not been given information. The information that we are relying on…-[HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Please allow Hon.
Maridadi to wind up.
HON. MARIDADI: I am being challenged to give the names and it is for the reason that the authorities have not given a statement. This is why we are not able to give names. This is why we are not able, with certainty, to say how many people are underground. What we are urging the authorities to do is move in there, ascertain what has happened, give us information on the events that took place and give us the correct information on the position of affairs right now.
The reason why Hon. Nduna is not in this House is because…
HON. SHAMU: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. What he is saying is a terminological in exactitude. He is casting aspersions that the
Executive is not seized with the matter. I have just spoken to the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Moyo, and he informed me that he was seized with the matter. He also said that the Chief Mining Engineer, Mr. Paswavaviri, is on the spot. Now, what I wanted to say, Mr. Speaker is that, we are discussing this issue without having investigated it fully. Without full investigation, one has no right to speak. So, what Hon. Maridadi is saying is based on hearsay. We should wait for the facts to be presented by the Minister responsible for the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Chidhakwa -
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Perhaps it is a question of communication. What the mover was simply saying was that there are two views. One view is definitive; the other is not and is appealing for due process to be completed. That is all he was saying. Can you wind up?
*HON. MARIDADI: Let me use our mother tongue so that it may be understood. The point I am making is that the Government should have given us the information when the allegations were made that people have been buried alive in a mine. If the issue had been ascertained, I would have not raised such a motion because I would be knowledgeable, I would know the truth.
Mr. Speaker, I am saying that the Executive should be running this country...
*THE HON. SPEAKER: I would have thought that you have understood what Hon. Shamu said. He said that at the moment, there is a Deputy Minister and the Chief Engineer who are at the scene to investigate and come up with the correct position of what transpired. Do not then prejudge the issue. It is being looked into - [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.]-. Order, order there at the back.
*HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I believe that what Hon. Shamu has said is going to be given to us in formal communication so that the majority of the people of Zimbabwe would know and appreciate what is transpiring. I thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I had moved that the House adjourn, but I also wish to comment on the motion by Hon. Maridadi. It is true. There is a tragedy there, but effort is being made by the Executive to find the facts which will be made public to the nation -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- I move that the House do now adjourn.
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: When the Chair is holding the floor, it is disrespectful to take the floor unrecognised. We have come to the close of business and no other business can take place.
On that note, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the Hon. Members a happy new year and a prosperous 2016. Please travel well and regards to your families.
Motion put and agreed to.
The House accordingly adjourned at a Quarter past Five o'clock
p.m. until Tuesday, 2nd February, 2016.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 16th December, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga having brought a baby in Parliament.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, may I ask Hon. MisihairabwiMushonga to bring my grandchild here.
Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga took the baby to the Hon. Speaker.
Hon. Members, we have a unique spectre this afternoon. I have conferred with Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga and we have discussed and amicably agreed to let her explain herself without me ruling.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, this was meant to stress a particular point. Yes, as I always do, this particular House and this Parliament is not women friendly. Most of these women that you are beginning to see in this House are child bearing and there is nothing here in this Parliament that allows you to bring a baby, be looked after and breast feed. In our Standing Rules and Orders, we do not have anything that allows anybody to take time out – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, please go ahead.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Our Constitution Mr.
Speaker makes sure that both men and women have equal opportunity to participate in political activities. As long as we are hamstrung by the inability to be able to do so, because we have to look after babies – as it is today, it is an important debate day. I do not have anybody to look after the baby, so I have to come here and debate. I understand because I looked at the Standing Rules and Orders and there is no provision that allows somebody to bring in a baby. I had dwelled on the basis that this baby cannot be called a stranger and therefore, had brought the baby to the House.
I am hoping that after I have made this and I have agreed with you that I am going to take the baby out, it is going to be a point about ensuring that both our Standing Rules and Orders and everything else, facilitates for women to participate effectively in issues of political work. So, I am going to take the baby out but with a heavy heart because I think I could still have debated with the baby here. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Sit down – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear,
hear.] – Hon. Member, please take a seat with the baby. I am sure Hon. Members have had the statement from the hon. member with the baby. I think it is correct that we do not have provisions or facilities to bring babies here so that those Members of Parliament who are breast feeding and would like to come to the House to debate can do so and go back to breast feed the children within the premises of Parliament. I am aware that the labour law does allow, I think extended long leave, maternity leave for parents especially mothers to go and take care of their children. If it is not possible, they can come within the premises but we need to provide for such facilities in future. I thank you, I think you have made a point.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
CHANGES TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House of changes to Committee membership as follows: - Hon. E. Mhere to move from the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs to the Portfolio Committee on
Environment; Hon. Chikomba to move from the Portfolio Committee on
Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment to the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce; Hon. Mlilo to serve in the Portfolio Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development.
FIRST READING
ZIMBABWE NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY BILL
(H.B.12, 2015)
THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. DR. SEKERAMAYI)
presented the Zimbabwe National Defence University Bill (H.B. 12, 2015).
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE RESTORATION OF THE FINANCE BILL ON THE
ORDER PAPER
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, pursuant
to Standing Order Number 73, I seek leave of the House to move the motion that leave be granted to bring in a Finance Bill, which was suspended due to lack of quorum yesterday on Tuesday, 15th December, 2015, be restored on today’s Order Paper as Order Number 1 and that the rest of the Orders be renumbered accordingly.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir, what it just brings home is that Members of this august House are not taking heed of what you have said to us. I think yesterday it was made very clear at the beginning that we had suspended Standing Orders relating to automatic adjournment. It was really incumbent upon us as Legislators to remain in the House. It is an embarrassment that the House had to be adjourned due to lack of quorum. I want to emphasise the point that you have made before Mr. Speaker, that all of us must take the business of the House seriously. We had suspended the automatic adjournment and we would have been able to carry on with the debate but some members, for reasons best known to themselves, did not take heed of what you told us before. I believe that in future it is very necessary for us to take the business of the House very seriously. Having said that – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, some of the Members who are making noise are the ones who were not here.
HON. GONESE: The membership of this august House is 270 and the quorum is only a third. So, there is no excuse for us to fail to have a quorum which only comprises 70 Members. Obviously, in the circumstances that we find ourselves in, we will agree to the motion by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we have no objection to it. I just thought it was important for me to point out the fact that the House had to adjourn prematurely when there were Members who were willing to debate, simply because other Members were not present in the House and the House was not quorate, there was no excuse for that. That is my point.
THE HON. SPEAKER: The Chair does subscribe to the sentiments expressed and for the Chair, it would appear that the Members who absented themselves do not understand the importance of a budget, more so, when the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic
Development was so committed to complete the task. Not only that, we had prepared dinner for Members to have their meal here and come back, so that the question of quorum would not arise. That was not respected and I am hoping that we shall not have a repeat today. We need to be able to carry out our responsibility as far as looking at the budget is concerned and the Finance Bill which the Minister of Finance and Economic Development will put forward to us.
I thank you Hon. Gonese and there shall be no objection.
MOTION
RESTORATION OF THE FINANCE BILL ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, with that
indulgence, I now move the motion that leave be granted to bring in a Finance Bill, which was superseded by lack of quorum yesterday on
Tuesday, 15th December, 2015, be restored on today’s Order Paper in terms of Standing Order Number 73, as Order Number 1 and that the rest of the Orders be renumbered accordingly.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
FINANCE BILL (H.B. 12, 2015)
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion that leave be granted to make further provisions for the revenues and Public Funds of Zimbabwe and to make provisions for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Question again proposed.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I
apologise for not reporting on the Budget analysis from the Committee on Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development yesterday. As you know Mr. Speaker, our Committee covers quite a number of gender issues in our country and there are so many international days that are being celebrated, for example, yesterday, it was International Day for disability and we are closing the Gender Based Violence 16 days of activism. So, there are so many activities taking place in the evening, my apologies Mr. Speaker Sir.
I also want to thank you Mr. Speaker, for acknowledging that this House is not gender sensitive, hence a lot of women are not participating in politics but I want to thank you for accepting the observation and I hope the relevant Ministry will address that.
INTRODUCTION
Mr. Speaker Sir, the goals of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development are to empower women, achieve gender equality and develop the community. In ZIM ASSET, the Ministry will be addressing the goals under the Value Addition and Poverty Eradication Clusters.
METHODOLOGY
The Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Gender and
Community Development, after the 2016 Budget presentation by the
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, engaged the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development and stakeholders, in order to hear their views. The Committee sat to deliberate on the views received and came up with its own analysis of the 2016 Budget, Vote 23 of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development.
OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET
Overall national budget is expected to change slightly from US$4.5784 in 2015 to US$4.4343 billion in 2016, representing a slight decrease of 3%. Of the total 2016 Budget, over 83% will go towards recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure will constitute only 6%, which is still very low. Employment costs are over 55% of the total budget.
WOMEN AFFAIRS, GENDER AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
The budget allocation for the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and
Community Development, Vote 23 increased slightly from US$13.352 million in 2015 to US$13.713 million in 2016, representing an increase of 2.7% but just 0.3% of the total Budget. Although the Ministry’s bid was over US$58 million, total resources available for the Government could not fulfill the Ministry’s 2016 bid. The total allocation to the Ministry has remained less than 1% of the total Budget.
Despite facing the challenges of lack of funding from Treasury, inadequate vehicles, ICT equipment, furniture, office space and office supplies in 2015, the Ministry’s major achievements in women empowerment are listed in box 1 below.
Box 1: Women Empowerment Achievements in 2015
ü 1,326 women trained in small grain production and conservation agriculture.
ü 44 women trained in horticulture production. ü 1,536 women trained in food processing. ü 1,309 women mobilised and are involved in animal husbandry (cattle, beef, chicken and beekeeping). |
- With the assistance of funding from a partner, 5 women projects in agriculture were set in Chivi, Gutu, Nyanga, Murewa and Mutoko districts where 300 women benefited.
- 2,450 were sensitised on mining regulations.
- 43 women sensitised on the importance of environmental assessments.
- 397 women trained on customs, border regulations amongst other issues.
- 278 women linked to markets.
- 287 women groups funded under Women Development Fund.
- KPMG contracted to facilitate the establishment of the Women’s Micro Finance Bank.
The Committee noted that there is little achievement in women empowerment. The figures are too small considering the women population in Zimbabwe. The provincial coverage is too narrow; only two provinces were considered.
In gender mainstreaming, the Ministry achieved the following in 2015:
Box 2: Women Gender Mainstreaming Achievements in 2015
o Revised National Gender Policy (at Cabinet level).
o Trained local authorities, officials and Parliamentarians on gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting, family laws and gender provisions in the constitution. o Launched the AU campaign on ending child marriages on 31st of July 2015. o Facilitated the development of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Bill (awaiting Presidential assent). o One-Stop centre for survivors of gender based violence being established at Gwanda Provincial Hospital. |
Hosted SADC Ministers of Gender from 27 to 30 May 2015 presented the Beijing+20 report on the status of women in New York (March)
In community development, the Ministry achieved the following in
2015:
Box 3: Ministry’s 2015 Achievements in Community Development
§ Developed a draft Community Development Policy.
§ 444 centres resuscitated from a total of 1,535 wards. § 6,881 (5,174 men and 1,707 women) trained on internal savings and lending schemes in ten provinces. § 8,368 (6,415 women and 1,953 men) trained in value addition of agro products (food processing) in ten provinces. § Pilot land and livestock management programme in Chikomba district. § Mobilised communities to participate in income generating projects (234 groups trained in beekeeping). § 511 (326 women and 185 men) trained in bakery skills, early childhood learning, business management, food processing, clothing technology and detergent making. |
Training in bakery skills, early childhood learning, business management, food processing, clothing technology and detergent making was done at the two training centres (Jamaica Inn and Rodger Howman). Training on internal savings and lending schemes and value addition was done at the Ministry’s centres in all the ten provinces.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community
Development’s 2016 broad policy priorities are:
- Formulate and implement policies, strategies and programmes that promote women participation in development.
- Strengthen links between Government, Non-Governmental Organisations and Private Sector in mainstreaming gender in the respective sectors.
- Promote policies, programmes and projects that enhance community development.
In line with policy priorities in 8, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development specifically prioritises the following in women empowerment:
Priority | Activity | Budget
2015 |
Release
2015 |
Bids
2016 |
Approve
d 2016 |
Women’s Dev | 350,000 | 150,000 | 20m | 300,000 | |
Women’s empowerment | Fund | ||||
Exhibitions | 12,420 | 200,000 | 0 | ||
Commemorations | 21,846 | 200,000 | 0 | ||
Women’s Bank | 5m | 74,175 | 10m | 5m | |
Women in Health | 260,000 | 0 | |||
Total | 5.35m | 258,441 | 30.66m | 5.3m |
From a bid of US$30.66 million, only US$5.3 million was approved. Only two activities namely Women’s Development Fund and Women’s Bank received funding from the fiscus and the funding was just about 18% of the Ministry’s total bids for women empowerment. The Committee noted that despite lack of resources, activities such as exhibitions, commemorations and women in health which received nothing are important in women empowerment. The Committee also observed that for the 2015 women empowerment allocation, only 4.8% was released by the Treasury.
In gender mainstreaming, the Ministry’s 2016 priorities are:
Priority | Activity | Budget
2015 |
Release
2015 |
Bids
2016 |
Approved
2016 |
Gender Main streaming |
Gender policy training | 20,000 | 750,000 | 0 | |
Anti-domestic violence | 140,000 | 32,000 | |||
Gender responsive policy management | 200,000 | 5,000 | |||
Women in politics | 5,000 | 0 | 480,000 | 5,000 | |
Gender Commission (Operations) | 100,000 | 540,000 | 100,000 | ||
Gender Commission (Furniture) | 20,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 | ||
Girls and Young
Women empowerment |
5,000 | 1.5m | 30,000 | ||
Capacity building on Gender and Farm laws | 10,000 | 1.1m | 15,000 | ||
State Party Reporting | 5,000 | 81,684 | 500,000 | 20,000 | |
Gender Based Violence | 5,000 | 3,500 | 1.1m | 25,000 | |
Total | 170,000 | 85,184 | 6.34m | 282,000 |
In gender mainstreaming, the Government allocated US$32,000 to anti-domestic violence, US$150,000 to Gender Commission and US$100,000 to the rest of the remaining eight activities. Gender training activity received nothing and the approved US$282,000 is just 4% of the
Ministry’s total bids in gender mainstreaming. The Committee observed that the Treasury released only 50% of the Ministry’s 2015 Budget for gender mainstreaming. The Committee further noted that the allocation for Gender Commission was not enough, given the demanding operations of the Commission.
In community development from the ten priority areas which are:
- National Community Development Policy.
- Community Centres.
- Zimbabwe Community Development Fund- ZCDF.
- Renewable Sources of Energy-biogas.
- Capacitating community centres.
- Internal savings and lending and entrepreneurship development
(targeting 1 958 wards at 200 people per ward)
- Value addition.
- Small grains and legumes.
- Land and livestock management.
- Bee keeping businesses.
Only one activity has been approved. Despite a total expenditure bid of US$16 million for community development, only US$0.5 million was approved for Zimbabwe Community Development Fund. The fund will be used to assist rural areas in the production of biogas. The Committee raised some concerns that targeting 200 people per ward is too small given that some wards have over 5,000 people.
The targeted activity is renewable energy (biogas) production in rural areas. But activities such as value addition, small grains and legumes production, land and livestock management and bee keeping are equally crucial in the pillars of ZIM ASSET namely value addition, poverty reduction and food security. The Committee noted that micro-level value addition is not taken at national level with the weight it deserves. In this regard, the Committee recommended the need to also prioritise community development when funds are disbursed from the fiscus since community development is key in poverty reduction.
Priority areas in supplies and Ministry’s capacitation
Priority | Activity | Budget
2015 |
Release
2015 |
Bids
2016 |
Approved
2016 |
Supplies and |
Goods and services | 655,000 | 51,766 | 2,587,650 | 360,000 |
Capacitating the Ministry
Total |
Maintenance | 195,000 | 113,307 | 560,000 | 96,000 |
Furniture and equipment | 30,000 | 11,257 | 450,000 | 25,000 | |
Vehicles | |||||
Construction | 100,000 | 1,695,000 | 160,000 | ||
980,000 | 176,330 | 5,292,650 | 641,000 |
Only US$641,000 was approved against total bids of US$5,292,650. This represents 12% of the total bids in supplies and capacitation of the Ministry. Only 18% of the 2015 budget for supplies was released by the Treasury. Despite facing limited budgetary resources, The Committee emphasised the need to release the approved resources.
Given the limited resources, the Ministry was allocated only 23.5% of its total bid. From the total Ministry’s budget allocation of US$13.713 million, about 51% goes to employment costs leaving only US$6.723 million for projects, supplies and maintenance. In this regard, the Ministry proposed the following measures in revenue generation and cost cutting:
- Raising revenue from the two training Centres (Jamaica Inn and Rodger Howman) through fees charged. The fees vary from course to course and according to demand. Because of these variations, the Committee suggested that the Ministry should prepare what is generated from the two centres on yearly basis.
- Increasing collaboration with development partners to mobilise financial and human resources.
- Doing pilot projects which can be replicated by community members to improve their livelihoods.
- Conducting training of trainers.
- Venturing into Public-Private Partnerships.
- The Ministry seeks to promote economic growth through its training programme on Internal Savings and Lending whose objective is to promote a culture of saving among communities.
The Committee recommended that any funds generated from the Ministry should be replanted back into the Ministry. The training centres are sometimes hired, used for weddings and for training. In this regard, the revenue estimate should be available at each end of the year.
COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS
The Committee observed that the approved expenditure target for the Ministry was far below what the Ministry bided for. This is however not unique to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development but is common to all Ministries due to limited resources available for the Government. However, the major issue noted by the Committee is the failure by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to release some of the approved resources. Treasury just released 9% of the original budget of US$6.55 million excluding employment costs. The Committee emphasized that although the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is working hard and doing his best, there is need to honour the approved budget. Approved funds must be made available.
One of the observations from the Committee was that the budget share of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community
Development has remained very small (less than 1% of the National
Budget) indicating that the Ministry has not been among the
Government’s priority Ministries. Community development is crucial in
ZIMASSET but has not been considered more seriously in the National Budget.
The Committee observed that most of the Ministry’s programmes and activities are attractive to development partners and hence the development agencies partner the Ministry in a number of projects. The Committee however observed that some districts were appearing more frequently in the Ministry’s programmes than others, in particular for programmes offered in partnership with development partners. In this view, the Committee suggested recommendations based on how best the approved resources can be used by the Ministry.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Despite facing limited budgetary resources, releasing the approved little resources to the Ministries will go a long way in improving their activities. The Committee recommended that there is need for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to release approved resources to the respective Ministries.
In terms of revenue generation, the Committee recommended the Ministry to generate income from fees paid by trainees. The Ministry should have an estimate of how much is generated from fees paid by trainees per year. Income generated from the training centres could be an important source of budgetary resources which can be used to buy some of the supplies, in particular, furniture. The Committee further recommended that the generated funds should be replanted into the
Ministry.
The Committee raised some concerns with regards to the capitalisation of the Women’s Bank. The Committee recommended the need to speed up capitalisation of the Women’s Bank. Realising the Government’s tight budgetary needs, the Committee suggested that capitalisation of the bank could be done through Public-Private partnerships. Some of the shares of the Bank can be sold to individuals or companies in order to capitalise the Bank but priority given to women investors.
The Committee appreciated the need to equally distribute the
Ministry’s development programmes across districts. The Committee therefore recommended that the Ministry should liaise with donors to make sure that districts are covered in a balanced manner. In addition, the Committee recommended that a one-stop-centre for survivors of Gender violence should be established in every district. Although covering all districts may not be possible given the available resources, the Committee proposed that the Ministry can rotate the benefitting districts in every budgetary year.
Although the Committee appreciates the importance capacity building, the Committee feels that in order to ensure that the training of women is effective; there is need for a follow-up of the trained women. Trained women could be encouraged to extend the training to others in order to broaden knowledge among women. Training of trainers could be structured. Such transfer of knowledge can be a good future cost cutting measure for the Ministry as women will just train themselves without resources from the Ministry.
Finally, the Committee observed that from the ten priority activities of the Ministry in community development, only one activity was approved for funding from the fiscus. This activity is renewable energy (biogas) production in rural areas. But activities such as value addition, small grains and legumes production, land and livestock management and bee keeping are equally crucial in the pillars of ZIM ASSET namely value addition, poverty reduction and food security. The Committee noted that micro-level value addition is not taken at national level with the weight it deserves. In this regard, the Committee recommended the need to also prioritise community development when funds are disbursed from the fiscus since community development is key in poverty reduction.
Mr. Speaker Sir, that was the report from your Committee on
Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, but just a second of your time Mr. Speaker Sir; today we attended a workshop on family planning. It was shocking that our Government is not putting a lot of money into family planning. Family planning by women in the country is being funded by only the donor community. It is dangerous and hence you find that the Registrar General is also crying that some of these drugs that are coming are not the best. I thank you.
HON. CROSS: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to initiate the debate by ordinary members of the House on the 2016 Budget. I want to start by examining the assumptions in the budget regarding prospects for growth in 2016 and I want to deal with this sector by sector, I think the outlook for 2016 is extremely poor at this juncture.
In the assumptions made by the Minister regarding agriculture, he refers to the possibility of a reasonable wet season. Well it is quite clear now that the season is not only very delayed, but is likely to seriously underperform. We are already two months late into our planting season and I cannot see any possibility of a significant recovery in agriculture in 2016. In fact, to the contrary, I see a significant reduction in agricultural output.
In the mining sector, we are already forecasting minimum growth. Mining output is going to be affected by the serious continuing decline in international commodity prices and I do not see any prospects of recovery in 2016. Therefore, I assume, Mr. Speaker Sir, that the mining industry output will also fall in 2016. Tourism is going to be affected by the devaluation of the currencies around us. We have a massive devaluation of the South African Rand, but we often ignore the fact that the Metical in Mozambique and the Kwacha in Zambia have declined in value by more than 50% in 2015 and therefore, all the destinations around us are going to be significantly cheaper than Zimbabwe which is operating in a hard currency environment, especially with the United States Dollar. Therefore, I think that tourism is going to have a difficult year.
Construction is likely to be maintained by the continued emphasis of the diaspora on the construction of housing. It is interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, that even though we have not committed any resources at all to housing in this country, there is in fact a housing revolution underway. It is principally funded by the international diaspora, but they too are affected by the disparity in currency values, especially in South Africa where 1 000 rands is only worth US$45 in Zimbabwe.
Finally, there is the question of our internal reform programme and the efforts by the Government to stimulate FDI. I must say, I see no chance whatsoever of these reforms having any kind of significant impact on economic activity in 2016. I cannot see any significant growth in FDI. My conclusion therefore, Mr. Speaker, is that growth is unlikely. Instead, we must brace ourselves for further reduction in tax receipts. Tax receipts have declined now, in 2014 and 2015 and I personally am expecting a further reduction in tax receipts in 2016. I see this as being unavoidable.
We are being asked what are the prospects for increasing taxation levels. Mr. Speaker, we are already one of the most heavily taxed populations in the world. The official figures in the budget show that taxes in Zimbabwe generally collect about 28% of our GDP, but that is only a small fraction of what we actually collect in taxes. Mr. Speaker, the AIDS Levy is a tax, the NSSA charges are a tax, the ZINARA charges are a tax, police road blocks and fines are a tax. They are all means of collecting money from individuals in the Zimbabwean economy.
If you aggregate all of these informal and formal taxes on the population of Zimbabwe, we are in fact collecting 35% of the GDP. I just want to say that that is completely unsustainable. It also results in a whole lot of other adverse side effects. It makes Zimbabwe one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to operate as a business. It increases the cost of employment by a third without any impact on the incomes of the individuals who are working and so, you can carry these implications across the whole country. There is no prospect whatsoever, of us raising additional money from the existing tax base in these circumstances. In fact, I think ZIMRA does an amazing job. If you read the annual report of ZIMRA, I think they have really done very well under very difficult circumstances.
Now, we have to turn to the prospects for cost reductions. There is absolutely no room for the Minister to reduce the cost of Government.
Our employment costs are $3.2 billion. Our fixed recurrent cost is nearly $300 million. That is $3.5 billion. In my view, that is already in excess of the revenue that we are likely to accrue in 2016. In other words, without providing for any capital expenditure or any other demands being made on Government, we will be operating next year on a deficit basis. We will have to borrow money simply to meet staff and other recurrent costs.
When it comes to the constitutional commitments that should be provided for in the budget, I was delighted along with many other members of the House to hear the Minister’s commitment to show the allocations to specific Constitutional Commissions as separate items in the budget allocations. I think this is a great step forward and I think it means a significant contribution to the improvement of general governance in this county.
Mr. Speaker, I am extremely perturbed that for the third year in a row, we have failed to make provision for the 5% allocation to local authorities. Our local authorities have been subjected to time and time again of revenues being moved from their resource base to Central Government. For example, first we took electricity away from local authorities. In South Africa, every urban council buys electricity in bulk and on sells it to the consumers in their districts and they make a small margin. Electricity in South Africa is a significant proportion of the income to local authorities. In Zimbabwe we took it away from our local authorities. We did not even compensate the cities of Harare and Bulawayo for the cost of the power stations which were built by the citizens of those cities.
Then came water with an attempt to centralise it in ZINWA. Fortunately, that was resisted by the people and water remains with local authorities. That represents 40% of the revenues of local authorities. We took licencing away from local authorities and transferred it to
ZINARA. ZINARA is expected to collect more than $200 million in 2016. Last year the Minister allocated $10 million from ZINARA for urban councils and less than half of that has been disbursed. How do we expect local authorities to repair roads, maintain street lighting and to do pretty much anything if we do not make resources available?
In Kenya, 60%, not 5%, of the Central Government’s revenue goes to local authorities. This is where we should be going. Mr. Speaker, $180 million would make an enormous contribution to all local authorities, it really would. If I was a member of the Rural District Council in a place like Beitbridge, I do not know what I would do with the paltry resources that I have at my disposal. Certainly, I could not maintain roads, provide clean water, build schools, and maintain clinics and other infrastructure. The majority of services that meet the basic needs of our people come from our local authorities. If they do not have the money to do that, how do we expect them to perform their duties? I think the Minister should make a serious effort to find another $180 million and make these funds available to local authorities in 2016.
Last year the Minister for the first time, showed in the blue book what donors were contributing to supplement the resources of
Government. I do not think it was a great deal of money. It was about $600 million. Nevertheless, it showed us what they were providing to health, sanitation, water and other key priorities. I think it is a pity that this year, that this was not repeated because, if you look at what we committed to health for example, in our budget, a paltry $300 million. If you look at the Abuja commitments which we have, it is 15% of the national budget. 15% of $4 billion is a great deal of more money than $300 million, but if we add to that the Aids Levy is a the tax and we add to that what the donors are doing. You will see that donors are matching US dollar for dollar in health; the donors are making a huge contribution to our health system. You begin to see that our health system is fairly adequately funded, but you do not see it in the budget. It is a pity that the
Minister does not show those kinds of facts and indicates to the population as a whole and to outside observers, just exactly what we are spending in specific areas.
Mr. Speaker, there is need to tackle and harness the Statutory Funds. The Minister has included the Statutory Funds for the second year in the blue book. This year they constitute $716 million but that excludes many items which are being collected by Government agencies such as NSSA, $300 million, ZINARA $200 million and AIDs Levies. If you add all of these statutory funds, it comes to something like $1.4 billion. If $1.4 billion was added to the pool of funds available to the Minister, we should have been talking about a budget of $5.4 billion and not $4 billion. We would be talking about a budget where the deficit was comparatively smaller. It would also mean that these funds would be spent under the discipline of the budget and under the scrutiny of this House. These funds are not subject to budget approval or scrutiny except during the post mortem by the Committee on Public Accounts.
I believe that it is time that we re-imposed the system which existed before hyperinflation in this country where all funds collected by all State agencies went to the consolidated revenue fund, and then it was allocated properly through the budget system in the normal way. In the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, I think we have an outstanding team there. There. Mr. Speaker, if we do not give them the resources with which to work, how do we expect them to do their job, and to continue to give line Ministries discretionary power to spend these funds as they will, is a wrong policy in my view.
As far as the national debt is concerned, I am very pleased to see that the Minister has fulfilled his constitutional obligations to describe our national debt in the blue book. I am very pleased to see that a comprehensive list of national debt now exists, but I am concerned by the rapid growth in domestic debt. Just to give members of this House the following figures: In 2014, we borrowed a billion dollars on the local market because we spent $4.8 million and we collected $3.8 million. In 2015, we have done the same and we have borrowed more than a billion dollars. That is $2 billion of domestic debt. We took over the Reserve Bank debts of $1.7 billion, $1.3 billion in capital and $400 000 in interest.
In terms of ZEMCO, the Reserve Bank is currently taking over more than a billion dollars worth of debt from the commercial banks. That is a Government contingent liability. If you look at ZISCO Steel, there is $500 million of debt and the Minister has already announced that he is going to take that over. If you look at Sable Chemicals, I understand from Mr. Bimha that we are going to take over the debt in Sable Chemicals, that is another $150 million. If you look at CAPS, that is another $30 million dollars, Net One, that is $350 million, PSMAS where an attempt was made to put that on our shoulders, that is another $150 million. Mr. Speaker, if you add up all of these debt items, it comes to over $6 billion of new debt, all incurred since 2013 with absolutely nothing to show for it –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- I am deeply concerned about this and I think we have to keep an eye on this. Remember that the Minister may not incur debt unless he has the approval of this House. I am worried about the issuing of Treasury Bills on a rampant basis for all sorts of things without the authority of the House.
I think that there are three things which I would like the Minister to consider seriously as amendments to his Budget. The first is the issue of the police fines. Mr. Speaker, I as a Member of Parliament have to travel Zimbabwe on the roads on a regular basis. If I travel to Chitungwiza, I am going there tomorrow morning and I will travel through six road blocks at least between here and Chitungwiza. If I come here from Bulawayo, I travel through up to 18 roadblocks on the main roads. Where on earth anywhere in the world do you find this kind of situation? Quite frankly, police road blocks are completely out of control. Coming here today on Enterprise road, I passed through two road blocks. Mr. Speaker, the principle function of these roadblocks is not the safety of the population, not the road-worthiness of vehicles, not environmental issues but it is the question of raising money for the police.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Can we tune down our whispers please, otherwise I cannot hear properly as to so direct the proceedings accordingly. That little corner there by the door, please tune down your whispers and there is room up there at the back, you are terribly squeezed up there. So, you can go up there and find some space.
HON. CROSS: I am nearly finished Mr. Speaker Sir. I just wanted to say that the Minister’s proposal to raise fines from $20 to a $100 is simply unacceptable. What you are doing by doing this, is not only putting in the hands of every policeman in the country the opportunity to have money to put in their pockets, because you know exactly what is going to happen. He will tell you that you are due to pay a fine of a $100 and he will then negotiate with you and you will end up paying him $10 which he will put in his pocket and say thank you very much and go home. There will be no benefit whatsoever, either to the Police or to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
I think that, not only is this uncalled for but it is unlawful because in terms of the law, any fine over a level three fine has to be imposed by a magistrate. It think it would be more acceptable if they had to give us a ticket and then we went to a police station and pay where at least the fines would be properly administered. But, this business of allowing them to claim spot fines of a $100 for minor misdemeanors on the road, Mr. Speaker, that is simply unwarranted.
The second thing which I want the Ministry to think about is the question of the 40% import duty on books. In 2009, we signed the UNICEF Convention on Books and in terms of the UNICEF
Convention, books are supposed to be duty free for the educational and other institutions. Now, I cannot see any justification for putting a massive import duty on books. The amount of revenue involved must be tiny and the protection implications for local industry minimal.
The last thing that I would like the Minister to do is to relook at ZINARA allocations to local authorities. Last year, he provided $20 million for the Rural District Councils and $10 million for urban councils. That was 12 months ago. Mr. Speaker, less than 50% of those funds have been distributed and ZINARA has spent $96 million on 17 kms of road between here and the airport. We spent $206 million from Plumtree to Mutare and I cannot see any reason why ZINARA should be allowed to enter into these expensive contracts when in fact the majority of our roads, particularly in rural areas are in a disastrous state. I would like to appeal to the Minister to increase the allocation from ZINARA and to enforce it so as to make sure that they send a cheque every month to every local authority in the country.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister has done an excellent job under very difficult circumstances, but I just want to say the principle task of the Budget in Zimbabwe is to provide the background for growth. If we do not get our economy growing again, we are all in trouble. First of all, it has to provide for macro-economic stability and here I am concerned about the printing of Treasury Bills - that is a form of money printing. Secondly, it has to lay the foundation for the mobilisation of resources and I think the Minister has done a sterling job. We need to recognise the work that he did in Lima, Peru which really provides for the future and the re-engagement with the rest of the world.
Thirdly, he needs to provide a policy framework for investment and I think that he has made a serious effort to do so. If we follow the principles that are laid out in the ZIM ASSET and in the Ten-Point programme which was enunciated by the President, we would in fact see significant investment in Zimbabwe.
He needs to provide space for privatisation. I am astonished that in the ten years that I have been in the House, we have not seen a single parastatal privatised. If we sold NetOne, we could earn probably something close to a billion dollars, instead of having to carry the burden of a loss-making parastatal. We need to provide for the privatisation of our parastatals on a significant scale but absolutely nothing has been achieved in the last three years in this area. We need to foster competition and a competitive environment for business.
Mr. Speaker, the cost of doing business is simply too high and it involves a myriad of State enterprises. It involves EMA charges, border controls, taxes and all sorts of levies which cover every aspect of business life in Zimbabwe. If we do not get these conditions right, Zimbabwe will simply continue to stagnate and go backwards. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker.
HON. DR. KEREKE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to also contribute to the debate on the motion on the Finance Bill. Firstly, I would like to say that the Budget Statement as presented by the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development can be characterised as the best effort under competing requirements of our nation, some of which are now coming from unforeseen contingencies like the occasion of droughts.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to applaud the august House for having sent representatives to France to participate in the discussions and negotiations which led to the agreement on the climate. Matters of the weather must now rein much more prominently in our National Budgets because it is now a reality that yester-year, expectations of food security coming from the natural rainfall cannot be expected from now into the future. When we look at the minimum import requirements Mr. Speaker Sir, for food security in our country, it ranges between 150 on the low end to around 250 million on an annual basis and those are modest expectations. So, I think that in our 2016 Budget, there is need for the Treasury to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development to come up with ways that will augment measures already announced in the Budget but as part of the realignment, the debate process for the Bill before its final approval, we urge that Treasury re-looks at the provisions made to agriculture.
I want to concur very strongly with Hon. Cross in terms of the low hanging fruits, the funding that we can get from a lot of these statutory payments. There are funds that go into NSSA, ZINARA and several other statutory bodies. I think the spirit and letter of the laws that created these bodies was to create medium to long term funding for infrastructural projects for our country. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is a tried and known fact that if one goes into the region, Asia and the Americas, a lot of their development is internally funded through statutory funds. It could be those that are aligned to insurance, health insurance programmes or infrastructure statutory payments. But when you come to our local scenario, our statutory provisions accumulate between a billion to US $1,5 billion annually. If that money is directed towards productive assets or at least infrastructure programmes, it will create more room for our Treasury and then free limited budgetary resources for other purposes.
I want to recommend Mr. Speaker Sir, to Treasury that perhaps it is time that the Treasury issues mandatory medium to long term instruments. We should not be ashamed because that will ensure these statutory bodies are not abusing or at least misallocating funds which are meant for term projects. NSSA for instance, Mr. Speaker Sir, on an annual basis collects not less than $250 million to $300 million from all paying workers. That money is paid to NSSA on a mandatory basis, but when you look at their monthly annual application of those funds, you will find that NSSA requires between $2 million and $3 million for their own internal operational expenses. They would require between $5 million and $7 million monthly for reimbursement of claims.
The effect is that NSSA has a lot of excess cash at their disposal and we want to urge our Treasury, these are not normal times and we need to respond to urgent requirements of our country, let us consider issuing long term instruments to NSSA and those are mandatory but of course leaving them reasonable space for their own operational requirements on a day to day basis. They are resources that are there internally which can help our country.
Still on food security Madam Speaker, we applaud the provision in the Budget of seed packs and support to at least 300 000 farmers countrywide. The observation we want to make there, is that perhaps the mix of the support that is given should be sensitive to the natural regions in our country of rainfall patterns and expected benefits to our communities. If one looks at regions 3, 4 and 5, predominantly those farmers can hope now to do better if they focus on small grains. If you look at Masvingo, part of Manicaland and the Buhera area, small grains like rapoko, millet and other crops like mapfunde, they do much better under the circumstances. So, we urge Treasury to re-look and consider tilting the mix of inputs that are supported to be sensitive to the natural rainfall regions.
We carried out estimates Madam Speaker, in terms of what budgetary numbers can one talk about in terms of reviving the seed for small grains. Our country, an amount of between $5 million and $10 million ...
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members. I think
it is very important to listen to what is being said because it concerns all of us. There are so many meetings here.
HON. DR. KEREKE: I reiterate that assessments that we have carried out wanting to look at the possible provisions in our Budget to reactivate and revive the production of seeds for small grains, indicative estimates are that between $5 million and $10 million annually, if carefully targeted at small grains production programmes with selected farmers, we are able to produce seed that can cover the whole country in terms of small grains production. So, we urge our Treasury to virement and re-look at the numbers to see if provision can be made to increase financial resources that go towards small grains.
The issue I want to move on to Madam Speaker, concerns the financial services sector. We were given a presentation by the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development that part of 2016 funding for farmers is going to come from our banking sector. Indicatively, a number of about a billion dollars was given that the banking sector is going to support our farmers with. There were also publicised statements from the banking sector itself acknowledging and committing that they were going to come on board to support our farmers.
When one looks at the numbers on the ground Madam Speaker, we want to urge our banking sector to also be sincere when they make public pronouncements. The billion dollars that the banking sector is talking about, is really a number which is speaking to the historical stock of lending in the agricultural sector. This is a fact. It is not correct that the banking sector has set aside and has provision for a billion dollars in new money. In fact, assessment of figures recently publicised by the Central Bank Madam Speaker, which places deposits in the country at around $5 billion, clearly shows that there is room for between $200 million and $250 million for new lending to the whole economy including agriculture. So, when we look at our strategy as a country and assess the resources we are setting aside for agriculture, there is more work that needs to be placed in emphasising consistency in our numbers, particularly what the banking sector is claiming to be contributing to our farmers. Without farmers Madam Speaker, the country’s recovery will take much longer than we would expect.
The coming season unfortunately, has another downside of drought and we applaud the provisions in the Budget for resources to go towards irrigation rehabilitation. We want to say more effort should be put in ensuring that our outlying rural communities have pockets of water bodies from which they can harvest the little rains that are coming and also come up with community irrigation systems that would augment 20 – 50 families together. A drip irrigation system is done on a plot of 30 – 50 hectares and that would go a long way in neutralising the adversities of drought.
I want to further look at the need for us as a country to respect Finance Bills that would have passed through our august House and the legislative framework as a whole. The tendency Madam Speaker, is that we meet, debate and approve budgets but when you look at the actual reality on the ground, match actual disbursement against what was budgeted for, you would find that most ministries or departments would not get that which was budgeted for – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Even though there is a Supplementary Budget. Just to give an example closer to home, if you look at the institution of Parliament, annually how much was budgeted to go towards Parliament in the year 2014 and 2015, do a quick check and say what was the actual disbursement each year against the Budget, you will see that there are mix-matches. That said, we need the august House to be in the culture of monitoring and reviewing through our oversight function so that the plans that we sit and set ourselves are implemented during the course of the year.
I want to look at an area which is at the heart of the constituency I come from which is Masvingo and Bikita, the Beitbridge – Harare road, we can characterise it as the main artery of the economy in terms of rolling stock by road of commercial cargo, passengers and other strategic movements that keep our economy afloat. It would appear, yes there were legal hurdles that delayed the pronouncements that the Budget has now said the project can now start to move. There is need for, within the context of my earlier submissions, that let us virement and make use of resources that are internal that we know are lying idle to kick-start some of these strategic projects. If we wait for external financing partners to come in, we can take another decade before the Beitbridge-Harare road is restored. It has become a death trap and a source of productive inefficiency to our economy because traffic cannot flow smoothly on that road, which is really in a state not too good for the size of our economy.
I want to end my contribution by urging the House to give the
Finance Bill maximum support. It is our country and us who sit, discuss and shape our future. The Lima progress that has been made needs to be commended. The Budget has indicated that during the first half of next year, we expect some movement in that respect and we want to applaud Treasury and encourage that all efforts be made to make sure that we derive dividends from that initiative.
HON. MUKUPE: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the
opportunity to take the floor. My contribution, firstly on the issue of the expenditure side, I basically would want to applaud the Minister of Finance and Economic Development given the circumstances which he is operating under, there was not much room for him to manoeuvre but I just want to bring your attention to the wage bill savings that were proposed in the Budget.
There was a proposal that there is going to be $170 million in wage bill savings. When you closely analyse the wage bill savings you actually notice that most of them are actually focusing on the youth officers, student teacher allowances and it is predominantly wage savings that are really affecting the young people. I would want to believe that as a matter of policy, we would want to basically invest most of our money in the youths as opposed to investing most of our funds into the aged workforce. So, I would actually urge that that is something that needs to be really looked at because what we have is that, we have got a situation that most of the young people that are coming out of tertiary institutions have got nothing much to do. If we were going to send the youth officers and the young people back into the streets, I do not think it is a situation that will augur well for our nation.
The second thing that I want to look at is that when you look at the revenue side, I would want to believe that there are three revenue drivers for our nation namely; mining, agriculture and the industrial sector. When you look at the mining sector, I would want to basically applaud most of the policies that have been put in place. My only contribution in that space is that, we probably need consistency when it comes to some of the policies that we are putting in place and especially, issues to do with the tenure that we have got for most of the mining resources that we have.
When you look at agriculture, I think there is a big elephant in the room which was not probably touched on. At the moment, it is not really clear in as far as the land compensation is concerned. We embarked on a policy where we acquired a lot of land and I think the policy that we have got is that all the land that we have acquired, we are going to be making payments on improvements to the land to the white owners. we have got a situation where at the present moment, the liability that we have created over the years, is liability that we still have not brought in the books and we do not know and have not made any provisions in terms of what is actually the extent of the liability that we have. So, I guess when we are looking at the issues of some of the Treasury Bills and all the monies that we are raising, this is an issue that we also have to take into consideration.
The other issue that I also want to point out is on the ease of doing business. I would want to applaud our Minister of Finance and Economic Development for setting up the Special Economic Zones but one of the issues that I think could become a hindrance for us is the antimoney laundering laws that we have got in this country. There is really a need for us to go and review the anti-money laundering laws because if we are going to be able to attract FDIs into the country, it is also important that we make sure that the laws are conducive for people to be able to bring money into the country.
At the present moment, I think if you have got a situation where you want to bring FDIs into the nation; it is almost as if you have committed a crime by wanting to bring money into the country. I think in terms of the Special Economic Zones, it could be something that is important to our nation to also set up a Financial Special Economic Zone. If I am bringing my money to invest in the country, why should I be subjected to all kinds of questions as to where I got my money from?
Allow me to be able to build the country and invest money in the nation.
Touching on the industrial sector, I think one of the issues that are bedevilling almost every company in Zimbabwe is that most companies in Zimbabwe are functionally bankrupt. What we actually need to have is a situation where we basically look at our bankruptcy protection laws.
We have to look at situations where we give more tax holidays. I would want to believe that almost all the entities, every day when you go through the papers, you have got situations where accounts are being garnished, be it on the issues of NSSA and PAYE dues. I think it is high time we actually have tax holidays being given to some of the industries so that we give them the breathing space that they need to be able to kick-start the industries. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. KHUPE: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. First of all, I would want to say that a Budget is supposed to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. A Budget is a development tool and development is the ability of a country to satisfy the needs of the people using its own resources. The needs being food, shelter, health, education, jobs and clean water amongst others. This budget, in its current form, I am afraid that it is not going to be able to satisfy the needs of the people. Looking at the fact that US$3,191 billion is going to go towards employment costs, US$384 million is going to go towards operations and US$315 million is going towards capital expenditure. With US$384 million, I do not think that we are able to provide jobs, provide for the health sector, the education sector or provide clean water to the communities.
I think it is also important that we invest in human resources, such as youths and women, if we are to develop in this country. Youths constitute 40% of the population and they need jobs, which are not there.
Like I said earlier on, this budget will not be able to provide jobs. Women constitute 52% of the population and currently, Zimbabwe is highly informalised with more than 80% of the people who are in the informal sector being women. They cross borders everyday to Zambia, South Africa and Botswana to go and buy products for resell. The reason why they are crossing borders is because Zimbabwe is currently not producing. I am afraid that the Minister of Finance has reduced the travelers rebate from US$300 to US$200. What this means is that there is going to be a reduction in the incomes of the women in informal trade, reduction in livelihoods of those women and a reduction in
Government’s revenue. I understand very much that the Minister is trying to protect our local industry, but the reality is that industry is not operating. This is why these women are going to buy outside. I do not think that if we were producing they would be going outside to buy those products. I therefore recommend that the traveller’s rebate be increased from US$300 to US$400 0r US$500 because currently we are not producing anything.
In-so-far-as women are concerned; Hon. Nyamupinga spoke about this issue as well. We have been talking about a women’s bank, so that women have access to capital and are able to grow their businesses from micro to small, small to medium and medium to larger co-operatives. As you know that women are more than 52% of the population, half of the food which is consumed comes from the women. They contribute more than 80% to the GDP of this country and as we speak right now, Government is being sustained by money from women who are crossing borders to buy and sell. We want a women’s bank to be operationalised so that women have access to finances.
I would also like to talk about health because health issues are close to my heart. It is Government’s responsibility to provide available, accessible and affordable primary healthcare, which is of quality. With this budget, I do not think that Government is going to be able to provide quality healthcare. I therefore propose that the health budget be increased in line with the Abuja Declaration of 15%. I am saying this because these days there are so many diseases. There are non communicable diseases like cancer. I am a cancer survivor and I know what I went through. Just this morning, a woman called me from Gwanda. She went to Mpilo Hospital for cancer treatment but she did not get any joy. So, she was calling me to ask if she could come to Parirenyatwa, here in Harare where she thought she might get something. I told her to go back to Mpilo so that she could be referred to Parirenyatwa, if they are able to treat her. So many people are dying from cancer and it is indisputably a rising epidemic. It has become more fatal than HIV and this is part of the reason why I am saying the health budget must be increased.
Madam Speaker, maternal mortality is 960 out of every 100,000 live births. I know that some people may say that it is 570 but what I know is that many women are still giving birth at home, especially in the rural areas because of user fees. Women are unable to pay for maternity fees and I am proposing that user fees be completely scrapped because when women are giving birth, they are performing a national duty. They are giving birth to MPs who are in this House and the Ministers that we have here. They are giving birth to everybody in this country and as a result they cannot be punished for performing that national duty. I therefore propose that user fees must be scrapped and hence the reason why I am saying the health budget must be increased.
Hon. Nyamupinga spoke about family planning. Family planning saves lives, reduces maternal mortality, child mortality and HIV. It also empowers women and girls because they will be able to decide when to have children and how many they will have. This is why I would like to propose that the health budget be increased so that the family planning budget is increased from the current 1.7% to 3%, so that we are able to deal with all the issues that I have spoken about.
Lastly, I would like to talk about corruption, but first of all, I would like to congratulate our Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob
Mudenda for being appointed the Goodwill Ambassador for the Fight Against Corruption in Africa. Corruption is a cancer which has destroyed lives of people. Every dollar which is stolen by an official is a dollar which is stolen from; a pregnant woman who wants to go for antenatal care, a boy or girl who wants education and communities who want clean water. Corrupt people do not belong to society but they belong behind bars. This is why I would like to urge the AntiCorruption Commission to make sure that whoever is found wanting is put behind bars. Government must make sure that it complements the efforts of the Commission by making sure that if the Anti-Corruption Commission bites, those people who have been bitten are not rescued by the Executive. Let those who are found wanting be put behind bars.
Let me conclude by saying, a budget is a development budget and it is supposed to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. But this budget, in its current form, I am afraid it is not going to be able to satisfy the needs of the people, create jobs, revive agriculture and cater for health, education and other needs that the people require. I thank you.
HON. MANDIPAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My debate is
going to be very short. It is actually a follow up to what has been observed and raised by Hon. Cross. I think there is some measure of truth in his observation in as far as police roadblocks are concerned.
Police operate in a fashion that they do not scare members of the public. When they go out to carry out roadblocks, they must be performing a variety of duties, for example checking of vehicle defects. They might also be checking stolen vehicles, unlicenced drivers, criminals that intend to escape and so forth. They do quite a number of things when they go to carry out these roadblocks.
I think as a nation Madam Speaker, it is incumbent upon us to be able to give Police resources so that in a way, we try to curb corruption and bribery that occur on our roads, day in and day out. When I checked at the Police budget, you would find that there is an idea that the Police had mooted to computerise, to have technological gadgets so that instead of sending troops and troops of police officers on the roads, to do roadblocks, they can emulate what ZINARA and the Registrar has done in terms of having computers which can actually monitor what is taking place on our roads. We will have one police officer manning a computer instead of ten police officers manning a road block. That way, I think it is going to be better to try and curb corruption on our roads and we redeploy all those police officers from the roads to other duties at their various police stations. I noticed that there is no budget for the traffic monitoring system that the police had mooted. So, I want to implore upon the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to look at the Police budget and make sure resources are created to ensure that this traffic monitoring system becomes a reality. Once it is a reality,
I think we will have curbed police corruption. I think we will have beefed up manpower resources at various police stations throughout the country. I am making this observation from an informed position. I thank you.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Thank you Madam
Speaker. Let me thank the Speaker through you Madam Speaker for the sensitivity that he showed to me earlier on over the issue of children.
Let me also thank the women Members of Parliament and the other male Members of Parliament who were supportive to that process. Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker, I stand to raise just a few issues. The first one that I would want to note is to congratulate the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development. Let me say I want to congratulate him because having known him for quite some time, I am impressed at his ability to have been able to now deal with the economic issues outside the political issues – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I will explain why I am saying so Madam Speaker. But before I get into the essence of what I am saying, let me just raise two issues which I think a number of people have already raised.
The first issue Madam Speaker, is to deal with the issue of fair regional representation. Madam Speaker, I will continue harping on this like a broken record. One of the issues that you do not find in this Budget is a way of trying to make sure that when you put out resources, you fairly distribute them to regions. Let me just give you an example of I am concerned. When you look at the issue of agriculture, we now have a thinking and assumption that agriculture is about crops and that it is not about livestock. As we speak right now Madam Speaker, Matebeleland South is hit on issues around livestock and we know that generally their livelihood comes from livestock. I see two issues that are interesting in the Budget.
On the last Budget, the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development actually reintroduced the levy on export of raw hides. I could not understand what that was all about. This time around when I went through the Budget, I found that he had said something about removing the cattle levy and I was quite excited, but when I then read the statement, he actually did not remove anything on the cattle levy, he indicates that the ten percent is too high as a cattle levy because your generality of the people are not getting anything. He then says I am going to do consultation and yet this is the same Minister who in removing tax on wheat and flour, he does it immediately but refuses to do that as far as issues to do with cattle are concerned.
I think when you then have certain people from particular regions complaining Madam Speaker that they think that things are not being done fairly, it is because of these things. I hope that when he responds, he will be able to explain to us why in realising that he needed to deal with the cattle levy, why did he just deal with it given the current challenges that we are dealing with.
The second issue that I want to raise Madam Speaker is to do with my usual issue around sanitary wear. This time around, a colleague of mine decided to train me a bit on how to communicate with males. She said perhaps if I try to communicate with them from an emotional point of view, they do not hear me, so today; I am going to try and talk to the Minister in terms of figures and numbers. I hope that if I do tell him about figures and numbers, it may persuade him to actually see that it is important to do zero rating on sanitary wear.
Madam Speaker, every month, there are 3.673 914 women that are menstruating – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Hon. Minister, the cheapest sanitary pad is 0.99, which means it costs a dollar. If you are looking for circulation in terms of money, it means you literally can have US$3 million that you get as money that circulates in your economy. So, even when you are talking about liquidity, you would have US$3.6 million that is circulating. It is the cheapest because it is not imported. When you look at the imported one, it costs US$2.65, so let us just round it to US$3. Let us assume that you take out US$2 million women and you say the one million will be covered by the 0.99 cents and you take the two million and you multiply the figure by three, it means you are having in your economy every month, an assured US$6 million. The reason why the Hon. Minister is not getting US$6 million circulating is that the majority of women who are menstruating every month are unable to buy sanitary wear – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – So if you lower that cost, you get money that is circulating in the economy. For your information, Hon. Minister, we have been trying to talk to companies like TelOne, to see whether you can do the sending out of money, for example to your child who is at a school. If we were to reduce that amount of money, you were also getting money from just using the money that we will be sending through the social media situation. So, you are getting a double amount of money. I am asking Hon. Minister; I know that one of your issues that you have raised upon this subject is that you are protecting local industry. I have gone to do an investigation, there is only one company called Farai which produces sanitary wear. We are saying for us to balance that issue of zero rating in terms of the imported sanitary wear, so that it is cheaper and more women can buy it, you then can remove tax on the importation by Farai of the things that they use to produce sanitary wear. So, it is a win-win situation but we cannot punish women for one particular industry because clearly, even that industry cannot have the capacity to be able to produce sanitary wear to cover 3 000 000 women. It is not possible. I am sure the production capacity of Farai can only be at most 500 000 per month. So, you have a whole 2 500 000 women sitting there who could still buy sanitary wear. I was hoping, Hon. Minister, if you could look at this so that you do not have to worry about Priscilla talking about blood and things that make you mad. So, just look at these figures that I am talking about.
Let me quickly go, Madam Speaker, onto the issue that I was raising about Hon. Chinamasa’s what I see as his movement from just being a lawyer to being an economist. Madam Speaker, one of the things that you find in this budget and sadly so, is a struggle of someone who now understands economics, who is trying to balance it with some of the political issues. This is the first budget, and I want to congratulate him, from a Minister who is from the ruling party which clearly and unambiguously states that the kind of problem that we have in this country is the problem around debt, in fact you could just call this budget a debt management budget.
In that problem of debt, he does not stop from merely talking about it as a challenge. He proceeds to talk about what are the remedies that we need to do to make sure that we deal with the issue of budgets. What I then find, which is sad, is that whilst you can clearly see that he is very clear in terms of what to do, he then is stuck or hamstrung by the political ideologies that he continuously has to fight with. The moment you say you have a debt problem, then you have no choice but to be very clear about the framework that you are going to use to be able to deal with issues around debt. You cannot find any other way of dealing with it. You cannot say that you are going to deal with debt by merely going to speak to the people that we owe money because we have no money to pay them back. So, we need a very clear framework of saying what is the message that we are giving to the international community?
Here comes the problem that he faces as Hon. Chinamasa; he then says to us he has this Staff Monitored Programme from the World Bank. So, you cannot separate the Staff Monitored Programme with the issue around debt management, but the Staff Monitored Programme is forcing him to do things that are going to be politically at variance with what the political establishment would want to say. So, the Staff Monitored Programme is very clear. You have to deal with the issues of wages, you have to deal with the issue of how big your staff complement is and your civil service.
So, instead of him coming out very openly and saying, ‘what I am saying here is that there is going to be the retrenchment of civil servants’, he comes in and says that there is going to be a rationalisation of civil servants. It does not say anything. Just say what you think is economically okay, even politically if it is going to put you in soup. I can understand where he is coming from. There is a time that he said that there is not going to be any bonus and he was burnt; fingers, head and anything else that you can think of.
So, I am sure in doing this budget he was sitting there and saying,
‘if again I say there has to be a retrenchment of civil servants, there is going to be another somebody at some meeting who is going to say I am not going to do this’. The problem with that, Madam Speaker, is that it does not give us the proper thing to debate because if he had said I am going to retrench civil servants, we from both sides of the House would be saying what is that percentage? What are you going to do to make sure that you are not violating the labour regulations? Now, we cannot even debate that because you have left us hanging by saying you are going to rationalise and yet we know that is the biggest issue that is around it.
I spoke about the issue of debt, Madam Speaker. I had hoped that because he went to town about the issue of debt management, he would at least give us the basic framework of what he is offering Post Lima. What exactly are you saying to this international community? Let me just give you an example because I was part of the re-engagement team, so I know what I am talking about. If you are going to do a proper debt management, you cannot do it unless you deal with the issues that are to do with those that you owe money. You cannot do it as an individual country. There is no country in Africa that has been able to manage issues of debt without having either a grandmother or grandfather who stands up for them within that framework of the international community.
Madam Speaker, we can say as much as we want about debt management, unless we have a centre somewhere. Those countries that were associated with France basically, used France to be the grandmother that stood up for them. So, they are the ones that will basically be your guarantor, so to speak. We cannot go there and say, as Zimbabwe, we want to say this is how we are going to pay without necessarily having someone in the international community to do that. That means a political shift in the way we do business. It means we have to look at the international community and say are we going to deal; are we going to let the British become our grandmother or grandfather? Are we going to have some of the northern countries that we had relationships with during the liberation struggle? Who are we going to have a relationship with so that we can push the debt management issue? Which is why I am saying I found an ideological problem that Hon. Chinamasa, much as he was saying I am an Emperor, I am naked, look at me, he was then unable to say this is where I am going to get my clothes from so that I can dress up. So, he gives us the story of why we have a problem, but he does not go as far as picking up the issues that will address it.
Madam Speaker, I also found a contradiction. When we are talking about our foreign policy in this country, we talk about looking East and yet in this budget, I do not find any policy that speaks to any definition of what our foreign policy is and I am disappointed, Madam Speaker. Right now, at an international level, the one area that we as Zimbabweans could be pushing on and getting resources from is the issue around South-South Co-operation. The reason why South-South Co-operation works is most of these countries that are in the SouthSouth Co-operation are countries with which we can relate with very differently. I know Hon. Khupe initially, when she was talking about the Women’s Bank, not today, had very good things that had happened around the South-South Co-operation. I did not see any of that happening.
Regional integration - when we talk about beef export, why are we still talking about the EU when we are not talking about selling our beef to the DRC. So, this is why I am saying ideologically, we do not seem to be clear about what it is we want to do. We have a political megaphone that we give on the other side, but at a policy level, we do not come back to do what we are supposed to do. So, my simple conclusion, Madam Speaker, is that perhaps Hon. Minister Chinamasa, since he has been brave enough to show us warts and all, what he needs to say to us now is how do we start removing those warts. This is why I said I want to thank him very much because even the sanction word is no longer here. He understands it does not work. It is not an issue. Let us move with the real issues that are in this budget. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. CHAKONA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I
would like to debate on this motion, but I want to concentrate on some observations regarding our sector, the ICT sector. I have realised that in the budget, the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services was only awarded $6 million. Madam Speaker, I just want to highlight some developments in the sub-Saharan sector area where the ICT sector has been growing by close to 38% over the past four years. As of 2014, the ICT sector had a total of 329 million subscribers in sub-Sahara alone. It also grew by close to 7% throughout sub-Sahara. What I have observed is that in Zimbabwe, the ICT sector is shrinking and the revenues are going down on an annual basis.
Madam Speaker, my observation hinges around the turnovers that are there with some of the ICT companies throughout the world. I have seen that we have …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member.
HON. CHAKONA: My emphasis is to say if we give enough
attention to the ICT sector, our economy will also grow like what is happening in other countries. In 2011, …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, they
are no longer whispers now, they are rallies. Would you please control yourselves?
HON. CHAKONA: Madam Speaker, I just want to give you some examples of what is happening worldwide and also in our region. In Q4 2011, Face book had revenue of 188 million and by Q4 2013, revenues had actually grown to 241 million and the annual revenues were at
US$2.5 billion dollars. Google in 2009, their revenues were around
US$50 billion. Apparently by September 2014, the revenues rose to US$150 billion. Linked it, revenues started in 2011 around $100 million; apparently their turnover is over $1.1 billion. This just goes on to illustrate what is happening regionally if people give enough room and emphasis to the growth of the ICT sector.
It is saddening to note that I am holding Econet’s unaudited statements for 2015 as at 31 August, 2015. Madam Speaker, I just want you to analyse these figures so that you know what I am talking about. As of August 2014, Econet had a subscriber base of 9 million subscribers. As of 2015, we had 9.1 million subscribers. Revenues for overlay services grew from $2.5 million in 2014 to $3.5 million and then in terms of contribution, it went up from 7% to 11%. However, when it comes to the total revenue including voice services, revenues went down from $392 million to $323 million. That goes to show that whilst in subSaharan Africa, ICT sector is growing by 7%. In our country, it is going down by 21%.
So, this goes to show that if we are to emphasise and look at the ICT sector, give it enough space and look at what we want to achieve, this sector can grow. What I have seen is that in terms of revenue collection, whilst the world-over, every other Government is going eGovernment, we are doing it the manual way and we are collecting our revenues manually hence,..
An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon.
Member speaking.
THE HON. DEPUTY PEAKER: Order, Hon. Member, you may
not cross between the speaker and the Chair.
HON. CHAKONA: Madam Speaker, the fastest way to grow our economy is to review the growth of our ICT sector and say how we can use ICTs to grow it. What I am seeing more and more is that we are not utilising the growth of that sector for the benefit of our Government and revenue collection. What I also want to emphasise at this point is that whilst ZIMRA is doing a very good job of collecting revenue, what I am seeing is that they are becoming more and more inefficient. Whenever you want to engage in any business activity, you are asked to produce a tax clearance certificate. If you look at it, this does not really make somebody pay tax. What we should be doing is to say, let us use ICTs to collect revenue. What I am proposing at this stage is to say the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is supposed to look at taxing at source, using ICTs so that we can tax that money at source, so that we maximise on the collection of Government revenue.
Madam Speaker, I just want to give you other figures that are very critical so that you can see how other countries are doing it. For example, Samsung is a company that is in South Korea. Its revenues now are at $189.5 billion and this is an ICT company. Its market capitalisation is $177.51 billion. We do not even have one ICT company that is capitalised to the tune of $1 billion in Zimbabwe. If you look at it, Apple right now, their revenues are now at $182.79 billion, market capitalisation $740 billion. This goes to show how if we give space to ICT companies, our economy can grow. Our economy can actually perform better.
Madam Speaker, it is only in Zimbabwe where an ICT company is retrenching. It is only in this country. In other countries ICT companies are growing and they are employing more and more people. So Madam Speaker, my contribution right now is to say, let us emphasise on the usage of ICTs, that is the fastest growing sector in the world. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker, for allowing me to contribute my thoughts in this august House. Firstly, I want to thank Hon. Chinamasa for the Budget that he presented to this House. The Budget presentation outlines how the National Budget would be distributed to the various Ministries. Secondly, I agree with Hon. Misiharabwi-Mushonga when she applauded the Minister’s performance. The Budget is driven by ZANU PF’s people oriented policies. The Minister is guided by the aims and objectives of the ruling Party, ZANU PF. When Hon. Chinamasa presented the Budget, he paid tribute to His Excellency, the President, Cde. R. G. Mugabe for his guidance and support. This reflects that there is no discord between Hon.
Chinamasa, His Excellency, President of the nation and the ruling party ZANU PF and the interests of the people.
Madam Speaker, I agreed with Hon. Chinamasa spoke when we were in Victoria Falls during the ZANU PF 15th Annual People’s Conference when he highlighted that what has caused us to be hamstrung economically.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members please, hon.
members in this august House would like to hear what the Hon. Member is saying. If you want to debate on your own and you have your own issues, I think you can go to the Members’ dining there.
*HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon. Chinamasa
talked about two things that have negatively impacted on the economy.
It is the debt burden and the illegal sanctions that have been imposed on this country. My request to this august House is that, as we discuss on how to assist Hon. Chinamasa, all the political parties that are represented in this august House should agree that we must speak with one voice when we talk about the economy of this country. We should call for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions with one voice.
Hon. Madam Speaker, my third point is in support of the call made by Hon. Chakona which was emphasised yesterday by the Chairperson of our Committee, Hon. Chamisa when he said that, this coming year, the Government as a whole – all the Ministries should be ICT compliant. There should not be any Ministry that is not ICT compliant to ensure communication and information dissemination through modern technology. ICT is a game changer. For example, in all our border entry points or immigration points, there is a lot of corruption that is taking place and this can actually be eliminated through use of ICTs.
Turning to health – treatment of people, diagnosis and monitoring of stock of medication and the traffic of patients, ICT can be very helpful. No one will be given wrong treatment due to lack of information.
Hon. Mandipaka was correct on ZRP. If we support the police with the use of ICTs in controlling traffic, offenders can be accounted for including payment of fines. Let 2016 be the year we give the Ministry of ICT- it is over arching responsibility. Fortunately, Hon. Mlambo who is seated next to me is Hon. Mawandinzira’s deputy. May their Ministry carry out an exercise to find out how much money was allocated to other ministries for ICT purposes and compare that amount with their Budget. Why not procure all ICT related equipment through the Ministry responsible for ICT. The principle of economies of scale comes into play. I recommend that within the Government, everything that has to do with ICT should be procured through the Ministry of ICT.
Turning to agriculture, Madam Speaker, my Constituency has many farmers found in small scale and newly resettled areas. Some areas have sand soils, others have wetlands. The most affected are
Msengezi small scale farming area, Neuso and Nyatsanga in Mhondoro.
Unless steps are taken to avail inputs in time, poor harvests will be the order of the day. Through research and use of ICT, the Ministry of Agriculture can assist farmers through timely information on what has to be done and mitigate on the negative impacts of climate change.
The land audit by Hon. Mombeshora, the Minister of Lands should not only look at land allocation and boundaries but also include the issue of productivity. Take note of the challenges faced by farmers and rural folk in general. This effort should be complemented by establishing as to whether banks that are supposed to support agriculture are doing so. Hon. Kereke talked about it. Some financial institutions claim to be assisting farmers yet they are not doing so. This area needs to be seriously investigated and measures taken for the banks to conform.
Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy.
Lastly, but not least, Madam Speaker I join Hon. Khupe in supporting Hon. Mudenda, the Speaker of this august House in his role in the fight against corruption and that this House should come up with a Parliamentary Committee that includes all political parties represented here, to lobby all countries that imposed illegal economic sanctions on us and call to unconditionally remove them. I equate sanctions to corruption. As we fight corruption, the people of Zimbabwe must with the same zeal fight against the illegal economic sanctions. Corruption and illegal sanctions are one and the same thing – enemies of our economic recovery. Madam Speaker, I would want again to thank you for the opportunity that you have given me to add my voice to this debate. I have the hope that we will see a change for the better in 2016.
I thank you.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me
this opportunity to join others who have spoken before me on the 2016 Proposed Budget. When I came for the budget presentation by the
Minister of Finance and Economic Development on 26th November, 2015, I had an expectation. That expectation was to hear the Minister talking about better service delivery to the people and the nation. To me that is key in terms of the communities and the country as a whole.
Madam Speaker, this budget to me does not cover anything to do with the people, does not talk about the poor and does not care about those that are in need of protection from the Government. Why do I say so Madam Speaker? I will tackle the first item, which is social protection programmes and safety nets.
Madam Speaker, Section 298 of the Constitution says,
“Expenditure must be directed towards the development of Zimbabwe and special provision must be made for marginalised groups and areas.” This is where I draw my passion and focus from. When you talk about the vulnerable categories, you are talking of people with disabilities, the unemployed, the elderly, child headed families, female headed households, children in the streets, the destitutes who are all over the country, et cetera. Madam Speaker to anyone in this House who represents communities …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! This time I
name Hon. Guzah. That is too much. I think we have to listen to what is being debated here. Hon. Members, we need to benefit from debate from other Hon. Members, not to just talk.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for that
protection. I really wonder Madam Speaker because the groups or categories that I am talking about are in the Hon. Members’ communities. We do have them and we come here to represent them. Hence, caucusing with your colleague when I am mentioning this particular category, I am disappointed Madam Speaker. On programmes like food mitigation, when one is disadvantaged or they are crippled in their houses and they are not counted on, no one will realise that anything that is supposed to benefit that particular individual reaches them. That provision will just pass them. That is how critical this component is in terms of the safety nets that I looked at in the Budget to have a priority by the Minister in terms of allocation. I could see that there is a glaring attempt in terms of minimizing the allocations from 2013 and 2014. It has been a pattern.
I implore the Minister Madam Speaker to actually look at these particular programmes in terms of social protection and safety nets. I targeted food mitigation; when food is being distributed. On page 35, the assumption is that we are going to have normal to less rainfall patterns but if you listened to the radio, the information is saying that we are going to have El Niño and we may not have adequate food. Hence, everyone here, even where we come from, when we used to have good rains or better harvests, we may be affected by such kind of pattern in terms of climate change. It is important that the Minister is supposed to look at food mitigation in terms of targeting everyone from January to December. I know for sure that in the early times, we would target just three months because in March, people would start harvesting. That cannot be the case and we cannot assume that people will have food from March. Therefore, there is need for the Minister to revisit the programmes that cater for food mitigation.
Also if you go to BEAM Madam Speaker, there is $10 million that has been allocated for Basic Education Assistance Module which has covered 33 000 children instead of 600 000 children. Each one of us has had a case where communities are phoning you to ask if you could assist with school fees. I implore the Government because I understand that we are now on our own. In 2009 to 2012, I vividly remember that we used to have UNICEF and DFID assisting the Government in terms of mobilizing resources to the tune of $30 million.
I also implore the Minister to re-look at the BEAM programme and to actually partner. The Government needs to identify partners. We cannot do it alone; we need to approach development partners and friends who can mobilise resources with the Government so that the
BEAM programme actually covers every deserving beneficiary. Hon.
Members do have them in the communities. When I looked at this Budget, I simply looked at the windows where we have children, women, people with disabilities, et cetera. The disadvantaged groups are the ones that I looked in the Budget and what programmes and how much was allocated in terms of service delivery.
Madam Speaker, if you look at social dialogue, I do not think Government is serious when they talk about social dialogue. If not well resourced, we have a problem. People that are not talking to each other will end up having disputes. What do I mean by this Madam Speaker?
If Government, business and labour are not talking, then we have a serious problem. You will have strikes, sit-ins and unproductive workplaces where people are arguing all the time. I do not think the Government is willing to have such despondency. There is need to fund the social dialogue process in the form of the TNF where people engage themselves to talk about issues.
I quickly move to the Kadoma Declaration where we deal with the country’s risk factors such as what the employers can do in terms of development and improvement in terms of the welfare of workers, what the Government can do in terms of leveling the playing field and also enabling environment for business and growth, what the workers can do in terms of depoliticisation of the workplace. For instance, where workers are not allowed to wear their party regalias, cannot chant slogans and cannot talk politics and start fighting but do business so that they do production at the workplace.
I am glad that in 2010, we launched the Kadoma Declaration with
His Excellency, the President with the assistance of ILO. I do not think the President would want this project to die because of lack of funding. I know the operating space may not be enabling but it is my humble submission that production happens in industry. When we talk about the three, this is where production and development begins. There is also need Hon. Minister to quickly talk with your friends in Government to bring the TNF Bill to Parliament for adoption so that the discussions and agreements at TNF level begin to be more binding and people honour them. Currently, it is termed as a talk shop. Others may just renege not even to come to the TNF because nothing is binding but when we have a Bill that will have passed through Parliament, then everyone else is actually to toe the line and the decisions that are therefore to bind them.
I move on to employment creation Hon. Speaker Sir, I looked and looked in the Budget to see on whether there is space that the Minister had made this as a priority in a country where we have 84% of the labour force who are labour active doing informal sector. I could not see anything and there is not even an attempt. My proposal Hon. Speaker Sir, because criticising without any proposal does not make any meaningful reasoning.
Government must design a programme to formalise the informal sector so that they begin even to milk where they have ploughed. Currently, Government is prepared to just raise tax for everyone without having put some mechanisms in the institutions. It is my humble submission Hon. Speaker that Government has to move up with speed in terms of formalization of the in formal sector because there no formal employment to talk about anywhere.
The next one is on the formally MDGs now SDGs - 2015 marked the closure of the MGDs Hon. Speaker to SDGs and we failed as Zimbabwe to totalize eight out of eight. Why? We had not committed more resources to deal with this programme. If we are serious enough because year in, year out we travel to UN to give a report in terms of what we have done as a country in terms of social goals. This caters for most of the MDGs and it caters for the vulnerable groups who are women and children. For example, if you talk about eradication of poverty by the year 2023, it means that target group is already in problems.
So, I implore that resources be allocated so that the various Ministries and the task force that deals with the particular SDGs have resources to do these programmes. We need to move away from hand outs in terms of all other social development programmes because the development partners have dwindled their resources. However, our own people are good workers and they can do some kind of projects at community level with the assistance that the donors will have given. Come rain time we can renege to our projects that we will have developed. At the moment, handouts like inputs have not yield anything because our people are no longer relying on dependence syndrome in terms of just being given and they are active enough and they want to do it for themselves. So, I think let us give them a fishing rod rather than giving them the fish.
I know the Minister Hon. Speaker is very keen repeatedly to introduce labour market flexibility and he has been loud and has been lobbying for this. My humble submission Mr. Speaker Sir, is that this is modern day slavery. This is an unfair labour practice which is very unnecessary in a country where we have our own labour laws and have our own Constitution which protects anyone who comes to do business in Zimbabwe. We cannot allow black by black slavery because in the 70s and 80s we were saying vanhu vari kubatirwa nevavanoshandira, now we want to go back to the same 35 years after independence? It is not fair Hon. Speaker. For us from this side of the House, we do not believe in labour market flexibility – we say no to worker slavery because it is an unfair labour practice. We are signatories to ILO conventions which protect the workers of this country. Just doing the way of inventing into the labour market flexibility is taking the gains that we have already gained in the past and I do not want to believe anyone would want to be associated with failure but, to move forward.
Having said that Hon. Speaker Sir, this Budget has to be passed by
Parliament and should not pass through Parliament. I want to urge the
Minister to allocate more resources for operational framework of the Gender Commission so that we get to see the Gender Commission functioning. Some of the Commissions that have been mentioned in the Constitution are now operational but alas, the Gender Commission is not yet in operation. So it is my humble submission Hon. Speaker that we get the Gender Commission functioning as soon as possible. I thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker for
affording me this opportunity to also add my voice. I may just want to add weight onto the issue. In terms of the Budget that Hon. Chinamasa has presented. I am going to confine myself to agriculture. The pointers that Hon. Minister need to look into because year in, year out, we are importing food. They will say that a stitch in time saves nine. If the Minister were to address this issue, we may avoid the idea of importing food. I do not want to overlook the fact that they are also supporting those that are in need in communal lands with funding. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and Government needs to address its mind and focus and ensure that they assist commercial farmers because the commercial farmers will be in a position to repay the loans.
The point I am trying to make is that the Ministry of Agriculture if it is properly funded and people are able to irrigate and they have fertilizers, very little will then be required to buy food because it will be grown locally instead of being imported. Imports by their nature are very expensive if the Ministry of Agriculture is to be funded and the commercial farmers were to be funded by the Government instead of the usual rates they are being subjected by the banks. A lot of farmers are losing their houses to the banks after failing to repay their loans. A lot of farmers are now destitute instead of enhancing themselves because of the issue of the loans that they are getting form these banks. The
Government should go into a discussion or into an agreement with the Seed Houses so that the Government can be given these seeds on loan and the Government will pay after the harvest.
I once had a discussion with the seed houses and they indicated that they are in a position to give Government seed on loan and that Government only repay after the farmers have harvested. They said the seed houses were not going to be making a profit out of this. Hence my reiteration that it will be easier if Government were to have a discussion with the seed house and such an arrangement would be made and that the seed could be accessed through the GMB instead of the individual farmers going to be subjected to usury terms or rates by the banks.
I am urging farmers not to repay their loans but the point I am making is that the UD$ will never lose its value and it will always appreciates in value. So, if you are given these usury rates, the A2 farmer will eventually stop farming and then you will disposes them of the land but they will be encountering problems in trying to source for the seeds and fertilizers. In the past, the white farmers were afforded loans at concessionary rates because the banks were white owned. Furthermore, the rate of profit by these banks was not prohibitive but what we are now doing is that if one were to get a loan, the interest rates are too excessive. The loans are difficult to service and they have the direct effect of killing our agriculture. I urge the Hon. Minister to critically examine this issue on how to end hunger or starvation and how the import of food stuffs can be stopped. We should not be seen in bad light as people who do not know how to do their farming when in fact we are very good farmers.
The second point is that I want to talk about the war veterans and war collaborators in their various forms as detainees, those that were assisting and those that were directly in confrontation with the whites. If you were to look at the funding that was given to this new Ministry, it is meager. An amendment to the laws needs to be done so that war collaborators need to be vetted. It requires funding and at least US$4 million is required for that exercise. The War Veterans Ministry was given a small budget. If you see the manner they traversed the country, you should see that most of us do not be misled by the suit that I am wearing. A lot of us have difficulties and we are suffering. That is why the former leader of the war veterans, the late Dr. Hunzvi said that we do have disabilities and we should be compensated for that.
Some of these war veterans suffer from leg ailments, painful backs and we cannot no longer be able to reproduce properly because of the magazines and heavy artillery that we used to carry. We used to carry heavy loads and we are…
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO): In
the first instance, you are in the wrong place – [Hon Chamisa having been seated on the right side of the Chair] –
*HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Hon. Chinotimba is
saying that he is ill and because of his ailments, can we enable him to continue speaking, ill as he is. Mr. Speaker please help us because he has made this concession that he is ill. I heard as if he said he is mentally disturbed.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Please resume your seat. Hon.
Chinotimba is speaking in idioms and proverbs. There is no point of order.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Let me say that amongst the freedom fighters, there are those without arms, limbs, eyes and when I am saying I am ill, I am talking about some scars that are not visible – that can only be seen by our wives – [Laughter] – hence I said that the issue of the war veterans cannot be properly understood by Hon. Members who sit on the left side of this House. The point that I am trying to make is that at one time, I thanked Hon. Mutseyami when he gave a motion on the welfare of war veterans. He hit the nail on the head and I was apprehensive that he could be expelled from his political party. The point that I make is that the budget that was allocated……
*HON. MANDIPAKA: On a point of order. I am saddened by
Hon. Chinotimba when he talked about the scars. If it is not on his groin area, can it not be shown so that we really appreciate what the scars look like?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Proceed Hon. Chinotimba,
there is no point of order.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, the issues that I am making reference to are painful. We used to sing “Zimbabwe our father’s land”….
[Hon. Members on the right side of the Chair broke into song,
Zimbabwe Nyika Yedu.]
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order please! Hon
Chinotimba, there was a ruling from the Speaker in this House that there should be no singing in this House.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: The war veterans used to say that our
levels of suffering have now become worse in this country and it is because people do not appreciate the sacrifice that the people who waged the war went through. We cannot argue and provoke the liberation fighters to then think that it would have been better if they had all perished during the liberation struggle. All I am saying is that they should be given loans as war veterans in the same mould as youths are being given loans to start their own businesses for indigenization.
Women are also being given funding for their activities but we fail to think of the war veterans, poor as they are. We fail to say that they should not be given – although they were given before but during that time they did not appreciate how to put their money to good use.
As freedom fighters, we should be given, that was a supreme sacrifice that we made to go and wage the liberation struggle. It was not easy for one to simply go for the liberation war. It had to take dedication and sacrifice.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order.
*HON. ENG. MUDZURI: Point of order! We should not demean
the war of liberation struggle as it was prosecuted. The budget issues should be discussed, there are some people who died, burnt but nothing was mentioned about them, one of them was Solomon Mujuru. We should not cry more than the bereaved but do our duties diligently in this august House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: I am talking about those who died
during the war of liberation struggle in the bush and those who died in Independent Zimbabwe and also those who are going to die in future, even those who have become sell outs and joined the MDC. I am not separating the role played by the war veterans; I am talking about the war veterans who suffered during the war of our liberation.
These are the people that I am saying the Minister should see their level of poverty; the manner in which some of these war veterans are being interred is pathetic. In case of their death, they should be buried using good coffins, transport should be provided because sometimes there will be no funding for the burial. There is an Act of Parliament for their children but at times money is not being made available to them. So, that is why I am urging the Minister because the Ministry now caters for detainees, war collaborators and war veterans. Now, that there are more that are being catered for under the title of war veterans, the budget should be considerable. If you were listening properly to my arguments, you would support me; I am talking about an issue that touches on everyone.
It is my plea to the Hon. Minister to be empathetic and sympathetic and give a reasonable Vote to this new Ministry of War Veterans. There is need for the Ministry to purchase a lot of items; they need transport costs and new staff. What they have been given is a drop in the ocean. As a war veteran, people might accuse me for lobbying for our group but be that as it may, the point is that we need a considerable amount to be given to the Ministry of War Veterans. I thank you.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker for the opportunity.
Firstly, I wish to thank the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Chinamasa, from the bottom of my heart, I think despite those flagrant constitutional violations that were raised yesterday in a point of order, the Minister has done a fantastic job to prepare the budget and bring it to this House. I did not expect him to do that given our circumstances, the state of the economy. The Minister has pulled what I would refer to as a Houdini act.
I want to talk about two issues, firstly about hardware issues which are the soft issues of the budget and then software issues which are the hard issues of the budget. If you look at the booklet that contains the
National Budget Statement; what we produce must talk to what we want to project as a country. The book has a picture of elephants, the Harare International Airport, a man holding a tiger fish, a pride of lions and herd of cattle. It has cooling towers of Zimbabwe Power Company and what I think is a front end loader of Hwange Colliery. The reason I am saying this is that when you look at these pictures the National Budget Statement booklet, it does not talk to what is contained in the National Budget Statement or what we wish to project as a nation. I would have expected – I wish the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry was here, a picture of the Victoria Falls, being one of the only Seven
Wonders of the World, to be the head the picture on the front cover. When I look at the picture of the Airport, it reminds me of corruption because the Airport represents 25% of that which should have been constructed. When I look at the herd of cattle here, Bulawayo depends on livestock and in this budget, there is no money that has been put to re-stocking the national herd yet we have a picture of fat cows, I do not know whether these cattle are from Zimbabwe or from some other country.
We also have two pictures of elephants on the cover. We know that elephants in this country have been cruelly killed for their tasks by senior people using cyanide. Those people have not been accounted for, yet we pretend to celebrate our wildlife.
On the back cover, Mr. Speaker Sir, we have a picture of Hwange Colliery. The Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development, last year put US$36 million to resuscitate Hwange Colliery. After putting that amount, Hwange Colliery went on to post a huge losses, that loss has been housed in some vehicle which was created by the Government. I am going to talk about that vehicle later when I speak about the software issues of this budget.
Mr. Speaker, the budget that was presented by the Minister here, must be able to talk about what the country needs to achieve. Firstly,
Zimbabwe is overmanned, with a budget of US$4 billion and a GDP of
US$10 billion, the budget of our country, I am sure the Hon. Vice President Mphoko, can vouch for me, is less than the budget of Shoprite in South Africa. Mr. Speaker, it is even smaller than the budget of Choppies in South Africa, and I am sure the budget of Choppies in Zimbabwe is almost maybe 10% of Zimbabwe’s National Budget.
There are issues that we should talk about, like Zimbabwe is overmanned. The reason why we have policy inconsistencies is because we have got so many Ministers who are doing nothing. Some of these
Ministries should be departments in other Ministries, for example, the Ministry the Finance and Economic Development, should then be able to house the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Development and it should be manned by a director. The reason we have all this is because our response to issues is consumptive. We had a problem with women and we created the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development. There was corruption in sports and we created a separate Ministry which we took the Sport Portfolio out of the Ministry of Education. We had a problem with war veterans and we created a Ministry of War Veterans; again we had problems with youths and we created the Ministry of Youth. Very soon we are going to have a problem of prostitutes and we are going to create a Ministry of
Prostitutes because that is how this country responds to issues.
Mr. Speaker, a country with a Gross Domestic Product of US$10 billion has more than 75 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, what are they doing. A country like the United States, with a budget of more than three trillion is manned by only 15 Ministers, you put the President there, the Vice President there, it is a Bureau of just 17, Zimbabwe has a Bureau of more than 75, that is one issue. So, if the Minister is serious about cutting expenses, it must start with cutting the number of Ministers that we have. I feel sorry for the Minister, when early this year the Minister announced that there will be no bonuses – the Minister knew exactly what he was dealing with and he was castigated. As Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga said, he was burnt left, right and centre, all parts of his body were burnt, fingers, toes and everything and yet it has come to pass; there are no bonuses this year. There is not a single Government employee who has received a bonus, I think bonuses will be received from next year maybe in February and March and some of them will receive bonuses together with their November salaries for 2016, that is if they are lucky.
We have issues here that we must deal with and the biggest problem that the Minister raised is the issue of debt. We have international and domestic debts and here is what it looks like. What has happened with domestic debt which is now bigger than the international debt is that Government has created this monster called ZAMCO. Basically what ZAMCO does is that if there is a non- performing parastatals, like NRZ, Cold Storage Company, because you want to lure investors to come and put money into that organization, we clean their balance sheets. The way we clean their balance sheet is that we take that balance sheet and we house it in ZAMCO. So, what it means is that my grandmother in Mabvuku is responsible for the debt of Cold Storage Company since it has been assumed by Government.
What has happened, Hon. Minister you know, US$200m was put into Air Zimbabwe to clean their balance sheets and that was in about
2009/2010. Today, when Air Zimbabwe was allowed to operate from 2009, their balance sheet was at zero. Today, Air Zimbabwe has a debt of US$300m, what it means is that cumulatively Air Zimbabwe has incurred a debt of US$500m that must be assumed by the children of this country. It is for that reason that some of us opposed the Reserve Bank Debt Assumption Bill because there people that benefitted from that. People that have missed to pay back or have not paid back. That debt has been assumed by all of us now having to pay that debt which is not
fair...
HON. MUKUPE: On a point of order Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
What is your point of order?
HON. MUKUPE: I think Hon. Maridadi is misleading the House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I think he needs to revert to whoever did the research for him on the issue of ZAMCO.
ZAMCO does not take over debts of parastatals as he is pointing out. All the debts that are taken over by ZAMCO are very much secure debts. So there is no issue of the ZAMCO entity blatantly just taking over debts. I am saying if he is making his point, please can he not mislead the House. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order please. The point of
order does not arise. Hon. member, please continue.
HON. MARIDADI: Hon. Speaker, ZAMCO refers to Zimbabwe
Asset Management Company. A good example is the one that I have cited. Government spent US$200m popping up the national airline (Air Zimbabwe) and the debt of the airline was put into this special vehicle called ZAMCO so that Air Zimbabwe could attract investors, because investors do not want to come and put their money into a company that is in debt. So, the balance sheet of Air Zimbabwe was cleaned. Today, after the cleaning of the balance sheet in 2010, as I said earlier, Air Zimbabwe is in debt of US$300m and it is not a going concern. The only reason Air Zimbabwe is operating is because the President has given a special dispensation that Air Zimbabwe assets must not be attached and that the Airline must continue to operate.
Mr. Speaker, Air Zimbabwe is the only airline in the world that I know which is still doing manual boarding passes. What it means is that if you go to O.R Tambo airport and you manage to come across a boarding pass that is blank, you can write your name on that boarding pass, you go ahead and board. What is happening at booking and what is happening at the gate, they do not talk to each other because Air Zimbabwe is operating manually. You cannot go to Air Zimbabwe with
an e-ticket.
Other airlines, like South African Airways, all you do is call and you are given a reference number. You simply present yourself at check in, and you are able to board. That does not happen with Air Zimbabwe.
I have said enough about ZAMCO and debt management.
One of the reasons the economy is not performing is because of monetary policy. Monetary policy is meant to assist fiscal policy and monetary policy only works in the event that you have your own currency because governments are in the business of printing money to supplement shortfalls. When you do a monetary policy, you see where there is deficit and you print your own money to cover the gap. In the case of Zimbabwe where we do not have our own money, monetary policy does not do anything to help our fiscal policy. What it essentially means is that Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development is operating on his own without the backing of the Reserve Bank because Zimbabwe does not have her own currency. For those clamouring for the returning of the Zimbabwe dollar, it will take no less than 25 years for us to be able to get our currency back with the confidence that that currency must have, and I will talk about it at a later stage.
Hon. Speaker, close to US$1b has been put to Defence and Security. We pride ourselves as being one of the most peaceful countries in the region and in Africa. Zimbabwe is one of those very few countries where a woman can walk from this Parliament building at 2200hrs, unaccompanied they will be able to get to Holiday Inn unharmed. Zimbabwe is one of the only few countries in this region where a woman can walk from Parliament of Zimbabwe to Market
Square three kilometres away to board their buses at 2200hrs at night and get there safely. Zimbabwe is a fairly safe country. So, why do we put so much money into security? We are not about to be invaded by Mozambique, we are not about to invade Zambia? So, why do we put so much money in the Army?
Mr. Speaker, if you want stability in a country, you do not put money in the Army, you do not put in the Police, you give money to people to eat. When people have full stomachs, they do not agitate. Actually, it has been proven by seminal research that countries that put money into health, education and social safety nets do better in terms of security than countries that put money into buying military hardware, for the Army and the Police. Money put into military hardware is money used to intimidate the citizenry – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – Hon. Speaker, in Zimbabwe we talk about beneficiation,
..
HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order Hon. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order? *HON. CHINOTIMBA: My point of order is that the hon.
member is speaking of issues that never happened in this country, that soldiers and policemen victimize people. He said again that a woman can travel from here to Beitbridge without encountering any problems and yet he contradicts himself saying soldiers and policemen harass people. I think he must withdraw his statement.
* THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Maridadi,
may you please avoid utterances that cause a lot of controversies.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I think I really enjoy Hon. Chinotimba because he gives us comic relief and it is nice when we are debating serious issues, you need somebody who is sort of a comic who gives moments of laughter – [Laughter] – and I like it. I did Shakespeare at school. In Shakespeare, a character like him would be referred to as Boy. Boy makes people laugh – [Laughter] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order. Order Hon.
Maridadi, I did not give you a ticket to castigate the Hon. Member. May you please withdraw that please?
HON. MARIDADI: I withdraw Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we
talk about beneficiation and value addition. Beneficiation and value addition must be looked at from a holistic point of view. You must be able to say to yourselves, if we decided to beneficiate and value add in Zimbabwe, does it make economic sense to do that because you look at the cost benefit analysis of having your products beneficiated elsewhere as opposed to being beneficiated within the country. I will give you an example of platinum. The platinum that is mined within Zimbabwe, the threshold will not make economic sense for us to invest into a beneficiation plant. A beneficiation plant will cost the country $4 billion. Do we have enough platinum to beneficiate in this country and be able to realise the money that we will have put into construction of that plant and then be able to make a profit. I do not think so.
In any case, countries that do beneficiation and value addition, like South Africa, have a Beneficiation policy. The country came up with a beneficiation policy which talks about all minerals, where they should be beneficiated and what the values of beneficiating those minerals in the country are. So the issue of beneficiation must be looked at holistically and not a point of political rhetoric.
Ease of doing business is one thing that the Minister always talks about. Mr. Speaker, when people are coming to invest in a country, there are things that they look at. They look at ease of doing business, availability of electricity and water, and then they look at taxes as issue number four. This Budget puts $1, 2 million into power generation. Mr. Speaker, power generation is an expensive undertaking and the Minister can vouch for me. Power generation is one of the most expensive and it is a problem child the world-over.
In South Africa, ESCOM is now operating under the Ministry of Finance. All parastatals in South Africa that are not performing are put under Treasury so that they are monitored by the Minister of Finance.
The first parastatal in South Africa to be put under Treasury was
ESCOM. The second parastatal was South African Airways. Mr. Speaker, when you put money into power generation, it takes you no less than seven years to realise the benefits of that money. We were talking about $300 million that was put into Kariba Power Station. We will not be able to get a single megawatt out of that $300 million until maybe 2019. I will put that aside.
Mr. Speaker, when Hon. Khupe and Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga debated, they gave what they called recommendations of what they think should be done. I want to move to give my own recommendations. The first recommendation that I want to give is that, we must have a lean and sleek structure of Government. We must also have men of integrity in the mould of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development himself. He is one of the most hardworking and sincere under these difficult circumstances.
I am saying this knowing fully well that the Vice President, Hon. Phelekezela Mphoko is listening. Hon. Mphoko, the reason why we have policy inconsistencies is because of too many ministries doing nothing. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development engages the international community. When you engage the international community, it is not a matter of just going there and speaking to people.
There are so many other things that you must do in the background for you to be able to engage them.
When the Minister of Finance and Economic Development has engaged the international community and has reached a level where he says I am happy with the level of engagement so far, a member of Cabinet who sits with Hon. Chinamasa in the same Cabinet will come and spoil the broth – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – It is because they have nothing else to do. If we had Ministers who were busy in their portfolios like Hon. Chinamasa, they would not have time to interfere with others – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – My recommendation is that we have a leaner bureau which advises the Presidents correctly.
Hon. Vice President Mphoko, Hon. Vice President Mnangagwa and His Excellency the President, only act on information that comes from people who are around them. A leader is as good as people that surround him. If a leader is surrounded by dead wood, he ends up being dead himself – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I will give you an example
…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order.
HON. SHAMU: On a point of order Mr. Speaker I think that, it is not fair, right and respectful for us to refer to the Head of State of this country as dead wood. The Hon. Member must withdraw that statement.
It is unacceptable and disrespectful.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order please. Hon. Maridadi,
even though you may not have mentioned names but it is clear what you are referring to. May you withdraw that please?
HON. MARIDADI: For purposes of progress, I will withdraw …
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: And also if you can wind up
because your time is up.
HON. MARIDADI: I am going to wind up. The reason why I am saying this Mr. Speaker, I watched the ZANU PF Conference in Victoria Falls. The reason I was following that conference is because what is discussed during that conference has a bearing on us because ZANU PF is the ruling party – [HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Oh, yes!]
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – I heard the Head of
State saying and this is a matter of national public record, that the Cold Storage Company (CSC) is now coming back on line. What he was basically saying is that the CSC has been turned around and is on the verge of making a profit.
Mr. Speaker, one of the worst performing parastatals in this country is the CSC. It is not a going concern. Last year, they slaughtered 900 herd of cattle, yet at their peak they slaughtered 970 000. What it means is that the President has been given wrong information and it is not his fault. That is why I am saying we need competent people in the mould of the likes of Hon. Chinamasa. That is my point. …
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Your time is up Hon.
Maridadi.
HON. MARIDADI: But that red light did not flash Mr. Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – There are procedures to be followed in this House and those procedures must apply. What is good for the goose is good for the gander and I am not about to sit down
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – No, procedure …
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order please. Hon.
Maridadi, I will give you two minutes to wind up.
HON. MARIDADI: So, Hon Chinamasa, the Ministry of
Economic Planning and there is this Ministry, I do not even know its name, that has to do with Policy Implementation and Ministry of Youth and Indigenisation; all those must be departments in your Ministry and must be headed by Directors. The Ministry of Psychomotor in Education must be abolished and the Minister must be pensioned and go home. Provincial Ministers are unconstitutional because the
Constitution we now provide for Provincial Councils. Also, because of the size of this country, I honestly believe and I am saying this with all the respect that I can muster, I think this country would require just a single Vice President. I thank you.
HON. MAVENYENGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for affording
me this opportunity to add my contribution on the debate on this budget.
I would want to talk on agriculture. This country, as we all know is agro based. Zimbabwe’s economy depends on agriculture but as I analysed the budget, which the Minister presented to this House, the Ministry of Agriculture was not given enough to make sure the economy which depends on agriculture can grow. We say agriculture is the backbone of this country’s economy, but the way it is being funded, does not equal the status we give to this Ministry.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Maputo Declaration which states that 10% of the National Budget should be allocated to agriculture. For the past years, we have seen that this Ministry has never received the 10% which was agreed upon at the Maputo Declaration. I therefore urge the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, in future, to really look into this Ministry, as it is the one which can make our economy grow. We are saying we depend on agriculture but the money it is being allocated cannot enable our economy to grow. The 10% which we are talking about, if the Ministry was given, was going to come up to about US$400 million. As it stands, the Ministry only got about US$200 million, yet we want to have irrigation services in the country.
We also want to have affordable inputs so that our farmers can utilize most of the land which is lying idle. It is idle because the farmers are failing to purchase seed, and fertilizers. We want our Government to subsidize fertilizers and seeds just like other countries in the region such as Zambia and Malawi are doing. We are currently buying maize from these countries which are doing very well because they are able to subsidize the seed and fertilizers. Here in Zimbabwe, you find that a rural farmer is not able to raise money to buy a bag of fertilizer, which is going for about US$30 or US$28. We want to see the fertilizers going down to at least US$14 or US$15 a 50 kg bag, so that everyone can afford to buy and farm to ensure that the country grows its economy.
ZIM ASSET has also noted that Food and Nutrition is one of the clusters which we are supposed to ensure is well funded, so that everyone in the country is able to get enough for the families as well as exporting to other countries. We should not just wait to go and import but we are supposed to have more to export to other countries if we fund our agriculture sector well. This is the only way we can grow our economy which has gone down. If we are not funding it well, it means we are not taking our agriculture as seriously as we are supposed to.
The US$200 million which was allocated cannot enable us to have more irrigation services in the country. At the moment we are facing climate change phenomenon and we cannot produce enough if we do not have irrigation services in the country. For us to grow our economy, I suggest that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development should in future, look into this sector, as this is very important to us as a country. Anyone who wants to go to work or do anything needs food. Without food we cannot come here and debate like we are doing now. Food must be available first for us to come here and do our work. I am therefore, saying that on the agricultural sector, we should abide by the Maputo Declaration, which we signed and agreed to that 10% of the National Budget would be given to the Ministry of Agriculture. If we do so, we will not have to go out and buy food stuffs from other countries.
Also on the ZIM ASSET that we are talking about, for us to make sure that we succeed in our ZIM ASSET, especially on the Food and Nutrition Cluster, we need more money to make sure we have small dams, buy more equipment and have irrigation programmes like those in
Birchenough Bridge - Hon. Chinotimba’s constituency. The people there are doing very well because their irrigation service is going on well. They are irrigating all year round. They irrigate and produce maize. From maize they go to wheat, from wheat they go to beans which they will sell for the livelihoods of their people. So, if these irrigation services are put all over the country, in almost every district or every constituency our people will get enough food. It will be easy for us as Members of Parliament to do our constituency work when we visit them. We will not have problems with people asking for food like what is happening at the moment. The country has no food but we are not putting enough to the Ministry which is supposed to produce for the people and more so to make sure we can also sell.
There is also the issue of resuscitation of CSC, with CSC we need artificial insemination to our cattle but on the Budget, the money which was allocated for that is very little. So, to resuscitate this CSC is very difficult and it will not succeed if the money which was allocated is not revised. We need the Minister to revise this and make sure that in future if we really want to see CSC resuscitated, it should be well funded so that all the programmes are successful, making sure that we have enough cattle so that we can export meat to other countries as we used to do before. I thank you.
*HON. CHIWETU: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak in my mother’s tongue. Peace in the country comes from the Police and the presence of the Army. In fact, the arms of Government that are responsible for peacekeeping are responsible for ensuring that there is peace and security. For one to walk from Parliament to Market Square without being mugged shows that there is police presence. There is rule of law, the Army is present. Zimbabwe is demarcated, it has a border which needs to be protected by the Army. If Mozambique were to invade Zimbabwe and say that the new boundary for the border is now at Rusape, we will do nothing about it if the Army were not to protect us.
The point I am making Mr. Speaker is that the Army and the Police should be given sufficient funding for their operations so that we have peace and security as a country. This enables us as citizens of Zimbabwe to be able to conduct our daily chores such as walking or even farming in peace.
I urge the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to resuscitate the recruitment of police officers and soldiers. Recruitment of new members of the Army and Police should be ongoing. For the past three years, we have not been recruiting such members of the force. What others do not know is that we train in peace to ensure that there is no war, you cannot train during the war. It is not ideal to be training and recruiting members of the security forces during a war. You need to do this during peace time. There is a saying that you should practice peace to avoid war.
Mr. Speaker, what you give to these Ministries should be supported by your disbursements. Please disburse the figures that you will have allocated to these security forces. It is my plea to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development that these line Ministries that deal with security issues be given sufficient funds that we will have indicated has been allocated to them. Your failure to disburse these funds will hinder their plans for the year because of lack of resources.
We have projects countrywide; I am talking about the PSIP projects that have not been completed because we are starting a lot of new projects simultaneously. There is a building for the Registrar General which needed very little in the form of funding but the costs have now escalated. We need to start on one project, complete it and then move on to the next. In the Army, there are several projects that involves sewer and water reticulation that have not been attended to.
Last year, insignificant figures were allocated but they were not disbursed. For this year, we do know if it is going to be disbursed. The CID headquarters for the Police has for years been at a standstill. Some have died before using the building which they had dreamed of. It is my plea that we should come up with manageable projects that are properly funded.
In terms of ZINARA, the roads to the rural areas need to be upgraded. We should not have these gravel roads, where we grade them during one season and redo the same exercise the next year. These roads are washed away by rains or floods. The majority of these road users are in the communal lands. The money should be given to the rural authority so that they are able to maintain the roads. All you need to do is to monitor and ensure that the money is being properly used.
There is another section that I have observed on the budget, where you talk about fines for unlicenced drivers; you said it should be
US$100. When I look at this, we have a lot of vehicles on our roads. Majority of the drivers are unlicenced, a lot of these unlicenced drivers are killing a lot of people. People that drive while they are unlicenced should be tried by competent courts because they run the risk of causing the death of several innocent people. The sanctity of human life should be upheld.
In support of the previous speaker who spoke on irrigation schemes, I am grateful for the programme that Hon. Made is doing. We have a lot of water in several areas and I urge that there should be an increase in the number of irrigation schemes. I have 62 water bodies in my constituency and I only have five irrigation schemes that have been resuscitated. If the 62 water bodies were to be operationalised as irrigation schemes will avert hunger and our constituencies will never plead for food. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. BHEBHE: Mr. Speaker Sir, before I delve into the budget, I just want to highlight something that seems to be very common particularly being said by Hon. Members on your right. Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening that the ruling party seems to think that war veterans are only found in the ruling party and it is a tragedy that some of the people that are claiming to be war veterans from the ruling party are actually
not war veterans, but are masquerading to be war veterans hiding in the shadow of ZANU PF – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. DR. MUKANDURI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. With all due respect, the Hon. Member has gone off bounds. The Hon. Member who has just spoken concerning the war veterans has not vetted any of those people who are war veterans. I was here and I never heard that war veterans belong to the ruling party only. No, that statement is misleading and the Hon. Member should withdraw his statement. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Unfortunately, I was talking to Hon. Nduna here. I did not hear what he said. May he repeat what he said so that I make a ruling.
HON. BHEBHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Just to be clear, I am responding to an issue that was said by one Hon. Member debating in this House today. He referred to members on your left as people who are not war veterans. Some of us were war veterans that were fighting when some of the people that are accusing us of not being war veterans were actually working and enjoying money and now today they are telling us that we are not war veterans. He actually claimed that war veterans are only found from the members on your right. So, I am responding to that.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What was your response like – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Order please. Order, order! I think there is some bit of misunderstanding in terms of how he expressed himself. So, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You may continue with your debate.
HON. BHEBHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. This time around when we were debating the budget for 2014, I stood up and said the best remedy to fix the problems in this country pertaining to the economic decline is to accept failure. That is the first thing that should happen in this country. If we do not accept our failures, where we went wrong, we will come here year after year, debate and come up with nothing.
Going into the budget, Mr. Speaker, going through the Blue Book and the statement by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, there are two things that I deduced from that presentation. This budget is either going to talk of economic growth or is going to talk of the consumption behaviour in this country. To be honest, running through the budget, it is very clear that we are talking today, debating a consumptive budget.
Those that went to Victoria Falls - I did not go to Victoria Falls myself, but I followed the proceedings, the theme for the Pre-Budget
Seminar was ‘Growing the National Cake for Socio Economic
Development and Transformation’. If I look at the budget presented by the Minister of Finance, it is not answering to the theme that you went and debated in Victoria Falls. If this budget was talking to the theme that you debated at Victoria Falls, Mr. Speaker Sir, we should be seeing a deliberate thrust that is showing that there is more that has been put towards capital expenditure. It is very clear that if you look at this budget, there is zero capital expenditure because already the salaries for the civil servants are gobbling what we believe will be the collections from Treasury.
If you look two years back from now, 2013 and 2014, we failed to meet the target that we had put ourselves on in terms of collections. So, I assume 2016 will not be spared. If it is not spared, I am now seeing a situation where come 2016, we will not be able to raise even civil servants salaries. Therefore, this budget does not qualify to be a budget that is aiming or promoting or that is based on capital expenditure in this country.
Mr. Speaker, there are a few things that I just want to pick and highlight on the budget just to say that I have proved that this budget is not aiming at financing capital expenditure in this country. It also speaks of issues of our debt to the international community. The World
Bank Debt according to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is going to be financed by borrowing. To me, as a business person, I see no logic in trying to service a debt through borrowing. It is like borrowing from John to pay Mary. You are actually back to square one because at the end of the day, you want to borrow to service a debt and you are creating another debt. Meaning that for years to come, we will remain in one place instead of seeing growth in this country. That is one thing that I observed in that budget Mr. Speaker Sir.
Some of the highlights on the budget are actually promoting either corruption or back door clandestine business operations. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development on page 21 of the Blue Book is saying an equivalent of US$1 000 000 and above is going to be exempted in terms of capital equipment. That to me means that all what you are saying is any person who is importing capital goods or machinery that is worth US$1 000 000 is importing to resell. There are very few businesses here that can import that kind of equipment to start new businesses. May be what the Minister should have picked on is target those small businesses that are still starting. Reduce the benchmark from $1 million to a sizeable amount – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]- so that a lot of people, broader people in society are going to be able to capitalise on that by bringing in capital equipment.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the other issue that I picked on the Budget is the issue of importation of second hand vehicles, on pages 23 and 24. There is this misunderstanding that for one to have a vehicle or to import a vehicle, a better vehicle is the one that has got fewer years or that is four or five years from manufacturing date. Honestly, you cannot say a person who is importing a four year old vehicle is better off than a person who is importing a 20 year old vehicle. Mechanically, that does not work. What works is if you want to measure the durability of a vehicle, you measure it by the mileage that it has covered, not the years that it was manufactured.
A vehicle that is four years old can have 350 000 km on the clock, yet a vehicle that is ten years can have 20 000 km on the clock. So, if you are talking of vehicles that are being imported …
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
Order at the back, order please! You may proceed.
HON. HOLDER: On a point of Order Mr. Speaker. The gentleman is misleading this House because when we talk about bringing in equipment, there is no second hand equipment. ZINARA brought new graders. This man is misleading us – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.]-
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Holder, there is no point
of order at all. Continue Hon. Member?
HON. BHEBHE: Thank you Mr. Speaker,. I think it is allowed that members should seek clarification than seeking a point of order. I am now talking on importation of vehicles not machinery. I have already finished with machinery. I said what I said on the machinery and I am talking of vehicles. I am being honest because I come from that industry.
I am one of the serving members in that industry. I am offering to the
Minister of Finance and Economic Development’
I am not forcing him but I am saying this is what I believe can work for this country because instead of importing a lot of scrap and allow Zimbabwe to be a dumping ground, let us have innovative ways of bringing in vehicles that are going to last longer instead of just bringing such cars as a dumping ground.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to proceed and go on to the issue of mining in Zimbabwe. I will just touch a bit about mining. When we talk of mining, it is a capital intensive project. When you invest into mining, you can invest billions of dollars and you will not expect or you will not receive dividends over a year, two or three. You are talking of over five years before you receive dividends. It is a very sensitive industry. When we talk of foreign investors coming to inject finance into this country, particularly in that industry, we need to have laws that are friendly to those that want to invest in mining. We might claim that we are the owners of the minerals, but minerals on the ground that are not exploited or that are not mined, are as good as nothing.
The person who would enable you to mine those minerals through bringing in equipment and capital in terms of financing is the one who should be realised to be the person who is the driving force behind that industry. So, if we put a blanket rule that anybody who comes to invest in Zimbabwe should come as a junior partner by being a 49% shareholder, honestly speaking, we are fooling ourselves. We are telling ourselves a lie. We think that one day God is going to come from Heaven and assist us. We need to think like people that want to see this country growing.
Just to give you an example Mr. Speaker Sir. We have had a lot of shouting about the Chinese coming to invest in this country. It is one of the countries that is fast developing. Where I have got a problem with the Chinese is that they came here and partnered some of the mines in Marange, and they knew that there was alluvial diamond in Marange and there were kimberlites that are even deeper and more expensive to mine. If they were genuinely coming to invest here in Zimbabwe, they were supposed to make sure that whatever mining that was taking place in terms of mining alluvial diamonds; they were supposed to identify partners back in China that are manufacturing equipment that is able to mine kimberlites that we cannot mine today.
As we are talking right now, mining in Marange diamond is as good as finished because there is no money put aside to make sure that they continue mining for years to come. Therefore, I do not believe that if we are genuinely thinking of investing into mining, we should take partners or we should bring in partners that are not genuine, but they are only coming to loot our resources and make money for themselves like the Chinese have done.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, before I sit down, we have seen the economic decline in this country. The biggest question that we all want answered is who presided over that economic decline. What was he doing when the economy was declining? Was he involved in corruption and forgetting to do his job? Was he involved in massacring other people forgetting about doing his job or was he involved in other things that we do not know. So, I will go back to my earlier statement and say, the best remedy to see this country go back to its feet again is to admit failure. Those that have failed should admit that they have failed; we will be able to assist them.
*HON. MUFUNGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank you
for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this debate on the Budget presentation. I think a lot of things have been explained that I wanted to mention, but let me start by talking about the issue on environment. I was thinking that on this budget, we need to consider the issue of environment because that is where the whole country is based. If you look at what is happening, we are all bemoaning the issue of climate change. We are also concerned about the issue of cloud seeding. I think we need to allocate funds to this sector. This will assist us in agriculture because agriculture falls under environment. The hunger that is there requires us to be armed in order to fight climate change and find ways of mitigating the effects of climate change. If you look at Kariba dam today, no one ever thought that it will be what it is today. Had we come up with measures of mitigating such effects, we would not be in this quagmire. I want to urge the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to add more money and allocate more resources towards the construction of dams. In regards to EMA, what has contributed to climate change is the veld fires that are happening and the deforestation?
EMA should be allocated more resources to mitigate such effects.
I also wanted to talk on the issue of inputs that we receive. I was also looking at the issue of ARDA and I think we need to consider this. I have never heard of ARDA being explained anywhere or being allocated anything. So, my opinion is that we should allocate funds to ARDA and ensure that they become productive so that they can contribute to food security. The two areas that I mentioned about the issues that I think should be considered in the Budget are the construction of more dams and the funding of ARDA to ensure that as a country there is food security for our people. With these few words, I want to thank you for the opportunity.
HON. B. TSHUMA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker for the opportunity -[AN HON. MEMBER: The Minister wants to know your name]- Hon. Speaker, the Minister wishes to know what my name is – so if you may allow me to favour the Minister with my name?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
Yes.
HON. B. TSHUMA: My name is Brian Tshuma, Member of
Parliament for Hwange Central. Thank you very much.
I am in fact Hon. Minister, one of the members who is also flattered by your performance in this particular Budget. I would want to note in particular the massive shift from machinations with Keynesian policy tools to the massive dose that you give to the supply side fundamentals. I am thinking in particular the issue of encouraging private sector investment, the sort of a policy that you put in place, the issue of a straightening infrastructure development utilities informatising the economy as well as strengthening the tax system.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in speaking to this issue, on how our Budget then seeks to address these supply side fundamentals, there is a lot of dwelling on this issue of competitiveness and ease of doing business. I would want to note the World Bank Report, the World Economic Forum global competitiveness ranking/standing of this country for the period 2011 and 2012 where Zimbabwe ranked 132 out of a possible 142 countries. This global competitiveness report measures the operating environment and competitiveness of the 142 countries and identifies advantages and impediments to natural growth.
In the same period Mr. Speaker, on the World Bank Ease of Doing
Business Report, Zimbabwe ranked number 171 out of a possible 183. The World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report assesses the local regulatory framework in terms of the conduciveness to the starting of an operation of a local firm. Clearly, our passion as stated in these statistics is a cause for concern. When we come closer to the issue of the Budget, the Budget clearly states under Part 8 - are several policy tools that we wish to follow in pursuing this issue. I would want to dwell in particular on the issue of markets and second policy tools which relate to the Code of Conduct. Mr. Speaker, we will talk about competitiveness. It is only imperative that we sought our markets, particularly on the issue of encouraging private sector investment. Markets are essentially about rules and norms on how the private sector transacts business in those private markets. When the Minister emphasises this aspect of competitiveness, it is necessary then that the Government puts in place rules that constitute those markets. The way the Government adheres to those rules should inspire trust and confidence so as to attract investors as amply referred to by my colleagues.
I would simply want to point out two issues that the Hon. Minister and Mr. Speaker, I am talking to myself here because the very Minister that I am talking to is in some bilateral.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You may continue.
HON. B. TSHUMA: Mr. Speaker, honestly I am finding myself in some very vein sort of enterprise.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You may proceed Hon.
Member, I will protect you?
HON. B. TSHUMA: Hon. Minister, I was kind enough to introduce myself and that was a real honour on yourself. Please, may you also favour me by lending me your ear? I want the Hon. Minister to get this point, when he emphasises on competitiveness which is a very welcome development and it is so unfortunate. Hon. Speaker, I want to emphasise that markets that are necessary for competitiveness, there are social institutions in which Government has a bigger role to play. Markets that we need for competitiveness that the Hon. Minister is harping on in this Budget are essentially about rules and adherence to those rules in the name of competitiveness as he rightly identifies.
We have a situation in this country where the very Government that the Minister represents, the very Government that sets up those rules that constitute the markets and they have a very firm reputation for breaking the same rules. I am saying that sort of thing does not assist competitiveness. I just want to give two examples. In the Constitution we have in terms of these rules, I am not sure of the particular section but it certainly states that the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission should be chaired by a registered lawyer of seven years standing. Mr. Speaker, as we speak right now, there must have been an announcement on television about a Bishop, Emeritas Ambrose Moyo who is neither a lawyer generally, not to talk about being registered for seven years and he has never been anywhere near a law school. But,
that is the sort of person that has been appointed as Chair of that particular Commission.
My point Hon. Speaker is that, when you have a Government that does not respect the grannum, the Constitution as it is, it cannot even be trusted with coming up with market rules that it can then adhere to. So, when they violate the Constitution, it actually flies in the face of this bid of competitiveness. I can also give a similar example including what also Hon. Gonese amply alluded to yesterday. We also have a Job Whabira at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. The
Constitution clearly states that for any member to serve under a Commission, such a member must not also be a member of any State controlled institution/entity. Job Wabhira, who is also one of the commissioners of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, is in fact a member of the board of the National Prosecuting Authority, as well as the Civil Service Commission. That Mr. Speaker, is another flagrant violation of the Constitution. The basic point is that the Minister when he speaks about competitiveness hinging on institutions and laws that
the same Government is breaking, it does not come to hold water. It is an area that he needs to look into.
Mr. Speaker, I actually want to go on to an issue that has inspired my standing up to give a contribution, the Code on Corporate
Governance. I was also involved in a motion that led to the drafting of this Code. The Code is a joint effort of the public sector and the private sector, in particular members of the Institute of Directors and Institute of Bankers amongst other stakeholders. The logic that inspired this Code is that it was going to be a voluntary soft standards, sort of Code that would regulate the private sector on an apply or explain basis. The Minister has proposed in the Budget that they will bring a Corporate Governance Bill that will turn this very Bill into a law.
Mr. Speaker, in the history of these Corporate Governance Codes, it is only America that has such a legally binding Code of Conduct or Code of Corporate Governance. The Americans themselves have admitted that such sort of a policy tool, having a criminalized Corporate Governance Code is not working for them. Every country in the world; South Africa, UK, Asia and Europe have gone the voluntary Code. The Code as it were is an important aspect of the competitiveness drive and ease of doing business. I would wish the Minister to reconsider his position as it actually flies in the face of reducing transitional costs or promoting the ease of doing index for the country in terms of the draft that he gives.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to end my contribution here in disgust. I find myself to be involved in some very vain process here.
*HON. GWANETSA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for affording me the opportunity to add my voice to this important issue which gives respect to us as a country; the one of the National Budget. Before I say a lot of things, I would want to first and foremost, thank Hon. Minister Chinamasa for a job well done in playing this difficult balancing act. In doing so, I will look at issues around agriculture, energy, industry and water. Lastly, I will talk about defence or security sector. The security that is important, which is better than the security that is akin to the defence of this country, is food security. A hungry man is an angry man.
For one to be self-sufficient, one would have been involved in agriculture. So, I am hoping that Hon. Minister Chinamasa; yes, I must concede that he has given us an example or allocations to the various Ministries.
I was hoping that the Agriculture Ministry could be given a sufficient portion of the cake to be able to grow crops, cattle ranching and fishery. We now have different seasons and due to climatic changes, we should be moving towards irrigation because natural rain is not sufficient. It does not stretch enough for these seasons. We should harness and harvest water so that we will be able to do irrigation so that farming can thrive. No matter how good we do our farming and how good our harvests we have, we need good silos. There should be a funding that is put aside to ensure that we do come up with good silos.
Even if we turn our eyes to the Asian tigers, they began with agriculture. It gives the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, hence agriculture will become the back bone of our country. We should be able to ensure that the Ministry of Agriculture stands on its own feet so that it will be able to drive our vehicle to self-sustenance.
Energy is another sector which needs to be looked into as one of the drivers of our economy. We have load shedding; industry is not performing at its optimum levels because of load shedding. Kariba Dam was constructed during the federation era. We now import electricity. If there is no electricity, the agriculture sector goes nowhere. The amounts allocated to energy should be increased because that would be able to grow our cake. If we look at the industry, we observe that it is nonexistent. All our industries in Bulawayo have closed down. In Harare, our industry is in the intensive care. I was hoping that such industries would be resuscitated by being given adequate funding from the Budget, hence they will be able to create employment and people will be able to sustain themselves. Agriculture is an important facet of our country.
I now move to water and environment. We are talking of climate change. It is a phenomenon which is here to stay and we should be able to address it, getting used to it and correct its effects. If we do not attend to climate change, we will not achieve anything. Even the agriculture and other sectors that we are talking about, the harvesting and harnessing of water, the creation of such water bodies will come to note.
Several years, we have been struggling to complete the construction of Tokwe-Murkosi. If it were to be completed, it would benefit our agricultural sector.
We should be able to preserve our wild life. Funding should be put in place and poachers should be eradicated. The police should be in a position to secure that area. It is an area which I believe should be secured. I worked for several years and I know that a soldier watches on his stomach. When it comes to the protection of the country or the defence of this country, all of us are happy but security is expensive. There is need for deterrence to be able to have security, it also requires diplomacy, training and all such aspects are needed in defence. In defence we also have the moto and we do not have permanent friends but permanent interest. If we do not forever look after our police and soldiers so that they remain current, we are doing ourselves a lot of
harm. I am happy the Minister brought the Defence College Act and this is where our security officers are trained. It is expensive to come up with an elite security force for us to have peace. The State as they say it is as good as its generals so these generals have got to be enlightened in such defence colleges and they will be able to then provide us with adequate security and on that we cannot be seen to be taking it very lightly.
Such sectors are vital and adequate funding need to be given to such Ministries. For health - if you are to be given some medication for you to take the drugs, you will have had some food. For you to go school you need to have taken food. Agriculture is the mainstay and backbone of our country. I see Hon. Made is nodding in agreement and I believe if we give such issues a priority, our budget will enable us as a country to move in the right direction. Times are hard, but in Chinese a journey of a thousand miles begins with single step. The single step that we should be taking is this. Yes, we need to tighten up and brace ourselves for such hard times by priorities our work. If we do not do that then we will not win. If we have fear we will go nowhere. They say that fear is baggage and the little that we have should be used wisely. If we just cry that we have nothing, we will lose out. Those are the few words that I believe I should add. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order.
HON. MUTEZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to comment on the Budget that has been presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. The Budget is very balanced I would like to highlight areas of concern which have been raised by stakeholders, the industrial and manufacturing sectors. The feeling is this is a low hanging fruit and we want to commend the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry for the model they used for cooking oil industry whereby supporting local manufacture or expression of cooking oil and stopping the unnecessary importation of the same, we now have that sector working at over 80%.
My observation or comment is that we should extend the same to other manufacturing sectors and I will cite a few and in the same vein we must support by the buy Zimbabwe campaign. I propose that for raw materials that are used in making final product, they should come in duty free the same with the equipment also used for the same. The manufacturing sector used to be a major employer and a major contributor to the fiscus. If we have this approach like Hon. Minister did for the cooking oil industry, we would have major turnaround in that sector. I also propose that we have punitive duties on the importation of finished goods that can be locally manufactured so that we can support our own manufacturers.
I have examples Mr. Speaker Sir, the packaging industry where finished printing materials are being brought in and they can be made here. Non specialist books - we used to have a very vibrant printing industry and publishing industry which has died because now the books are coming printed from outside the county while we have major manufactures or printers who are closing shop because they are not getting the support. –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- a study has already been done of that sector Mr. Speaker Sir, and I will make that available to the Hon. Minister .
Finished packaging like labels flour bags, bread bags, crisps, soaps, detergents, tea bags, dairy products all these used to be manufactured here in Zimbabwe and they are now being imported. We are exporting jobs as well as scarce foreign currency. I think we need to treat these in the same way you Hon. Minister treated the oil industry. Other items that are being made locally but are being crowded out of the market are in the construction sector. Things like tile adhesive, tile grout and also things like flour bags Christmas cards, business cards are sometimes being imported in finished good from China, South Africa and elsewhere at the expense of our own local producers.
I thus implore the Minister to look at that and what I have done is I have just picked a few sectors that are affected but generally by and large, the manufacturing sector can be revived because you already have a success story that the Ministers implemented in the cooking oil industry. I think we need to support the buy Zimbabwe campaign and we need to support our own local manufactures so that we can create the much needed jobs and save ourselves foreign currency. I thank you Mr.
Speaker. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
HON. CHIRISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Before I start on my debate, I just want to bring to the attention of the House that I was listening to all the Committee reports yesterday and there was only one Committee, that of Budget, Finance and Economic Development that raised the issue of the Vote allocation for Parliament of Zimbabwe. I think this is an issue that should be raised. We have seen workplans of our Committees rotting in the files because there are no resources. If we keep quiet, we will end up having those plans for 2016 with no implementation due to lack of resources. The Hon. Minister should also take into consideration that we should be at that higher level like the Ministry of Defence and any other Ministry that is being allocated those millions and millions of funds. He should also remember that he is a Member of Parliament before being a Minister.
The problem we have with our Budget is that we are using rolling cash and this is not sustainable for a country. We know we have challenges. We have these statutory funds that are not being accounted for, if I am to say that openly. Those funds could play a bigger role if we are given how much is being earned and how much is being spent so that everybody is aware that these funds are being taken from people and being used for the development of our nation.
I want to touch on the key areas that were raised in the Committee reports but before I do that I want to share with the House some of the highlights which I think I noticed in the Budget. The projection of the growth rate is unrealistic. We want to be fair, given the fact that in 2015, it was 2.4% and it was not achieved and now we are talking of 2.7%. How did the Minister arrive at this projection of 2.7% if as a country we did not reach our last projection of 2.4%? My second point has been said before but I am going to repeat it, the recurrent expenditure which is consuming about $3.1 billion of the total budget leaving nothing for the capital expenditure. Who in his right mind would come and invest if 92% of our budget is going towards wages. Instead of reducing the recurrent expenditure, it is increasing. In 2011, it was at 82%. In 2012 it was at 80%. In 2013 it was at 84%. In 2014, it was at 85% and in 2015 it is at 92%. That is leaving about 8% for development projects.
We also notice that the Budget is not aligned to the Constitution and ZIM ASSET social and economic rights. These have not been prioritised and the Budget does not speak to the clusters that are outlined in ZIM ASSET. There is need to look into it because this is where the people’s needs are being housed. The Budget fails to acknowledge the reality that our economy has a large informal sector and women are the main players. While the budget statement is pointing out that gender mainstreaming is critical to development, it does not reflect as a priority women’s empowerment. This is witnessed by the allocation to the
Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community
Development was allocated $500 000 in 2015 and next year again the same amount is being allocated to this Ministry. I think we need to look into it. However, the Women Development Fund which was allocated
$150 000 did not get the full allocation when it was disbursed to ministries. It was gender on paper with no implementation. Gender
Mainstreaming was allocated $50 000 and next year it stands at $100 000 but there is need to make sure that this money is disbursed. We cannot talk of figures and not hear how this was implemented. This is where those quarterly reports from ministries are very important because that is how best we can monitor how much money have been given, how they have spent the money and the challenges they are facing. There are training centres like Jamaica Training Centre and I think there is need to make sure these are given enough resources.
The issue of rebate has been talked about and I will just emphasise that there is need to make sure that we recognise that most of these cross border players are women and there is need to recognise the effort they are putting into building our economy given the fact that during the period 2007 to 2009, it was the same women who carried the burden of the Zimbabwean economy to save this country. We also need to interrogate the indigenisation framework. This has been said again and again that the policies are inconsistent and each Minister is coming up with his own definition of indigenisation. This is scaring foreign direct investment. Parliament as a House should propose for a national investment template which can be used by those whom we are approaching for partnership to do business in our country. This will help to curb any illicit dealings. Before I conclude, I need to touch on issues relating to other Ministries based on what I heard from the Committees. There is need for more exports than imports. I also think we need quarterly reports; this will help to assess the impact of the budget that has been allocated to the Ministries. We should emphasise on capital infrastructure rather than re-current.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we are part of the global village and in the region, there are countries that are doing very well, we should not be proud but ask them how they are managing and copy best practices. We have parastatals and institutions that are being owed money, for example, ZESA being owed US$1 billion and above, by the consumers. However, if you look at who owes ZESA, you find that they are not the grassroots people but it is us up there, the big institutions. Why are they not paying? This US$1 billion could help a lot in the Ministry of Energy and they can sustain themselves using that money apart from their budget allocation. We also have companies like Netone which is being owed and again, it is the same story, it is the same people who owe, those who are untouchable.
Recently, we were asking the stakeholders about pre-paid meters, where these have been installed and what is left. They told us that they have even installed these in farms but they were told to withdraw – by whom, it is a mystery. So, how can we move forward, when we move one step forward then two steps backwards?
Mr. Speaker Sir, we have a lot of potential but we do not have the will power. Last but not least, I want to urge our Members of
Parliament, especially the Minister of Finance and Economic
Development, to read the book on, ‘how to lie in statistics’. I thank you.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for the opportunity to air my views on the 2016, National Budget. I know that I have stood up to debate when literally Hon. Members are actually standing on the their feet, wanting to go, whilst I appreciate that we all have got a right as Members of Parliament to be given an opportunity to debate on the Budget.
Mr. Speaker, whilst my hon. colleagues have commended the
Minister for the budget, I think I will speak to the contrary and say that there is entirely nothing in this budget that is worth commending the Minister. If I was marking him out of a 100%, the probability of this budget to create growth in this country will be below 5%. It is important for us to note that this budget, in its manner and form, is not going to improve the welfare of Zimbabweans in 2016, neither are we going to witness reduced un-employment levels nor are we going to see aggregate demand in the market. Instead, in 2016 we are likely to witness a general decline in all macro-economic indicators. We are likely going to witness increased poverty levels, continued deflation, reduced production capacity and more retrenchments in the private sector. We are also going to witness more school and college dropouts as
safety-nets crumble, more incapacity by Government to meet its statutory obligations such as payment of wages and rendered services.
As a result, the projection by the Hon. Minister that the economy is going to grow by between 2, 7 and 3, 7%, in my view is over optimistic. It is over optimistic because economic growth is premised on the following elements:-
- Domestic consumption;
- Government consumption;
- Investment levels; and The trade balance.
If we look at all these factors Mr. Speaker, we are going to see that there is dwindling domestic consumption, government consumption, and reduced investment levels and increased trade deficit in the economy.
Under those circumstances, Mr. Speaker, it is only under prophetic circumstances that you can have an economy growing. It is my view therefore, that instead of the projection that the Minister made, we are likely going to witness the economy growing by not more than 1, 2% in the coming year. The reason for that is simple – [HON. TOFFA: On a point of order! We are kindly asking the Minister to listen so that he will be able to respond. He is busy talking] –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members
that is the prerogative of the Speaker. There is no point of order.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Mr. Speaker, I am trying to explain why I am saying growth in the economic levels next year is almost zero. We have witnessed in this financial year, a reduction in revenue collections by the Government and there are no new revenue streams that are being created by this budget. I went through the 302 pages of the Ministers speech; there is nothing new that is creating a new revenue stream for Government. Therefore, Government consumption, expenditure, instead of increasing, it is going to decrease because of the constraints that are coming from a restricted revenue base. As a result of that, we are not likely going to see any stimulation in the economy because of less demand that will be coming from the Government.
When we look at the disposable income, within the household, the domestic consumption levels, we have witnessed so many closures of companies this year, so much retrenchment this year. There is no room in this budget that there will be more employment creation next year. Therefore disposable incomes within households will continue to decline.
Our expectations Hon. Speaker, were that in terms of policies, the Minister was expected to come up with positive policies that were going to stimulate growth in the economy. In terms of the figures, there is no much that we can talk about Hon. Speaker, we can only talk about priorities. We are surprised that at this time and juncture of our level of development, we have got a Government that still continues to priorities the security sector at the expense of the productive sectors.
Hon. Speaker, we are always saying that Zimbabweans are peace loving people; we are a peace loving people. The rest of our neighbours are not aggressive, therefore the question becomes why are we spending much more money on military hardware and software? Why are we spending more money on buying hardware for the Police? Hon. Speaker, peace without production is no peace at all. Peace that is accompanied with poverty levels is not peace at all. Peace with depressed investment levels is not peace at all.
Therefore, it is my view that the most important way that we should have invested in peace in this country was to invest in productive rather than consumptive sectors. That way, we were going to increase the levels of employment. That way, we were going to increase the levels of aggregate demand. That way, we were going to increase the levels of disposable income in households and therefore with that kind of welfare levels, you do not see any uprisings coming up in the community. Instead of investing in those productive sectors, what have we done? We have invested in repressive machinery to try and repress a poor people.
Hon. Speaker, our expectations were that instead of the security sectors dominating the budget, we should rather have seen the budget being dominated by agriculture since we always say that we are an agriculture driven economy. Increased agriculture production was going to stimulate other sectors but right now, as we speak, no other sector should be expected to grow except only the sector of consumption in the security sectors.
Hon. Speaker allow me to speak about just two things that I think are important that have not been spoken about by other members. Number one is the ZISCO issue; I believe that the ZISCO Steel issue is an important issue. The decision by Government to lay off the employees at ZISCO in my view, makes economic sense. Why does it make economic sense? It makes economic sense in two ways in that firstly, it is stopping the incremental aspect of the debt that is accruing to ZISCO. Secondly, it does not deprive the employees of anything at all because they have not been getting wages anyway. So, economically in my view, the decision to cut off the employment of ZISCO employees was a correct move economically. However, my problem Mr. Speaker is to assume that debt and put it on the shoulders of the total public without conducting a forensic audit on how that debt was accumulated.
It is my view that we are making almost the same mistake that we made on the RBZ Debt Assumption Bill. We are not yet sure how the total amount of debt that was accrued by ZISCO Steel was accrued. I know that part of the debt was accrued by corrupt members of the ruling class that were getting money from ZISCO and now you want to transfer the entire debt onto the public of Zimbabwe. I implore the Minister that what we need, I think as a condition to the assumption of that debt is that the debt should be first subjected to forensic audit to determine how that debt was accrued, then after that, the public may assume that debt.
The second aspect Hon. Speaker is the issue of the cotton industry. Let me speak because nobody spoke about it but I think there is something very interesting that the Minister raised in his budget statement. Number one, the Minister has alluded to the fact that the
Government of Zimbabwe wants to take over the loss making Cotton Company of Zimbabwe. Number two, the Minister has alluded to the fact that they want to subsidise the farmers in the cotton industry for three years. My problem with that aspect is that firstly, the market forces in that industry has determined that the industry is no longer competitive. No wonder why the majority of private players that were in that industry have moved out. It is no longer competitive and the vey Minister of a broke Government wants to adopt and take that responsibility to subsidise a company. Where do you have the capacity to subsidise cotton industry when you cannot pay even bonuses?
Hon. Speaker, there is an issue of sustainability even if you take that subsidy element, for how long are you going to subsidise that industry until it is competitive? -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, speak to the Chair.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: It is my view Hon. Speaker that there are cheap and more economic alternatives to what the Minister did. My proposal would be; it is important for us to understand that what has made that industry to die is that our product is less competitive compared to that which is produced by our competitors. The reason for that is because we are producing cotton at a higher price than what Brazil for example, is producing at. It is my view that instead of subsidizing, the Minister should have invested in technology that makes production of cotton more competitive so that we can compete on a global market with our competitors. Subsidizing at the current production cost levels is not going to take us anywhere. I think as much as the Minister is ambitious in that area, I foresee a scenario that we are going to fail.
The second alternative in that area is that we have got other crops that we produce at a competitive advantage – [THE HON. SPEAKER:
Order, you are left with five minutes] – Thank you Hon. Speaker.
Rather than us subsidizing the cotton industry, I agree it has contributed so much previously into the economy. The Minister should have otherwise invested in ensuring that our farmers diversify into other crops where we have got both comparative and competitive advantage. We have got so many crops that can be grown in Gokwe and other cotton growing areas, where we can do so without investing money of subsidies, the money which we do not have.
Right now we might continue to say this is what we want to do, however, without investing either in technology or diversification of the type of crop that we are going to grow in that area, we are doomed to
fail.
Finally Hon. Speaker, when I was looking at the budget statement, I am seeing a picture of a man holding a big tiger on the budget statement. However, if you peruse all these pages in this budget statement, there is nothing mentioned about fishing industry, completely nothing? When we are talking about the fishing industry, in other countries like Tanzania, it is contributing about 11% of GDP, it is contributing about 7% of total employment but in this country, the Minister simply ignores and omits that significant industry, only to see it on the cover page pictures. It is my view that, also on the issue of cost drivers, I do not see why the Minister had to reduce the cost of water to about nine cents. Where is that nine cents going to? Why does ZINWA have to be paid the nine cents per litre for water Mr. Speaker, because water is one of the major cost drivers that we have in this country. There is no need for the parastatal called ZINWA to be milking money from everybody which is actually increasing the cost of production in the country.
It is my view Mr. Speaker that cost drivers like water and land; we are more forested than we have land that is developed but we still continue to have land even in rural areas like Binga where I come from which cost $4 per square metre. Why do we not reduce the cost of land and have land developed, then we can begin to see commercial activities from which we can then begin to draw some resources and revenue. Thank you Mr. Speaker for the opportunity that you gave me to rush through my contribution.
HON. TOFFA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this
opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I am going to zero in on corruption.
Corruption is the one factor that is depriving the Minister of Finance and
Economic Development the much needed resources that we need for the Budget. This year 2015, an amount exceeding $600 million is reported to have been retained by line ministries and departments and the figure is projected to rise up to $719 million in 2016.
I want to bring to the attention of the House that independent researchers actually dispute these figures. They point out that the amount that is retained by line ministries exceeds an amount of $2 billion. It could even be more if one factors in corruption at the lower levels. Let me give an example of the Police Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The police are reported to have retained $38 million from fines and levies. That figure is too low Mr. Speaker. Hon. Members – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
Order, order Hon. Members.
HON. TOFFA: Mr. Speaker, I have heard that commuter
omnibuses are charged $15 per day. I am told that they are issued with tickets every morning and are given an opportunity to go and make this money while the police wait and pick up this money from the commuter omnibuses on a daily basis. There are 25 000 commuter omnibuses in the country. Mr. Speaker Sir, this means the police are racking in a minimum of $375 000 per day. If you add the fines from vehicles and various offences at police stations, it means they rack a minimum of $500 000 per day, translating to a cool $180 million per annum. My question Mr. Speaker is, what happens to $140 000 million if only $38 million is reported to have been retained.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister announced that he proposes to increase fines by 100% for 2016, but what is very funny is that police project that they will retain in 2016 only $36 million. Instead of the figure increasing, it is actually reducing. This figure is $2 million less than this year yet one expects it to increase. Mr. Speaker, I believe that there is a huge amount of money that is being pocketed by individuals instead of going into State coffers. I have used an example of just the Police Department and I can assure you that the level of corruption in the 24 line ministries and departments that retain funds is the same.
While the idea of retaining funds may have been a noble one Mr. Speaker Sir, which was introduced, in my view this has become a drain pipe from the fiscus. Instead of the Minister to be working with a Budget of $4 billion, he should actually be working with a Budget of $6, 5 billion if corruption had been arrested. The Minister of Finance does not have the nerve to do the right thing or maybe he is afraid to burn his fingers. With lack of accountability and transparency in the collection and usage of these funds by the ministries, rent seeking activities in the country will continue Mr. Speaker Sir.
This is the reason why when ministries are advised to purchase vehicles locally, they disregard this and continue importing vehicles. It is because these ministries have slash funds. It is a wonder why Mr. Speaker, most of the senior civil servants own houses or vehicles that do not commensurate with their salaries. In fact, their life styles confirm that in addition to their salaries they have other income, which in my view is illegal. Mr. Speaker Sir, we have the Anti-Corruption Commission. Where is the Anti-Corruption Commission Mr. Speaker and what is it doing? What has it done so far? The ZANU PF Government pays lip service to corruption as evidenced by the nonprosecution of salary gate, parastatals and quasi-Government departments.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I will conclude by stating that Parliament should make sure that all fines, levies and other charges are channeled to the Consolidated Account. No line Ministry should retain funds until such time when a transparent system of monitoring the funds are put in place.
I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to
thank all those who have made contributions, the Chairpersons of the various Portfolio Committees and individual Members of Parliament for their very constructive contributions. I think I can say quite honestly that there is now greater appreciation from across the political divide of the prevailing circumstances as well as the strategies we must work out of our current situation. I am very encouraged because if the contributions had been made in my absence, I do not think I would have identified whether the speaker is from the ruling party or not. I think that is what should happen in the area of an economic debate. We are now debating issues and not persons. For that, I am eternally grateful.
All the contributions which have been made, in particular, from the Portfolio Committees, there is some common thread throughout a lot of these submissions. The first is that all the Ministries are underfunded. That is correct and I agree. Another one is that we should release funds timeously, a correct observation and criticism but I think the response is something that we already know. We operate on a cash budget, a multicurrency regime dominated by the United States dollar. We do not have
– like one Hon. MP said, strictly speaking, a monetary policy instrument. In short, we do not print money. What that means is that we are only able to meet our budgetary requirements as and when we have received the money through ZIMRA. If we do not have that money, we have nothing to disburse. So I think we need to clearly understand but I am sure that understanding is there. So, all the observations about us not paying timeously, under funding and sometimes putting in the budget allocation a figure which we eventually do not meet must be explained in that fashion.
Let me now specifically highlight – I cannot do justice to all the submissions which have been made since 3pm until now, but these reports are going to be fed to line Ministries because there are some issues which I feel strongly should be followed up by line Ministries. Some of them do not directly concern the budget but basically addressing issues of shortcomings in administration and policy framework with respect to line Ministries. I am sure that line Ministries will take heed of the main observations and recommendations which have been made in these reports. But just allow me to highlight from each report, issues which I feel deserve to be highlighted.
I want to thank the Chairman of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs. The issue which we are going to follow up in 2016, which this Committee has raised, is developing a diaspora policy. I want to say that this is a matter which is being actively pursued and I hope that we should be in a position to come up with a diaspora policy. We do so especially in our circumstances where it is a US dollar denominated economy. The only source of the US dollar is through exports. So we need to drive exports to get US dollars into the country. We also get our US dollars from those in the diaspora when they do remittances to their dependants back home. Another source of foreign currency for us is, if we have lines of credit to the productive sectors as well as loan financing. Outside that, we will not be able to build any US dollar reserves. So, given the contribution of the diasporans to the building up of stock of US dollar savings in this country and liquidity, it is important that we develop a diaspora policy which encourages them to send their money home through official channels. What is estimated to come through is only estimated through official channels and we would want anything coming through unofficial channels to come through the official channels. For that, we are going to develop a policy.
The Committee also raised the issue of re-engagement, I do not want to belabour the point but I have on many occasions said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is charged with the responsibility of pursuing the re-engagement, politically and economically. With respect to new ambassadors who were appointed last year, when I had occasion to brief them, I emphasized that their new mandate should be to drive the economy and make sure that they woe investors into our country. In other words, while I understand that foreign relations is political, they should now begin to put emphasis on economic relations. I am happy to say that increasingly, we now get communication from all our embassies with respect to economic relations. Sometimes we feel we are unable to cope with the demands that they are making on our services.
Hon. Chapfika gave the report on Economic Development and with respect to this Committee’s recommendations, I want to emphasise the following: The debt clearing strategy is on course and as I have explained before, to get there we must meet our SM target benchmarks by end of this year. The review is going to be in February next year. We are confident we are going to meet them and this will clear the way towards clearance of our debts. Let me also explain – this point was raised elsewhere by another Hon. Member. Just clearing our debts to the multi-lateral institutions alone will not assist. So, our dialogue with the multi-lateral institutions is that as we clear our arrears we must have an undertaking from them to meet our new financing requirements. So, we are looking for new money. In fact given that understanding which we reached in LIMA, we have set up a committee which is chaired by Dr.
Mangudya. It draws representation from IMF, World Bank and African
Development Bank to draw up a country’s strategy paper on new financing for this country. So, as we clear, we must at the same time receive new financing in order to boost economic recovery in this country.
So, at the end of the day, we want to be in a position to have capacity after we have cleared those debts. We must build up capacity to honour our debts sustainably. There should be debt sustainability. We cannot just build that capacity by paying and clearing arrears, we need more than that. So, the conversation that is going on between us and the multilateral institutions is that by February or so, we must have done financing programme which we must agree. Therefore, we clear the arrears and we get new money, this is what they said. This is to boost various sectors of our economy. What this economy requires is new money, not small but a huge amount that is what we are negotiating with the multilateral institutions and which we hope to succeed.
The Committee also made reference to civil service rationalisation and audit of staff. Already, we have done it with the Civil Service and we have taken a decision at Cabinet to do an audit. I think the only remaining Ministry was Foreign Affairs because much of it is outside the country to do an audit. We are now going to proceed to do audit of the Police, Army and so on as a first step towards rationalisation. We have already made recommendations to Cabinet with respect to rationalisation of the Civil Service and it is going to make quite a lot of savings in the coming year. It is a continuous process. Good management is a continuous process, you do not sit back and say that you have completed your task. It is a continuous monitoring and evaluation as we go along. I am happy to say that the exercise went very well and it is now being implemented.
We have recommended some of the measures and some have
already started to be implemented, one of them is the issue on pensions. All of us, even those who are receiving pensions, forget to know that we are not making contributions towards those pensions. Pensions are being paid out of the current Budget, something that is not sustainable. So, we correctly made a recommendation that we should start getting contribution from serving members. This will eventually lead us to establishing a benefit funded pension scheme. We hope that this can be done sooner rather than later. We want a separate fund which is a pension fund like Old Mutual Fund, where the employer and employee contribute and then of course the pension will come. Right now there is no contribution and paying out of the budget is not sustainable. So, we have to start a scheme whereby we separate and have a separate pension scheme to which the employer and employee will contribute.
Another point which was made by this Committee but other Committees made a contrary recommendation; but this Committee said we must stop all retention of Statutory Funds. Mr. Speaker Sir, Statutory Funds are established under various statutes and Treasury keeps monitoring those funds because they were made to be funds for a particular purpose. For example ZINARA, in order to safeguard that money from consumption so that it is devoted towards infrastructure, if we were to put it in the Budget we will all be consuming it and there will be no rehabilitation of our roads. If it is a question of management that is something that we can deal with but we are trying to protect certain funds which are necessary to establish and maintain our vital infrastructure.
So, I want us to understand that, but in any event, in the Budget, I have directed that by 31 January, 2016 all statutory funds must open accounts with the Central Bank because the points that Hon. Members are making are very valid. Whilst they are separate from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund, they are in fact sub accounts of the Consolidated Revenue funds. So, Treasury needs to keep an eye on those funds and from time to time, we have had to turn to some of them when we are short of money.
So, it is not like they are immune from action of Treasury, they are under Treasury. When we are looking for money if we are desperate, we know already there is so much money we write and say we want US$10 million and we get it. So, we need to understand that aspect also.
Then Hon. Chamisa, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Firstly, he made a point which is not correct, a very invalid point. He said that we are not committed to ICT. He forgets that right now we are undertaking the digitalisation of the country. We are expecting that maybe by June or July that exercise would have been completed. For that, we have been funding this exercise from the budget, originally, we had hoped that we could fund it from NetOne, it turned out that that was not so and the obligation ended up at the lap of the Treasury. So, we have been funding it ourselves, out of our own resources.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we also have borrowed money for NetOne to expand their network, something like US$219 million. We also have borrowed from Exim Bank of China, US$98 million to support TelOne. All that support I think should be acknowledged, it shows a serious commitment on our part to ICT technology development. Some of the issues that the Hon. Member raised will certainly be referred to the relevant line ministry.
The Portfolio Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, the recommendations which I just want to highlight are the following;
We are committed to capitalising SEDCO. We have already gone to an extent now in the process of capitalising POSB. We have been capitalising Infrastructure Development of Zimbabwe and we have capitalised also to an extent not to the extent we want, we have been capitalising Agri-Bank and we are committed to financing and capitalising SEDCO and we should be doing this in the first quarter of next year. This is to give importance to the informal sector which currently as all of us should know is 5.8 million Zimbabweans are now earning their livelihoods from the informal sector. So, we need to support it while at the same time taking measures or steps to formalise, but it cannot be done overnight. We need to identify champion players in that sector so that we can assist them with access to capital, skills development and physical facilities. Hopefully, that will make them already formal; access to financing through banks and so on. So, those are some of the steps that we are taking in order to formalise the informal sector.
Let me also say while I am on this issue, there was some reference about the measure that I announced in the budget about exemption of duty on capital equipment. I concede the point that we should never have put the threshold of US$1 000 000. We are now going to make it open ended. This is once again, in order to emphasise the need for kick starting the manufacturing sector in particular. If we buy capital equipment in the manufacturing sector, in three or four months production can start. Our problem could be that we do not have sufficient entrepreneurs. At the moment we moan about the depreciation of the South African Rand. To us it is a blessing if we know what we are buying. If we are buying capital equipment, it means we can buy it cheaper than at any time.
So, as the Rand depreciates it is an advantage to us if we want capital equipment in this country which is why I have been coming very hard on the importation of consumables. On that, please, I will come even harder. Importation of consumables which are already manufactured locally, there is no longer any basis for anyone to bring in groceries in this country. So, let us be sure that we remain of the same mind that we are seeking to protect our industries and this protection is just temporary while they build their strength. After that, we will remove that protection and they should float like anyone else in the global competitive environment.
This is an issue, by the way, where the South Africans have raised issues about it and our explanation is very simple. We are under sanction and we have not received any help from anyone. We have not received any help from anyone all these years and I cannot allow seeing the complete de-industrialisation of our country. So, we need to take those measures which are necessary to prop up our industry back to life.
Hon. Mandipaka, who is the Chairman on the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services, I think I agree with your recommendations. Sometimes prevention is better than cure. This happens when we are talking about our health or when we are talking about our political stability. Security is key and we should never in this country take it for granted. So, to that extent, we will continue to give support to our Defence forces, to the Police and Security Services. When we watch television every day, do you not think that we are very lucky people when you compare yourselves with what takes place in those far flung countries both on the continent and outside? So, we should never take that for granted. I want to emphasise that resources permitting we will always make sure that we give priority to our security forces.
Mr. Mandipaka, I have taken note of the many PSIP projects that is the capital projects which are outstanding.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Minister for the sake of our record Hon. Mandipaka is not Chairperson of that Committee. It is Hon. Muderedzwa.
HON. DZIVA: Hon. Mandipaka presented the report on behalf of
Hon. Muderedzwa
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): My apologies. Sorry
Hon. Muderedzwa I did not mean to steal the thunder from your contribution. I will follow up on these outstanding projects to understand what is holding them up. For instance, I want to understand why the Central Registry Office has been under construction for a good 20 years if not more. I want to understand because when we are distributing PSIP resources or funds, we are giving priority to completing those projects which were started. So, I am going to find out what basically has taken place.
Hon. Dr. Mataruse, Chairman on the Portfolio Committee on
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. Thank you very much. What I want to emphasise on this issue is the fact that my focus at the moment or should we say the focus of both the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is changing the curriculum to give emphasis to sound Mathematics and the sciences, Science and Technology. It has to start where it should start, at primary school level then thereafter, we can reap the benefits later on.
Now, to that end I propose in the budget I am intending to float two bonds. One for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development to put up infrastructure at our university campuses, especially to do with hostels, staff accommodation, laboratories, lecture theatres and so on, but in particular hostels. What we find is that especially the girl children are being abused by living in very dilapidated accommodation while paying very high rentals. The trick here is that we float a bond which will be underwritten by rentals which we are going to receive from those students. Right now, I am informed that upwards of 140 000 of our students are living off campus and they have to drive long distances and so on.
So, when we were doing the numbers I thought personally that we could do with US$50 rentals and I was told no, some of these students are paying US$100 per month for very substandard accommodation. So, the infrastructure bond to put infrastructure on our state universities will be underwritten by rentals from students, which means we have a period when the money is raised and then when the students now have accommodation they start paying. They can pay the bond on maturity.
On the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, what we need are classrooms and laboratories. When myself and Mr. Speaker went to secondary school, those secondary schools had laboratories which taught General Science, Physics with Chemistry and Biology and now this is no more. So, we need to establish laboratories at our schools, especially secondary schools. This will be written by School
Development Levies and we already have some idea what we can collect from this source.
Hon. Mhlanga the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on
Mines, this Committee has raised an issue which is …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, again for the purpose of our records, Hon. Mhlanga read the report on behalf of the Committee, she is not the Chairperson.
HON. CHINAMASA: Thank you very much for that correction Mr. Speaker Sir. Hon. Mhlanga read the report. This Committee raised an issue which is affecting the mining sector especially new investments. That is the level of EMA fees. I think that the Committee did not read my entire Budget Statement because this issue has already been addressed through reduction of the fees as well as a staggered mode of payment of the fees, which I am sure will find favour with the investors. What I want to emphasise is that we cannot meaningfully talk about revival of the mining sector unless it is assured of uninterrupted power supply. It is to this end that Government has been giving priority to power generation and the steps we have taken, I am reasonably satisfied that in three or four years, we should be okay.
Kariba South Extension is going on target. It should be commissioned towards the end of 2018. During the visit by the Chinese President, we signed a $1.45 billion to do Hwange 7 and 8 which will award 600 megawatts to the national grid. Also on the sidelines of the visit, Kaseko which is a joint venture company between Government and a Chinese company also signed documents to do financial closure which again if undertaken, will do another 600 megawatts into the national grid. We also have big independent producers which we have been encouraging and nurturing and these are Lisulu in Binga and Makomo Resources in the Hwange area. I am not talking of the small hydro-electric schemes as well as the solar projects, some of which have already been awarded contracts.
I think we have taken what measures we should with respect to power generation. This will not happen overnight, but at least it will give us the promise that we are putting proper foundation for our economic take off. The Committee also made a point of the money being owed to
ZETDC standing at $1 billion. Mr. Speaker Sir, we have been urging ZESA and ZETDC to speed up the installation of prepaid meters. Nothing stops them and there are a lot of financial institutions which are quite happy to finance the installation of prepaid meters. We have asked that this be extended to every consumer – mining, agriculture, domestic and manufacturing. Just imagine what I could have done with $1 billion.
I can put up a plant of 600 megawatts. That amount is being owed. Imagine if it were in the kit of ZETDC. I want to emphasise that ZESA and its subsidiaries should speed up the installation of prepaid meters. It is not sustainable that people just consume electricity and they do not pay. How do you sustain it?
The Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon.
Majome made this report. I just want to emphasise one point that the Budget provides for Constituency Development Fund of $50 000 per constituency provided the necessary legislative framework is put in place. –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]- Aiwa ndokuti mukasikeka. Another point that I want to emphasise from your report is the issue about prison farms. I remember when I was in that Ministry; I helped ZPS to acquire farms under the Land Reform Programme. So, they have a lot of land, something like 14 000 hectares. What it needs is investments into irrigation which will make the prisons self sustaining.
I am aware that there is some project, a joint venture project which we are considering in the Ministry coming from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to revamp the irrigation networks on the prison farms. I hope that this could be concluded and we can be able to make those farms productive again. –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]-
Hon. Nduna, Chairman of the Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development. I took note of your concern about the arrears by Air Zimbabwe to IATA, $2.7 million. This will be looked into as well as the $6 million which you said should be availed for the completion of the work on the 750 metre stretch of the Harare International Airport Runway. I would need to understand what has stalled that project if it has not been completed yet.
I also want to emphasise that Cabinet has taken a decision that it should look for a strategic partner and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development is seazed with that assignment to look for a strategic partner to partner Air Zimbabwe so that we are able to get back into competition.
The issue about Border Post Authority. A policy has been taken that we should have a Border Post Authority and this initiative is being driven by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. There was some problem of turf war between ZIMRA. Transport and all those people who mill around our ports of entry as to who was responsible. In order to resolve it, we set up a Cabinet Committee which is chaired by the Hon. Vice President Mnangagwa to resolve that issue. I am aware that progress is being made in resolving the issue. Once that is done, we should be able to put the necessary infrastructure to make sure that we facilitate entry of goods, services and people through the border.
I want to emhasise under this that we were able to amicably resolve a legal dispute with respect to the dualisation of the
Beitbridge/Harare/Chirundu road. The cost is now clear for us to look for an investor to come into joint venture with us over a concession period of say 15 to 20 years. So, we are now identifying and we have identified one or two interested investors and we should be able to enter into a joint venture when we find a suitable partner. We are going to do it under the framework of the Joint Venture Act which we enacted here not long ago.
Hon. Zindi of the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Committee - what I want to emphasise on this one is that, you made the point that the Council of Chiefs should be a separate Budget and I have already acceded to that request. The other issue that you raised, we debated it yesterday and I do not want to do with the 5% allocation to local authorities, I do not want to flog it again.
Hon. Godfrey Sithole presented the report on the Parliamentary
Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment. My own emphasis on youth is that we need to empower them through extending a skills development programme. First and foremost, I think that is a prerequisite to any economic recovery. We need to empower them with the necessary skills and to this end, we are going to give support to vocational training centres big time so that they are well equipped and that also they are well manned in terms of people who have skills to be able to impart those skills. Already we have through the facilitation of the Central Bank, created a $10 million fund for borrowing by youth projects. I am aware of course that previously that fund was abused but this time we are saying we are going to track down all those who borrowed and make sure that they pay. We want this to be a revolving fund. We want to track them and some of them went to buy cars and nothing to do with the projects. We cannot allow that and it is not sustainable. So, we want to encourage the culture of paying, At the same time, there was quite a significant proportion which paid and our strategy now is that with the $10 million, we want to start helping those who paid so that they grow.
Also to take note Mr. Speaker Sir, in the area of youths is the $75 000 allocation that I have made per each administrative district. Again, to go towards youth projects assisted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). I had the occasion to visit some of the ILO supported projects in Mashonaland East and I was quite impressed with what you can do with very little money. I believe that these will go quite some way towards assisting in that regard.
Hon. Labode, the Chairperson of the Health and Child Care Portfolio Committee - the Committee of course makes the point which I also made in my budget that on the health Budget, I did not meet the requirements of the Abuja Declaration. I conceded that but Hon. Labode tries to come to my assistance by saying that there is development assistance going into the health sectors, which if taken into account, Zimbabwe is actually complying. But, the response that I gave her was that as long as whatever assistance is given is outside my Budget, I do not know that assistance. My dialogue with development partners has been to emphasise that all development assistance should be channeled through the Vote of Credit. This will help to avoid duplication because sometimes Government is going in one area and the development partner also going in the same area and the help becomes superfluous. So we need to co-ordinate and make sure that there is no duplication in terms of the allocation of resources.
The Committee makes reference to the introduction of a National Health Insurance as a means of health care financing in Zimbabwe. I have heard about this and I hope I am going to take counsel and advice on what this would mean in our situation. Generally, it means that people must contribute. If people are not contributing, then it cannot be sustainable.
So I would want to understand how this is going to be funded and I am sure that the Minister of Health and Child Care will assist me in this regard. The issue about disbanding the Health Service Board - the Committee feels so strongly about it but I think that this is a matter that should be referred to the Civil Service Commission or to the Minister of Public Service and I am sure that he will follow up what the argument is and will come to the assistance.
Then Hon. Nyamupinga – the Chairperson of the Portfolio
Committee on Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development
– I want to emphasise here that the Women’s Bank is on course. When we started, we had this notion that setting up a bank is an easy thing. We thought that it is just a question of finding the money and then you have a bank. No, it is more than that. The Ministry has had to hire consultants, KPMG who are doing the consultancy to assist them set up this Bank. As soon as that is done, we have already $10 million available and the African Development Bank agreed to chip in with $5 million.
Hon. Dhewa of the Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Service – just to emphasise here is that, we are doing the digitalisation and it is on course and we hope to complete it by I think end of July next year.
Hon. Kanye of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, Sport and Recreation – once again I have already made the point about the Infrastructure Bank and I do not want to continue belabouring the point. The recommendation of course is that we should prioritise Sport and Recreation. I am going to have a conversation with Minister Hlongwane to understand what is possible that the Treasury can do in order to make sports a business. It should be a business and employing a lot of our people especially the young ones if it is properly organised and managed. The people are ready to pay money to attend Dynamos and Highlanders matches but if that money is not ploughed back into sport, and there is no improvement in the infrastructure, they will not come back. So, it is very important also at the club level that we do not have this bickering and quarrelling which does not contribute to sound management of those clubs. So it is a problem that I think we need to address.
The issue about ZISCO Steel, I am now talking to Hon. Mhere who spoke and presented a report on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. I just want to comment on the ZISCO Steel issue and for us to understand clearly. Steel is very important to economic growth of any country; more-so, when we are at our level of development. You need construction and once our economy takes off, there will be a lot of construction – roads, bridges and a lot of structures, offices and so on. For that, you need steel. Giving importance to steel, I decided that I take over the debt or the liabilities of ZISCO Steel to make it attractive to suitors and investors who may want to take over. In any event, I was explaining to one Hon. Member here who was protesting that decision and I said, in any event Government is a guarantor of those liabilities. So, it is really for all intents and purposes a book entry transaction cleaning up the balance sheet of ZISCO Steel and while basically making it attractive for any new investments. I hope that decision will assist to put an end to the saga of ZISCO Steel.
We are also pursing Mr. Speaker Sir, the ease of doing business, the cost of doing business. Overally, we have been pursuing a lot of policy initiatives in order to create an environment which is conducive to Foreign Direct Investment and we have been looking at every aspect from the cost, EMA fees, the cost of water in irrigation, cost of electricity to clarification on the indigenization framework; all that has been intended to make an environment which is attractive to Foreign Direct Investment. I am happy to say that things are going in the right direction and we should be able, from building consensus on policy framework, it is no longer an issue. What is now an issue is implementation of the polices that we have already taken.
Hon. Kwaramba – Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; I think I have already responded with respect to the rationalization of the Civil Service. Agriculture, Hon. Chitindi, I accept all the observations that you made. But, what is important here to highlight is that we have taken the first steps to create property rights in the land that we acquired under the Land Reform Programme.
The first step that we are taking is resurveying the new boundaries.
When the farms were taken up, we cut them into small pieces. We are now resurveying the new boundaries so that farmers can operate under secure boundaries.
This project is now being undertaken through funding from the European Union as well as from UNDP. It is GPS; we are creating boundaries which cannot be moved which, will have fixed coordinates. If people move a peg, they will be wasting their time because with GPS; we will be able to come and say, the boundary should be on this point. So, it is something that I am very happy with in respect to agriculture. We need to give A1 permits which have started tradable 99 year leases which we should be able to conclude very soon. – [HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.]-
I also want to highlight here Mr. Speaker Sir, the efforts that we have been making to promote irrigation. More-so, given that we are going to go through what looks like a devastating drought. So, we need to make sure that we build irrigation. Now, what Hon. Members need to know a lot of them submit that we should build more dams and so on – yes, that is correct. But, Hon. Members do not know that we have more than 10 000 dams in this country – [HON. MEMBES: Hear, hear.] – which are not linked to the field edge of the farmer, some of which are silting. So as we go forward, we must try to desilt these dams as well as link the dams to the field edge of the farmer. We must develop irrigation for this country.
In this respect Mr. Speaker Sir, we have quite some support. Kuwait Fund has undertaken to do irrigation development at Zhowe dam in Matabeleland South. This will open up 2 300 hectares to benefit something like 1 500 households – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Last week, I signed with the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) a sixty million dollar loan to do irrigation rehabilitation of small scale and to add to new small scale irrigation schemes.
The Brazilian mechanization facility and we have received the first tranch, we have already distributed to 21 small scale irrigation schemes and this is on cost recovery basis. I am satisfied as Treasury on the measures that the Ministry of Agriculture has put in place to make sure that it is undertaken on a cost recovery basis.
We also have support from the Japanese. I also signed a grant to rehabilitate and extend Nyakomba Irrigation Schemes. Already, using our own resources, we have already rehabilitated nationally something like 20/22 irrigation schemes. So, as far as I am concerned, I think we remain on the right track – [AN HON. MEMBER: How about those ….]– That is commissioning not distributing. The beneficiaries know that it is on a cost recovery basis.
The tractors remain Government property and managed by Government functionaries. Anyone wanting a service will pay and the money will be paid into an Agri Bank account. We have already set out how much should go towards servicing the loan, how much to servicing the equipment and how much for management. That, we have already done.
Hon. Mashange, the Portfolio Committee on Environment Water and Tourism, they are making the point that we should scrap the 15% VAT. Mr. Speaker Sir, we will not remove the 15%. I have carried comparisons with many countries, that is, VAT on foreign tourists coming into the country. What I think I want to emphasise in tourism is first, Cabinet has agreed on a new visa regime which is very progressive which will allow citizens of many countries to obtain visas at points of entry. Some are allowed without any visa and then there is category of many countries whose citizens can come to Zimbabwe and obtain visas at points of entry. That already is promotive of tourism in the sector. The other measure we are taking is that I would want to advise the hoteliers, especially those in Victoria Falls and places like that, not to mourn about the depreciation of the Rand. They should consider coming up with a Rand tariff that is commensurate with the charges that are charged in
South Africa so that they can continue to attract arrivals from South Africa.
Let me now respond to those who made individual contributions. Hon. Cross is not here. The thing about economic management, it is all about assumptions. The assumptions we make could end up being a wrong one even a day after. Of course, it happens. You predict that it is going to be normal to below normal – because that is what the forecasters have told you then you find that there is no water. Already, it means that assumption is now overtaken by events.
Overally, let me say this to the Hon. Member who is making interjections. The Hon. Member was wrong to argue as if economic recovery is an event. First, the Hon. Member does not make an effort to understand the situation we are in. Always, the first step you must do if you want to correct things is to understand the reality of the existing circumstances. When you do, then you craft your way out of that adverse situation. You cannot argue without taking note of what is prevailing, otherwise it is just academic, that is the stuff for universities. I am confronted with real situations of a historical nature and I have to accept that I am in this quandary. I have got a debt, sanctions and so on but not to mourn about it – but to come up with strategies to get round those and overcome. That is exactly what I am doing.
Because he is not accepting where I am, he does not follow the path that I am going to follow to get us out of that situation. He does not follow. I am urging him, next time, please get first to the reality. What is the reality? For instance, the assumption of our Budget is that there is decline in commodity prices but not all commodities. Oil is declining but in our favour. Gold and nickel are declining but adverse to our situation. Our strategy therefore should be to ramp up production so that we make up what we are losing in export receipts, we make it up through volumes and that is what our strategy is going to be, right across whether we are talking about chrome or gold – we are going to ramp up production. In this respect, we have made notable achievements in the gold sector alone. Two years ago, we were at 13.7 tonnes and by end of this year, we are going to knock 19 tonnes. Next year we are targeting 24 tonnes. I hope with the measures that we are taking in the diamond sector, we should be able to ramp up production from three million carats to six million carats. We are acquiring equipment from Belarus and we are going to equip our Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company to exploit the three concessions previously belonging to Kusena, Jinan and Marange Resources.
The process of consolidation will take time and I sense some times that there is some resistance. It will take time. We will proceed in a parallel fashion. Minister Chidhakwa will proceed with his consolidation wherever it gets him to, how long ever it takes him but meanwhile, immediately we will start producing diamonds through the Zimbabwe Diamond Consolidated Mining Company. We have also started cutting and polishing of our diamonds. Aurex which is a subsidiary of Reserve Bank has started cutting and polishing of diamonds and we were able to assist it to acquire state of the art equipment from India. At first, we were going to China and we realised that they were also buying from India. When I look at all those things including which is sometimes not taken into account, the fact that we are putting in place funding of power stations means that we are putting a proper foundation for our economic take off. This country will not go anywhere without energy and power. Agriculture and irrigation will remain where it is. Manufacturing, smelting and mining will all need power and given the shortage and deficit in the region, we cannot hope to import it from anywhere else. It is very important that we put those foundations in place.
I think on statutory funds, I have already responded. He did make reference to that. On tourism, he was saying that the devaluation of the Rand and Kwacha is adverse. I agree but the strategy is for our hoteliers to come up with a tariff which is denominated in Rand. After all, the Rand is in the basket of our multi currency regime. I am also expecting growth from construction, tourism, even from agriculture, I see hope that growth can come from that sector. I want to put your minds at rest; the borrowing that I have done in foreign markets is not for consumption, it is all going towards creation of assets which generate revenues streams when completed. The model that I have put for Kariba South is what we are going to put in place at Hwange 7 and 8 and elsewhere. We borrow – the asset which is created, we hive it off from ZESA, and we have it into a special purpose vehicle. The special purpose vehicle opens an
Eschol account. As it sells electricity to ZESA, the receipts will be put into Eschol account primarily to save the loan. If there is any surplus, that is what we can share if we have to.
On police fines, I must concede that the hike from US$20 to US$100 also appears to me to be exorbitant - [HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear]- we must find a way. My problem is that when you look at the level of fines, it is from US$20 which is level three to US$100 which is level four yet I felt that I must make a statement about the rule of law on the roads. So, we must find a way and I believe the Attorney General is going to find a way so that we hike the fines reasonably.
There was a point which was made about duty on books. There never was, we never imposed duty on importation of books, if it was then it is a mistake, just ignore it.
Thank you very much Hon. Dr. Kereke for supporting the budget. I take your point Hon. Dr. Kereke that when we are supporting the vulnerable groups or we are giving any inputs, we should have regard to the natural region. We should give to natural region 4 and 5 small grains; we should not give inappropriate seeds to those regions. I think the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation, is fully aware and I belied they do not just distribute willy nilly, they do take into account the region and so on. Especially now, they are taking into account the fact that if the rains come, it will probably be for a shorter period. That again, is an assumption; the rains can come and go on until
May, which is why the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and
Irrigation Development’s advice is with each heavy rain, plant something.
With respect to debt, the ZAMCO one, I think it was raised by Hon. Cross. Just to clarify that we are only taking under ZAMCO colleterised loans. So, I do not anticipate that we will suffer any loss. Essentially what we are doing is when we take it, we sit on it, and we do not believe that prices will remain as depressed as they are. When the prices pick up, we sell that asset and we will find ourselves awash with money – that is the assumption.
Hon. Mukupe, you made reference to civil service reforms, I have already alluded to that. You also wanted to know that the issue about land compensation was not clear. The Constitution says we pay compensation for improvement and not for the land. The Ministry of Lands and Rural Development is quantifying that compensation with respect to improvements, the boundaries that the undertaking is to do with new farmers who benefited under the Land Reform Programme.
Special Economic Zones, yes the Bill has been gazzetted and I am sure that we will be able to get support from Hon. Members. You made reference about anti-money laundering laws, so that they require review. They will not be reviewed; we are a member of the global economy. If we do not play it according to the rules, we get into serious problems – we have complied, please do not rubbish your country. Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Members should not rubbish their country when in fact we are being rated highly for compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Regulations.
Hon. Khupe, I thank you for your contributions, I agree with you that we should invest in youths and women. As I said, we are going to make sure that SEDCO is capitalized so that there is lending to women.
However, more importantly, you will find that there is a lot of interest with Micro financiers to finance women projects. Already some lines of credit have come through, NMB, CABS and CBZ for lending to
SME’s. So, it is really up to the commercial banks to be active in that regard. I also signed a US$3 million support loan from the bank of Arab re-construction based in Sudan; they also want to support women and SEDCO. Like I said, Hon. Khupe, we should not import things that we are producing locally; doing so will be undermining our own employment creation efforts. I was happy to know that when I was taken around Bulawayo, there were some companies which have now been revived primarily because of the protection that we are putting in place especially in the textile. I am happy for Hon. Mabuwa who forced me into that programme and we visited 3 to 4 companies which have now been revived – that is the way to go.
Now, let me put into context what a travelers rebet is. It is not money for business; it is a privilege we are giving to the traveler to bring in personal effects duty free but the facility is being abused and in fact some of the corruption is around them. If you are a trader import your things, declare them, pay duty make your money. You must know what you are importing and you must know your market. That is the message I would want you to pass on to traders. They should not use the travelers rebate as the one to finance trading no that is not what it is intended to do.
The issue of corruption – yes, you know corruption is now endemic in the country so, to fight it I must follow the Shona proverb yekuti haikona kudzingirira tsuro mbiri, ukadzidzingirira dzese hapana yaunobata. So, what we have decided to do, we are going to attack corruption in two places that is where we are going to focus our attention. In tax administration we want to strengthen the administration of ZIMRA. In this respect, we are also looking at points of entry which generally sources of corruption. That congestion you find at Beitbridge, some of it is man made to create a confusion and chaos so that corruption can be facilitated.
There are a lot of people who mill around there, who should have no business being there [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, hon. members on my right, please
can we hear the Hon. Minister.
HON. CHINAMASA: So, we are almost in regular meetings with
ZIMRA. First, we are going to put a CCTV and we will start with Beitbridge. Secondly, we are going to track transit fraud. What has been happening is, you remember there are some commodities which we banned, tomatoes, those which are not locally produced, tomatoes and potatoes but we still find them locally and we are always what is happening. What we found is that in some instances trucks come to declare at Beitbridge that they are destined for D.R.C or Zambia but there do not get to Chirundu, they get to Highfield, Mbare and dump the goods there, especially fuel and agricultural commodities. So, we need a system of tracking so that we are sure that if you declare that you are going to Zambia we must follow up, track you until you cross the border.
Another initiative which already the Commissioner General has announced and which is going to be speeded up is that any tax payer must have an electronic device which is linked real time to ZIMRA, Minister of Finance, Treasury and Reserve Bank, real time. If there is any interference there will be severe penalties. So, we want to be fair, we do not want to get what is not ours but also we want tax payers to pay what is due. Now, if there is total compliance it will give us an opportunity to further reduce the level of taxation in this country which hopefully also will promote compliance with our tax regime.
Hon. Mandipaka you made reference to the police, especially to introducing electronic network so that we curb police corruption, we also help revenue collection and so on. I want to say that we are already working on a joint venture, it has not yet come to Cabinet but I am aware we are working on a joint venture with another investor to have electronic devices. This will mean, if it is adopted by Cabinet, and we have to link up with Vehicle Registration department. We must build a database on each driver on each citizen, do you have previous convictions? When you pass through a police roadblock they will have a device which can detect that you were fined but you did not pay, you were convicted at the Harare Magistrate Court of negligence and licence was suspended but you are still driving. So that is where we want to go, it then means a lot of vehicles will have to remain at police roadblocks when we successfully implement that. It will also mean we are able to maximize collection of fines and so on.
Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga. The hon. member, Hon. Speaker - you will recall, brought a baby here. Hon. Speaker did not ask when did she get pregnant, when did she deliver, where did she steal the baby from if she did not become pregnant? I thought the point was made but next time she should tell us who is the father and when did she give birth. Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga makes a very valid point about the need to support livestock farmers especially in the drier parts of Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Midlands. To be honest, we have always been very short of strategies to deal with this situation. I was discussing it with the Minister and I believe that where we stand the reality of our situation is that cattle are dying. I think the intervention we should have is to find a way to buy those cattle, keep the money and help the farmers restock when in fact the weather should improve. We are going to engage the Ministry of Agriculture and Treasury, to look at that to see to what extend we can assist in that regard.
I do not think that making grass available can meet the demands of all these, I do not think it is possible. We will see how we can assist in that regard, it is not in the budget but it is something we can see whether we can help you.
The issue of sanitary wear, you know it is very difficult Hon. Speaker Sir, to argue issues to do with under garments – [Laughter] – I would rather have this matter dealt with outside this forum and you can look into it much more – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – The point she makes about debt management Mr. Speaker Sir, yes we have the strategies to clear the arrears. The rules of the multilateral institutions are that you cannot access the benefits of your membership unless you have cleared your arrears which is why the strategy is to clear the arrears. I also made reference to the fact that we have constituted a committee to start working and producing a Country Financing Programme. Already some two or three meetings have already been held and we hope that by February we will be able to do so. The idea is that as we clear the arrears, we get some money to recover and we resuscitate our economy. That is the way it goes.
She is wrong to say there is variance, did she say political ideology within my party. Everything that I have been doing, I have cleared with Cabinet. So, this notion that there is difference between the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and colleagues in Cabinet is totally wrong, mistaken. I would not go to the IMF without the President’s permission, you know. Even the disagreements, you know when people fill strongly about issues, personally I take no offence. I give them room to articulate themselves and so on and I think it is healthy. I can also respond and give my side of the story but what I am always confident and happy about is that all the measures, strategise and policies that we are pursuing as Treasury have been endorsed by Cabinet chaired by His Excellency the President. So I do not want to hear this story about there being disagreements, conflicts and so on. They are just to sell newspapers.
Hon. Chakona on the ICT budget allocation, I do not agree it is too little. I told you about how much I have borrowed and all going towards ICT, that is Netone, TelOne and digitalisation. All in all, it is coming to something like $400 million to ICT. So, it shows that I am attaching a lot of importance being a tool in terms of employment creation.
Hon. Shamu, thank you very much for the support you have given and you understand fully that there are constraints but like I said, I do not want us to mourn about constraints. I want us to accept that there are binding constraints but to work out strategies to overcome and get round them.
Hon. Mpariwa, thank you very much for your support. You know, sometimes when we talk about safety nets, we forget that the support we are giving to vulnerable groups is a safety net. The inputs and food relief, we are giving to vulnerable groups and disadvantaged, that is a safety net. At the moment, we have enough food to last us, at present about ten months. Already we have been giving permits. The Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development has been giving permits for importation by millers and merchants.
If you want to import maize, fill free and you will be given a permit because we felt that it is not just Government only. We must also involve the private sector. Already, the private sector has imported something like 400 000 metric tonnes. All in all it should be something like 750 000 metric tonnes. On our part we imported 60 000 metric tonnes but we have in stock 154 000 metric tonnes of our own maize in GMB, not to talk about wheat. So, all those are safety nets. When we start distributing drought relief, which is a safety net which we should acknowledge.
The inputs we are giving to cotton and let me explain, Rushinga, Gokwe, Chiredzi, Chisumbanje and Muzarabani are dry areas. Do not make them want to grow maize because they are very marginal areas and only cotton can do. Now, because of the challenges in the management of the cotton industry, farmers were moving away to tobacco. What this means is that eventually they will be so impoverished that we will need now to support them fully. So, we are now giving them free cotton inputs for the next three years because we want to lure the farmers back to cotton production. This is why we are taking over COTTCO so that we are a key player in the industry so that we can dictate the rules and know what is happening and is fair to our people. That is what we are doing. So, it is a policy which I believe all of us should support otherwise there will be nothing to grow in Rushinga if they move away from cotton – [AN HON. MEMBER: They can grow soya beans.] – Soya beans in Rushinga? Ah, you are not a farmer I can see that. You grow soya beans Mr. Speaker where there is good rainfall and preferably under irrigation. That is how it is done – [AN HON
MEMBER: I am a fisherman.] – So, when you are a fisherman Mr. Speaker Sir, you must comment on fish – [Laughter] – Leave others to comment on other sectors.
Hon. Mpariwa, I know you have taken pains to behave like you are still a trade unionist – [Laughter] – We are here as Members of Parliament to look after the entire economy and the economy means workers and employers. Are you with me? Mr. Speaker Sir, now she still continues to talk as a trade unionist defending only one side– [Laughter]. The tragedy Mr. Speaker Sir, of the rigidity in our labour laws is such that it caused the collapse of a lot of companies which were being required to pay retrenchment packages when in fact their coffers were dry.
Instead of the flexibility to allow them to downsize their operations and wait for a better day, workers and the employers just watched to see the companies collapsing. Now, the flexibility that has now come about will allow companies to downsize and wait for a better day. Those of you who have started businesses, it is not easy to start a business. Those who start, they start first with their wife or wives whom they do not pay and also their children, when they expend they can then hire outside labour. When things get tough, they are then told you cannot dismiss but just close your factory. Personally, I am very happy with the new flexibility that is now prevailing in the labour market.
In fact, Hon. Mpariwa, you know through you Mr. Speaker Sir ...
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, I was going to say Hon. Minister, do not be too personal – [HON. CHINAMASA: No, no, Hon. Mpariwa] – Address the Speaker. Order, Hon Minister, the statement has been withdrawn.
HON. CHINAMASA: Thank you. I was saying that what we
have experienced over the years, especially from 2000, is to see formal employment coming down from around 2 million to the current half a million. I believe that all those companies need not have closed if we had labour market flexibility.
Hon. Chinotimba, thank you for your support. You made reference to support to farmers and that the banks are not supporting. We are going to look into that because they did mention that they are going to give support, so it is something that is going to be monitored by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. They are also encouraging commercial banks to identify champion farmers so that they can also be supported.
Hon. Maridadi, you started by praising me to the sky, then your contribution is nothing but –
HON. ZWIZWAI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. My
point of order is arising from a ruling that you have already made or rather advice that you gave to the Minister in your polite way, as an Advocate and Speaker, that the Hon. Minister should not personalize his debate. He has personalized his response to the debate by Hon. Maridadi. My point of order is just the amplification of a point of order that you have already raised yourself saying that the Minister should not personalize and say that the debate was nothing. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon Minister, if indeed you indicated that the contribution by Hon. Maridadi was nothing – [HON
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]] – Order, order, I must admit as Chair that I was talking to the Clerk and I did not quite get it. So, what I will do is I will get the Hansard and then I will make a ruling tomorrow.
HON. CHINAMASA: You know, the Hon. Member correctly
started by praising me to the sky, that I had done fantastic work but he went on to basically show that I had not done fantastic work. His whole speech was criticism with nothing to show the fantastic work that I had done. So, I am still waiting for the Hon. Member, at some stage, just to beef up that first statement and bring evidence to prove that I have done fantastic work. The Hon. Member, when touching on re-engagement, seems to suggest that there is no consistency and that is not true. Like I pointed out earlier, our re-engagement has been coordinated and endorsed by the entire Cabinet, which is why we have been able to make the strides that we have done.
He makes reference to the fact that beneficiation will not get anywhere because there is not enough throughput. In some cases, it is true but not in all cases. For instance, on platinum, the budget makes reference to the pressure that we are giving to platinum producers to value add. We have given them a road map. There is enough throughput from platinum with respect to diamonds and value addition.
There are enough diamonds that we are producing even where the level is to support a beneficiation process - also in gold, across. I did notice that we do not have the output of soya beans that we should have. That is why in the budget, we are supporting farmers to grow soya beans. We would want to push our production figures from something like 60,000 metric tones to 240,000 metric tones. The same also applies to cotton. We need to push up the production of cotton so that there will be throughput to any beneficiation and value addition that we may embark upon.
Hon. Mavenyengwa and Hon. Chiwetu, thank you very much for your support. I took note of course of the uncompleted PSIP projects and I will follow up to see what is holding them up.
Hon. Bhebhe said I must accept failure, I do not accept failure because that is not in my DNA. We have challenges and to each challenge, we already have strategies to overcome the challenge. What I think the Hon. Member needs to be advised is that some of those challenges cannot be overcome overnight. It is a process and we are already embarking on those strategies.
Again, he has no understanding of what it takes to grow the cake. The Pre-Budget Seminar rightly took it as its theme, growing the cake but he has no understanding of what it means. To grow a cake, you need first the pots or the oven. So, when someone starts buying the oven, at that stage you can accuse him that you are not baking any cake. It is true but if you are looking at the whole thing, you need an oven to make the cake and then you need flour, sugar and yeast maybe. So, there is not that understanding Mr. Speaker Sir, of what it takes to grow the cake that you need a lot of components. You need a lot of elements, and you need a step by step approach to grow the cake especially the economic one.
For instance, like I pointed out Mr. Speaker, you cannot grow this economy without the enablers, without power, railway, roads and water.
So, when they see us frantically looking for money to put power
stations, they do not see the end result. That is part of growing the cake.
So, they need this education – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]-
Hon. Bhebhe, I think I have already answered you with respect to duty exemption on capital goods, we are going to make it open ended. I take note of your argument about second hand motor vehicles.
Currently, we use the age of the vehicle from date of manufacture. What you are now proposing is that we must also look at the mileage, maybe we need a combination of both but what formula to come up with that will have to be some time later. For now, we go by the date of manufacturing.
With mining, there was a quite a lecture from Hon. Bhebhe on our policy of indigenisation. If there is any sector where our indigenisation sector is more relevant, it is in the mining sector because the resource is ours and it is depleting. We know that globally, there is now what is called resource nationalism where a lot of countries have just been left with empty holes - the minerals gone, they have got nothing. So what we are saying is, we must engage the investor. We also want what is rightly ours – [HON. MEMBERS: Like Chiadzwa] – For the information of Hon. Members, Australia is one good example where resource nationalism is even more serious than we take it here. They just do not allow any company to come in. A Chinese company had bought Rio Tinto. The law permitted them to buy it and that is Rio Tinto in
Australia. The Government intervened and said no, we cannot allow a Chinese company to buy our Rio Tinto, it is our flag bearer. So, resource nationalism is something that we need to take very seriously and our 51 49% shareholding is the most appropriate one.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I think in other forums, I have asked citizens of Zimbabwe not to be biased against any nationality when it comes to investment in Zimbabwe. Money has no colour, so we should not have any regard to the nationality or to the source of funding but the reality of the moment is that you can only ignore China at your peril. It has grown consistently for more than 30 years at 10% growth consistently. That has never happened in the history of any country and it is now the second largest economy in the world. It is now called the manufacturer of the world. You can go to any country, in Europe, America and find out where the goods are coming from; they are coming from China. In three or five years, it is going to overtake the economy of the United
States. It will become the number one economy. If we look at ChinaAfrica relations, every country which I visited on the continent have big infrastructure projects funded from China, from Ethiopia, big railways, hydro-electric to Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Senegal, Cote d’lvoir and you name it.
Now for us here, small as we are, to have a bias against Chinese investors, I feel sorry for such sentiments – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – Let me say this Mr. Speaker Sir, as we engage other nations, the responsibility to look after our interests is ourselves. You do not expect anyone to look after your interests. If we are doing business with the British, it is for us to look after our interests, not to expect the British to look after our interests. If we are doing business with the Europeans, it is us who must look after our interests. Similarly, if we are doing business with India, it is not the Indians who are going to look after our interests, it is ourselves. Certainly, the same applies when we are doing business with China, we must look after our interests. If we are foolish, we have no one else to blame. It is our responsibility and we are very skilled and very educated to know what our interests are and as we engage other partners, we must look after our interests. Mr.
Speaker Sir, thank you very much for this kind attention – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear].
HON. CHIRISA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I raised some issues but he did not respond as Minister of Finance and Economic Development. I talked about the Parliament Vote but he has not responded.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Deputy Minister, please, can we hear the Hon. Member.
HON. CHIRISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am saying I did not hear the response to what I said to the Minister through my debate. I talked about the Vote allocation to Parliament which is not matching the work and the plans that we have. I gave an example of the 2015 plans which are rotting in our Committee files because of lack of resources and I was thinking that he would respond to what is going to happen given the amount that he gave us this year, which is very little again. I think it is plus US$500 000 or US$1 000 000 and I think he should revise that. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, I think the Vote to Parliament is a very important one – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Perhaps, Hon. Minister you may want to comment.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I did respond, but maybe
she had gone out of the House. The response I gave, Mr. Speaker Sir, was that all the reports I was given here are talking about inadequate funding. In almost every report the first recommendation is provide adequate funding, release timeously, do this and do that. The answer basically is, until I sort out the issue about the skewed nature of our expenditure pattern, this problem will remain.
As you are well aware, Mr. Speaker Sir, of every US$100 that we receive through the fiscus, US$92 of it is going towards wages and recurrent expenditure. So, I remain with say US$8 and sometimes I wish like running away from my office because the demands are coming - [AN HON. MEMBER: Because you do not accept failure.]- The demands are coming from all over and some of those demands have not been budgeted for and yet are necessary and should be met. So, there is always this robbing Peter to pay Paul. I understand, Mr. Speaker Sir, the concern, yes, but it is universal. It is totally universal.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I think in all fairness, Hon. Members, the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development has gone out of his way. There was a huge debt from the Seventh Parliament regarding outstanding payments to Members of Parliament and balancing the books between the Eighth Parliament’s demands and the debt accrued in the Seventh Parliament during the GNU. I am happy to report to you that the Hon. Minister has disposed of all the debt that was hanging on his neck regarding what was owed to Parliament in the
Seventh Parliament –[ HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-.
What remains are a few dollars to be paid for coupons for the Seventh Parliament and I am very positive that the Hon. Minister will respond to the requirements of the Eighth Parliament through his engagement with development partners together with Parliament in order to take care of the financial gaps. So, credit should be given to the Hon. Minister.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Hon, Speaker. In my debate, I basically raised four issues and none of the issues was responded to by the Hon. Minister. I spoke of the criticality of the fishing industry and how it is entirely left out of the Budget. I also spoke about the need to have forensic auditing of the ZISCO debt before it is assumed as a public debt. The Minister has not responded. I also spoke about the sustainability of having subsidy on the cotton industry. I have not heard the Minister speaking about that.
Then finally, Hon. Speaker, I spoke about issues to do with economic growth as a function of factors such as domestic consumption, Government consumption, investment and the trade balance. How the Minister projects economic growth under a scenario where domestic consumption, Government consumption and investment is going down. Where there is a trade imbalance and how the Minister projects an economic growth under those kinds of scenarios. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: I indulged Hon. Chirisa and I underline indulged. In terms of terms of Standing Order 101 the reply by the Hon. Minister is final. Therefore, I will not proceed to ask the Hon. Minister to reply to certain issues, but the issues raised by Hon. Sibanda, you have to understand it within the Minister’s plea, where in the last bit of reply he said, US$92 of US$100 goes to consumption. That is a telling story. In other words, let us reverse the figures and have US$92 going to productivity which must include obviously, fisheries on the Zambezi River and other rivers. so, I want the Chair to strictly adhere to the Standing Orders which this Hon. House passed. Hon. Bhebhe, give me chance to proceed. I put the question that leave be granted to bring in a Bill to make further provisions for the revenues and public funds of Zimbabwe and to make provisions for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Motion put and agreed to.
FIRST READING
FINANCE (NO. 2), 2015 BILL, [H.B.18, 2015.]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA) presented the Finance (No. 2),
2015 Bill, [H.B. 18, 2015].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE (2015)
First Order read: Committee of Supply: Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure.
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 3 put and agreed to.
Schedule, Section 3 put and agreed to.
Vote 2 - Parliament of Zimbabwe - US$193,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 4 - Defence - US$3,484,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 5 - Finance and Economic Development - US$20,000,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 8 - Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development -
US$10,000,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 10 - Environment, Water and Climate - US$35,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 13 - Local Government, Public Works and National Housing
- US$961,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 14 - Health and Child Care - US$18,572,000 put and agreed
to.
Vote 15 - Primary and Secondary Education - US$18,035,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 17 - Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment -
US$714,000 put and agreed to.
Voter 18 - Home Affairs - US$5,028,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 19 - Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs - US$1,731,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 28 - Public Service Commission - US$626,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 30 - Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion -
US$39,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 31 - Welfare Services for War Veterans, Former Political
Detainees and Restrictees - US$67,000 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure (2015) reported without amendments.
Report adopted.
Bill ordered to be brought in by the Minister of Finance and
Economic Development in accordance with the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure adopted by the House.
FIRST READING
APPROPRIATION (SUPPLEMENTARY) BILL [H. B. 16, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA) presented the
Appropriation Supplementary Bill [H. B. 16, 2015].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
MAIN ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE
Third Order read: Committee of Supply: Main Estimates of Expenditure.
House in Committee.
On Vote 1 – Office of the President and Cabinet US$179,936,000:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson in order
to comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting from this Vote, the allocation to the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission which now becomes Vote 35.
Amendment to Vote 1 put and agreed to.
Vote 1, as amended, put and agreed to.
Vote 2 - Parliament of Zimbabwe - US$20,255,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 3 –Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare – US$174,235,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 4 – Defence – US$358,065,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 5 – Finance and Economic Development – US$215,269,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 6 – Office of the Auditor-General – US$4,130,000 put and agreed
to.
Vote 7 – Industry and Commerce – US$17,465,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 8 Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development –
US$145,091,000 put and agreed to
Vote 9 – Mines and Mining Development – US$5,964,000 put and
agreed to.
Vote 10 – Environment, Water and Climate – US$34,242,000 put and
agreed to.
Vote 11 – Transport and Infrastructure Development – US$39,937,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 12 – Foreign Affairs – US$36,995,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 13 – Local Government, Public Works and National Housing – US$44,640,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 14 – Health and Child Care – US$330,789,000 put and agreed to
Vote 15 – Primary and Secondary Education – US$810,431,000 put and
agreed to.
Vote 16 – Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development – US$307,645,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 17 – Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment – US$19,801,000 put and agreed to.
On Vote 18 – Home Affairs – US$395,372,000:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson in order to
comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting from this Vote the allocation to the Anti- Corruption Commission which now becomes Vote 37 that is the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
Amendment to Vote 18 put and agreed to.
Vote 18, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Vote 19: Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs –
US$108,762,000
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson, in order to
comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting from this Vote the allocation to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission which now becomes Vote 34. I am also lifting to this Vote, the allocation to the National Prosecuting Authority which now becomes Vote 36. Finally, I am lifting from this Vote the allocation to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which now becomes Vote 38.
Amendments to Vote 19 put and agreed to.
Vote as amended, put and agreed to.
On Vote 20: Information, Media and Broadcasting Services –
US$3,631,000.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson in order to
comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting this Vote the allocation to the Media Commission which now becomes Vote 41.
Amendments to Vote 20 put and agreed to.
Vote 20 as amended, put and agreed to.
Vote 21 – Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development
– US$6,363,000, put and agreed to.
Vote 22 - Energy and Power Development – US$6,810,00 put and agreed to.
On Vote 23 – Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development – US$13,563,000:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson in order to
comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting from this Vote the allocation to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission which now becomes Vote 39.
Amendments to vote 23 put and agreed to.
Vote 23, as amended, put and agreed to.
Vote 24 – Tourism and Hospitality Industry – US$2,892,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 25 – Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier
Services – US$6,257,000 put and agreed to.
On Vote 26 – Land and Rural Resettlement – US$15,518,000:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson in order to
comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting from this Vote the allocation to the Zimbabwe Land Commission which now becomes Vote
40.
Amendment to Vote 26 put and agreed to.
Vote 26, as amended, put and agreed to.
Vote 27 – Judicial Services Commission – US$15,518,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 28 – Public Service Commission – US$19,405,000 put and agreed
to.
Vote 29 – Sports and Recreation – US$4,142,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 30 – Macro Economic Planning and Investment Promotion –
US$6,295,000 put and agreed to.
Vote 31 – Welfare Services for War Veterans, former Political Detainees and Restrictees – US$21,826,000 put and agreed to.
On Vote 32 – Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of
Culture and Heritage – US$13,652,000:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairperson, in order to
comply with Section 305 (3) of the Constitution, I am lifting from this Vote the allocation to the Council of Chiefs which now becomes Vote 33.
Amendments to Vote 32 put and agreed to.
Vote 32, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Vote 33– Council of Chiefs – US$3 637 000.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Mr. Chairman
for the guidance to comply with Section 305 of the Constitution I am lifting from Local Government, the allocation to the Council of Chiefs which now becomes Vote 33.
Amendment to Vote 33 put and agreed to.
Vote 33, as amended, put and agreed to.
Vote 34 – Human Rights Commission – US$1 339 000 put and
agreed to.
Vote 35 – National Peace and Reconciliation Commission –
US$200 000 put and agreed to.
Vote 36 – National Prosecuting Authority – US$3 402 000 put and agreed to.
Vote 37 – Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission – US$1 602 000 put and agreed to.
Vote 38 – Zimbabwe Electoral Commission – US$8 316 000 put and agreed to.
Vote 39 – Zimbabwe Gender Commission – US$150 000 put and
agreed to.
Vote 40 – Zimbabwe Land Commission – US$191 000 put and
agreed to.
Vote 41 – Zimbabwe Media Commission – US$351 000 put and
agreed to.
House resumed.
Progress reported.
Main Estimates of Expenditure reported without amendments.
Report adopted.
Bill ordered to be brought in by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development in accordance with the Main Estimates of Expenditure adopted by the House.
FIRST READING
APPROPRIATION (2016) BILL [H. B. 17, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA) pursuant to order, presented
the Appropriation (2016) Bill [HB17, 2015].
Bill read the first time.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): I have
received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2015 [H.B18, 2015].
SECOND READING
FINANCE (NO.2) BILL [H.B 18, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move that the Bill be
now read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
FINANCE (NO.2) BILL [H.B.18, 2015]
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 14 put and agreed to.
On Clause 15:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that:
On page 25 of the Bill, in subsection (3) of the new section 26
(“Closing and establishment of branches in Zimbabwe by banking institutions”) to be substituted by this clause, insert after the words
“intention to establish the branch,” in line 24 the words “and after affording the banking institution an opportunity to make representations on the matter,”
On page 25 of the Bill, in the new section 26 (“Closing and establishment of branches in Zimbabwe by banking institutions”) to be substituted by this clause, insert after subsection (4) the following subsection:
“(5) Subject to section 73, a banking institution that fails to comply with a direction in terms of subsection (3) shall
(a) be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days and (b) if the institution continues to be in default after the period specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen; and
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen or to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution.”
Amendment to Clause 15 put and agreed to.
Clause 15, as amended, put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY
LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): I have to
inform the House that I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill [H.B, 16, 2015].
SECOND READING
APPROPRIATION (SUPPLEMENTARY) BILL [H.B. 16, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move
that the Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill [H.B. 16, 2015] be now read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
APPROPRIATION SUPPLEMENTARY BILL (H.B. 16, 2015)
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move
that the Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill [H.B. 16, 2015] be now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON DZIVA): I have to
inform the House that I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the
Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Finance (No. 2) Bill [H.B.18, 2015].
Consideration Stage: With leave, forthwith.
CONSIDERATION STAGE
FINANCE (No. 2) BILL [H.B. 18, 2015]
New Clause 15, as amended, put and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, adopted.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
FINANCE (No. 2) BILL [H.B. 18, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move
that the Bill be read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER
NON ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY
LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I have to inform the House
that I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Appropriation (2016) Bill, [H.B. 17, 2015].
Second reading: With leave, forthwith.
SECOND READING
APPROPRIATION (2016) BILL [H.B. 17, 2015].
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam Speaker, I move
that the Bill be now read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Third Reading: With leave, forth with.
THIRD READING
APPROPRIATION (2016) BILL [H.B. 17, 2015].
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam. Speaker, I now
move that the Appropriation (2016) Bill [H. B. 17, 2015] be read now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
COMMITTEE STAGE
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL, [H.B.6, 2015]
Fourth Order read: Committee to resume on the Banking
Amendment Bill, [H.B.6, 2015],
House in Committee.
Clause 1 put and agreed to.
On Clause 2:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the amendment standing in my name:
On page 4 of the Bill, delete the definition of “close relative” and substitute the following definition:
“ “close relative”, in relation to an individual, means any of the
following
- the individual’s child, whether their relationship arises through blood or adoption;
- the individual’s step-child;
- where the individual is married, his or her spouse;“.
On page 2 of the Bill, in the definition of “credit information”, delete from paragraph (b) of that definition subparagraph (i) and substitute the following subparagraph:
“(i) the person’s establishment or incorporation, including the
head office or principal place of business of the person; and”.
On page 3 of the Bill, in the definition of “credit information”, insert in paragraph (c) of that definition the following subparagraph after subparagraph (v):
“(vi) any pending prosecution for a criminal offence, or previous
conviction for a criminal offence, and other information relevant to the person’s financial integrity;”.
On page 3 of the Bill, insert after line 9 before the definition of “credit reference bureau”, insert the following definitions:
““credit rating” means an opinion as to the creditworthiness of any person who takes on or may take on any debt, or who issues or proposes to issue any debt-like securities;
“credit rating agency” means an entity whose principal business is the issuance of credit ratings on Government and corporate debt issues with the object of evaluating the creditworthiness
or ability and willingness of the debt issuer to make timely payments of principal and interest, and to assess the credit quality of, and assign credit ratings to, any debt and debt-like securities;”.
On page 3 of the Bill, in the definition of “financial institution”, delete subparagraph (j) in line 38 and substitute the following paragraphs:
“(j) the Reserve Bank; or
- the National Social Security Authority established by the National
Social Security Authority Act [Chapter 17:04]; or
- the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe established by the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 22:04] (No. 7 of 2014)
- such other institution as may be prescribed;”.
On page 4 of the Bill, in the definition of “problem banking institution”, insert after the words “solvency is, or will be” the words “(in the opinion of the Registrar)”.
On page 4 of the Bill, insert after the definition of “problem banking institution” the following definition:
“ “special purpose vehicle” means (by whatever other name it is called, including a special purpose entity or special purpose company) a company or entity created by a banking institution or controlling company solely or primarily for one or any combination of the following purposes
- the owning or securitising of a particular set of loans, assets or other investments, and distributing the risk to investors;
- the marketing of financially engineered products;
- avoiding tax;
- as a vehicle for structuring financial transactions that can have a material effect on the banking institution or controlling company in such a way that they do not appear on the institution’s or company’s balance sheet;
- any specific or temporary purpose whatsoever;”.
On page 4 of the Bill, delete from line 34 in the new paragraph (g) as inserted by clause 2 (b) the words “an accounting entity” and substitute “an entity”.
On page 4 of the Bill, in paragraph (c), by the deletion from line 41 of the words “of the following subsection” and the substitution of the words “of the following subsections”.
On page 5 of the Bill, insert in line 30 in the paragraph (j) of the new subsection (4) of section 2 of the principal Act as inserted by clause 2 (c) the word “run” between the words “pension scheme” and “by the institution or company”.
On page 5 of the Bill, delete paragraph (i) of the new subsection (4) of section 2 of the principal Act as inserted by clause 2 (c) and substitute the following subparagraph:
“(i) does not represent (whether as a nominee or in a professional
or other capacity) a shareholder of the institution or company; and”.
On page 5 of the Bill, by the insertion of the following subsection in section 2 of the principal Act:
“(5) Whenever in this Act any notice or other thing is required to be “written” or to be done “in writing”, or the word “publish” or any of its derivatives is used in connection with a requirement or power of publication, such requirement shall be fulfilled by the sending of an electronic communication in accordance with conditions (including adequate conditions as to the recording, despatch and authentication of documents that are likely to be acceptable to a court as proof of the service thereof) agreed beforehand by the sender and the recipient of the communication.”.
Amendment to Clause 2 put and agreed to.
Clause 2, as amended, put and agreed to.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I notice there is an amendment moved by the Committee on Finance and Economic
Development.
I move it, I move the amendment, I have no objection to that.
On page 12 of the Bill delete the definition for “close relative” and substitute the following—
““close relative” in relation to any person means―
- a spouse;
- a child, step child, parent or step parent;
- the spouse of any person mentioned in paragraph (b);”.
Amendments to Clause 2 put and agreed to.
Clause 2, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 3 put and agreed to.
On Clause 4:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 6 of the Bill, in subsection (4) of the new section 4B (“Exercise of functions by
Registrar”) inserted by clause 4, delete the words “with the approval of
the Board of the Reserve Bank” from lines 35 and 36 and substitute
“with the approval of the Board of the Reserve Bank (or, in cases of urgency, by ratification by the Board afterwards of any directions given)”.
After the end of page 6 of the Bill, following subsection (5) of the new section 4B (“Exercise of functions by Registrar”) inserted by clause 4, insert the following subsection in the new section 4B:
“(6) Subsections (2) and (5) do not apply in cases of urgency in which, in the opinion of the Registrar or the Governor, as the case may be, the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or the general public interest is affected:
Provided that the Registrar or the Governor, as the case may be, shall make a written record of the reasons for the urgency and avail the same to any interested person.”.
On page 7 of the Bill, in subsection (1) of the new section 4C
(“Adoption of prudential standards of bank supervision”) delete from line 2 the words “after consultation with” and substitute “on reasonable written notice to”.
On page 7 of the Bill, in the new section 4D (“Registrar and Reserve Bank to co-operate with other authorities”) delete from subsection (1) the introductory words between lines 11 to 14 and substitute:
“(1) For the better exercise of their functions and in the interests of ensuring the efficient and co-ordinated regulation and development of the financial sector in Zimbabwe and the proper enforcement of the law, the Registrar and the Reserve Bank shall be furnished at his, her or its request with such information as he, she or it may require from—”.
On page 7 of the Bill, in the new section 4D (“Registrar and Reserve Bank to co-operate with other authorities”) delete paragraph (a) from subsection (1) and renumber the ensuing paragraphs (b) to (h) as paragraphs (a) to (g) accordingly.
On pages 7 to 8 of the Bill, delete the new sections 4E (“Financial Sector Oversight Council”) and 4F (“Financial Sector Stability
Committee”).
Amendments to Clause 4 put and agreed to.
Clause 4, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 5:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 9 of the Bill, by the deletion of paragraph (b) between lines 15 and 18, the subsequent paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) to be redenominated as paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) respectively:
On page 9 of the Bill, in paragraph (c) (iv), (now paragraph (b)(iv)) delete subparagraph (i) in lines 42 and 43 from the new paragraph (d1) and substitute the following subparagraph:
“(i) are consistent with generally recognised standards of
corporate governance, including those fixed or
prescribed in terms of this Act; and”.
Amendments to Clause 5 put and agreed to.
Clause 5, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clauses 6 and 7:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 10 of the Bill, delete clauses 6 and 7 between and including lines 14 and 20, and renumber the subsequent clauses accordingly.
Amendment to Clause 6 and 7 put and agreed to.
Clauses 6 and 7, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 8 (now Clause 6):
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the amendments standing in my name that on page 10 of the Bill, delete paragraph (b) (lines 29-33) and substitute the following:
‘(b) in subsection (2)(b) by the insertion after “the banking
institution” of “and the Deposit Protection Corporation””.
Amendments to Clause 8 (now Clause 6), put and agreed to.
Clause 8 (now Clause 6), as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 9 (now Clause 7):
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 11 of the Bill, in subsection (1) (a) of the new section 15A (“Limitation on shareholding in banking institutions and controlling companies”) inserted by this clause, delete the words “ten per centum” in line 2 and substitute “twenty-five per centum”.
On page 11 of the Bill, in subsection (1) (b) of the new section
15A (“Limitation on shareholding in banking institutions and controlling companies”) inserted by this clause, delete subparagraphs (i) and (ii) and substitute the following subparagraphs:
“(i) a financial institution; or
- a registered controlling company; or
- a body corporate approved in terms of section
15F(1)(b);”.
On page 11 of the Bill, in the new section 15A (“Limitation on shareholding in banking institutions and controlling companies”) delete from subsection (2) the introductory words between lines 14 to 17 and substitute:
“(2) Upon written application to that effect having been made by the shareholder concerned, the Registrar may, by written notice to the shareholder and the banking institution or controlling company concerned, give permission for the shareholder to hold more shares in a banking institution or controlling company, if the Registrar is satisfied that— ”.
On page 12 of the Bill, in the new section 15A (“Limitation on shareholding in banking institutions and controlling companies”) delete subsection (7) on lines 7 to 8 and substitute:
“(7) This section shall not apply in respect of shares that are held temporarily (and in any event for not more than twelve months) by an underwriter pending their acquisition by other persons.”.
On page 14 of the Bill, in the new section 15D (“Effect of shareholding in contravention of this Part”) delete subsection (7) between lines 34 to 39 and substitute the following subsections:
“(7) If a dividend is paid to or received by a person on any share that is held by him or her in contravention of section 15A or 15B, or on any share that has been allotted, issued or transferred to the person or registered in his or her name in contravention of section 15C(1), such dividend shall, if not returned by the person concerned , constitute a debt due to the banking institution or controlling company concerned, and shall at any time after it becomes due, be recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction by proceedings in the name of the banking institution or controlling company.
(8) Subject to section 73, a shareholder who has been required to divest himself or herself of any shares in terms of subsection (5) and who fails without just cause to comply with the requirement within the first seven days of the period of one hundred and eighty-one days referred to in paragraph (a) below, shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the shareholder remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the shareholder continues to be in default after the period
specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
On page 15 of the Bill, in the new section 15E (“Divestment of shares to prevent undue influence by shareholder”), delete subsection (3) between lines 7 and 12 and substitute the following subsection:
“(3) Subject to section 73, a shareholder who has been required to divest himself or herself of any shares in terms of subsection (1) and who fails without just cause to comply with the requirement within the first seven days of the period of one hundred and eighty-one days referred to in paragraph (a) below, shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the shareholder remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the shareholder continues to be in default after the period
specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
On page 15 of the Bill, in the new section 15F (“Restriction on right to control banking institution”), delete from subsection (1) paragraph (a) on line 15 and substitute the following paragraph:
“(a) a registered financial institution; or”.
On page 16 of the Bill, in the new section 15F (“Restriction on right to control banking institution”), insert the following subsections after subsection (5):
“(6) Where the Registrar determines under subsection (5) that a shareholder is a person who exercises control over a banking institution in contravention of this section, such determination shall constitute a requirement by the Registrar that the shareholder divest himself or herself of the shares concerned in compliance with section 15D(1)(ii).
(7) Subject to section 73, a shareholder who is required to divest himself or herself of any shares in terms of subsection (6) and who fails without just cause to comply with the requirement within the first seven days of the period of one hundred and eighty-one days referred to in paragraph (a) below, shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the shareholder remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the shareholder continues to be in default after the period
specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
On page 16 of the Bill, in the new section 15G (“Registration of controlling companies”), delete from subsection (1) paragraph (b) between lines 14 and 19 substitute the following paragraph:
“(b) the names and details of the qualifications and experience of
the applicant’s directors and principal officers; and”.
On page 16 of the Bill, in the new section 15G (“Registration of controlling companies”), delete from subsection (2) the word “consult” in line 30 and substitute “notify”.
On page 16 of the Bill, in the new section 15G (“Registration of controlling companies”) (3), delete from paragraph (c) the words “and such of its other officers as may be prescribed” in lines 39 and 40.
On page 17 of the Bill, in the new section 15H (“Register of controlling companies”), insert in subsection (1) the following paragraph after paragraph (a) (the subsequent paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) to be redenominated as paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) respectively) between lines 14 and 19 substitute the following paragraph:
“(b)its registered office, that is to say, its address for service of notices, legal process and other official communications; and’.
On page 18 of the Bill, in the new section 15J (“Cancellation of registration of controlling company”), delete from subsection (2) the word “consult” in line 36 and substitute “notify”.
On page 19 of the Bill, in the new section 15J (“Cancellation of registration of controlling company”) (6), add the after concluding words “may give it for that purpose” on line 24 the words “and, with respect to any divestment of shares required by such relinquishment, the provisions of section 15D(1) and (6) shall apply as if the Registrar had given the company the requisite notices of divestment in terms of those provisions on the day of the cancellation”.
On page 19 of the Bill, in the new section 15J (“Cancellation of registration of controlling company”) insert the following subsection after subsection (6):
“(7) Subject to section 73, a controlling company whose registration is cancelled in terms of this section and which fails, within the first seven days of the period of one hundred and eighty-one days referred to in paragraph (c) below
- to divest himself or herself of any shares in terms of
subsection (6); or
- without just cause, to comply with any direction of the
Registrar given in terms of subsection (6); shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the company remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the company continues to be in default after the period
specified in paragraph (c), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
- a fine not exceeding level ten; and
- a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the company.”.
Amendments to Clause 9 (now Clause 7), put and agreed to.
Clause 9 (now Clause 7), as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 10( now Clause 8):
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 19 of the Bill, delete the words “corporate governance” in line 34 and substitute “corporate governance framework”.
Amendment to Clause 10 (now Clause 8), put and agreed to.
Clause 10 (now Clause 8), as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 11 (now Clause 9):
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 20 of the Bill, in the new subsection (1e) inserted into section 18, delete the words “the person satisfies the Registrar that he or she” and substitute “the person satisfies the Registrar by a sworn declaration that he or she”.
On page 20 of the Bill, in the new subsection (1f) inserted into section 18, delete the words “If the chief financial officer of a banking institution” and substitute “If the chief financial officer or (upon the failure of the chief financial officer to do so within a reasonable time) any of the principal officers of a banking institution”.
On page 20 of the Bill, delete the new subsections (1g) and (1h) inserted into section 18 and substitute the following subsections:
“(1g) No secrecy or confidentiality provision in any contract or law shall prevent a chief financial officer or any of the principal officers of a banking institution from furnishing to the Registrar the information referred to in subsection (1f), and no banking institution (or controlling company of such institution) shall dismiss or in any other way penalise the chief financial officer or any principal officer for furnishing such information.
(1h) Subject to section 73, a banking institution or controlling company that
- contravenes subsection (1a); or
- fails, through its chief financial officer, to comply with
subsection (1f); or
- dismisses or in any other way penalises the chief financial
officer or any principal officer for furnishing the information required under subsection (1f); or shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution or company remains in default (which default shall, in the case of a contravention referred to in paragraph (c), be calculated from the date of the dismissal of or other penalty imposed upon the chief financial officer or principal officer, and be deemed to continue until such action is reversed), not exceeding a period of one hundred and eightyone days:
Provided that the Registrar shall have power to waive the
payment or refund the whole or part of any penalty prescribed under this paragraph if he or she is satisfied that the contravention was not wilful, or not due to the want of reasonable care; and
- if the institution or company continues to be in default after
the period specified in paragraph (d), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
- a fine not exceeding level ten; and
- a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a
period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution or company.”.
Amendments to Clause 11 (now Clause 9), put and agreed to.
Clause 11 (now Clause 9), as amended, put and agreed to. Clause 12 (now Clause 10) put and agreed to On Clause 13 (now Clause 11):
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 21 of the Bill, delete between lines 23 to 40 the new subsection (2) to be inserted into section
20 and substitute the following subsection:
“(2) Every banking institution and controlling company shall, upon written notification to the Registrar of their names and other prescribed particulars, and with the approval of the Registrar (which approval shall not be withheld except upon positive evidence of the unfitness of the persons concerned to hold office) appoint in Zimbabwe— (a) a chief executive officer; and
- a chief accounting officer; and
- a compliance officer; and
- an internal auditor; and
- officers responsible for the following functions—
- risk management; and
- lending and credit administration; and
- internal controls; and
- investments and asset or liability management, in
the case of a banking institution which engages in these activities; and
- treasury and foreign exchange operations; and
- trust and fiduciary operations, in the case of a
banking institution which engages in these activities; and
- such other officers as may be prescribed.”.
On page 21 of the Bill, in the new subsection (2a) to be inserted into section 20, delete from line 42 the words “shall be members of the board” and substitute “shall (despite anything to the contrary in the memorandum or articles of association of the banking institution or controlling company) be non-voting members of the board”.
On page 21 of the Bill, in the new subsection (2b) to be inserted into section 20, insert into paragraph (a) after the concluding words “the offices referred to in subsection (2)” the words “, except on a temporary or acting basis (and in that event for not more than six months continuously)”.
On page 22 of the Bill, in the new subsection (2b) to be inserted into section 20, insert into paragraph (b) after the concluding words “is a member” the words “(except on a temporary or acting basis)”.
On page 22 of the Bill, insert the following new subsection after the new subsection (2b) of section 20:
“(2c) Until the Registrar signifies his or her approval in writing to the banking institution or controlling company of any of the appointments it wishes to make in terms of subsection (2), the appointee in question shall not be deemed to be employed, whether in terms of the Labour Act, any contract of employment or any other law, but if the Registrar delays by more than thirty days to make any response to a written notification of the proposed appointment by the institution or company, then it is deemed that the Registrar has approved the appointment in question.”.
On page 20 of the Bill insert new clause 8 as follows—
8 New section inserted in Cap 24:20
“13A Notification of Application
As soon as reasonably possible after registering an applicant, the Registrar shall inform the Deposit protection Corporation, and cause notice thereof to be published in the Gazette and in one or more issues of a newspaper circulating in the area in which the applicants head office is situated.”.
On page 31 of the Bill—
- delete clause (1) under paragraph (a) and substitute the following—
“Every banking institution and controlling company shall maintain a principle administrative office in Zimbabwe and shall inform the Registrar in writing of the office’s address:
Provided that where a controlling company is not operational in Zimbabwe, it shall be exempted from this requirement.”.
- delete paragraph clause (2)(e) of paragraph (a) and substitute the following―
“(e) a company secretary;
(f) such other officers as may be prescribed;”.
Amendments to Clause 13 (now Clause 11), put and agreed to.
Clause 13 (now Clause 11), as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 14 (now Clause 12):
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendments standing in my name that on page 22 of the Bill, in the new section 20A (“Responsibilities and conduct of directors and principal officers of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, delete from subsection (2) the words “observe any guidelines” in line 36 and substitute “observe any written prudential standards issued from time to time by the Reserve Bank”
On pages 22 and 23 of the Bill, in the new section 20A
(“Responsibilities and conduct of directors and principal officers of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, delete subsection (5) and substitute the following:
“(5) In addition to anything contained in section 318 of the Companies Act [Chapter 24:03], where a banking institution or controlling company has been placed under curatorship or judicial management or has been wound up, and it is established that the business of the institution or company has been carried on without regard for the prudential norms and standards and other requirements provided for in this Act, or to good corporate governance principles generally—
- every person who was a director or principal officer of the
institution or company when its business was being carried on in that manner; and
- every shareholder who was knowingly a party to the carrying
on of the business of the institution or company in that manner; shall be jointly and severally liable with the institution or company for any loss or damage suffered by creditors, including depositors, of the institution or company:
Provided that this subsection shall not apply to a director or officer who, on a balance of probabilities, is able to show that he or
she—
(a) was not responsible for the manner in which the business of
the institution or company was carried on; and (b) complied with his or her duties under subsections (1) and
(2).”.
On page 23 of the Bill, in the new section 20A (“Responsibilities and conduct of directors and principal officers of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, delete in subsection (6), in line 22, the connective “and” between paragraphs (a) and (b) and substitute the connective “or”.
On page 23 of the Bill, in the new section 20A (“Responsibilities and conduct of directors and principal officers of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, delete in subsection (7), in lines 29 and 30, the words “in subsection (5)” and substitute “in subsection (5) or (6)”.
On page 23 of the Bill, in the new section 20A (“Responsibilities and conduct of directors and principal officers of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, insert in subsection (7)(c), in line 39, after the words “repayment of the losses of the creditors” the words “(not including any creditor who is a director or principal officer or principal shareholder of the banking institution or controlling company, or any other person who is an associate or close relative of any of the foregoing, against whom the Registrar or Deposit
Protection Corporation has instituted proceedings under this section)”
On page 24 of the Bill, in the new section 20B (“Disclosure of interests by directors of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, delete subsection (1) and substitute the following:
“(1) Upon his or her appointment, and annually thereafter, every director of a banking institution or a controlling company shall deliver to the chief executive officer of the institution or company a document in the prescribed form setting out the full extent of the director’s assets, business activities and financial and proprietary interests and those of his or her spouse”.
On page 24 of the Bill, in the new section 20B (“Disclosure of interests by directors of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, add the following proviso to subsection (2) after line 16:
“Provided that any such document and the information contained in it shall be strictly confidential to the Reserve Bank and shall not be released to anyone outside the Reserve Bank except with the written consent of the person to whom it relates”.
On page 24 of the Bill, in the new section 20B (“Disclosure of interests by directors of banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, delete subsection (3) on lines 17 and 18 and substitute the following subsection:
“(3) Subject to section 73, a banking institution or controlling company that
- fails, within the first seven days of the period of one hundred
and eighty-one days referred to in paragraph (c) below (calculated from the date of the appointment or each anniversary of the appointment, as the case may be), to comply with subsection (1); or
- contravenes subsection (2); or shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution or company remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days:
Provided that the Registrar shall have power to waive the
payment or refund the whole or part of any penalty prescribed under this paragraph if he or she is satisfied that the contravention was not wilful, or not due to the want of reasonable care;
and
- if the institution or company continues to be in default after
the period specified in paragraph (c), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen; and
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen or to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding six months or to both such
fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution or company.”.
Amendments to Clause 14 (now Clause 14), put and agreed to.
Clause 14 (now Clause 12), put and agreed to.
On Clause 15:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendment standing in my name which is a substitution of Clauses 15 and 16, now Clauses 13 and 14.
Amendments to Clause 15 put and agreed to.
Clause 15, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 16:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that on page 24 of the Bill, in paragraph (a), delete from line 40 the words “in subsection (4)” and substitute the words “in subsection (5)”.
Amendment to Clause 16 put and agreed to.
Clause 16, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 17:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that On page 25 of the Bill, in subsection (3) of the new section 26 (“Closing and establishment of branches in Zimbabwe by banking institutions”) to be substituted by this clause, insert after the words “intention to establish the branch,” in line 24 the words “and after affording the banking institution an opportunity to make representations on the matter,”.
On page 25 of the Bill, in the new Section 26 (“Closing and establishment of branches in Zimbabwe by banking institutions”) to be substituted by this clause, insert after subsection (4) the following subsection:
“(5) Subject to Section 73, a banking institution that fails to comply with a direction in terms of subsection (3) shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the institution continues to be in default after the period
specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen; and
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen or to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution.”.
Amendments to Clause 17 put and agreed to.
Clause 17, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 18:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that On page 25 of the Bill, in subsection (1) of the new section 28A (“Corporate governance”) to be inserted by this clause, delete the words “consistent with such standards,” in line 35 and substitute “consistent with such prudential standards”.
On page 26 of the Bill, in subsections (1) and (2) of the new section 28B (“Compliance”), delete “or controlling company” wherever it occurs”.
On page 26 of the Bill, in subsection (1) of the new section 28C
(“Risk committee”) to be inserted by this clause, delete the words “of whom at least two shall be non-executive directors,” in lines 41 and 42, and substitute “all of whom shall be non-executive directors”.
Amendments to Clause 18 put and agreed to.
Clause 18, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 19:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that On page 28 of the Bill, in subsection (1) (c) of the new section 28D (“Publication of certain information by banking institutions”) to be inserted by this clause, delete the words “a notice setting out its interest rates” in line 5 and substitute “a notice in a form approved by the Reserve Bank that is clearly visible to the public setting out its interest rates”.
On page 28 of the Bill, in subsection (3) of the new section 28D
(“Publication of certain information by banking institutions”) to be inserted by this clause, delete from line 15 the words “subsection (3)” and substitute the words “subsection (2)”.
On page 29 of the Bill, in the new section 28E (“Disclosure of certain information to customers of banking institutions”) to be inserted by this clause, insert after subsection (4) the following subsection:
“(5) No banking institution shall impose any fee or other charge for the information it is required to provide to a user of its services under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4).”.
On page 30 of the Bill, after the new section 28F (“Customer complaints procedures”) to be inserted by this clause, insert the following additional new section:
“28G Civil penalties for non-compliance by banking institutions with Part IVA
Subject to section 73, a banking institution that fails to comply with any provision of this Part shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the institution continues to be in default after the period
specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen; and
- a fine not exceeding level fourteen or to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution.”.
And also an amendment proposed by the Committee which I sought under Clause 19 that On page 38 of the Bill insert the following subsection after subsection (3) of the section 28D—
“(4) After changing any of the matters referred to in subsection (1), (2) and (3) above a banking institution shall give the account holder, borrower and card holder, written notice of the changes within fourteen
(14) days”.
Amendments to Clause 19 put and agreed to.
Clause 19, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 20 and 21 put and agreed to.
On Clause 22:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that On page 30 of the Bill, in subsection (4) of the new section 31A (“Credit rating of banking institutions”) to be inserted by this clause, delete the words “may publish” in line 27 and substitute “may, not more than once in a calendar year, publish”.
On page 31 of the Bill, in subsection (3) of the new section 31C
(“Issue of credit reference bureau licences”) to be inserted by this clause, add the following words to the end of that subsection in line 7: “and, in the case of a refusal, of the reasons for his or her refusal”.
Amendments to Clause 22, put and agreed to.
Clause 22, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 23:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that On page 31 of the Bill, by the deletion of subsections (2) and (3) of the new Section 32 (“Restrictions on purchase and pledging of shares in banking institutions and controlling companies”) to be inserted by this clause, and the substitution of the following subsections:
“(2) Except with the prior approval of the Registrar (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), no person holding a significant interest in a banking institution or controlling company (as defined in section 15B(1)) shall pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any shares in a banking institution or controlling company if the encumbrance may result in a transfer of shares or voting rights in the institution or company equal to or exceeding ten per centum of the shares or voting rights in the institution or company.”
(3) Subject to section 73, a banking institution or controlling company which or person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall
- be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or
the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution, company or person remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days;
and
- if the institution, company or person continues to be in
default after the period specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction
- in the case of a banking institution or controlling
company
- to a fine not exceeding level ten; and
- to a fine not exceeding level seven or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution.”.
- in the case of an individual other than a director or
member referred to in subparagraph (i)B, to a fine not exceeding level seven or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
On page 31 of the Bill, by the deletion between lines 38 and 41 of subsection (1) of the new section 32A (“Special purpose vehicles”) to be inserted by this clause, and the renumbering of the following subsections
(2), (3), (4) and (5) as subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) respectively.
On page 31 of the Bill, by the deletion in subsection (3) (now subsection (2)) of the words “subsection (2)” in line 43 and the substitution of “subsection (1)”.
Amendments to Clause 23 put and agreed to.
Clause 23, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 24:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that On page 32 of the Bill, in paragraph (c), by the deletion between lines 15 and 33 of the new subsections (3) to (6) of
new Section 35 (“Restrictions on extending of credit to officers, employees and certain shareholders and relatives”) to be inserted by this clause, and the substitution of the following subsections:
“(3) A banking institution shall not extend credit exceeding such amount as may be prescribed to any of its directors, shareholders or principal officers, or to a close relative or associate of any of those persons (hereinafter referred to as
“insiders”), unless—
- the transaction has been approved by the board of the
banking institution (without the participation of any director or principal officer to whom the credit is sought to be extended in the decision to approve the extension of the credit); and
- the credit does not exceed ten per centum of the paid-up
equity capital of the banking institution; and
- the credit is covered by one hundred per centum collateral; and
- the credit is deducted from the paid-up equity capital of
the banking institution.
- Where a banking institution extends credit, exceeding such amount as may be prescribed, to any insider, it shall without delay inform the Registrar of that fact and provide the
Registrar with such information concerning the credit as the Registrar may reasonably require.
- For the avoidance of doubt, subsections (3) and (4) does not apply to the extension of credit to any employee of the bank as part of the employee’s conditions of service that are
applicable to other employees generally.
- Any contract or arrangement whereby a banking institution extends credit to any person in contravention of this section shall be voidable at the instance of— (a) the board of the banking institution; or
(b) the Registrar;
and the credit shall be repayable to the concerned banking institution together with interest by any person in whose favour it was made within the period stipulated by the board or the
Registrar, as the case may be.
(7) Subject to section 73—
- a banking institution which contravenes subsection (2), (3) or
(4);
- any director, shareholder or principal officer of a banking
institution (whether on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any of his or her close relatives or associates ) who
- receives any credit from the banking institution of which
he or she is the director, shareholder or principal officer while knowing or not having a reasonable belief that the conditions for the extension of that credit in terms of subsection (3) have not been fully complied with; or
- fails, within the stipulated period, to repay fully together with interest at the concerned banking institution’s
prevailing lending rate any credit under a contract or arrangement voided by the Registrar under subsection
(6);
shall be liable for a civil penalty of fifty United States dollars (or the maximum monetary figure specified from time to time for level four, whichever is the lesser amount) for each day the institution, director, shareholder or principal officer (as the case may be) remains in default, not exceeding a period of one hundred and eighty-one days; and
- if the institution, director, shareholder or principal officer (as
the case may be) continues to be in default after the period specified in paragraph (a), be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction
(i) in the case of a banking institution—
- to a fine not exceeding level ten; and
- to a fine not exceeding level seven or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or
to both such fine and such imprisonment in the case of every director or member of the board or governing body of the institution.”.
(ii) in the case of a, to a fine not exceeding level ten or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
- In addition, and independently of the institution of any criminal or civil penalty proceedings under subsection (7), any property of any description obtained by means of an extension of credit made in contravention of subsection (2), (3) or (4), shall be deemed to be “tainted property” resulting from the commission of a “serious offence” for the purposes of section 80 (“Civil forfeiture orders”) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24] (No. 4 of 2013), and may be recovered at the instance of the Reserve Bank in proceedings instituted by it in terms of that section, as if the “Reserve Bank” were substituted for the “Attorney-General” or “Prosecutor-General” in that section
- The income, and any proceeds from the realisation of property in respect of which a court has granted a civil forfeiture order in terms of subsection (8) shall be applied in the following
sequence—
- meeting the costs incurred by the Reserve Bank in obtaining
the civil forfeiture order and the costs of any other proceedings instituted to establish a claim to the property or an interest in the property; and
- repaying to the banking institution concerned the credit that
was extended in contravention of subsection (2), (3) or (4), together with interest at the banking institution’s prevailing lending rate; and
- any amount remaining after application of the amounts referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) shall form part of the Recovered Assets Fund established by section 96 of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter
9:24] (No. 4 of 2013).
(10) Until the maximum amount of credit that may be extended to insiders is prescribed for the purposes of this section, no banking institution shall extend credit to any insider, and any extension of such credit shall be deemed to be an extension of credit to insiders in contravention of subsection (2), (3) or (4).”.
Amendments to Clause 24 put and agreed to.
Clause 24, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 25 and 29 put and agreed to.
On Clause 30:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that:
On pages 33 to 36 of the Bill, delete Clause 30 (now Clause 28) and substitute the following clauses:
The principal Act is amended by the insertion in Part IX after section
52 of the following sections—
“52A Problem banking institutions
(1) This section applies where the Reserve Bank determines that, in relation to a particular problem banking institution, it is in the public interest or in the interests of the depositors or creditors of a banking institution to avoid cancelling the registration of a banking institution, if possible, in order to achieve any one or more of the following objectives—
- to protect and enhance the stability of the financial system;
and
- to protect and enhance public confidence in the banking
system; and
- to protect depositors; and
- where applicable, to protect public funds.
(2) Where the Reserve Bank, following a report by an inspector or an investigation in terms of section 49, or on the basis of financial intelligence which in its opinion is sound and sufficient, has identified a banking institution as a problem banking institution because—
- it can no longer maintain the prescribed minimum amounts
of capital and reserves, or is otherwise in an unsound financial condition; or
- it can no longer maintain net assets which, together with
other financial resources available to it, are of an amount and nature sufficient to safeguard its creditors;
- it can no longer provide adequate security for the assets
entrusted to it; or
- it is facing liquidity problems, or its prudential liquidity
ratios are below the prescribed regulatory minimum; or
- it has failed to put in place and implement a sound corporate
governance framework and risk management framework, or it is in breach of good corporate governance requirements or its operations exhibit poor risk management; or
- it is carrying out non- permissible activities or employing undesirable methods in carrying on its business; or
- it has not complied with any instruction, requirement or
condition imposed by the Registrar in terms of this Act; or
- it is not being operated or is not conducting its activities in
the best interests of its depositors; the Reserve Bank may, subject to this section, formulate and implement a plan of resolution in relation to the banking institution (hereinafter called a “bank resolution plan”) involving any of the following measures—
- the merging of the problem banking institution with another
banking institution;
- the acquisition of the problem banking institution by another
banking institution;
- the acquisition by or transfer to a third party of any asset or
liability of the problem banking institution, including any asset held in trust;
- the establishment of a bridging banking institution to acquire
part or all of the assets and liabilities of the problem banking institution;
- the taking of control of the problem banking institution by a
curator with powers to establish and institute a timely plan of resolution;
- the winding up of the problem banking institution;
- the taking of any action necessary to give effect to the plan
of resolution, including the sale or closure of any branch, agency or other office of the problem banking institution and, subject to any other law, the dismissal of any of its officers or employees.
(3) If the Reserve Bank makes a determination in terms of subsection (1) in relation to a banking institution it has identified as a problem banking institution under subsection (2), it shall, after affording the banking institution an adequate opportunity to make representations in the matter—
(a) serve on a principal officer of such banking institution at its registered office—
- a notice (hereinafter called a “problem bank notice”)
announcing that the banking institution has been declared a problem banking institution; and
- the bank resolution plan that the Reserve Bank shall be
implementing or cause to be implemented in terms of the
Act;
and
(b) publish the problem bank notice in the Gazette:
Provided that, where the Reserve Bank considers that immediate action is necessary to prevent irreparable harm to the banking institution or its depositors, creditors, members or employees, the Reserve Bank may take such action before affording the banking institution an opportunity to make representations in terms of this subsection.
(4)In formulating a bank resolution plan, the Reserve Bank shall—
- have regard to the public interest; and
- ensure that any measures authorised by or taken under the
plan are proportionate to the harm they are intended to remedy; and
- ensure that where any property or interest or right in property
is to be acquired under the plan (other than shares and assets of the problem banking institution)—
- reasonable notice is given to everyone whose interest or
rights will be affected by the acquisition; and
- fair and adequate compensation is paid within a
reasonable time after the acquisition; and
- if the acquisition is contested, an application is made to a
court of competent jurisdiction for an order authorising or confirming the acquisition; and
- the property, interest or right is returned or not acquired if the court, on an application referred to in subparagraph (iii), does not authorise or confirm the acquisition;
and
- ensure that all bidders or offerors seeking to acquire assets of
the problem banking institution are treated equally and fairly; and
- ensure that, so far as practicable, any person who acquires
assets of the problem banking institution acquires an equivalent value of its liabilities.
(5) The Reserve Bank or its agents may disclose confidential information concerning a problem banking institution, subject to a confidentiality agreement, to a bidder or offeror who proposes to acquire the institution or any of its assets or liabilities under a bank resolution plan.
(6)Pending the formulation and implementation of a bank resolution plan (whether before or after the confirmation of the problem bank notice in terms of section 52B), the Reserve Bank may take such measures in relation to the banking institution concerned as, in its opinion, are reasonably necessary in order to—
- preserve the capital, assets and liquidity of the banking
institution concerned; and
- protect the interests of depositors and other creditors of the
banking institution concerned.
(6) Measures referred to in subsection (6) may include—
- restricting the activities of the banking institution concerned;
and
- removing or replacing all or any of the directors of the
banking institution concerned; and
- prohibiting or restricting the disposal of any assets of the
banking institution concerned; and
- any action referred to in section 48(3).
52B Confirmation of problem bank notice
(1) At any time before a bank resolution plan is implemented, the problem bank notice shall be confirmed by application made by or on behalf of the Reserve Bank to a judge of the High Court in chambers on not less than fourteen days’ written notice (accompanied by the documentation in support of the application referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2)) to the directors, shareholders, principal officer and creditors of the problem banking institution:
Provided that the publication by or on behalf of the Reserve Bank of a notice in the Gazette addressed to the directors, shareholders, principal officer and creditors of the problem banking institution
(whether named individually or by class)
- notifying them of the intention of the Reserve Bank to make
such an application not earlier than fourteen days from the date of publication of the notice in the Gazette; and
- informing them of their right to oppose the application; and (iii) containing particulars of where the documentation in support of the application referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) may be collected by any party interested in the application, shall be deemed to constitute sufficient service of the notice of the application upon any such party.
(2) There shall be submitted together with the application referred to in subsection (1)
- a copy of the problem bank notice relating to the banking
institution which is the subject of the application; and
- a statement of the reasons why it appeared to the Reserve Bank that any one or more of the circumstances referred to paragraph (a) to (h) of section 52A(2) were present in relation to the banking institution; and
- a statement of the affairs of the banking institution indicating
the extent of its assets and liabilities; and
- proof that a principal officer of the banking institution had been served with the problem bank notice under section
52A(2)(p).
- A decision by a judge not to issue a confirming order in terms of subsection (1), or to issue it subject to any amendment or variation, shall not prevent the Reserve Bank from making a fresh application in terms of that subsection on the basis of new evidence obtained since the original application, or to correct any mistake in the original application, and subsections (1) and (2) shall apply to such fresh application.”.
- Where an appeal is noted against a decision of the High Court in an application referred to in this section, the Supreme Court shall ensure that, where possible, it delivers judgment in the appeal within thirty days after the appeal was filed in accordance with rules of court.
- Notwithstanding any other law, if an appeal is noted against a decision of the High Court in an application referred to in this section, no court shall set aside the decision of the Reserve Bank made pursuant to a bank resolution plan without the consent of the Reserve Bank, unless the court is satisfied that the decision was made corruptly or in bad faith:
Provided that this subsection shall not prevent a court from awarding fair and adequate compensation to any person who has suffered loss as a result of the decision.
- Pending the determination of an application referred to in this section or any appeal in relation thereto, the Reserve Bank may take any of the measures referred to in section 52A(5) or any other formal supervisory or enforcement action against the problem banking institution concerned in the interests of its creditors or depositors or in the public interest.
- Where a problem bank notice is confirmed by the court in terms of this section and the bank resolution plan in relation to it proposes to place the problem banking institution concerned under liquidation, it shall not be necessary to issue a separate notice of liquidation in terms of section 57 of the Act.
52C Implementation of bank resolution plan
- In this section “curator” means an agent of the Reserve Bank acting as an independent contractor or the Reserve Bank itself operating through one of its employees, and includes any special asset management company established in terms of Part IXA of the
Reserve Bank Act.
- Where a curator has taken control of a problem banking institution under a bank resolution plan, the shareholders of the institution shall have no rights with respect to shares, except to the extent permitted under the plan.
- Within ninety days after a curator has taken control of a problem banking institution under a bank resolution plan, the
Reserve Bank, after consultation with the Deposit Protection
Corporation, shall—
- determine whether to restructure, reorganise or wind up the
institution; and
- determine an alternative bank resolution plan based upon any
combination of restructuring, reorganisation or winding up of the institution or, subject to this section, any other option which provides for expeditious resolution of the problems of the institution:
Provided that if the new bank resolution plan is materially
at variance with the one submitted in connection with an application in terms of section 52B, the Reserve Bank shall seek the leave of the court that confirmed the application to depart from the original bank resolution plan, and the court may make any directions on the matter that it thinks fit.
(4) For a period of ninety days after a curator has taken control of a problem banking institution under a bank resolution plan, no proceedings may be commenced against the institution by its creditors.
(10) Notwithstanding any other law, where under a bank resolution plan—
- any asset of a problem banking institution has been
transferred to any person; or
- control of a problem banking institution has been transferred
to any person; or
- the whole or part of the business of a problem banking
institution has been transferred to any person;
no court shall set aside the transfer without the consent of the Reserve Bank, unless the court is satisfied that the transfer was made fraudulently, corruptly or in bad faith:
Provided that this subsection shall not prevent a court from awarding fair and adequate compensation to any person who has suffered loss as a result of the transfer.”
Section 55 (“Duties and powers of curator”) of the principal Act is amended by the insertion after subsection (3) of the following subsection—
“(3a) Any person alleging to be a creditor of a banking institution under curatorship may, upon furnishing such written proof to the curator as will satisfy the curator that the person is able to prove a claim against the banking institution, and upon payment of the prescribed fee (if any), request that any specific report or every report made by the curator under subsection (1) (e), (f) and (g) be availed to him or her as soon as practicable after the curator avails it to the Reserve Bank, and the curator shall comply with such request.”.
On page 35 of the Bill under “48A Problem Banking Institutions”, in subsection (8), after the words “the Reserve Bank,” delete “in” and replace it with “after”.
Amendment to Clause 30 put and agreed to.
Clause 30, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 31 and 32 put and agreed to.
On Clause 33:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that:
On page 37 of the Bill, delete subsection (4) between lines 34 and 41 and substitute the following.
“(4) In an application referred to in subsection (3)(c), the High Court may not, despite any other law, reverse or set aside the order of the Reserve Bank to wind up a banking institution made in terms of subsection (1) without the consent of the Reserve Bank, unless the court is satisfied that the decision was made corruptly or in bad faith:
Provided that this subsection shall not prevent the High Court or any other court from awarding fair and adequate compensation to any person who has suffered loss as a result of the decision.”.
Amendment to Clause 33 put and agreed to.
Clause 33, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 34 put and agreed to.
On Clause 35:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that on pages 38 to 40, delete Clause 35 and I am not supporting the amendment moved by the Committee of Finance and Economic Development. Originally, we had put the Office of the Financial Public Protector but we then realised that in fact this function is currently already performed by the Central Bank and any complaints against any commercial banks are made to the Central Bank. So, we realise that this institution was not necessary, so we deleted it.
Amendment moved by the Committee on Finance and Development put and negatived.
Amendment to Clause 35 as proposed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development put and agreed to.
Clause 35, as amended, put and agreed to.
On New Clause 36:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment in
my name that:
On page 41 of the Bill, in paragraph (b), delete from line 25 the words “thirty days” and substitute the words “ninety days”.
After the end of clause 36 on page 41 of the Bill insert the following clause, the subsequent clauses being renumbered accordingly:
The principal Act is amended by the insertion after section 77 of the following section—
“77A Issuance of civil penalty orders
(1) Where in this Act provision is made for the imposition of a civil penalty, such provision shall be construed as authorising the Registrar to issue to the person specified by this Act to be responsible for the infringement in respect of which the penalty is imposed (hereinafter called “the infringer”) any one of the following kinds of orders (called a “civil penalty order”) addressed to an infringer, which order shall be issued within such of the following parameters as may be appropriate to the infringement, namely a civil penalty order imposing
- a fixed civil penalty for a specified completed and
irremediable infringement, for which
- the penalty shall not exceed a fixed penalty of level ten
or the penalty prescribed by or under this Act, as the case may be; and
- the penalty for each day (beginning on the day after the
issuance of the civil penalty order) during which the infringer fails to pay the civil penalty, shall not exceed a penalty of level three (twenty United States dollars) per day for a maximum period of one hundred and eight
(180) days;
and
- a fixed civil penalty for a specified completed but remediable
infringement
- for which the prescribed penalty shall not exceed a fixed
penalty of level five (one hundred United States dollars) or the penalty prescribed by or under this Act, as the case may be; and
- which must be suspended conditionally upon the
infringer taking the remedial action specified in the civil penalty order within the time specified in that order; and
- which (upon the civil penalty becoming operative
because of non-compliance with the requested remedial action) may provide for the prescribed penalty for each day (beginning on the day after the last day on which the infringer should have effected the remedial action) during which the infringer fails to pay the civil penalty referred to in subparagraph(i), which shall not exceed a penalty of level two (ten United States dollars) per day for a maximum period of one hundred and eight (180) days; and
- a fixed civil penalty for a continuing infringement
- for which the prescribed penalty shall not exceed a
penalty of level one (five United States dollars) for each day during which the infringement continues (or the penalty prescribed by or under this Act, as the case may be), not exceeding a maximum period of one hundred and eight (180) days; and
- which must be suspended conditionally upon the
infringer immediately (that is say, on the day the civil penalty order is issued) ceasing the infringement;
and
- a fixed civil penalty for a specified continuing infringement
where the time for compliance is of the essence
- for which the prescribed penalty shall not exceed a fixed
penalty of level ten (six hundred United States dollars) or the penalty prescribed by or under this Act, as the case may be; and
- which must be suspended conditionally upon the
infringer taking the remedial action specified in the civil penalty order within the time specified in that order; and
- which (upon the civil penalty becoming operative
because of non-compliance with the requested remedial action) may provide for the prescribed penalty for each day (beginning on the day after the last day on which the infringer should have effected the remedial action) during which the infringer fails to pay the civil penalty referred to in subparagraph (i), which shall not exceed a penalty of level two (ten United States dollars) per day for a maximum period of one hundred and eight (180) days;
- A civil penalty order that becomes payable by the infringer shall constitute a debt due by the infringer to the Registrar and shall at any time after it becomes due, be recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction by proceedings in the name of the Registrar.
- The amount of a civil penalty shall be paid into and form part of the funds of the Reserve Bank.” Amendment to Clause 36 put and agreed to.
Clause 36, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 37 put and agreed to.
On Clause 38:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Chairman, I move the
amendment standing in my name under Clause 38 that:
On page 42 of the Bill, in paragraph (b) of this clause, add the following new paragraph to section 81(2):
“(g6) the specification, notwithstanding any other law, of a tariff of
remuneration, fees and charges to be payable to a curator, public auditor or accountant, legal practitioner or other independent contractor retained by the Reserve Bank for the discharge of any statutory function any purpose under this
Act;”.
Amendment to Clause 38 put and agreed to.
Clause 38, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 39 put and agreed to.
On Clause 40:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendments
standing in my name that:
On page 43 of the Bill, insert after paragraph (b) the following paragraph into clause 40 (now clause 41), and redenominate the existing paragraph (c) as paragraph (d):
“(c) by the insertion after Part IX of the following Part—
“PART IXA
SPECIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
57A Establishment of special asset management companies
(1) In the exercise of its functions the Bank may establish any one or more companies or other entities, to be known as “special asset management companies”, for the purpose of—
- acquiring, rescheduling, disposing of, holding, managing or
otherwise settling non-performing loans of banking institutions; or
- on the direction of the Bank, managing, acquiring,
restructuring and disposing of distressed or problem or failed banking institutions;
- generally, performing such other functions related to the acts
mentioned in paragraph (i) and (ii) or exercising any function conferred on the Bank by or in terms of this Act;”
(2) Upon completion of the mandate for which it was established in terms of subsection (1), a special asset management company shall be wound up and the necessary account shall be rendered to the Bank.
57B Immunity of special asset management companies, etc.
The immunity of the Bank bestowed by section 63A applies also to any special asset management company, for which purpose references therein the Bank, the Board, the Governor and any employee of the Bank shall be read as references to the company, its board of directors, its chief executive or principal officer and any of its employees.
57C Powers of Investigation of special asset management companies
Section 47 of the Banking Act applies to a special asset management company in the pursuance of the mandate for which it was established in terms of section 57A (1), as if the company and its employees, are supervisors and inspectors referred to in that section of the Banking Act.
57D Powers of curatorship of special asset management companies
Section 55 of the Banking Act applies to a special asset management company in the pursuance of the mandate for which it was established in terms of section 57A (1), as if the company (and any of its employees discharging curatorship functions) is the curator referred to in that section of the Banking Act.
57E Special asset management companies exempt from certain duties, fees and charges
(1) No duty or fee in relation to any instrument, service or other matter shall be payable to the State by any special asset management company in respect of-
- any transfer to the company of property other than property
acquired by the company for its own use or for the use of its employees; or
- any mortgage, hypothecation or pledge of property or cession
thereof in favour of the company; or
- any document of security, pledge, act of suretyship,
indemnity or guarantee by or in favour of the company.
(2) A special asset management company shall not be liable for the payment of any search or inspection fee in the Master’s office or in any Deeds Registry or Companies Registry.”.
On page 44 of the Bill, insert after line 39 the following subclause to clause 40, the existing clause becoming subclause (1):
“(2) The wholly owned company of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe called the Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation (Private) Limited, incorporated in terms of the Companies Act [Chapter 24:03] on the 15th July 2014, shall be deemed to be a special asset management company established with effect from the date of its incorporation in terms of Part
IXA of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 22:15].”.
Amendment to new Clause 40 put and agreed to.
New Clause 40, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 41 and 42 put and agreed to.
On Clause 43:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that:
On page 45 of the Bill, delete Clause 43 between lines 39 and 47.
Amendment to new Clause 43 put and agreed to.
New Clause 43, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 44 put and agreed to.
On Clause 45:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that:
On page 47 of the Bill, insert a new Clause 45 which reads as follows―
“45 Amendment of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Debt
Assumption) Act, No. 2 of 2015
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Debt Assumption) Act, 2015, is amended by the repeal by the repeal of Section 6 and its substitution with the following―
“Part III of the Public Debt Management Act [Chapter 22:21] shall apply, with the necessary changes, in respect of any obligations assumed in terms of Section 4 as if the obligation were a State loan borrowed in terms of that Act.””.
Amendment to new Clause 45 put and agreed to.
New Clause 45, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Clause 46:
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move the amendment
standing in my name that:
On page 47 of the Bill, insert a new Clause 46 which reads as follows-
“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Act, 2010 (No. 1 of 2010), is amended by the repeal of Section 19 and the Schedule” Amendment to new Clause 46 put and agreed to.
New Clause 46, as amended, put and agreed to.
Schedule put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I have received a non adverse
report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Banking Amendment [H.B. 6, 2015].
Consideration Stage: With leave, forthwith.
CONSIDERATION STAGE
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL [H.B.6, 2015]
Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45 and 46 as amended put and agreed
to.
Bill, as amended, adopted.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 6, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam Speaker, I move
that the Bill be now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam Speaker, we have
come to an end of a very long day and I want to take the opportunity to thank all Hon. Members for their contribution and hard work. I therefore move that the House do now adjourn.
The House adjourned at Nineteen Minutes to Twelve Midnight.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 26th November, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
2016 NATIONAL BUDGET PRESENTATION
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to inform the House that the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development will present the 2016 National Budget today at 1445 hours in the National Assembly Chamber. All interested Senators should watch the presentation from monitors in the Senate Chamber. There are four monitors in here.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE POST-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to inform the House that the Post Budget Seminar has been postponed to the 8th
December, 2015 due to accommodation challenges resulting from the
ICASA Conference. The seminar will be held at Pandhari Lodge from
0900 hours to 1300 hours. Committees will hold their Post Budget
Consultations on 14th and 15th December, 2015. On the 15th December, 2015, the Consultations will be done in the morning before we sit. The schedule of Committee sittings for this exercise will be circulated in due course. Budget debate will commence on the 16th December, 2015.
ROUND TABLE FOR THE ZIMBABWE WOMEN’S
PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I also wish to inform members of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus attending the Round Table at the British Ambassador’s residence to meet outside Nelson Mandela entrance after Budget Presentation.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. DR.
SEKERAMAYI), the Senate adjourned at Twenty Three Minutes to three o’clock pm until Tuesday, 15th December, 2015.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 15th December, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
INVITATION TO A CATHOLIC SERVICE
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I wish to inform
the Senate that there will be a Catholic Service tomorrow 16th December, 2015 at 1200 hours in the Senate Chamber. All members who are Catholics and non-Catholics are invited to this prayer meeting.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS NO. 50,
61(2), 62 (5) AND 129
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU): I
seek leave of the Senate to move that the provisions of the following Standing Orders be suspended with effect from today and for the next series of sittings in respect of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, [H.B 15:2015];
Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill, [H.B 16:2015]. Appropriation
(2016) Bill [H.B. 17: 2015] and Banking Amendment Bill [H.B. 6:
2015].
- Standing Order Number 50, 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 a
Friday; ii. Standing Order Number 61(2), relating to Private Members’ motions taking precedence on Thursdays; iii. Standing Order Number 62 (5), relating to question time taking precedence on Thursdays and
- Standing Order Number 129, relating to stages of Bills.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS NO. 50, 61(2), 62 (5) AND
129
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION
AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU): I
move that the provisions of the following Standing Orders be suspended with effect from today and for the next series of sittings in respect of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, [H.B 15, 2015]; Appropriation (Supplementary)
Bill, [H.B 16, 2015]. Appropriation (2016) Bill [H.B. 17, 2015] and Banking Amendment Bill [H.B. 6, 2015].
- Standing Order Number 50, 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 a
Friday;
- Standing Order Number 61(2), relating to Private Members’ motions taking precedence on Thursdays; iii. Standing Order Number 62 (5), relating to question time taking precedence on Thursdays and Standing Order Number 129, relating to stages of Bills.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DECLINING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE
COUNTRY
First Order read: adjourned debate on motion on the socio- economic conditions in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam President. I move
that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. A. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th December, 2015.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
TO THE 7TH WORLD WATER CONFERENCE
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Delegation to the 7th World Water Conference.
Question again proposed.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU):
Madam President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th December, 2015.
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on great strides made by Government in raising literacy rates in the country, through the provision of affordable educational programmes.
Question again proposed.
Hon. Sen. Masuku having stood up to debate.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order. I have
been advised that something has happened to our translating equipment.
Therefore, we should debate in English only today.
HON. SEN. MASUKU: Thank you Madam President. It is
unfortunate that our translation mechanism has gone to rest. Madam President, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate this very special motion that was moved by Hon. Sen. Goto and her seconder.
Madam President, as has been mentioned by another senator that education is power, Zimbabwe has made great strides in improving our education system. If we could start from the time we attained independence in 1980, you will find out how many schools were built for primary, secondary and tertiary education. It is then that you will realise how serious our Government has been in improving education.
Madam President, our education system has academically promoted literacy. However, there has been a missing link in our education system where people who are perceived to be well educated are found on the streets because they are not well prepared to join the economic system. Degreed people roam about looking for employment and yet it is a common assumption that if one is degreed, they should not find it difficult to get employed.
Madam President, I am happy that from the information availed to us by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, our education system is going to prepare our children from Early Childhood Development (ECD), not only to be academically educated but also prepare them on their livelihood.
Mr. President, looking back at our universities, I am happy to say that any individual who thought that our independence was futile to the majority of Zimbabweans must rethink. When we attained independence, we only had the University of Zimbabwe which accommodated elites from the ruling class and a privileged few who could afford enrolling into that university. However, after independence, our Government made it possible for each province to have a State university adding on to a few private universities which have been established.
Mr. President, I am happy to say that only three provinces are still outstanding in terms of State universities being set up, that is,
Matebeleland South, Mashonaland East and Manicaland. However, plans are underway to establish universities in these provinces. That shows the seriousness of our Government on our education system.
There is also serious commitment shown by our President, especially towards disadvantaged people whom he continues to help through the Presidential Scholarship Programme. To date, a lot of our young people have managed to go to universities through the help of that scholarship programme.
Mr. President, I am grateful to note that some of the people who are beneficiaries of the Presidential Scholarship have managed to uplift their livelihoods. I have seen some of them and not all. On the same note, I would like to thank His Excellency, the President for the computerisation programme that was introduced in the country. The President has been assisting schools, not only in rural areas but in urban areas as well by donating computers. We are living in a global village where our young people need to have access to information, where they needed to communicate with other young people throughout the world and this has promoted our young people to be computer literate.
Mr. President, let me say in Ndebele we say ‘ukufunda kakupheli’ I realise that a lot of old people have realised that because of actually getting involved in the liberation struggle where people could not further their education, they have gone back to school – some of them through correspondence and some of them sitting in classrooms. Most of them have now gone through up to university, old people and not young people. Thus, I believe that education has been taken seriously not only by young but old people as well. Even through our Parliament I would like to thank you – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – Hon. President and our Hon. Speaker, for encouraging Members of Parliament – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – to enroll in different universities so that they can further their education.
Mr. President, this motion is about exposing what Government has done to improve the literacy rate in Zimbabwe. There is nothing more than actually thanking our Government and thanking our President and thanking the people of Zimbabwe. Having said that Mr. President, there is a missing point that from the time our Government embarked on the Land Reform Programme-in the resettlement areas schools are still lagging behind. I want to say it is not only the duty of our Government to see that schools are set up.
It is the duty of the communities as well to join hands with Government – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- so that communities assist in doing manual work so that there are schools built in the resettlement areas because the children in resettlement areas go long distances to get to schools like in the communal areas. I am happy Mr. President, that is being corrected. That was a missing point because a lot of our young people had been deprived of education and those who went to the resettlement areas. Mr. President Sir, with those few words I would to thank the mover of the motion and say Zimbabwe has done well in our education system. I thank you Mr. President. [HON.
SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT
INTERPRETATION SYSTEM
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Thank you Hon.
Sen. Masuku. May I also announce that the interpretation system is now working – [Laughter] - so we can now use our usual languages. Thank you.
HON. SENATOR GOTO: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th December, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. SENATOR CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Mr. President Sir. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th December, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SENATOR GOTO: Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank the mover Hon. Senator Tawengwa for the motion on the
Presidential Speech which was seconded by Hon. Senator Mathuthu. Mr. President, I want to thank the President for lifting women to high positions in Government. I also want to commend the Speech of His Excellency which is full of wisdom.
The following areas are key to note. Mr. President the Land Commission the President alluded to is going to assist in perfecting land issues. It is important because the execution of its mandate will ensure fairness and transparency. I would like to urge this august House to speedily pass this Bill. Mr. President, SMEs have become a pillar to this economy and it is heartening to note that His Excellency Cde. R.G. Mugabe directs Government to grow and improve the sector if necessary. If the legal framework is introduced to the sector, it will be strength. For example, the Ministry of SMEs is now producing a lot of items from local materials.
Mawuyu are being used to produce yoghurt, perfumes, soap making and I have a lot of things to mention – [HON. SENATORS:
Hear, hear.] –
HON. SENATOR TAWENGWA: Mr. President I move that the
debate do now adjourn.
HON. SENATOR MAKORE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 16th December, 2015.
On the motion of THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON.
MATHUTHU), the Senate adjourned at One Minute Past Three
O’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 16th December, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
DECLINING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE
COUNTRY
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the socio- economic conditions in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MURONZI: Thank you Madam President for
giving me the opportunity to add my voice on the motion which was moved by Senator B. Sibanda and seconded by Senator Hlalo. I would like to touch on agriculture which they talked about. We know Zimbabwe was the bread basket of the region and the Hon. Senator who moved this motion said it exactly as it should be. What he was talking about was a real fact on the agricultural situation in Zimbabwe.
In order for us to develop Zimbabwe in the agricultural sector, first of all, we need to decrease the price of fertiliser. We have realised that in our constituencies, the peasant farmer is no longer utilising all the land they own. They cannot afford the inputs because they are expensive. They are relying on donations where they are given 10 kgs of seed maize, 50 kgs compound D and 50 kgs Ammonium Nitrate. As a result, they are not able to feed the nation because of the low harvest.
On the commercial farms I realised that those who were allocated land in these big areas, some cannot fully utilise the land. When I am talking about this, let us not be political or finger pointing but I am saying, we have some people who are capable of farming and others who are not. Therefore, I recommend that Government sets up a Commission which will go round these farming areas and check on who is utilising the land to best capacity and who is not doing well on the farm. The poor farmer should be removed from the land and substituted by a capable farmer who will be able to feed the nation.
We have had a climatic change with very little rains. We have very few dams in Zimbabwe but most of these dams have adequate water to support irrigation schemes. If the rains start late, people may resort to irrigation. As a result, people will have a good harvest because irrigation will be supported by the rains. When we talk about farms, we have some people who do not want us to tell the truth as it is in farming. If I am not mistaken, the First Lady, Dr. Grace Mugabe said you people are now making the President a mockery because you are under utilising the land you were given. That is why we are saying we need a Commission to be set up so that those who are found to be bad at farming could be returned to the rural areas where they can have small areas which they can be able to work on.
Madam President, I think we have to call a spade a spade and tell the truth about farming in Zimbabwe. I grew up in rural areas and I was a farmer. I was in Macheke where I am farming. I have realised that there is a lot of land occupied by farmers who lack the necessary machinery. They are using draught power, which is oxen and donkeys. However, one cannot go far if they are using such methods of farming. In this respect, Government should assist farmers and encourage the use of machinery in farming.
We should also create terms for loans in order to secure farming inputs. However, I have realised that the Zimbabwean farmer has a problem, if they borrow anything for farming inputs; they are not willing to pay back, which is bad. When farmers have harvested, they want to sell their produce and get some income.
I would like to talk about the Inclusive Government. We have heard some of my colleagues saying that the Inclusive Government did not help in any way. However, as far as I am concerned, I realize that through the Inclusive Government, we would travel through Mashonaland Central. ZANU PF and MDC travelled together and we were addressing people and we talked about peace in Zimbabwe. We worked hand in hand with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC). We introduced sport to the youth so that they are not caught up and abused in political fights. I found it helpful as a
Zimbabwean citizen – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – You are not supposed to only live in a country where your party is ruling. In fact it is not ruling but leadership and you will be fighting against people.
This was very helpful, in Mashonaland Central, we understand each other. Our cattle were removed from the grazing lands, but when JOMIC was introduced, we travelled around the district alongside the Chairpersons of ZANU PF, MDC from the then Hon. Ncube as we engaged with both adults and the youth. People showed a high level of understanding and we are living in harmony with each other because of that – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – If that had not happened, we would be fighting after every election. This is one positive aspect of the Government of National Unity (GNU), I applaud it as it has encouraged nation building and creates patriotism. I thank you.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: Thank you Madam President. I rise to debate on the motion moved by Hon. B. Sibanda and seconded by Hon.
Hlalo on the socio-economic conditions in the nation. The motion is calling upon Government to convene a national stakeholders indaba to address critical national economic challenges, stop high level corruption which will emasculate recovery programmes, make concerted efforts to resuscitate international FDI and domestic investment to jump start the economy and improve domestic productivity through export incentives and productivity based remuneration.
Madam President, let me just remind Hon. Senators that, as a nation, we have an economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIM ASSET), which prioritises food security and nutrition, value addition and beneficiation, social services and poverty eradication, infrastructure and utilities. On the other end, there are sub-clusters namely, fiscal reform measures and public administration, governance and performance management. To further buttress the ZIM ASSET objective of achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, in particular the creation of jobs, His Excellency, the President unveiled a 10-point plan during his State of the
Nation Address on the 25th of August, 2015. The 10-point plans are;
- Revitalizing agriculture and the agro-processing value chain;
- Advancing beneficiation and or value addition to our agricultural and mining resource endowment.
- Focusing on infrastructure development, particularly in the key energy, transport and ICT sub-sectors;
- Unlocking the potential of small and medium enterprises;
- Encouraging private sector investment;
- Restoration and building of confidence and stability in the financial services sector;
- Promoting joint ventures and public –private partnerships to boost the role and performance of state-owned companies;
- Modernising labour laws;
- Pursuing an anti-corruption thrust and;
- Implementation of Special Economic Zones to provide the impetus for foreign direct investment.
Madam President, except for the convening of a national indaba, all the issues raised in the motion moved by Hon. Sen. Sibanda and more are addressed by the above – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – The Executive has the nation at heart and will never ever sit on its laurels awaiting a national indaba, no, not at all.
I do not understand nor fathom why we opt to pretend as if
Government is not addressing the fundamental economic issues – [HON.
SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – is it deliberate or posturing? I urge you Hon. Senators as mature people, to speak with one voice and give credit to the Government. If Government falters, we will indicate so and offer solutions as Senators.
The former and then Minister of Finance is on record of having stated that this Government would not last beyond eight months, eight months ndofunga dzapfura handiti? Ave makore. It shows and reflects kuti hurumende yedu iri kusevenza. Where they have expected the Government to collapse, that has not happened. We need to work together, reading from the same page on economic governance issues, building economic confidence, moving away from the mode of fighting to being proactive, regain international access to capital by both
Government and private businesses, speak against sanctions of any form – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – speak for continued engagement of the international community in order to access foreign markets and credit facilities and cheap finance.
We need to speak against corruption as a nation and whistle blow where we know there is corruption. Let us not spread rumours but stick to facts. Madam President, the Government is putting in place the enablers to the ZIM ASSET blueprint and we should be telling the world that the Zimbabwean economy is not collapsing and it will not collapse. However, in terms of infrastructure, we should be telling them that we have completed the dualisation of our airport road in Harare, we are now upgrading all our major roads, and it is really a joy to drive along them. We are three months away from completing the runway for Victoria Falls International Airport. The Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International airport in Bulawayo is not operational, power generation in Kariba, Hwange, the solar generators are all on course. To the Government we say, please speed up the Harare-Beitbridge road construction. We welcome the release of the US$30 million for the Tokwe-Mukorsi dam completion. These are just examples.
We thank the Government for having averted hunger by importing maize from Zambia to those areas which do not have food. We also thank our Government for its plans to import food for its strategic reserve, which will last until March and April, 2017. Let us applaud the Government for its efforts to resuscitate industries and we note that companies such as BATA, Cairns Foods, CSC, United Refineries in Bulawayo are now operational and United Refineries I call it 100% now and is able to export cooking oil. Paramount Garments, Blue Ribbon Foods, Anchor Yeast, Dairy Industries, Quest Motors, Dorowa
Mines, Capri and others are back on stream. – [HON. SENATORS:
Hear, hear.] – We applaud Government for that.
On agriculture, according to the TIMB tobacco flue cured tobacco yields have been increasing since 2008. This is due to more farmers gaining experience and getting access to technical and financial assistance through contract farming. There is however need to maximize value and by ensuring a quality crop. For the statistics-since 2000 - 2008, 792 kgs per hectare was harvested, 2009, 943 kgs per hectare, 2010, 1 842 kgs per hectare, 2011, 1 689 kgs per hectare, 2012, 1 893 per hectare, 2013, 1 852 kgs per hectare, 2014, 2 014 kgs per hectare this is showing the improvements.
The peak levels were recorded in 1995, which was 2 066 per hectare and in 2000 which is 2 792 kgs per hectare which means we are 7 992 kgs away from the peak period for this country. On agriculture in general, we applaud Government for resuscitating irrigation schemes and the importation of equipment from Brazil and the expected equipment from Belarus. Also, we recall Madam President, that 70 % of our grains mealie maize were coming from the communal lands in the past. When we were harvesting that 70% there were no input schemes and there was no Presidential scheme and there was nothing like that. So, we are asking what happened to those ways of farming which could manage to produce 70 % of the crop in this country? We have to resuscitate whatever that.
Just to state that tourism in this country is one of the major sectors which has improved is on the rebound and is doing very well. In terms of the economy tourism is doing very well. On Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI), there are the special economic zones and there is a Bill - I think it is ZECZ Bill which is coming to Parliament to address special trade incentive which is a special vehicle to low FDIs. Government is also promoting industry, resuscitating the industry and encouraging competitiveness. I have mentioned a few of them before and Government is addressing the issue of the ease of doing business.
We have to address the perceived country risk issues as a nation.
Madam President, as far as I am aware, Zimbabwe is a country to invest in right now, as witnessed by various delegation jetting into the country. We are open to investment and Government is working on strong economic reforms for the uptake and upsurge of our economy, including measures such as increased duties and surtax selected product to curb importation of cheap and low quality imports and to protect local industry. I hope we also play our role as Senate to address the issue of the banking sector in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean banks need to reform in order to attract deposits and in order to do onward lending at fair reasonable interest rates and also address bank charges such as loan establishment fees which at times are as high as 3% of what you borrow, with interest of up 18% per annum. Also, 5% per month for keeping and maintaining an account as ledger fees 1% for choosing to withdraw your money over the counter and 2.5% if your draw through the faceless ZIM SWITCH which are fees and of course all this goes to pay the CEO and managers perks.
Madam President, let me reiterate that the issues raised in this motion are addressed by the ZIM ASSET blueprint and buttressed by the ten point plan which is addressing the expectations of the general populace of the country the hoi poloyi. The challenges we are facing are not insurmountable, no. We need not to scare away investors and donors by negative statements. It is time to come together and speak with one voice, for the national good that is on common national issues - no partisan or sectorial interest but we need a shared vision for the nation. I recall Madam President, when we were advocating for the circulation and introduction and the use of the Bond Coin, members on my right side went o town insinuating that Government was about to re-introduce the ZIM dollar. Where are we now? I thank you – [HON. SENATORS:
Hear, hear.]-
HON. SENATOR B. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam President I
could do it for the Minister. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SENATOR A. SIBANDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 17th December, 2015.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
TO THE 7TH WORLD WATER CONFERENCE
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Delegation to the 7th World Water Conference.
Question again proposed.
HON. SENATOR MLOTSHWA: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SENATOR MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 17th December, 2015.
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on great strides made by Government in raising literacy rates in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SENATOR MALULEKE: Thank you Mr. President for
giving me the opportunity to make my contribution on the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Goto on education. This is a very nice motion and I would like to thank His Excellency, Cde R. G. Mugabe who said that education should be accessed by everybody both young and old. We realise that people in the rural areas were some of the beneficiaries through adult literacy and we would like to thank the volunteers in these teaching exercises because the elderly have been helped in that when they go for elections, they make their own choices instead of being guided.
Going further on the debate on education, I am pleading with people in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education because during my time, you would be accepted into sub ‘A’ if you were able to hold your ear with one hand on the other side of the head. This was so because our parents were not aware of the dates when we were born. They would simply talk about whatever happened during that time such as a lot of rains or locusts. Nowadays we now have Grade Zeros which take these youngsters so that they are aware of what is going around them. My plea is that may the powers that be give some token of appreciation to these teachers in Grade Zero because they are doing a great job. We believe if they are given a token of appreciation, they will work harder than they are doing now. These teachers are dedicated people and they once invited me at the close of the year so that I could give a speech. I did bring some token of appreciation for them because I appreciate whatever it is they are doing.
In the rural areas there is no money but in these urban areas we have pre-schools and they are charging exorbitant amounts and the parents do pay. As a result I am begging with senators to consider payment of these teachers. I was watching the news on television yesterday and we were told that there was an increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases in Chiredzi. The reason why STIs are on the rise is because Chiredzi is an economic power house through sugar cane growing. When farmers and merchants get their money, they go into these bottle stores and brothels and squander their money on women. In the process they contract these sexual transmitted diseases and when they go to their rural homes, they infect their spouses in the rural areas. Therefore, we want to take up the call by His Excellency that we should have education and improve ourselves.
I also realise that as Parliament we are advised to further our education and attain degrees at these universities. I am saying that His Excellency has said let us go back to school and not only should the youngsters be exposed to education but also the adults. Still talking about advancement in education, in the past during our days the fathers used to deny the girl child access to go to school. The girl child would only need to read and write because if she is educated she would become a prostitute but His Excellency has said the girl child should be accepted in any level of education and we therefore wish that the girl child should be educated and we see the women are now taking up high posts at any level in Government and society. We wish to work together and go back to school so that we improve our lives and develop our country.
I am so glad because I can track my history back. When I went to school there were only two girls out of so many boys but when I go to school now I realise that especially in Chiredzi, we have either an equal number and at times we have more girls and these are taking up good jobs. They are improving and developing their country. During our time, we used to have a school inspector by the name Muzamani and he would address people and say if a girl child who is a prostitute brings you a suit, will you accept it and the parents would say yes. If a boy child who is a doctor is charged with adultery and compensation is in the form of cows, would you like it? So of the two children who will you appreciate more? Definitely the girl child will be accepted.
We held meetings with the traditional leaders and said to them encourage the girl child to go to school. We also have more secondary schools than in the past where we only had a school in Musiso. Now they are spread all over the place and our children can go to school. As adults let us go to school and improve ourselves. Mr. President we also need to know that whenever our animals are sick, we look after them and we will be able to read the prescription so that we are able to tell whether the cow is suffering from black leg or anthrax because if you do not go back to school or you are uneducated, when your animal is sick you always say your neighbours have bewitched your animal. We all need to attain degrees in education.
HON. SEN. GOTO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 17th December, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 17th December, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MATIIRIRA: Thank you Mr. President for giving
me this opportunity to make my contribution on the debate raised by
Hon. Sen. Tawengwa. I will start by thanking His Excellency, Comrade R. G. Mugabe, who talked on the development of the country and the welfare of the people. In his speech, the President debated on all the facets of Government and on why it was important to him that the country should develop so that the people’s welfare is improved.
We are all aware that Zimbabwe is an agro- based economy. As we look at what is happening now, there are some improvements in the development of the country. We had a Committee meeting with SEDCO which is a seed company. They told the Committee about the progress that they were doing in introducing new varieties which can cope with the climate change. As a result, we are encouraging our researchers to keep up the good work of taking out research methods on the best varieties which can cope up with drought in the country or in some areas which already have drought. They should also have seeds or crops which can withstand the dryness.
His Excellency talked about the laws which have to be aligned to the new Constitution and as Senators, we need to work hard towards that. On the issue of ZIM ASSET, there is progress; a good example is that there are a number of products which have been produced by the small to medium enterprises. They are also packaging some of the foods and fruits. In Marondera, there are some youths who are making use of the bones in creating beauty artifacts. His Excellency, talked about a lot of things which are happening in the progress of the country. As far as I am concerned, I am calling for the unity of purpose for the people of Zimbabwe so that our country and the welfare of the citizens will develop if we work together as a nation.
HON. SEN. TAWENGWA: I move that the debate be now
adjourned.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 17th December, 2015.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
MEETING FOR MEMBERS OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
PEACE AND SECURITY
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to
inform members of the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security that there will be a meeting tomorrow, starting at 0900hrs in Room number four.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. SENATOR DR. SEKERAMAYI), the Senate adjourned at Sixteen
Minutes past Three O’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 17th December, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
CHANGE OF BUSINESS ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I know that our
Order Paper shows that we start with four Bills. As Senate, we had cleared that today we will not observe the Standing Rules in reference to passing the set of Bills. Unfortunately, for now, the Minister who is supposed to guide us through these Bills has two more Bills or
Ratifications that he has to put through in the National Assembly.
While we are waiting for him to come, we will go into our usual Thursday, Questions Without Notice. As soon as he comes we revert to today’s Order Paper.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: My question is directed to the Minister of State for Liaison on Psychomotor Activities in Education. I would like the Hon. Minister to enlighten the Senate on what his Ministry has achieved so far this year? I think we do not really know much and the nation needs to be updated on what has been achieved this year, since it is now end of the year. Thank you Madam President.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR LIAISON ON
PSYCHOMOTOR ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION (HON. SEN.
HUNGWE): Madam President, I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for the question. May I digress a bit and seek the approval of the Chair because I see that I have not come prepared for the question which requires a written response. I do not know whether I could cover both since we are close to the end of the year.
Let me try and respond to the question. It should be appreciated that the Psychomotor is a Ministry that has to do with many other Ministries in the Government because the concept which is coming through this Ministry is the concept of training people to have skills in order for them to create jobs for themselves. There are types of skills that we are supposed to train. There are given descriptions, sometimes they are called survival skills that we ought to give to our children.
Sometimes life skills ought to be given to our children.
We are more of a coordinating Ministry as far as other Ministries are concerned. I now say, if these are the skills that we are to give to our children, who is going to do it? Do we have qualified people to do that? There is what we call Inter-Ministerial Committee that involves many ministries, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology,
Primary and Secondary Education, Sport and Recreation, Agriculture,
Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Mines and Mining
Development and so on.
For the benefit of other Hon. Senators, we are busy trying to find out how we are going to deal with this aspect. It is a new aspect and we need to know who is best suited in terms of qualification to train our children on various skills which are required for their survival.
To address the question ‘what has been achieved’, we are busy doing what we are supposed to do, but the most important thing that we are doing at the moment is coordination. Yesterday, some of you might have seen me on the National Broadcaster last night, we had a number of organisations both local and from outside the country, UNESCO for instance and were discussing about this issue. We were discussing that we must make sure that it includes all other skills that we must have. Those who want to build should be trained, those who want to till the land, fly the aeroplane and so on, should be trained. We have so many things that we are trying to do. On paper, we have done quite a lot and I can say to the Hon. Senator, we have achieved a lot in that regard on paper. I can mention that we are going to work together with the
Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development, Primary and Secondary Education, Sport and Recreation.
Our mandate is to see to it that people do things for themselves and we are aiming at creating a working community where people use their hands, heads and their lower limbs in as far as the training is concerned so that they can survive on what we would have given them. We have not built such schools yet. We do not have the required able person who has the necessary training skill to do the business we are doing.
However, we are not very far from that. We are looking for example, in Domboshawa, everybody is aware that the people there are busy producing agricultural input like tomatoes but those tomatoes are distributed to Harare’s Mbare Market. The idea that we have is to have people who can put up a plant in Domboshawa where those tomatoes can be canned. They do not have to bring their tomatoes to Harare whilst they are fresh, we need everything to be done there.
If we have good people who can train our children to do that at Domboshawa, we want that to be done. People are employed there but what they produce should go straight to the supermarkets and not to Mbare. Tinoda kuti kuMbare kuitwe zvimwe zvinhu, but zvinhu ngazvitange ikoko. We are looking at Manicaland for instance, these are other things that we are looking at to say where can we start these things. In Manicaland vanoita zvemabanana, nezvimwe zvakadaro and kune nzizi and we would like to identify places so that we can set up. However, we need, first of all, people who can train. We know that we have people who have been doing this kind of training but we are aware that they were not adequately trained to be able to sustain themselves and establish their own businesses. This is the ultimate goal to establish their own businesses, whether it is individual business, family or community business; they should be trained in such a way that they can survive using those skills. There is need for new skills for survival. I am not so sure whether I have done justice to the question raised by the
Hon. Senator. I thank you.
HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: What is important is
that you have given your best.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Media Information and Broadcasting Services. Hon. Minister, the digitalization programme timeline was supposed to have been met or completed by mid-year of 2015. However, we and many other nations missed the target. What is the new target for this programme now and are we likely to meet it given that the broadcaster is characterised by poor sound output on radio and television. Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. MATHUTHU): Thank
you Madam President. I want to thank the Hon. Member for a very important question, which is critical to our information dissemination. May I assure the Hon. Member that the Ministry is seized with the migration from analogue to digital project, which is at its finalization stages as we speak.
The first units have been set up and on Monday, we will be touring the project with the Hon. Minister to check on readiness. If you may be aware, we have been advertising that at midnight we will be switching off our televisions so that we test the equipment at our national broadcaster. This is to ensure that by the time we migrate, everything will be functional. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Hon. Minister, toll gates are a cash cow, is there any policy to divert funds from ZINARA to support Government budgetary lines given that Government has failed to pay bonuses for civil servants?
Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam President. Thank you Hon. Sen. Chimhini for asking that question. The simple answer is that we do not have that policy. However, let me add up and say, the funds from ZINARA are only meant for roads and not for assisting Government budget in order to meet these other deficiencies that you are referring to. So, I can safely say to you that regarding roads, ZINARA will continue to collect through the toll gates you are referring to; so that we can improve, refurbish or maybe tar some of the roads that you travel on each and every day. However, we are not allowed to release those funds to
Government coffers but only to the road department of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to assist our local authorities and assist again to our urban councils and that is what we are doing.
Infact, if you look at it in your area where you come from - Nyanga area, when I visited, I left an instruction that one of your roads from Mutare to Nyanga be refurbished. I did not have to go to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. That means I only went to ZINARA and gave them that instruction. So that is the way we operate. I thank you.
HON. SENATOR CHIPANGA: Thank you Madam President.
My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Your Deputy is on record here saying for one to qualify to drive a car with red number plates - I am talking about the Combis, one is supposed to hold a valid driver’s licence and must be 25 years old. Minister, given the carnage on our roads, is it not time that you now consider raising the age from 25 to 40 years because it has become apparent that at 25 years someone is still reckless, young and is not afraid of death? I thank you.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: That is his own opinion.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Hon. President. I want to thank Hon. Chipanga for asking this question. I think we are sitting here as legislators and if we want to change the law, it is within our right and perimeter to do that. So, if the Hon. Member of Parliament can initiate a law and I think members are allowed to come up with Private Member’s Bills, then that can be debated. Let me hasten to say that I do not know whether the implication is that only those at the age of 25 are capable of committing accidents and those above 40 cannot commit accidents. I do not know so we leave it for debate. If that is the wish and the intention, I have no problem with that. The law can be initiated and people can debate it and if there is good reason for changing the age from 25 to 40 or even to whatever age, we will accept the law and implement it. I thank you. –[HON.
SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
HON. SENATOR MARAVA: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The local media is awash with information concerning the ban on unroadworthy vehicles. Can inform the nation as to how you are going to implement the programme? Which is the category most affected on the vehicles that are going to be banned? What is the effect that this might have or this might cause on the economy and grassroot population? I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order Hon.
Senator. You are posing a question on the effect that it might have on the economy and that has nothing to do with the Minister. Could you just pose a question which concerns his Ministry and that question must be a policy question.
HON. SENATOR MARAVA: Thank you Madam President. I
will rephrase the question. It is concerning the ban on the unroadworthy vehicles, it is in the newspapers today. What I want to know is how you are going to implement that, considering that we are getting into holidays, the effect it might have on the people who are going to be travelling.
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Madam President and thank you
Senator Marava. It is a very difficult question but I will attempt to answer it. I was trying to look at the policy involved but I do not seem to be clear about it. I will attempt to answer him. The effect of the statements that I am making to the people of Zimbabwe is that they will be very safe and that is critical.
Unroadworthy vehicles should be off the roads, particularly during this time of the year when we go merry making. So, that on its own, the end result is to make sure that people’s lives are saved and cars that are unroadworthy should not be found on the roads at this time of the year. As a legislator, the Hon. Senator should applaud that policy as legislators.
As you are aware, we make such statements, particularly during this time of the year because normally there are many people who leave town, or even come from abroad to visit and our roads are very busy. Let me add up to say to you Hon. Marava that what you have read is not all, more statements are going to be made, particularly this time of the year. We have now instructed the police, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and VID, to be on the roads 24 hours until after the New Year and the reason is to make sure that people are safe. We want to go merry-making and to drive as fast as we can, even to drink as we drive but when you look at it, at the end of the day- we lose some of our members through accidents. Then the merry-making is not good enough it must be controlled Zvinonaka zvinofanira kumborambidzwa saka that is what we are going to be doing to make sure that our people are safe.
HON. SENATOR MARAVA: Minister the reason why I asked
this question is that we are not addressing the tip of the iceberg because I think that the problem is …
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order. You are not
standing up to give a statement, you want clarity on certain issues.
HON. SENATOR MARAVA: Is it not that the root of the problem is your permission of the importation of vehicles which would have gone beyond their lifespan and that is what we are seeing on roads.
I thank you.
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Madam President. Importation
of cars does not fall in the ambit of the Ministry of Transport, but I want to believe that, whichever Ministry is responsible for that which I
believe is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The end result is the same - If your car is not roadworthy we will apply the law. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: My question is directed to the Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services. Last week I was stopped by ZBC Licence Inspectors at a roadblock. I opened both windows to show them that I had no radio in that particular car but they requested me to pull over and wanted to talk to me. I proceeded to drive away because really I was rushing for golf and I was not going to waste my time. Is there any way, Minister, you can talk to your staff to be reasonable if the vehicle has no radio in it, there is no way it can have a licence. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION
AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU):
Thank Madam President. I want to thank the Hon. Senator for a very important question. Licencing of radios should be to persons who own radios. We will investigate on the policy on the issue that you raised. If you could kindly put it in writing so that I can bring a well researched response to your important question.
HON. SEN. BUKA: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture. What measures have you put in place to promote the increased production of cotton?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
(LIVESTOCK) (HON. ZHANDA): I want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question regarding the policy on incentivising farmers who want to grow cotton. Let me state that Government has made a bold decision to take over COTTCO which is a major player in the cotton industry, because Government would want to facilitate and make sure that when farmers grow cotton there is somewhere to sell the cotton to. Above that Government has made a policy to distribute cotton inputs to farmers for the next three years free of charge to encourage farmers to go back into growing of cotton.
However, that does not address the whole problem associated with cotton. Other challenges facing cotton farmers are the issue of productivity which is a yield factor – how many kilogrammes per hectare. Zimbabwe is producing about 500kgs per hectare which is well below the world standard of other countries that are producing between 2 and 3 tonnes, worse off selling in the same market. Prices of cotton are determined by supply and demand worldwide and therefore Government is making every effort to make sure that we encourage farmers to produce more cotton by making sure that they have enough inputs well in advance and there is a ready market. There is also farmer training that is involved. On the other side, emphasis is being put on the research and development side of things to make sure that we come up with the right cultivars that produces better yields.
I know Madam President there has been a talk about BT cotton, the genetically modified cotton. That does not increase production. What it does is that it reduces the cost of production by making sure that the spraying intervals are less than the conventional cotton seed varieties. We have to address the issue of productivity. That is the major challenge. Even if Government does subsidize cotton to 100% and if your yield is still below the required 1½ or 2 tonnes, we still have a challenge. Apparently, Madam President that applies across the board not only in cotton but on other commodities like maize as well that the issue of low productivity or poor yields is a major challenge that we are facing in agriculture. I thank you.
HON. SEN. T. KHUMALO: My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture. My question relates on food security and I want to find out what we are doing with the international promotion of the nutrition or palsies which really nobody talks about. How are you expecting us to improve in the nutrition part of it under ZIM ASSET?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
(LIVESTOCK) (HON. ZHANDA): If I understood her well you are
talking about the issue of food and nutrition. I think food and nutrition is number one cluster in the ZIM ASSET economic blueprint and it occupies number one space in terms of Government’s efforts to address not only the availability of food at household level but the availability of food countrywide and also the nutrition part of it. Traditionally, I think it is incumbent upon us including all leaders and politicians that we should promote consumption of small grains. If one visits a doctor today and he is talking about nutrition – no matter which doctor or nutritionist, she or he will tell you the best food to eat is rapoko, mhunga and millet among other things. It is Government’s recognition as well that in certain parts of the country particularly in Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North, Government’s effort to promote the growing of small grains is really at an advanced stage including the issuance of small packs of seed so that those grains can be grown in those marginal areas.
The challenge we faced as a Ministry was the issue of the availability of those small grains. However, we are packing the small grains which have been available at GMB to be distributed as quickly as possible considering again the late season that is with us and hoping obviously we can catch up with the rains that are with us. There is also an element where Government is promoting the growing of nyemba variety so that we can deal with those situations as well. Definitely, Government does recognise the need to promote and dissuade people from those marginal areas from growing maize because of the nature of the season and promote the growing of small grains so that together with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we disseminate information that people must consume those small grains. I thank you.
HON. SEN. T. KHUMALO: Supplementary, the issue of food
and security and nutrition, we are not addressing the nutrition side of it. We are on the food security and that is why I am asking what are you doing with the international promotion of the nutrition or palsies which really nobody talks about.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Did you say
internationally?
HON. SEN. T. KHUMALO: Internationally and locally.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I think let us
confine ourselves to Zimbabwe because that is where our interest is.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
(LIVESTOCK) (HON. ZHANDA): Thank you Madam President. I
think that question should be directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. The Ministry of Agriculture does the promotion of growing but the consumption part of it is the responsibility of the Ministry of
Health and Child Care.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. When will the dualisation of Beitbridge-MasvingoHarare road commence? The road is now a death trap. As you travel along it, you would find that there are a lot of accidents happening. What we have seen being developed are toll-gates, is that part of the dualisation or what?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam President. It is a policy question but I think since she was my deputy, I have to answer. It is very important for the nation to know, although it is not a policy question, but I think it is in our interest to know what Government is doing about the Beitbridge-HarareChirundu road, the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road and also the Harare-Nyamapanda road. We are seized with the matter; the funding is not easy to come by. We are negotiating with some companies who are interested in constructing those roads. I cannot at this particular time, divulge the extent of discussions but I want you as legislators to know that it is imperative for Government to come up with a company that can quickly get into the construction, particularly of the BeitbridgeMasvingo-Harare-Chirundu road. South Africa, Botswana and other countries are now trying to circumvent us and come up with a road that will link South Africa, Botswana to Central Africa and beyond through Kazungula, north of Victoria Falls.
So, it is important that we come up with a plan to make sure that that we embark on the construction of the Beitbridge-Masvingo-HarareChirundu road. We are at a very advanced stage, we should have even signed an agreement with the Chinese Government but there some issues that had to be finalised before that could be done.
So, I want to assure Hon. Sen. Mohadi that we are anxious to see us as a Ministry, Government and a people of Zimbabwe starting to dualise the road as opposed to just widening it. It is critical that we do that because it is an important road for us. If we do not do that economically, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. So, I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for the question. It was not a policy question but I think it is worthwhile that we know exactly what Government is doing about it because most of you, when you go back to your constituencies, you are going to be asked about that road. It is definitely true that it is becoming a death trap but that is what Government is going to be doing.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Thank you Madam
President. My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture (Livestock). We are now in the farming season, what is Government policy regarding farming in rural areas. We know this was the mainstay in the past, we used to get 70% grains from the rural areas, now why is it that production in rural areas has reduced yet we are being given inputs?
I thank you.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
(LIVESTOCK) (HON ZHANDA): Thank you Madam President. I
will look for easier parts of this question and respond to the President of the Chief’s Council, Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira. I totally agree with him, in the past years 1995,1996 to 2000, most of our maize production which was more than 70% was grown by farmers in the rural areas. In the 1995 to 1996, we produced 2, 6 million tonnes worth of maize which came from small scale farmers.
In these other years where we managed to get 2, 2 to 2, 3 tonnes, the bulk of the maize came from the rural farmers. However, the major problem we are facing now is that we are having introspect, where is the problem coming from? At that time, we had not yet entered into the Land Reform Programme, we were not yet giving inputs to these farmers but most of the grains were grown by rural farmers. The main problem is that during those days, there was an organisation called AFC which is now Agribank and it was well financed. I think as a Government, we need to re-capitalise AFC so that it advances loans to farmers so that they repay them. We are aware that there are some people who defaulted on these loans during those days but we need to re-capitalise Agribank and empower it so that it may finance agricultural inputs for the rural small scale farmers.
The other reason which made farmers to work so hard is that whenever they had a harvest, they would send their produce to the GMB and within a short space of time, they would be paid so that they would have incentives. As a result, we need to have a re-look at the financing of the GMB whereby the small scale farmers take their produce to the GMB and receive payment after some years. I also believe that during the 90’s, the GMB did not have so many depots around the country but we had independent buyers who would take the bulk of the maize from the farmers. Hence, the farmer would know that as long as they have grown their maize and harvested, they would receive their payment immediately. That is why I am calling for the re-capitalisation of Agribank so that farmers would access loans which would make them grow their maize and any other crop on time, hence sell it for a fee. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIPANGA: The Deputy Minister has outlined some of the problems faced by rural farmers and these include underfunding of Agribank and Grain Marketing Board (GMB). What then is the Ministry doing to correct these problems? I agree that we should not blame the Land Reform Programme as the reason for the reduction in the agricultural output. What then are you doing in the recapitalisation of Agribank and GMB to incentivize farmers?
*HON. ZHANDA: Thank you Madam President. Thank you
Hon. Sen. Chipanga for this question. Like I said, I will repeat myself. We have already had plans which are aimed at re-capitalising Agribank and we also need to know the amount of money which we can advance to Agribank.
The current market capitalisation of Agribank is about $18 million, which is below the required Reserve Bank Market capitalisation requirement. What we are proposing is to look for a $50 million injection into Agribank to take the market cap to about $68 million and furthermore, look at how best we can also privatise the 49% to take the market cap to $120 / $130 million. That would adequately capitalise Agribank to the extent that it can attract lines of credit to competently finance agriculture through reasonable interests and a group lending scheme which we found out to be more sustainable than individual schemes.
Also, from a GMB point of view, we want to look at the marketing system of maize; the current one whether it is sustainable or not, where we have GMB buying on the other hand and the other buyers are importing maize at the same time. Normally, what we should be doing is that when farmers are harvesting, we should not be allowing importation of any grain. We should be allowing people to buy from our farmers so that farmers have a ready market.
Madam President, let me say the biggest challenge that is facing agriculture as alluded to earlier on is not only confined to Agribank’s capitalisation problem. It is the issue of the financing of agriculture, including the cost of finance, tenure and the unstructured nature of that finance model. Obviously, the issue of access to markets is very critical. That has been a big challenge. Where farmers have produced, they have nowhere to sell. We want to address that from a policy point of view and we are busy formulating a strategy to find out the role of GMB and other buyers. Maize has been de-regulated; it is no longer controlled. Therefore, in de-controlling it, it comes with other challenges. For instance, if I can inform this House that if GMB is buying at $390 a tonne and on the downside we have not put a market cap, then we have created unnecessary arbitrage where other buyers can unscrupulously go and buy maize from farmers at $140 and go and sell to GMB at $390. We are looking at that so that we can protect our farmers from being short changed.
In terms of dealing with finance as Government, we have accepted the model of contract farming as the way of addressing two fundamental issues. Contract farming addresses the issue of inputs in advance and the issue of ready market like what is in tobacco. We also want to make sure that we look at other crops so that we attract and give comfort to providers of private capital and we criminalise the issue of side marketing so that both parties have an amicable arrangement where they get financing, have got a ready market and they honour the agreements and also the providers of capital do not short change our farmers. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services. As a policy, when can we expect to see other political parties and their leaders on the national television? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU): I
want to thank the Hon. Member for a very important question. I want to assure the Hon. Member that anyone who wants to flight an advertisement or wants to share information with the public is allowed to do so as a policy. They just need to raise adequate funds to pay for that advertisement. Thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: Minister, we are talking of political party activities, unless the Minister is saying those that are flighted are being paid for. We are talking of political activities of other political parties. Are those that appear on television paid for?
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Madam President. What I am aware of is that some political parties chase away the media when they want to cover their activities. I have no doubt that if the Reporters were allowed to cover all activities, space will be provided for those activities to be broadcast on television. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHABUKA: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture. When we were growing up, prison farms produced grain and there were high yields in those farms. What methods are you taking to re-vitalise these prison farms so that prisoners may be self-sufficient in food and we may also avert riots that happen due to lack of food?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
(LIVESTOCK) (HON. ZHANDA): I would want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question but I am afraid that the question does not reside with our Ministry. We do not prescribe as the Ministry of Agriculture what activities take place at prisons. It is the role of the Department of
Correctional Services and each prison to undertake whatever they want without the Ministry prescribing what they should do at their prisons, unless we are invited by individual prisons like how we are invited by individual farmers to provide extension services. That, we will obviously be too happy to render our advice to make sure that they maximize the use of the land around the prisons. However, we have no authority to prescribe what they should do on the land that they own. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture. What mechanisms have your Ministry put in place in the form of food security to feed the nation in case we do not receive adequate rainfall due to effects of climate change? I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
(LIVESTOCK) (HON. ZHANDA): Thank you Madam President. I would want to thank Senator Chimbudzi for the very important question because it relates to the availability of food security to the country.
What we do as a Ministry is to make an assessment of the situation and inform Government, particularly Cabinet on the predicament that we are likely to face. I am happy to say that, we have already done that and moves are in place to make sure that the funds are made available by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to import the necessary food requirements. I would like to inform this House that as of today, we have enough stocks for the next four/five months.
However, because of the weather conditions, we are not waiting for that. The Government is well aware, especially through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development that funds need to be mobilised for the importation of maize. Not only as Government, we also allow private players to import maize, as long as the maize that is being imported is safe for human consumption. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. D. KHUMALO: My question is directed to the
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Is it
Government policy that your Ministry only deals with road network and maintenance? I thought it would be wiser to also look at the railway network because this will ease pressure on our roads because this will even see South Africa from going the other way and will use the railway within Zimbabwe.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRSTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam President. Thank you Senator Khumalo for your question. Government policy is to provide both road network and a functional railway system. For now, because of economic problems, we are not able to have very functional railway system. We are at this moment negotiating with a partner so that we can bring back the railway network in Zimbabwe to its old status.
We are working on rehabilitating the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo-
Gweru to Mutare and again Somabula to Rutenga railway line and Rutenga Beitbridge railway line. We are negotiating with some partners. The moment we come to an agreement, which could not be beyond the first quarter of next year, you will see some change. It is true that if we can have a functional railways system, that will alleviate the damage to our roads which is currently taking place because of these big trucks that are moving on our roads carrying heavy loads. I hope I answer you satisfactorily.
+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Madam President. My
question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Most of the roads in Matabeleland South have deteriorated. I do not know what the Minister is going to do especially that rains are doing more damage.
+THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO): I
understand what the Hon. Member said. Most roads are in a sorry state, especially those in Matabeleland South, North and Bulawayo. I have had a meeting with them in Bulawayo. I directed them to use the money that we have given them. I will also make a follow up as the Minister so that during the first quarter of 2016 all the roads will be rehabilitated.
The problem is, some of them took the money from ZINARA but
they did not use the money properly. It is true that most of the roads, especially in Matabeleland are more like rivers and the railway system is very bad. The problem is not only in Matabeleland South but in most of our provinces. We have now created a fund specifically to deal with rural roads and we are going to be putting more funds because generally Madam President, through you, most of our people live in the rural areas and the roads are impassable. We are going to allocate more funds, other than ZINARA funds, we are going to allocate about US$30 million just for rehabilitating some of the roads and maybe some of the bridges because you can have a road but some bridges are impassable again. So, we are going to be doing that in the next half of next year. I thank you.
Questions without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number
62
ORAL ANWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
MEASURES IN PLACE TO CONTROL FERTILIZER
PRICES
SENATOR GOTO asked the Minister of Agriculture,
Mechanisation and Irrigation Development to state the measures the Ministry has put in place to control fertiliser prices in order to protect consumers from being prejudiced by unscrupulous dealers.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE,
MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT
(LIVESTOCK) (HON. ZHANDA): Thank you Madam President. With your indulgence Madam President, can I orally reply to say the question was misdirected. It should not go to the Ministry of
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development but to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce who are responsible for price control of all commodities in this country. I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Hon. Minister,
are you then advising us that you forwarded it to that particular Ministry or did you advise Parliament or you just forwarded it to the correct Ministry yourselves? Or you just waited to come and tell us what you are telling us now?
HON. ZHANDA: My apology Madam President because I think
what happened in the office was that they thought it could be directed without going through Parliament. I take advice from now on. I thank you Madam President.
MAINSTREAMING OF VISUALLY HANDICAPPED
STUDENTS INTO TECH-VOC SUBJECTS
- HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE asked the Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education what steps the Government is taking to mainstream visually handicapped students into practical, technical and vocational subjects, especially at primary and secondary levels.
THE MINISTER OF LIAISING ON PSYCHOMOTOR
ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION (HON. HUNGWE): Madam
President, when I responded to a question from another Hon. Senator in this House, I indicated that I had not put the answer in writing for the question raised by the Hon. Senator. However, if it is possible, I will come with the written answer.
HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: Thank you Madam President. I
think I am very patient, the Minister can bring the answer any other time.
DISCOUNTS ON IMPORTED GOODS
- HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development;
- Whether the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority recognise, for the purposes of working our customs duty and other import taxes and charges, discounts of more than 35% on goods bought from abroad by locally-based Zimbabweans?;
- To further explain why Zimbabweans should not get more than 35% price discounts if the foreign source of the goods is willing to give this to a buyer;
- To state whether it is not possible that this somehow facilitates corruption by encouraging attempted bribery by entry ports officials.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Madam
President. Hon. Members, the importation of goods is governed by the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02]. The valuation of goods is in accordance with Part X of the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02], where the Commissioner reserves the right to accept declared values or in some cases reject them when the declared values do not reflect a bona-fide open market valuation. This assessment of values is in accordance with Section 112 of the Customs and Excise Act 23:02].
Furthermore, the valuation is done in accordance with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Valuation Agreement. The valuation process undertaken by ZIMRA is intended to ensure that there is no undervaluation or overvaluation of goods. However, if a client is not satisfied with the valuation established through the valuation process, he/she may appeal and seek for a value ruling through the office of the regional manager.
In valuing the goods, ZIMRA considers but is not limited to the following;
- The open market value of similar or identical goods sold on the same market at the same commercial level to unrelated parties.
- The value already accepted for similar or identical goods.
- The current condition of the goods being imported.
Commercial discounts are allowed, however, they are only disallowed if the customer has a relationship with the seller in order to avoid transfer pricing. Transfer pricing occurs when related companies can shift profits from one jurisdiction to the other in order to allocate profits from a high tax jurisdiction to a lower tax jurisdiction so as to lower or escape their obligations.
In principle, a transfer price should match either what the seller would charge an independent buyer, arms length customer or what the buyer would pay as an independent buyer, arms length customer, or what the buyer would pay as an independent.
Corruption at ports of entry at times involves a number of actors such as customs officials and the importers. To a certain extent, I do agree with the Hon. Member that the manual valuation can somehow facilitate corruption as customs officials would use their discretion to determine the value of goods. In order to address possible bribery by customs officials at the border posts, ZIMRA introduced automated valuation of goods to avoid corruption and improve efficiency. Under the automated valuation, the customs officer enters the details of the goods imported, for example, for motor vehicles the officer simply logs in the year of manufacture, chassis number, engine number, condition, model and fuel transmission. The computer then generates value for duty purposes.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that not all declared values of goods are rejected and in determining the value of goods, ZIMRA uses information available in order to arrive at the true market value of the goods being imported. Consequently, ZIMRA will, in some instances, accept declared values or reject using the methods explained above. I submit Madam President.
MEASURES TO CURB ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS
- HON. SEN. CHIMHINI asked the Minister of Finance and
Economic Development to inform the House;
- What measures the Ministry is putting in place to effectively curb the abuse of scarce public funds, particularly in Government Ministries and parastatals as qualified in the Auditor-General’s reports;
- Which Ministries and parastatals if any, have been sanctioned for such improprieties for and to state the nature of penalties applied if any, as a way of showing Government seriousness to stop the rot.
The Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services (Hon. Mathuthu) having been reading the wrong written answer.
HON. SENATOR MUMVURI: On a point of order Madam
President.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: What is your
point of order?
HON. SENATOR MUMVURI: My point of order is that the
Minister is giving a response to question number 10.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER
SERVICES (HON. MATHUTHU): My apologies Madam President
and the Hon. Senator. Madam President, in order to keep peace – I hope
it is correct.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: The question has
part (a) and (b).
HON. MATHUTHU: No. it is not the one.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: It reads; what
measures the Ministry is putting in place to effectively curb…
HON. MATHUTHU: Madam President, I thank you for the
clarification. I apologise because it is not contained in the file which the Hon. Minister gave to me. With leave of the House, I request him to bring it at the next sitting. I thank you.
REVENUE DERIVED FROM IMPORTED CHINESE GOODS
- HON. SEN. CHIMHINI asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain why Zimbabwe on borders do not have road patrols as is the case with South Africa and Botswana.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Statistics reveal that goods valued at about 400 million were imported from the People’s Republic of China in 2014. Furthermore, for the period January to September 2015 goods valued at 320 million were imported. It should however, be noted that most goods imported from the People’s Republic of China mainly comprised of machinery electrical gadgets clothing and textiles.
Trade taxes that is customs duty, surtax and VAT collected on imports are not aggregated by country of origin. Hence it will be difficult to state the exact amount of revenue derived from goods imported from that source.
However, based on the effective tax rates about 80 million dollars was collected annually over the past three years from the People’s
Republic of China. I so submit Madam President. –[HON. SENATORS:
Hear. Hear.]-
LACK OF ROAD PATROLS ON BORDERS
- HON. SENATOR CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to explain why Zimbabwe on borders do not have road patrols as is the case with South Africa and Botswana.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. MATHUTHU) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Madam President, in order to keep pace with escalating transnational crimes that pose risks to revenue collection health and safety of citizens as well as the environment. The ZIMRA in collaboration with other security agencies conduct border patrols. Road patrols are also complemented by inland road blocks and these are planned exercises in order to increase the effectiveness of such patrols, hence there are permanent positions on the roads. The road blocks have yielded positive results with a number of seizures being under taken. It is however pertinent to note that the state of border perimeter roads on the Zimbabwean side are in a deplorable state thus in serious need of repair. This has posed a limitation on the frequency of road patrols. I so submit Madam
President. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
REALIGNMENT OF INTEREST RATES
- HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development whether banks have realigned the interest rates pronounced by the Governor of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe when he issued his latest monetary policy.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. MATHUTHU) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Madam
President. Banking institutions have aligned their lending rates in line with the interest rate guide provided in the July 2015, Mid-Term Monetary Policy Statement.
A few of the banks are, however, in the process of operationalising adjustments in their IT systems, particularly for existing facilities to reflect the revised lending rates.
The Monetary Authorities will continue to monitor the levels of lending rates being charged by banking institutions through their ongoing supervisory activities. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
SETTING UP OF INFORMATION CENTRES
- HON. SEN. SHIRI: asked the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services to explain the position regarding the setting up of information centres nationwide and to state measures in place to improve the accessibility of information by persons with disabilities, especially the hearing and visually impaired.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER INFORMATION
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND
COURIER SERVICES (HON. MLAMBO): Thank you very much
Madam President. Part of this question was asked during the questions without notice session - if the House might remember on 22nd October that was a Thursday. The first part of the question is to do with the issue of information community centres which we call CICs. The second part is to do with measures in place on how people living with disabilities can access information.
The Ministry is rolling out CICs in phases, beginning short term phase targeting the setting up of one CIC per province. This will be followed by the long term phase which will target setting a CIC in every administrative district. To date, we have eight CICs which are up and running: Murombedzi CIC which was launched by His Excellency Cde. R. G. Mugabe the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe on 12 July 2014.
Maphisa CIC in Matabeleland South is awaiting launch any time soon. Rusape and Gutu are also functional and are awaiting launch. Although these CICs have not yet been officially launched, they are already being used by the surrounding communities. The fifth CIC was set up in Epworth and is already running. This was in the news. Three other CICs that were established but not yet functional are
Mutoko Sadza in Mashonaland East and Mubaira in Mashonaland West. The Ministry is at the moment approaching different stakeholders to partner with the Ministry in setting up these CICs.
Individual companies for example are being requested to take the lead in benefiting the communities as a way of social responsibility by ploughing back in terms of setting up the CICs. In this regard, the
Ministries has partnered with document support centre in setting up
Murombedzi CIC. The same was done for Rusape and Gutu CICs with
Huawei way and individual organizations are also encouraged to do the same on their own like what POTRAZ did at Epworth CICs which was recently launched during the by-election there. Provinces that are still to have the CICs set are Matabeleland North, Midlands, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.
Coming to the second part of the question Madam President, the Ministry takes cognisance of the fact that persons living with disabilities feature in all the sectors of the economy and social and political life of the nation. Their concerns are therefore, clearly spelt out in the draft national ICT policy which has not been announced yet but will be announced in due course. Section 111 (4) 6k states, promote, support and enhance development in the use of ICTs and ensure equitable access to attendant benefits across gender, youth, people living with disabilities and the elderly. Let me also highlight that those with hearing impairment can access information just like any other persons.
Those with visual impairment the ICT sector is seeking ways to make sure that the software to assist them is readily available for use by them. Use of screen readers software application programmes that attempt to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the computer screen for example, a computer software which we call Job Access With Speech (JAWS) is a computer screen reader for Microsoft Windows that allows blind and visually impaired users to read the screen either with a text to speech output or by a refreshable Braille display. It is our belief that IT should also respond to the special needs to ensure their inclusion and participation in the economy.
Let me also assure this House that the Ministry is geared to the inclusion persons living with disabilities in the mainstream of the economy through adoption and use of the ICTs. I so submit Madam President.
ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN INFORMATION
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
- HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Information,
Communication and Technology to inform the House what plans the Ministry has put in place to promote the advancement of women in the Information Communication technology (ICT) sector in Zimbabwe?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION,
COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY (HON. MLAMBO):
Thank you Hon. Senator for your question. This question was also partly addressed during the Questions Without Notice session of 22 October 2015. At policy level the Ministry has done something in addressing this pertinent issue. Section 111 (4) (k), quoted earlier addressed this issue. The policy ensures gender equality and equity in access to and the use of ICTs across all sectors of the economy.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a world body that among other duties regulates all activities that take place in the ICT and Telecommunications Sector. This body had a clause that has set aside a day to commemorate girls in ICT. The day aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Zimbabwe as a signatory to ITU commemorates this day, opening opportunities and awareness for women in ICTs. We have commemorated this day in Mutare in 2013,
Chinhoyi 2014, and this year at St James High School, Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North Province. Girls in schools are the target so that they embrace the organic relevance of ICTs whilst in schools. The realisation is that the girl child needs to be exposed to ICTs at a very early age in order for her to make IT a career I the future.
The Ministry also works with TechWomen, an organisation that works with girls in schools in the development of ICT applications. All these are efforts to promote the advancement of women in the ICT sector.
The Ministry hosts an annual event called Zimbabwe ICT Achievers Awards where we recognise business women in the ICT sector through our two awards namely, Top ICT Business Woman of the Year and Top ICT Young Woman of the Year. These awards encourage women to compete with men in the ICT sector.
Very soon you shall be hearing of efforts by the Ministry to set up Young Innovators Fund which seeks to incentivise our youngsters to come up with ingenious ICT new solutions. The fund will, among other things; if approved, finance research for development, innovation and commercialisation. We believe that we need to tease the talent in our youth and stampede them into innovative drive towards creating ICT products for sale to other countries. The import of this is that some of the richest countries in this world do not have natural resources like minerals but their economies are pivoted on the manufacturing of the products, especially ICT products. Examples are South Korea and Singapore.
ADVANTAGES OF MARKET RESEARCH
- HON SEN. CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology to explain:
- the advantages of market research;
- and to further explain why market research is indispensable; and
- how market research assists in the monitoring of growth of companies as well as that of competitors
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION,
COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY (HON. MLAMBO):
Thank you Hon. Senator for the question. I think this question was wrongly directed since the answers sought are not covered under the Ministry’s mandate.
MEASURES IN PLACE TO LEGALISE OPERATIONS OF
CHURCHES
- HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI asked the Minister of Public
Service, Labour and Social Services to state the measures in place to ensure that all churches are registered in order to legalise their operations in the country?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): I thank
you for your question which also raises a lot of questions in itself.
Our country Zimbabwe prides itself in ‘Acknowledging the Supremacy of Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies… And imploring the guidance and support of Almighty God”. [Preamble of the Constitution Amendment No. 20 of 2013].
Indeed Zimbabwe is a God-fearing nation, evidenced by the numerous churches around. The Church contributes to the identity we call the identity of a citizen. Ordinarily churches are voluntary organisations which require no registration. Although Zimbabwe is a multi-religious country, Christianity controls a major share of the spiritual market. As a result, the institution of the Church will always play a role in social, political and economic issues – whether it actively seeks to or not. And in Zimbabwe, due to historical factors that saw the Church cooperating closely with the State, it has also become a strategic actor in issues of national interest and featured prominently in efforts to resolve the crisis that engulfed the country in the past decade.
Churches are not regulated by my Ministry. When churches wish to embark in welfare/voluntary activities to benefit society and receive grants for their sustenance, only then are they required to register as PVOs.
NGOs in Zimbabwe operate under three formations, which are the
Common Law Universitas, Trust Deeds and the PVO Act. The Common Law Universitas allows organisations to operate even if they are not officially registered. Many NGOs in Zimbabwe are registered as trusts within the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The Government preferred method of registration is the PVO Act, which is within my Ministry’s purview.
Having cited the above, in response to your question, my Ministry is not making plans to regulate operation of churches except under the circumstances mentioned above. The legalising of operations of churches would entail enactment of legislation clearly outlining expectations of the general public and indeed the State on the church’s operations. What I am certain about however, is that abusive religious leaders are not immune to the law. We have many men of the cloth who were/are behind bars who committed crimes in the name of God. Such conduct which is a shame and pitiful, has raised a lot of questions about operations of some churches.
So your question, Hon. Chimbudzi is so pertinent and requires us as lawmakers to urgently act upon operations of churches to protect vulnerable groups in society.
WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO QUESTION WITH NOTICE
POLICY OF DEPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS WITH SPECIALISED
SKILLS
- HON. SEN. SINAMPANDE asked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to explain Government’s policy on the deployment of teachers with specialised skills in subjects such as mathematics to certain areas they do not speak the local languages?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE):
According to Section 199, 200, 202 and 203 as guided by Section 194 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Amendment No. 20, Act 2013, the Public Service Commission is mandated, among other functions, to appoint qualified and competent persons to hold posts in the Public Service.
In order to foster transparency, fairness and accountability, as provided for in the basic values and principles governing public administration in all tiers of Government, the Public Service
Commission established committees at National, Provincial and District levels to conduct recruitment of members in the Public Service. These committees are chaired by the Public Service Commission staff and deputised by officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Other committee members are drawn from various line ministries who are experts in respective fields of operation.
The Head of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, through the Provincial Education Directors and District Education Officers declare vacant posts and person specifications to the Public Service Commission.
Staff from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, giving due regard to the technical nature of the skills required, avails experts on the recruitment of teachers at Provincial and District levels. These experts from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education sit in the Recruitment Committee to provide technical expertise on the suitability of teachers to be appointed. Once the Recruitment Committee concludes, a report is submitted to the Head of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Teachers for critical subjects like Mathematics are deployed according to their specialisation. However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in consultation with the Public Service Commission has always and will continue where possible to deploy to the various regions, teachers who are fluent in the local languages. That is policy.
However, it should be highlighted that, the Public Service Commission will - in the short to medium term, continue to face challenges in identifying qualified technical teachers with special linguistic skills who will be willing to be deployed to rural areas.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
BILLS RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to inform
the House that the Senate has received the following Bills from the
National Assembly:-
- The Finance (No. 2) Bill [H. B. 18A, 2015]
- Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill [H. B. 16,2015]
- Appropriation (2016) Bill [H. B. 17, 2015]
- Banking Amendment Bill [H. B. 6A, 2015]
NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I also have to
inform the Senate that I have received a Non Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on all Statutory Instruments published in the Government Gazette during the month of November, 2015.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I want
to thank the House for its indulgence in allowing me to come this late, so I want to thank the august House for that understanding.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE RATIFICATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND EXPORT-
IMPORT BANK OF INDIA
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Madam
President. I rise to seek leave of the Senate to move:
THAT WHEREAS, Section 327(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an Agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority, with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe, does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS, a loan agreement between the Government of Zimbabwe and Export – Import Bank of India relating to a US$87 million dollars Line of Credit for the renovation and upgrading of
Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant being implemented by the Zimbabwe
Power Company was concluded on the 27th day of October, 2015 in
New Delhi, India; and
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327(3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and greed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
OF INDIA
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I now move:
THAT WHEREAS, Section 327(3) of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe provides that an Agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority, with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe, does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS, a loan agreement between the Government of Zimbabwe and Export – Import Bank of India relating to a US$87 million dollars Line of Credit for the renovation and upgrading of
Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant being implemented by the Zimbabwe Power Company was concluded on the 27th day of October, 2015 in
New Delhi, India; and
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327(3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE LOAN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE
AND THE OPEC FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I seek
leave of the House to move:
THAT WHEREAS Section 327(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an Agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS a loan agreement between Government of Zimbabwe and the OPEC Fund for International Development relating to a US$20 million Line of Credit for the construction of 12 primary and five secondary schools in rural areas in eight provinces, provision of relevant equipment, furniture and standard teachers’ houses for the targeted schools.
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327(3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RATIFICATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND THE OPEC FUND FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I now move:
THAT WHEREAS Section 327(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that an Agreement which is not an international treaty but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind
Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament;
AND WHEREAS a loan agreement between Government of Zimbabwe and the OPEC Fund for International Development relating to a US$20 million Line of Credit for the construction of 12 primary and five secondary schools in rural areas in eight provinces, provision of relevant equipment, furniture and standard teachers’ houses for the targeted schools.
NOW THEREFORE, in terms of Section 327(3) of the
Constitution, this House resolves that the aforesaid Agreement be and is hereby approved.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Thank you very much. I am of the
feeling that the nation might want to know which provinces benefit and how are they allocated these schools. This is a very good move.
HON. CHINAMASA: Thank you very much. That decision has
not yet been made and is going to be made by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The money is going to be applied to schools in the land that was acquired under the Land Reform Programme in all the eight provinces which are rural. This excludes Bulawayo and Harare. As we all know, there is a problem with respect to school infrastructure in the recently resettled areas on land which was acquired under the Land Reform Programme.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Whilst I understand very much what the
Minister is saying, Madam President, I think the country will be very thirsty on the allocation of these schools since they are a benefit to the nation. As far as I am concerned, the whole country does not have equal resettlement programmes where schools are going to benefit. The Minister should tell us before we pass this thing which areas are going to benefit.
HON. CHINAMASA: I am sorry I was mistaken that the
information is not available. The only information I may not have is exactly where, but province by province the information is there. It is on paragraph 835 of my Budget. Sorry to say this. Mashonaland West will have three primary schools and one secondary school, making a total of four schools. Midlands will have one primary and one secondary schools. Mashonaland Central will have two primary and one secondary schools. Masvingo will have one primary and one secondary school.
Matabeleland North will have two primary schools. Mashonaland East will have one primary school. Manicaland will have one primary and one secondary school and Matabeleland will have one primary school.
I need to add that, if Hon. Senators follow through my Budget
Statement, I made it clear that in 2016, I will float a bond, an Infrastructure Bond in order to establish infrastructure at our primary and secondary schools, with a view to addressing the new imperative development of mathematics, science and technology. We have been changing our curriculum in the primary and secondary schools to put emphasis on mathematics, sciences and technology. Now, our ambition by raising this bond is that we put up sufficient, adequate and appropriate infrastructure to include classroom blocks, laboratories and any relevant infrastructure that will make us accord to the demands of the moment, which is that we must be a science driven society.
As Zimbabwe, we are in a leading position with respect to the development of human capital and we should not lag behind. I know that in the past 20 or so years, because of the circumstances of sanctions, our education has taken a knock, so has been our health but we need to catch up. I want to emphasise Madam President that this intervention is not the only intervention, we are going to do much more through the Infrastructure Bond that I have mentioned. The Infrastructure Bond is intended to be underwritten by school development levies. We hope that this will help us to upgrade our infrastructure at all our primary and secondary schools. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Madam President.
Minister, I just want to make reference to what happened some time in this Parliament. In the 1990s, a kind of loan was approved by
Parliament and it was supposed to upgrade a road from Gwanda to Mapisa, which is 66kms but the money disappeared into thin air. That is why we really want to know where exactly is it going, before we approve a loan. Since that time and now the 66km road of GwandaMapisa has never been development but the loan was approved by
Members of Parliament. I think that time it was before sanctions.
Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I will look into that.
Sometimes, what happens is that you conclude a loan and then for some reasons, the lender decides otherwise. You cannot take the lender to court but I will certainly look into it. There is nowhere in Zimbabwe a loan to construct 66 kms can disappear without anything to show for it? We are much better at managing our finances than people allege, I know. I will look into it and I should have an answer and I would even invite you to put your question on the Order Paper so that I can give it justice.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
FINANCE (NO. 2) BILL[H.B. 18,2015]
First Order read: Second Reading: Finance (No. 2) Bill [H.B. 18,
2015].
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, the
purpose of the Bill is to give effect to the revenue measures which I presented to Parliament on 26th November, 2015. The Bill therefore, seeks to provide for revenue measures which are aimed at providing relief to tax payers, enhancing revenue collections as well as improving efficiency in tax administration.
With respect to tax relief measures, Madam President, in order to provide tax relief to tax payers and release aggregate demand for goods and services, I have proposed the following measures: Tobacco levy growers, in recognition of the potential impact of the elnino induced drought, I propose to reduce the tobacco levy payable by tobacco sellers from 1.5% to 0.75% with effect from January, 2016.
Madam President, where a registered tax payer fails to withhold or to pay to the Commissioner General any amount required to be withheld from a payee; the Income Tax Legislation provides that the registered tax payer shall be liable for payment of the amount not withheld.
However, no provision is made for the registered tax payer to recover the amount not withheld from the payee. The proposed measure seeks to enable the withholding agent to recover from the payee the principle amount that should have been withheld. The recovery shall not however extent to penalty and interest charges which will remain the responsibility of the withholding agent.
Madam President, with respect to exemptions from income tax, the Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation (ZAMCO) is a special purpose vehicle set up by Government, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, to purchase non-performing loans from banks so as to clean their balance sheets. The proposal I have made seeks to exempt from tax, the receipts and accruals of ZAMCO, in order to enhance its capacity.
Madam President, during the period 1st February 2009 to 30th July, 2015, insurance companies and brokers erroneously applied a stamp duty rate of US$0.01, instead of the legislated US$0.05 for every dollar worth of premiums, resulting in companies incurring a huge tax liability.
The proposal I have made therefore seeks to reduce stamp duty to US$0.01 for every dollar worth of premiums on policies of insurance for the period 1st February, 2009 to 30th July, 2015, in order to provide relief on insurance companies as they are already facing viability challenges.
Madam President, in order to provide relief to retrenched employees who have not yet attained the prescribed retirement age, I propose to exempt from tax, a minimum value of US$10 000 or one third of the total value of the pension or annuity, up to a maximum of US$60 000.
Madam President, I also propose to exempt from tax, interest earned on deposits with a tenure of more than twelve months, this is in order to encourage long-term savings.
Madam President, in view of the constrained capacity of the insurance industry, as evidenced by failure by some players to settle obligations to policy holders, I propose to limit the VAT payable on short-term insurance to commission earned on the buying and selling of insurance policies by brokers and agents of insurance and reinsurance firms.
Madam President, the VAT Act provides for any refunds due to a tax payer to be set off against outstanding tax liabilities on other revenue heads such as income tax, customs duty and excise duty, among others. I therefore propose to provide for the set off of any tax refunds due to a taxpayer against any outstanding tax for which the taxpayer is liable under any of the revenue laws.
Madam President, the outlook for 2016 points to a depressed international mineral prices for most commodities, albeit with marginal rebound for some minerals, with the exception of gold, thereby threatening the viability of most producers.
I therefore propose to introduce a reduced royalty rate of 3% on incremental output of gold produced by large scale gold producers in any year of assessment using the previous year’s production as a base year, with effect from 1st January, 2016.
Madam President, I further propose to exempt from royalty, diamonds and precious stones (up to 10 000 carats) for producers who enter into an agreement with the Government to localize gemology skills, technology and marketing, in order to encourage technology transfer.
Madam President, in order to raise additional revenue to finance inescapable expenditures, and also provide for enabling administrative measures, I have proposed the following;
On transfer pricing, the current transfer pricing regulations do not provide sufficient guidance on reporting procedures for taxpayers engaged in transactions with related parties. The new measure seeks to improve the current anti-transfer pricing provisions by giving sufficient guidance to transactions between associated enterprises. This will go a long way in mitigating illicit financial flows from the economy.
HON. SENATOR MARAVA: On a point of order Madam
President. Thank you Madam President, I beg to be corrected. I do not seem to see this business that is being discussed by the Hon. Minister on the Order Paper.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: It is a preamble to
a Bill that we are going to debate. You are a seasoned Senator Hon.
Marava. You may continue Hon. Minister.
HON. CHINAMASA: Madam President, on excise duty on
second hand motor vehicles. In order to further simplify revenue administration, I propose to introduce flat rates of special excise dutybased on a graduated scale by reference on the engine capacities of the motor vehicles in question. This will remove the uncertainty surrounding the valuation of second-hand motor vehicles, as well as promoting transparency in the determination of excise duty payable.
With those remarks Madam President, I now move the motion that the Finance (No. 2) Bill, (H.B. 18A, 2015). be read for the second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time
Committee Stage: With leave forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
FINANCE (NO. 2) BILL (H.B. 18A, 2015)
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 15 put and agreed to.
Senate resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
FINANCE (NO. 2) BILL [H. B. 18A, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move that the Bill be
now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
SECOND READING
APPROPRIATION (SUPPLEMENTARY) BILL [H.B.16,
2015]
Second Order read: Second Reading: Appropriation
(Supplementary) Bill, [H.B.16, 2015].
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPEMNT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President on the
26th November, 2015, I presented to the National Assembly 2015 Supplementary Estimates amounting to $252 335 000. These expenditures included additional expenditures incurred as well as anticipated expenditures to year end. In this regard I made an oversight by including expenditures already incurred as this contradicts Section 307 of the new Constitution. In order to comply with the above constitutional provision I seek parliamentary condonation for expenditures amounting $152 725 590 already incurred as shown in Annexure 1. These expenditures incurred between July and mid December 2015 relate to employment costs, conduct of by-elections, grain procurement and infrastructural developmental projects among others.
To regularise this expenditure I will therefore present a financial adjustment Bill later on for your approval. I also seek parliamentary approval for a supplementary budget of $114.45 million to cover cost overruns on the wage bill, conduct of by-elections, grain procurement, crop input support and Tokwe-Mukorsi among others as shown in Annexure II. To accommodate the additional requirement, I have revised the 2016 Budget, taking into account the additional expenditures of $114.45 million and also mindful of the need to be within the 2015 anticipated revenue collections. The additional requirement of $114.45 million would be financed through savings realised from projects and programmes which could not be implemented largely due to cash flow constraints that are being experienced across Ministries.
Notwithstanding the Supplementary Budget, the overall expenditures for 2015 will remain with the revised revenue outturn of $3.5 billion, which means there is no additional revenue raising measures that I need to take. With those remarks I now move that the Appropriation Supplementary Bill be now read for a second time.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you very much. I am trying to
understand the figures here. It is unfortunate my glasses expired because I cannot see now –[Laughter] – I am so concerned about the additional amount that has already been used. I take concern especially when I look at Home Affairs and when you say you have already used this on salaries. Did I hear you correctly? On Home Affairs you have $5 028 000. We have a problem of Home Affairs but it seems you have created another Treasury in the Home Affairs Department because monies are being collected everywhere by police and we do not know whether they remit that money and whereas there are additional funds that you also allocated to them. We really do not know what the core business of the police, according to our Constitution is. Instead of doing investigative work and maintaining law and order, they are now supposed to have Treasury at their doorstep. We want to know whether they remit all these monies that they collect all over the country.
I also wish to state that maybe it was going to be better for the whole country if you have means of collecting the fines that people are supposed to pay. You should have a better way of collecting than to leave it in the hands of the police, because the Constitution is very much violated by these members. We will pass the Budget but we also have to put our views in terms of how the revenue collection is being done. I thank you.
HON. SEN. SIBANDA: A quick question to the Minister. The combined $252 000 000 including what you are going to ask this Senate to condone, does that in any way increase our budget deficit?
HON. SEN. T. KHUMALO: My question is on the fact that the
police who are collecting money in the streets, have two books, one for themselves and the other one is for Treasury. Why can’t they be monitored so that the funds are used appropriately?
HON. SEN. MAKONE: Minister I think I did not hear you properly when you said that after we approve the $114.45 million under [H.B. 16, 2015], the total revenue for up to 31 December 2015 will still be $3.5 billion. This does not seem to agree with the summary in your Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure, page 2 where you are now saying original Estimates of Expenditure is $3.551 billion, additional amount to be voted $114.45 million, total expenditure $3.665 billion. Surely, there should be an increase if we are going to approve this expenditure but in your very last sentence you said it will not affect the total for the year. I do not know, probably I have my sums mixed up but what is in front of me does not agree with what you have just said. I
thank you…….
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELIOMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I thank the Hon. Senators
for their contributions and my response is as follows. With respect to the contribution from Senator Mlotshwa, the core business for the police is to fight crime and this includes of course, any crime to do with traffic that is crime in terms of the criminal code and statutes. Their responsibility is to fight it and enforce the law and make sure that we have rule of law in the country.
Your concern was basically directed at what you perceive as inadequate management of the fines by the police. I want to assure you that all statutory funds and this includes any monies that are collected by the police. We keep an oversight over these funds. We also direct to what purpose they can be used. If circumstances permit where we need money elsewhere for emergencies, as Treasury we can go into those funds and demand that some portions be remitted to Treasury. So, we have full control of what goes on in these statutory funds.
To enhance our oversight role, in the 2016 Budget, I have directed that all statutory funds and retentions must now open up accounts with the Central Bank by end of January next year. This is to enhance our capacity to monitor what takes place with respect to these funds. If there is any misbehaviour or any mal-practices that are going on, we should be able to stamp them very early. So, at the moment these statutory funds are banked all over the shore in many commercial banks. We are now insisting by end of January that all those monies should be moved to the Central Bank so that we keep an eye on it, because the Central Bank is a banker to Government.
On the question that whether there is a better way of collecting these fines – there should be and we are exploring how we can do it electronically. I am aware that a project is being developed on a joint venture basis. It has not yet come to Cabinet, it is intended that as people pay fines wherever the police roadblock is, the police will have an electronic device so that as fines are paid, we will know the real time what has been paid and should be able to account for it. Through education, we hope that if Cabinet approves this initiative, we should be able to go a long way to address the concern that you have expressed with respect to suspected corruption amongst police officers.
Hon. Senator Khumalo, you are talking as if it is valid for the police to have two books, one for the Treasury and the other for the police. If it is happening, it is criminal and corruption. There should be only one book which is amenable to auditing so that we are satisfied that what has been collected in fines has been banked. So, if there are two books, it is clearly corruption. If you feel that you are able to prove it, please let us know so that we can follow the culprits. The receipt book obviously reflects that it is a receipt book under the charge of the police force but that money is for Treasury. We are permitting them; they do not withhold money without our permission. They retain any funds with our permission. If there is any corruption, I cannot completely discount it; those are issues we hope we can address through the introduction of electronic devices so that we know what exactly is taking place.
If in fact the project is approved by Cabinet, it basically means that every car and its driver who passes through a roadblock will be on scrutiny. The database will show that the driver was once convicted and fined but did not pay or he was convicted and had his or her licence suspended but has continued to drive and so on. So, any offences relating to the car and the driver should be able to be picked up at every point that you pass through. So, this is for the purpose of increasing revenue and for transparency as well as enforcing the rule of law. If your licence is suspended, you should not continue illegally driving on our roads.
Hon. Sen. Sibanda asked whether this will increase the budget deficit, we have not collected much revenue and we are running a cash budget. So, creating a deficit is not much of a problem to us because we do not have that money. However, I want to assure you that we spent money on by-elections. I am sure that all of us will agree that Treasury never anticipated the spate of expulsions that took place within our political parties. We never anticipated that we would have so many byelections and there was no provision for it. Now, when the constitutional requirement is that we should have by-elections within a given a period, we needed to abide by the constitutional requirements. We had to take money elsewhere and put it on by-elections. It was also with respect to grain procurement and the other items that I have already mentioned.
Hon. Makone, clearly the figures are adding up, I fail to see what your problem is, like I said US$114, 45 million which is deficit. They are adding up as far as I am concerned.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: Thank you Madam President. He said
that we are staying within our budget of US$3, 5 billion even after we approve the US$114 million. This is where I am arguing, we are not staying within, we are moving to US$3, 6 million.
HON. CHINAMASA: Where did you get that from?
HON. MAKONE: If you go to page 1 of the Bill [HB, 16, 2015], that figure of US$114, 45 million, if you then go to the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure, I think it was a mis-speaking or mistake because clearly, it is not staying at $3.5 billion. It is moving to $3.6 billion.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I can explain.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: I have got no problem as long as there is an explanation.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): The Hon. Member in fact
has a valid observation. Basically, what has happened is that we had a budget overrun of $114.5 which we are going to pay from savings. All those savings have not been taken care of yet. So, there are savings and we are going to remain within our Budget.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: With leave; forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
APPROPRIATION (SUPPLEMENTARY) BILL, [H.B.16, 2015] House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 3 put and agreed to.
Schedule 3 put and agreed to.
Senate resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave; forthwith.
THIRD READING
APPROPRIATION (SUPPLEMENTARY) BILL, (H.B.16, 2015)
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move that the Bill be
now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
SECOND READING
APPROPRIATION (2016) BILL, (H.B.17, 2015)
Third Order read: Second Reading: Appropriation (2016) Bill,
(H.B.17, 2015).
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, the
purpose of the Appropriation (2016) Bill, (H.B. 17) is to give effect to the Main Estimates of Expenditure for the year ending 31st December, 2016, which I tabled to this Parliament on 26th November, 2015.
Section 3 of the Appropriation (2016) Bill charges the Consolidated
Revenue Fund with a sum of $3.398 128 billion, which relates to the
2016 Vote appropriations. Section 5 (1) of the Bill empowers the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to transfer funds already approved by Parliament between Votes in respect of a function or responsibility transferred between Ministries and Departments during the course of the fiscal year.
Subsection 2 of Section 5 of the Bill allows discretion to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to transfer funds from the unallocated reserve which appears on the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Vote to any other Vote as and when the need arises in order to meet inescapable expenditures. In addition and if necessary, the Minister can vary the amounts so transferred by taking back any surplus for reallocation to other Ministries to meet demands that may arise.
Madam President, with these remarks, I accordingly move that the Appropriation (2016) Bill [H.B. 17, 2016] be now read for a second time.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: Thank you very much Madam President.
Hon. Minister, mine is a very short question to do with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. I have just looked at the Vote that you have allocated to them here, of $8.31 million. For them to comply with the new Constitution in its entirety before the next election, it would appear to me that this Vote is very small. Are you going to use some of the powers that you are asking for under Section 5 for transferring money between Votes for them to do their work because they will not be able to do it with $8 million? Thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. CHIEF NGUNGUBANE: Thank you Madam
Chair. First and foremost, I would like to pass my sincere appreciation
to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development for this Budget and the time he has taken to present it to the lower House and to the
Senate. Mine Madam President refers to the Chiefs’ Council. As you are aware Madam President, Section 305 indicates the constitutional bodies that have been created by this Constitution and the Chiefs Council is one of those bodies. If you also read Section 325 (2), it empowers those bodies to make representation to the Parliamentary Committee before the Budget is presented.
My concern Madam President is the Vote allocation presented by the Ministry of Finance. If you look at the Blue Book, there was an oversight. There was mention of the traditional leadership support services and there was no mention of the Chiefs’ Council. The Chiefs’ Council is a constitutional body which is separate from the traditional leadership support services. However, if you look at the figures on page 378, the expenditure for the Department is $3.6 million and on this appropriation, it is the same amount that the Minister has placed. In other words, I would assume that it is a process of cut/copy and paste.
Literally, I would want the Minister to clarify whether in actual terms the Chiefs’ Council has an allocation because the figures that are shown here and the ones in the Blue Book show that it is a vote that has been allocated to the department.
Secondly Madam President, I would want to talk about the vehicles for traditional leaders. If you look in the Blue Book, there was an allocation and it is unfortunate to say chiefs have not received any allocation towards their vehicle loan scheme. In 2016, we have an allocation and we would want to find out from the Minister when this allocation will be made. Will it also take into consideration the allocation that was made in accordance to the previous year? Thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: May I remind
senators that some of those section by section debates should be done in Committee Stage, not now.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
APPROPRIATION (2016) BILL [H.B. 17, 2015]
Senate in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 3 put and agreed to.
On Clause 4:
HON. SENATOR CHIMHINI: Mr. President, on the application
of monies granted. I thought we would have asked that question to the Minister but the President had ruled that out. For example; AntiCorruption is being given US$1.6 million but we have all agreed that corruption is something that is very serious in this country. So I am asking that question under application.
THE CHAIRPERSON: It comes under Schedule, and we are
coming to it.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: That is okay.
Clause 4 put and agreed to.
On Clause 5:
HON. SEN. D. T. KHUMALO: While I accept that virementing
is okay, we need to know when the Minister has done it. It may be in an emergency, but as Members of Parliament, we need to know that the money has been viremented, has been given to this Ministry so that our oversight is there because if he just does it and we never follow up where the money has been sent, there is a problem.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Hon. Senator, if we did
that, you have to come and stay in my office because that is purely an administrative function. In fact, I do not even get involved. There are accounting officers who are responsible for doing that because on a day to day basis, we realise that expenditure has arisen more than it is urgent but there is money somewhere. So, they have to move the funds. As you know, all of it is audited. There is no way that something is viremented to a purpose which is not authorised. If it is viremented to a purpose which was not authorised, we come to this House for condonation. For instance, if an emergency should arise, I am not going to start phoning everyone to say can I use this money in order to meet the emergency of mitigating a flood and so on. We will spend but under the Constitution, we are obliged to come to this House and report.
HON. SEN. D. T. KHUMALO: For me, there is no need of
informing us that he will move the monies and so forth because it can be done at any time. There is no need for us to know. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA) I need to respond to that
Mr. Chairman. What Section 5 is doing is giving me that power to virement, but the Constitution requires that when I do that to an unauthorised purpose, I must come to the House and explain and seek condonation if for instance, I have done it outside the period that is required.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: Thank you Chairperson. I am referring to 37. Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has been allocated US$1,6 million and I am saying to the Minister, if we all agree that we have a serious problem in terms of corruption, do you think this is sufficient for that Commission to carry out what you expect it to do in this country? I thank you.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Mr. President, On
Schedule No. 2 – Parliament of Zimbabwe. Minister, on this one I do not see when Parliament can get its autonomy if every time the budget of Parliament is limited like it is written here. We forgo a lot and at times subsidise the Government when coming to Parliament as Members, and it affects our contributions if Parliament administration does not have money to cater for members’ travel and other allocations that are supposed to be made.
On Schedule 8 - Agriculture Mechanisation and irrigation development US$145 091 000. Sub-Vote for Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation, I am sort of confused as to what I saw happening on the ground concerning the payments of the Brazil loan under
Mechanisation. I am trying to understand, are there other farming implements that Government will pay for what it has allocated to its people and will pay for, other than those that are given to groups that the groups are supposed to pay for? Thank you.
HON. SEN. MARAVA Thank you Mr. Speaker. Under Schedule
No. 2 on Parliament. Mine is a plea with the Minister. To enhance the Senators relevance Hon. Minister, will you think of them when you consider CDF so that at least the Senators have something to say and something to do to their niche?
HON. SEN. CHIEF NGUNGUBANE: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I think I have mentioned earlier, but in a wrong platform. I would want the Minister to take note to what I addressed earlier. Furthermore, I think it is important that we differentiate the Ministry of Rural Development.,
Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage from the
Chief’s Council with regards the Vote because if you look at the constitutional provisions on page 37, it is indicated on Section 84 of the Constitution but it is referred to under the Ministry. I think it should stand alone. Thank you.
HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: Thank you so much Hon. Chair. I want
to talk on No. 14 - Health and Child Care on the Vote total. Hon. Minister, there is need to raise the allocation to the health sector from the current 7.46% of National Budget to meet the requirements of the Abuja Declaration. Hon. Minister, I want to suggest that as we were carrying on our oversight, we realised that you have a health board. I do not know if you know that the health board is renting premises for over US$200,000.00 a month and they are renting cars each for
US$57,000.00 a month and these are their own cars. Do you not think that if you dissolve that body, it can contribute and add to health care?
Thank you so much Hon. Minister.
HON. SEN. D.T. KHUMALO: Speech not recorded due to
technical fault.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I understand that Air Zimbabwe still owes the International Air Transport Association (IATA) something like US$16 million and you had promised to do something about that. How far have you gone in addressing this issue?
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Thank you Chair. There
are issues that I want to enforce, Vote Number 32, Rural Development Promotion and Preservation of Culture and Heritage. We have issues that the Minister needs to address and I think we need to sit with the
Ministry as the Chief’s Council even after this sitting.
There is a lot of confusion. If you go to the Blue Book, which was the basis for our preparation when we came here and what it has turned out to be this afternoon, there are so many variations. On page 37 where you talk of constitutional appropriations, there is US$8 million, which is allocated to the Ministry of Rural Development and Preservation of
Culture and Heritage. We think it is a misplacement, the US$8 million,
I do not think it is going to the Ministry; it is supposed to be for the
Chief’s Council because we are trying to comply with the Constitution.
However, according to the documents you brought today, the US$8 million has disappeared, it is not anywhere in the document. You also have in the Blue Book, the car loan vehicle scheme for the chiefs; it is allocated US$2.5 million. In the documents you brought in today that is not reflected anywhere. Just to remind you that in the year 2015, you had allocated US$3.5 million for the vehicle loan scheme and you did not release a cent for 2015. For 2016, you have allocated a lower figure. I do not see the logic why you think the vehicles will be cheaper next year than they were in 2015.
Whilst we were allocated US$3.5 million for 2015, nothing was ever released. I think that is one item in the whole budget where not a cent was released. Does that reflect the attitude of the Treasury towards the institution of Traditional leadership or there were other problems. To enforce the fact that as we stand, the department of traditional leaders support services in the Ministry of Rural Development and Preservation of Culture and Heritage, has no allocation because you have now said there is an amount of US$3.6 million that goes to Chief’s Council. That amount is not even enough for the allowances and vehicles for the chiefs, it is insufficient.
To imagine that you also have the department itself, I think we need to sit down in the spirit of Section 325 of the Constitution, which says the Chief’s Council should make direct representations on issues of the budget. Thank you very much.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Thank you Mr. President, I am on Home Affairs, Vote 18. Mr. Chair, the Blue Book defines traffic fines. There are three areas that have been shown as examples and two of them rose by 100% on page 25. The third one Hon. Minister has risen from US$20 to US$100 which amounts to 400% increase of a fine for a person driving with no drivers’ licence. I feel that this is far too much for a person travelling on the streets right now. US$100 is a lot of money, the increase is too high and will create corruption.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I must say that whether we are in the Lower House or this Upper House, the common thread is that funds are inadequate for all line ministries. I think we know why.
On the question raised by Sen. Chimhini, resources are not available, all our policy thrust is to create an environment in which the economy can grow and if the economy grows, we will be able to have sufficient money for our basic needs. You are quite right that the allocation to the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission is not adequate. However, as you know, the structure of our budget leaves a lot to be desired and I have said this on many occasions.
The fact that in every US$100.00 I collect through ZIMRA, US$92.00 goes to wages and recurrent expenditure and none goes to operations and capital formation, is something that is not desirable. It is not sustainable and it means that as a population, we are not setting aside any money for tomorrow; we just live for the day. That is the mindset, culture and the habit that we must run away from. The criticism is valid but I want you to understand that to get us out of our current habit is a process and not an event. We have to tackle this issue in two ways.
First, to rationalise expenditure as of now and this is an exercise that Hon. Minister Mupfumira and I embarked upon to tackle, with respect to the civil service.
We made some recommendations to Cabinet, which were accepted and some of the recommendations have already begun to be implemented. I will give you an example of how unsustainable some of our practices are; those who receive pensions, they receive it from this budget, we do not have a stand-alone fund for pension, in the same way that you know there is Old Mutual Pension Fund and First Mutual Pension Fund.
However, the worst thing is that there is no contribution from anyone. There were some contributions from the past, on those who retired before 2009. After 2009, there has not been any contribution and yet we are called upon to pay the pensions as and when they are due. Those are some of the issues that we are seeking to correct so that we put ourselves back on sustainable basis in terms of how we manage our economy. It is not an adequate answer, but I just want you to understand that those are some of the things. Right across, and I will not defend it, the Votes are not adequate. I am not proud to present a $4 billion dollar
Budget quite frankly – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- which is why my thrust since I became Minister of Finance and Economic Development has not been to worry about figures because there is nothing to talk about figures. My major thrust has been to develop a policy framework to grow this economy and this economy has a lot of potential if we do the right things, we should have no problems running an $8 or $15 or so billion Budget. That is the direction we must go –
[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
Hon. Mlotshwa, I think I have already given you some answer.
But, with respect to why the funding to Parliament is not as it should be. All the Budgets are basically trying to pay for salaries and very little for operations. So, when you look at everywhere even the Executive – just to pay salaries and pensions, and even those we are running into arrears with respect to payment of pensions. Right now I have not paid for the
November pensions. We are going to pay them on the 21st of December. So I want us to understand not to frighten you, not to throw your hands in the air as a situation which is hopeless and helpless. I do not believe so. We should all agree and I am happy we the consensus that we have been able to build in both Houses as to the strategies to overcome and get round our challenges. I know it can be done and I am very satisfied now with the direction and let us maintain the course and we should be able to realise our full potential.
With respect to your query on the Brazilian facility, the Brazilian facility is targeted at small scale farmers. It is what they call more food for Africa programme. They are doing this not only just to Zimbabwe but to other countries as well. It is targeting small farmers. This is modeled on their own scheme. Brazil used to be a very poor, food deficit country and of course it has a very large population. When they adopted this kind of model to support the small farmers in order to make agriculture a business, not just an ordinary occupation – they fund that they were now talking about surpluses in food production. So, were it applies to us is that it is a $98 million loan. They have already delivered equipment worth $38 million. This equipment has been delivered to something like 21/22 small scale irrigation schemes throughout the country. The property and the tractors remain Government property and it is on a cost recovery basis. Measures have been put in place to ensure that there is that cost recovery in order to pay the loan. If we do not build that track record we will not get the next tranche. If we do, that will become a revolving fund almost into eternity. I am satisfied and Treasury is satisfied with the measures that has been put in place at each irrigation scheme.
Where the people have not yet been trained, the tractors are still intact. They only be used when we are satisfied that measures necessary to run this scheme on a cost recovery basis have been put in place. We have identified irrigation schemes because there is water. We are going to rehabilitate the schemes because there is water, because we suffer from periodic droughts, I think our emphasis is now on irrigation.
We are also going to run what you would call command agriculture. Those farmers who are in these schemes will not grow what they like – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- They have to grow crops which we dictate to them so that we are able to provide markets for them. The biggest challenge for any farmer is market. So in this regard, we are guaranteeing the market and we are obviously going to dictate that they grow maize. We are also going to dictate that they grow crops which have value. At each irrigation scheme, when a service is required it will be paid for and the money deposited into an Agri Bank account. Any payment for service is structured in such a way that a portion is going towards cost recovery a portion towards maintenance of the equipment and another portion towards administration of the scheme at that scheme. So I am satisfied that we have an opportunity to mechanize nationally.
We have other schemes that we are negotiating with other countries India and Belarus to target A2 farmers and A1 farmers. A1 can also be covered under the Brazilian scheme, but the A2 farmers are not. We hope that the equipment we are negotiating with Belarus can be targeted toward equipping the A2 farmers. So, the challenge we have is that we must never suffer from food deficits. We need to get out of that situation and I believe we can. This country has more than 10 000 dams and very few of those have been linked through irrigations schemes to the field edge of the farmer. So the resources we are going to devote get is to desilt some of those dams whish have silted without being used at all, so they need desilting and also basically to develop irrigation infrastructure and we hope that this will be done.
Already, we have signed a $60 million loan with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to develop small scale irrigation schemes and to establish new ones. We have also been given a loan by Abudhabi and Kuwait Fund to develop irrigation scheme around Zhowe dam which is in Matabeleland South which will open up 2 300 hectare of land which will benefit about 1 500 households. Now all this is essentially to make sure that agriculture takes its rightful place as the cornerstone of our economy. I keep an eye to make sure that your concerns will never happen or will never be fulfilled on corruption and so on, that I am very sure we can keep a check on.
Senator Marava, I think I have already answered the bit about Parliament. On CDF, I must say as now, we are confining to those who have constituencies. We do not want you to create conflict within the constituency. Members of the National Assembly should not think that you want to usurp their function as the elected representative of those constituencies. Some of these things we can discuss later, resources permitting to see what we can do with respect to Senators but as of now, the Constituency Development Fund is for Members of the National Assembly. Hon. Sen. Sibanda, with respect to Air Zimbabwe obligation to IATA, we have to look into this. Primarily, it should have its own capacity. If an airline cannot even service that basic requirement to pay its obligation to IATA, there are some problems. Yes, we are aware of the problems of viability which is why Cabinet took a decision to authorise the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to look for a strategic partner and I believe that they are doing so. We should never have a situation where a $1 million obligation, Air
Zimbabwe is unable to pay and it is flying. That is clearly unacceptable. If we come in as we have done in the past, it can only be a temporary measure just to keep Air Zimbabwe flying while in the mean time they are looking for an investor to engage.
Hon. Sen. Charumbira, I thank you very much. I take the point and I think that we are going to need some meetings so that we clarify the position. I think you drew my attention to the fact that the Traditional
Leaders’ Support Services is something different from the Chiefs
Council. That surely will be rectified and we will separate what is Chiefs Council and it must reflect your allowances and any cost of administering the institution of chieftainship. That will be looked into and I am sure that the officials are listening to my comments.
I know the word that Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira is always used to say, ‘Finance is not releasing money, is under funding and so on’. When it happens that we are not releasing, it is because there is nothing in the pipeline to release. I crave your understanding. The notion that I have a pocket somewhere, where I can just “nokora” money and pay, it is not so because we have a multi currency regime. Because we have a multi currency regime, we do not have monetary policy worth talking about. Because we have no monetary policy, we are not printing money. Our stock of US dollar in the country is derived from what we get from taxes and if the economy is not performing well, it adversely affects collection of revenue. Another source of our US dollar is coming from the Diaspora remittance, exports and loans. A lot of those loans are basically going towards capital development like power plants and so on.
I want you to always understand before you use the word “release” to ask yourself, does the Minister actually have the funds which he is refusing to release. Any failure to deploy any resources is not out of any malice or that we do not regard the institution highly. We do but it is just because that there are other problems which you know, which is why we are working frantically to make sure that our economy recovers.
There are already measures that we have taken which are starting to bear fruit. I always mention the gold sector. In 2014 Budget which was my first Budget as substantive Minister, we introduced fiscal measures to encourage increased gold production. I am happy to say that production in 2014 has jumped from something like 13 tonnes to 19 tonnes this year and next year we are targeting 24 tonnes. I can also give some examples of other sectors responding to fiscal measures that we took and I believe that we are laying a very sound foundation for the economic management of our economy.
Hon. Sen. Marava, the increase from $20 to $100, I agree with you. I have already said in the Lower House that I am going to reflect on it. It is too much. The only problem which I got to understand later is that we have to slot it within the levels of fines which are in the statutes from level 1 to 14. I understand that $20 fine is in level 3, the next level is level 4 which is $100. We wanted to make a statement to say this attitude and culture of just driving through red robots without regard to the safety of yourself and others is clearly not acceptable. We wanted to drive the point that this is no small matter. It is no small crime but I agree that I think incrementally from $20 to $100 is too much and the Attorney General is going to be seized with that matter and see how we can reflect it.
I notice that I should have replied to Hon. Sen. Chief
Ngungumbane. I think I have answered half of your questions with respect to the Council of Chiefs. That will be rectified. With respect to vehicles, I have already undertaken to the Council of Chiefs that we must have a meeting. Unfortunately, I got very busy and I was away. When I was looking for Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira, he was not in the country and when he came to look for me I was not in the country. So the problem went unresolved but it is a matter that I am committing to resolving. I believe that some of the documents that I need are already at the Ministry. I need time to go through them. The point is that quite frankly, I do not have the money. I have had to be very creative in terms of trying to meet our needs. If it takes time, creativity does not come easy. I need more time to reflect on issues and what I need to do.
Senator Timveos, thank you very much for drawing my attention to the Health Board but I do not know whether it is completely unnecessary. You are asking for its disbandment. The same call was made in the National Assembly and I promised that I will refer your comments and comments which were made in the Lower House to the relevant Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services. She is responsible for the structure of the public sector. I will refer the matter to her. You are right also and I actually honoured up to say that my allocation to the Health and Child Care Ministry did not meet the Abuja requirements. My attention has also been drawn to the fact that there are some development partners who are outside Government supporting some of the health services but because it is outside my Ministry, it cannot be reflected. So, when maybe I take into account what is being spent overally on health, we may well be meeting the Abuja declaration target. I have been engaging the development partners urging them to direct those resources direct to Government so that we avoid duplication and also that Government is made aware of the resources that are coming from development partners. I hope that as we continue this dialogue, some of them will want to direct those resources to Government.
Senator Makone, you raised the issue about underfunding of ZEC, that is true but also it is an issue that I am very alive to that ZEC has a mandate to come up with polling station specific Voter Rolls in time for the 2018 elections. We gave them some money to start the pilot project with respect to the new by-election that were conducted. I think the last one I know where this pilot project was introduced is the Marondera Central by-elections. So, we will make sure we find ways to make sure that ZEC fulfills its mandate. Mr. Chair, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
HON. SEN. D.T. KHUMALO: The nutrition part in the ZIM ASSET is not being covered because the system of eating is not being followed or people are not being told to grow the right things. We are saying grow starch; that is maize, small grains, et cetera. We are saying can the funds be available for growing the pulses, not only the small grains which is beans. We need pulses to be part of our diet.
HON. CHINAMASA: On the contrary Hon. Senator, we are promoting the growing of pulses. As you know we are promoting a balance diet that you need not just starch but protein also. We are promoting a lot of chicken projects, goat rearing, a lot of pulses where they can be grown. The practice generally is to regard pulses as a late plantation in the season. What starts first is the grain. Somewhere around January; if the rains come then grow pulses they will be able to reach maturity. Even in the small irrigation schemes, one of the crops that we are going to dictate to the irrigation schemes to which we have the distributed the Brazilian equipment is pulses both for two reasons. It provides the nutrition that you are talking about but the second reason is that it has more value. If you grow beans, it is a better value than growing maize.
So, the farmers who are benefiting can be better able to pay for the services that they are going to get. In this regard, I am very clear and which is why I also said it is not enough to ask people to grow; we also must provide market access. One of the challenges that most farmers are facing is market access. If we can grow in sufficient quantities and volumes to export, it is better that way. Like the equipment from India, India is one of the largest consumer of pulses. In fact, they have got 500 or so varieties of pulses yet here we just know about sugar beans.
So, we are saying to the Indians, let us have the equipment so that we can grow for the export market to India. They are quite happy to talk to us along those lines. Thank you very much for raising that issue.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave; forthwith.
THIRD READING
APPROPRIATION (2016) BILL, [H.B.17, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I move that the Bill be
read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
SECOND READING
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL, [H.B.6A, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I rise to
present the Banking Amendment Bill for consideration by this august House. I am pleased to advice that this Bill went through a rigorous process before being presented to this august House. The Bill has been amended to reflect the comments of various stakeholders who submitted their comments to Parliament during the Committee Stage of the National Assembly. I am therefore confident that the Bill being presented to the Senate today has received the support of all stakeholders and that it meets the standards required for effective regulation of the banking sector.
Madam President, the principal objective of this Bill is to enhance the integrity of the banking system by addressing vulnerabilities which threaten the stability of the banking sector. To this end, the Banking Act which is the foundation of the regulatory framework for the banking sector will be strengthened to address weaknesses that have been identified when benchmarking with Basel Core Principles for effective banking supervision and regional best practices.
Focus of the amendments Madam President, is on the following
areas:
- Good Corporate Governance;
- Credit risk management;
- Consumer protection and
- Troubled bank resolution framework.
I will now address this in turn. Madam President, poor Corporate Governance has been identified as a major cause of bank failures in Zimbabwe. This is due to the fact that the quality and implementation of decisions affect the performance of institutions. The role of banking institutions as financial intermediaries and the prudential considerations for these institutions require Corporate
Governance standards for financial institutions to be rigorous. The
Corporate Governance standards are based on recommendations set
by the Basel Committee based in Switzerland on banking supervision, which sets its standards for the regulation of banking institutions.
Madam President, the objective for promoting good Corporate Governance in the banking sector are also based on the principles for enhancing Corporate Governance of 2010 also set by the Basel Committee, which are as follows:
- To protect depositors’ funds;
- To reduce the incidence of bank failures;
- To enhance public confidence in the banking system;
- To enable the public to analyse the performance of banking institutions to make informed investment decisions.
Madam President, the Bill requires banking institutions to comply with all good corporate governance requirements of the regulator before commencing operations on an ongoing basis. This will prevent banking institutions from operating if they have not instituted the requisite corporate governance systems. The Bill enumerates the fiduciary responsibilities of the Board of Directors and senior management of banking institutions to enable the officers to understand their fiduciary responsibilities. The intention is to inform directors about their responsibilities and the consequences of their failure to fulfill those responsibilities.
Madam President, to reduce conflict of interest arising from multiple and interlocking board memberships, the Bill will restrict the number of board memberships for directors of banking institutions. Non-executive directors of banking institutions will not sit on boards of more than five registered companies, including the board of the banking institution on which the director sits. A director with executive functions in other companies should not sit on the boards of four registered companies, including the banking institution on which the director sits. The majority of board members will be non-executive, independent board members so as to enhance independent decision making. This is in line with the above mentioned Basel Committee
Principles on good corporate governance, that recommends that boards of banking institutions should be dominated by non-executive board members. The principle also mentions the danger of shareholder representatives who exert in appropriate pressure on the board and undermines the independence of the board. The board should have the capacity to make independent decisions that serve the best interests of the banking institutions and the depositors.
Madam President, the Bill will penalise shadow directors, like shareholders who direct board decisions behind the scenes when they are not part of the board. The shadow directors compromise the independence and objectivity of board decisions. The Bill also gives the regulator oversight over controlling companies of banking institutions. Directors and officers of controlling companies and of banking institutions will therefore need to be approved by the Registrar.
Madam President, shareholding limits for individuals in banking institutions will be reduced from 25% to 10% of share capital. This is aimed at reducing the risk of bank failure arising from undue influence by individuals through a diversified shareholding structure.
Shareholding limits for non-financial corporate entities shall be raised from 10% to 25% of share capital. Regulated financial entities will continue to establish wholly-owned banking institutions with the approval of the Registrar. The level of significant shareholding to be approved by the Registrar will be five percent of share capital. Madam President, the Bill will provide for independent Risk and Audit Committees. This is in line again with the Basel Committee Principles that banking institutions should have Risk Management and Audit Committees that possess sufficient authority, stature, independence and resources. The Bill also provides for the mandatory appointment of a Compliance Officer as a principal officer of a banking institution to enhance the compliance function.
Madam President, in line with the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) recommendations for the enhancement of cooperation among financial sector regulators, a Financial Stability Committee will be formed to coordinate their activities to minimize regulatory arbitrage by financial conglomerates.
The Financial Stability Committee will perform the following functions:
- Facilitate early identification of sources of risk (to stability) and of potential vulnerabilities that could threaten financial stability;
- Promote rigorous, accurate and systematic assessment of the present degree of financial stability as well as the outlook ahead;
- Evaluate the ability of the financial system to absorb shocks, should risks identified materialize;
- Recommend appropriate policy responses for identified risks;
- Promote adoption of preventive and timely remedial policies which foster financial system stability; 6. Prepare financial stability reports; and
- Harmonise legislative frameworks.
Madam President, credit risk is a major threat to the stability of the banking system in Zimbabwe. The Bill will strengthen the regulation of insider loans whose proliferation has been a major cause of bank failures in Zimbabwe.
The Bill also provides for the credit rating of all banking institutions operating in Zimbabwe. Credit ratings by an accredited rating agency will be done at least once a year and the ratings will be published. Credit ratings promote transparency in the banking system and improve the performance of financial institutions through market discipline.
Madam President, the Bill empowers the Reserve Bank to regulate the Credit Reference Bureau. The Reserve Bank will establish a Credit Reference System Unit to promote efficient, timely and accurate credit information sharing, thereby enhancing credit risk management, governance system and fostering credit discipline in the market.
Banking institutions need to access dependable information on the borrowing history and repayment patterns of borrowers to create profiles of borrowers.
Fragmentation and lack of standardization in the provision of credit information has prevented banking institutions from realizing the full potential from existing information registries. In the long to medium term, the use of accredited Credit Reference Bureau will stabilise the banking system by improving the risk management capabilities of banking institutions.
The Bill proposes the establishment of the Zimbabwe Asset Management Company (ZAMCO) to acquire eligible and collaterilised non-performing loans in the banking sector to cleanse banks balance sheets of toxic assets, which have hampered the institutions’ underwriting capacity.
The acquisition of non-performing loans will help strengthen the bank’s balance sheets and provide them with the liquidity to make them attractive to access cheaper sources of funding. This is expected to reduce the cost of funding concomitantly translating into reduced lending rates.
Madam President, hon. members are aware that the public has complained about poor service delivery by banking institutions. There is need for a transparent dispute resolution system to facilitate consumer protection and to encourage amicable dispute resolution between banking institutions and their customers.
Banking institutions will be required to make available in writing to their customers, procedures for dealing with the complaints made by customers and to designate an employee to be the Customer Services official at all branches.
Madam President, an important factor in minimizing bank failures is the ability of the regular to act at an early stage to address unsafe and unsound practices or activities that could pose risks to banks or to the banking system. The supervisor should have adequate supervisory tools to bring timely corrective actions.
In line with the above, the Bill enhances the bank resolution framework by empowering the RBZ to restructure and merge troubled banks in line with international best practices.
Madam President, some of the proposed amendments relate to matters that address shortcomings in the legislation. The Bill intends to extend immunity to persons acting under the authority of the Registrar for actions in good faith. Currently, immunity from prosecution is provided only to officials of the Reserve Bank. Curators, liquidators, auditors and others appointed to work for the RBZ will also have immunity from prosecution in the performance of their duties and when discharging their responsibilities in good faith.
The Bill will also address matters of duplication and overlap of functions between the RBZ and the Deposit Protection Corporation (DPC) regarding supervision of banking institutions.
Madam President, in my concluding remarks, let me highlight that this Bill recognizes that the Banking Act is lagging behind market developments and regional regulatory standards. Most of the Bill’s provisions reflect best practices in banking legislation. The Bill will strengthen the Banking Act by ensuring that the Act contains the minimum regulatory standards that are necessary for effective regulation of the banking sector.
Madam President, with these remarks, I now move that the Banking Amendment Bill be now read the second time.
HON. SENATOR MLOTSHWA: Thank you Madam President. I
just want some clarity from the Minister, otherwise I think the Banking Amendment Bill is good for country. The Deposit Protection
Corporation, how protected are we the depositors after passing of this Bill against the liquidation of - suppose the institution is de-registered by the Registrar General and also, if there is a change of currency? Also, the conformity to the indigenisation laws by the banks, what does the Bill bring that is new to the operations?
HON. SENATOR MASHAVAKURE: Unfortunately, I did not
have the chance to go through this but I think the Minister can still help me out because I did not hear him talk about these mobile money services that we have. Are they also covered by this; the Ecocash, Telecash and One Wallet? Does the Banking Act of Zimbabwe principles also address issues of mobile banking?
HON. SENATOR CHIMHINI: While I appreciate the protection
on the staff or board members of RBZ, what guarantees do we have that there is no abuse because they can be protected while they can also abuse the system as individuals. Is there a mechanism where the Minister can ensure that they will not go out of tune because they can be protected?
HON. SENATOR B. SIBANDA: Hon. Minister, capitalisation of the ZIM ASSET Management Company (ZAMCO), where is it going to come from?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I must crave the
indulgence of the House to ask the name of the Hon. Senator who spoke about mobile phones so that I can acknowledge him – [HON.
SENATORS: Mashavakure.] – Thank you.
Thank you very much to the Hon. Senators who have made contributions on this Bill. Hon. Mlotshwa you asked the question to what extent are depositors protected. You are, but not adequately as of now. We established the Deposit Protection Corporation, not long ago and the idea is that we build up a fund from which we can meet the full depositors’ funds when a bank goes under. Currently, they are at a stage where they can only meet up to $500, I may be mistaken about the exact amount.
As you know, it is like a company in liquidation. When a company goes into liquidation, you end up almost getting, with respect to your claim, one cent in the dollar of your claim. So, we are in the process of building up that fund and all the commercial banks, once you are a commercial bank you subscribe to this fund which is managed by the Deposit Protection Fund. At least since we established it, there is that partial relief, not full or adequate but at least, especially with small depositors, it can mean quite a lot.
Hon. Senator Mashavakure, you raise a very pertinent question on mobile banking. It is something that has grown like wild fire in Zimbabwe and we had a seminar on Monday where a survey was done and they were now comparing us with Kenya. Kenya started mobile banking way before we started but I am told that we have now overtaken them and that in fact, mobile banking has become almost the bank of first resort for a lot of our people, especially the previously unbanked.
My message to the commercial banks has been to say they must adopt new strategies to a changing environment. The fact that our economy is now unformalised, requests that they have lending practices which are responsive to the needs of the market. I hope that those banks which follow the advice, I am sure over the years they will be able to sustain their operation.
Coming to your question, where does it fit in. This is going to be dealt with in regulations. So, everything will be in detail in the regulations. More so, I think it has to be through regulations because
ICT is a fast changing area and you do not want to fix it and have the rigidity of putting it into an Act of Parliament. It is better handled flexibly in regulations.
Senator Chimhini I am sorry, I missed your point. You spoke quite fast for me to take down the notes.
HON. SENATOR CHIMHINI: Thank you. Minister, you talked about protection of either board members or staff of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, that they would be protected in terms of prosecution as compared to other board members elsewhere. I am saying what mechanism do you have so that there is no abuse of that protection?
HON. CHINAMASA: Let me put the record straight that officials of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe are already protected under the Reserve Bank Act for any activities or any functions they perform in good faith. So, the critical word there is good faith and the lawyers will know the distinction between good faith and bad faith. So, you are not protected for what you do under bad faith, only good faith. Of course, the check against abuse is always the courts. You can be taken to court even where you argue that you have acted in good faith. That issue or whatever conduct is being complained against, someone can raise it in court but it is for the court now to establish whether you acted in good faith or not.
Hon. Sibanda, thank you very much for your question. We have been capitalising ZAMCO from Treasury and it is reasonably well capitalized. Already, the corporation has already taken over in the region of $300 million, give or take of collateralised debt from commercial banks. The total none performing loans come to US$750 million and so far I think we are already halfway but we are only talking collaterised. I want you to understand that we are not doing this for charity. Our investment plan is that a lot of people are losing houses which they collaterised to the banks and for no value. We think that is not fair, so, what we are doing is taking over the loan and the collateral. They will have to cede whatever house or industrial property to ZAMCO.
Our belief is that things will not remain as bad. Over the years, prices will pick up and we will be in a position where some of the people will be able to pay us. Some of them have already started paying us because all they needed was breathing time. Those who do not pay now and we end up selling; at least we will be able to sell for more value to pay the debt and may even have some surplus for the debtor. That is basically what is informing our own decisions on ZAMCO. Thank you.
I move that the Bill be read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 6A, 2015]
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 31 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL [H.B.6A, 2015]
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I now move
that the Banking Amendment Bill [A.B.6A] be now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam President, I rise to
adjourn the House but before I do so, let me take the opportunity to thank Hon. Senators for their work throughout the year. They have done commendable work, more particularly, every time I have come to this House,
I have received unqualified support from this august House.
So, I take the opportunity to wish all Hon. Senators and you Madam President, a happy Christmas and prosperity in the New Year. I am confident that given the policies that we are pursuing, prosperity should be around the corner. With these remarks, I move that the House do now adjourn to 2nd February, 2016.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I also wish to thank the Hon.
Senators for a sterling job that we have done. We really deserve to give ourselves a pat on the back because we did so well [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear] – I wish you a free accident holiday and a merry Christmas. Let us go and eat chicken, goats during Christmas and a Happy New Year holiday.
Motion put and agreed to.
The Senate accordingly adjourned at Nineteen Minutes past Seven
O’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 2nd February, 2016.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 26th November, 2015
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
2016 NATIONAL BUDGET PRESENTATION
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the Hon.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development will present the 2016 National Budget today at 1445 hours.
ROUND TABLE FOR THE ZIMBABWE WOMEN’S
PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform members of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus attending the Round Table at the British Ambassador’s residence to meet outside Nelson Mandela entrance after adjournment of the House.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE POST-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that the Post Budget Seminar has been postponed to the 8th December, 2015 due to accommodation challenges resulting from the ICASA Conference. The seminar will be held at Pandhari Lodge from 0900 hours to 1300 hours. Committees will hold their Post Budget Consultations on 14th and 15th December, 2015. The Schedule of Committee sittings for this exercise will be circulated in due course. Budget debate will commence on 16th December, 2015.
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY
THE HON. SPEAKER: I would like to recognise the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Hon. Dr. Phenyo Butale and his delegation from the Pan African Parliament. You are most welcome.
Business was suspended at Twenty Five Minutes past Two o’clock
p.m and resumed at a Quarter to Three O’clock p.m.
2.45pm
His Excellence the president, Cde. R.G Mugabe in attendance
MOTION
FINANCE BILL: BUDGET DEBATE
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA):
MOTION
- Speaker Sir, I move that leave be granted to present a Statement of the Estimated Revenues and Expenditures of the Republic of Zimbabwe for the 2016 Financial Year and make Provisions for matters ancillary and incidental to this purpose.
- This is in fulfillment of Subsections (1) and (2) of Section 305 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, read together with Section 28 (1)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19].
INTRODUCTION
- Speaker Sir, I will present an abridged version of the 2016 National Budget Statement which I dutifully lay on the Table of Parliament.
- Speaker Sir, in fulfilling the above mandate, allow me to begin by acknowledging the much support I received from various stakeholders, including ordinary Zimbabweans from many walks of life.
- In this regard, allow me first to appreciate the guidance and support I received from His Excellency, the President, Cde. R. G. Mugabe.
- I am grateful to His Excellency for allowing me, in the management of the economy and on many occasions, to lead from the front while ensuring from behind that I maintain the correct line.
- Above all, I am grateful to His Excellency for the lesson he has been hammering into all of us, which is that in matters of style, taste or fashion, we can swim with the current, but in matters of Principle, we should stand like a rock.
- My indebtedness also goes to our two Honourable Vice Presidents and my colleague Honourable Ministers for their valuable contributions.
- Speaker Sir, the contributions of the various Portfolio Committees of Parliament remain invaluable.
- In particular, I found informative the submissions from Honourable Members of Parliament at the 2016 Parliament Pre-Budget Seminar in Victoria Falls over 31 October – 3 November 2015.
- Speaker Sir, allow me to contextualise the framework and policy thrust in 2016 anchored by the ZIMASSET supportive economic reform agenda, the 10-Point Plan and also underpinned by implementation of our Strategy for clearing external debt arrears.
ARREARS CLEARANCE
- Speaker Sir, allow me also to acknowledge the support that Government received from the International Financial Institutions and Development Partners in support of our debt arrears clearance strategy at a meeting in Lima, Peru on the side lines of the 2015 IMF/WB Annual Meetings.
- Therefore, the thrust of the 2016 National Budget is to further consolidate the platform to unlock fresh capital flows into the economy.
- This Budget, Mr.. Speaker Sir, builds on the gains realised from the reengagement process.
- It is envisaged that the settlement of external payment arrears by Government amounting US$1.8 billion owed to multilateral creditors, would be completed in the first half of 2016.
- Speaker Sir, the realisation of this strategy is dependent on:
- Successful completion of our current Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) with the IMF; and
- Engagement of the Paris Club and other Bilateral Creditors for debt resolution, on the strength of our performance under the SMP.
- Government is on course towards the successful completion of the final review of the SMP covering the period to December 2015 that will be done by February 2016.
Post Arrears Clearance
- Speaker Sir, the country’s recovery process requires funding. The local financial markets currently lack capacity to fund projects given the nature of their deposits that are largely short-term demand deposits. Further, Government is not able to fund Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) because of the budget structure that is skewed towards recurrent expenditure.
- Speaker Sir, the adverse effects of an unsustainable debt situation are there for all of us to see – high risk premium, limited access to offshore lines of credit, liquidity constraints and subdued economic performance.
- Post Lima, I resuscitated the Quadripartite Committee comprising Treasury, the Reserve Bank, the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank, and chaired by the Central Bank Governor, Dr J. Mangudya to spearhead the formulation of a Comprehensive Country Financing Programme.
- The key macroeconomic policies and structural measures for the envisaged Country Financing Programme to further consolidate our implementation of the country’s ZIMASSET blueprint are contained in this Budget Statement.
- Speaker Sir, the financial support for the Country Financing Programme is expected from the IMF, World Bank, AfDB and bilateral development partners. Already, these institutions have started accelerating re-engagement scoping missions to the country in readiness to do business with various private sector players.
- This roadmap, together with measures taken to strengthen debt management under the new Public Debt Management Act, will safeguard the country from sliding back into debt problems.
- In this regard, utmost caution is being exercised in contracting debt to avoid non-concessional borrowing that may result in bunching of maturities and unsustainable peaks in debt service payments.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Global developments
- Speaker Sir, the global economic growth rate is expected to marginally fall to 3.1% in 2015 from 3.4% in 2014, and will rebound in 2016 at 3.6%.
- The sub-Saharan African region is projected to grow by 3.8% in 2015, down from the initial projection of 4.4%. A growth rate of 4.3% is expected in 2016.
Commodity Prices
- Prices of hard commodities, particularly gold, nickel, platinum, coal, chrome and crude oil are likely to remain depressed in 2016.
- Developments on the international commodity markets have important implications for Zimbabwe given the structure of our balance of payments account. Almost 23% of our import bill is on diesel and petrol, and therefore, low oil prices will benefit the country. Depressed hard commodity prices will, however, negatively affect the country’s balance of payments account given our reliance on commodity exports.
- Commodity price volatilities build a compelling case for Zimbabwe to focus more and expedite implementation of the strategy on value addition and diversification.
Domestic economic developments
- The domestic economy grew by 1.5% in 2015 as a result of favourable performance of the tourism (4.7%), finance & insurance (6%) construction (7%), communication (4.2%) sectors that grew by between 1.3% and 3.9%.
- However, the underperformance of agriculture (-3.6%), mining (-2.5%) as well as electricity and water (-10.8%) negatively affected the overall economic performance.
- The economy is projected to grow by 2.7% in 2016 from 1.5% in 2015. Almost all the sectors are expected to register reasonable growth of between 1.3% and 4.5%. In order to catch up for the lost time, we need higher economic growth rates.
- Inflation has generally remained low. It reached minus 3.3% in October from minus 1.3% in January 2015. The negative inflation levels are expected in 2016.
- Inflation deceleration reflects a combination of continuous price correction, weak aggregate demand, tight liquidity conditions and competitive pressures arising from the depreciation of the Rand against the United States dollar.
- The country has been experiencing a trade deficit due to subdued exports, undiversified export basket, export market concentration and insatiable appetite for imports (some of which are available locally - grains, foodstuffs, chemicals and pharmaceutical products).
- Exports are projected at US$3.4 billion against imports of US$6.3 billion, giving a trade deficit of US$2.9 billion in 2015.
- In 2016, exports are projected to increase to US$3.7 billion from the US$3.4 billion in 2015 because of the anticipated favourable performance of minerals (gold, diamonds, nickel, chrome ore and chrome fines), tobacco and horticultural produce.
- Imports are projected to marginally decline to US$6.2 billion from US$6.3 billion largely due to measures that Government introduced to curtail nonessential imports.
- The current account deficit indicates that there are unrecorded transactions which suggest that it [the deficit] is being funded through unofficial remittances and proceeds from smuggling of exports.
Public Debt
- Mr. Speaker Sir, the country’s public and publicly guaranteed debt including arrears as at 30 September 2015 is estimated at US$8.368 billion, of which US$1.290 billion is domestic debt while US$7.078 billion is external. Of this debt, US$5.634 billion or 67.3% is in arrears.
Domestic Debt
- Mr. Speaker Sir, the bulk of the public domestic debt relates to market issuance of Treasury Bills following the assumption of the Reserve Bank debt under the Reserve Bank Debt Assumption Act.
BUDGET OUTTURN
- Mr. Speaker, Sir, the 2015 Budget remained under pressure due to a combination of constrained revenues and a static cost structure. This made it difficult for Treasury to make timely payments to trade creditors and pensioners; and financing public investment projects.
Revenue Performance January – September 2015
- Revenue for the 9 months to September 2015, at US$2.633 billion underperformed the target of US$2.795 billion by US$162 million or 5.8%.
- VAT contribution fell to 26% from an average of 30% of total revenue during 2012 and 2013 due to a significant increase in refunds, tax avoidance, and a growing list of zero-rated and exempt items. Treasury will intensify audits, review the schedule of VAT zero-rated and exempt items, as well as expedite the implementation of the Tax Management System by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMR.A).
Revenue projections to December 2015
- Mr. Speaker, Sir, the slowdown in economic performance during the first half of the year necessitated a downward revision of projected budget revenues from US$3.99 billion to US$3.6 billion for the full year ending 31 December 2015.
Expenditures
- Expenditure to 30 September 2015 was US$3.29 billion. Of this amount, US$2.89 billion represented total expenditure and net lending while
US$401 million went towards servicing the country’s loans.
- Recurrent expenditure outlays, at 93% of total expenditure and net lending, continue to account for a disproportionate share of the budget.
- Capital expenditure for the 9 months was US$213.1 million or 6% of the budget. This is an unsustainable situation given the importance of investment in setting a robust base for the country’s economic recovery.
Deficit Financing
- The budget deficit as at 30 September 2015 was US$527 million which was funded through domestic borrowing. This practice crowds out private sector investment.
- Speaker Sir, allow me now to turn to the 2016 Budget Framework.
2016 BUDGET FRAMEWORK
- Speaker, Sir, the policy thrust of the 2016 National Budget is to address bottlenecks that continue to frustrate our recovery efforts namely infrastructural gaps, lack of industry competitiveness, reliance on commodity exports, low productivity, inefficient public institutions, low market confidence, low savings and investment ratios as well as rising corruption in both private and public institutions among others.
- Climate change is also making it difficult to reliably forecast weather conditions. Further, the country has been experiencing droughts that are negatively affecting the agricultural sector productivity.
- Government has already started implementing strategies to resolve the country’s external payment arrears and international re-engagement. These initiatives, coupled with our membership to the Africa Trade Insurance Company will help unlock access to fresh capital at affordable interest rates, and also diversify the possible sources of funding for the country.
PROPOSALS FOR THE 2016 BUDGET
- Speaker Sir, consistent with our macroeconomic framework, I propose a budget of US$4 billion in 2016 against projected revenues of US$3.85 billion resulting in a deficit of US$150 million or minus 1.1% of GDP that will be funded largely through domestic borrowings.
- The 2016 recurrent expenditure budget is estimated at US$3.685 billion representing 92.1% of the budget.
- Speaker, Sir, because of the high levels of recurrent expenditures, tight liquidity conditions and limited access to international capital, the policy objective to redirect more resources to investments may not be achieved immediately.
- Therefore, the proposed allocation to capital projects for 2016 is US$315 million or 7.9% of the total budget.
Recurrent Expenditure
- Under the proposed allocations, employment costs are US$3.191 billion while US$494 million is earmarked for operations. In view of declining revenue and the huge employment costs, there is little scope for increasing vote allocations for 2016.
- Speaker Sir, let me now relate recurrent expenditure to individual Votes. The recurrent budget, net of Constitutional and Statutory appropriations, has been designed to maintain basic services and programmes, although the indicated amounts do not match the individual
Ministries’ 2016 Budget bid submissions.
- The recurrent Budget is dominated by Primary and Secondary Education, Home Affairs, Defence, Health and Child Care, Higher and Tertiary
Education, Science and Technology, Office of the President and Cabinet, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development; and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Votes. The nine (9) Votes constitute 82.86% of the total recurrent expenditure excluding Constitutional and Statutory provisions.
- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education with an allocation of US$810.43 million has the largest share of the votes accounting for 23.85% of recurrent expenditure net of Constitutional and Statutory provisions. When combined with Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, the two votes account for 32.8% of recurrent expenditure outside Constitutional and Statutory provisions.
- I have allocated US$395.85 million or 11.65% of recurrent expenditure net of Constitutional and Statutory provisions to Home Affairs. This makes the Ministry the second largest.
- Speaker Sir, Defence, with an allocation of US$357.67 million is the third largest vote. This is a key Ministry given the need to maintain peace and security.
- I have allocated US$330.79 million to Health and Child Care vote for the recurrent expenditure which represents 9.73% of recurrent expenditure net of Constitutional and Statutory provisions. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am aware that this allocation falls short of the Abuja Declaration target of 15%.
- Speaker Sir, Government continues to place great importance on Health and Education as far as the allocation of our scarce resources is concerned.
POLICY MEASURES
- Mr. Speaker Sir, I now turn to some of the major policy measures for 2016.
REVITALISING AGRICULTURE
- Appropriate policies, efficient institutions and systems are essential to counter the effects of climate change and revitalise agriculture in order to ensure a successful 2015/16 agricultural season.
Financing of Agriculture
- The agricultural programme for the 2015/16 summer crop targets a total of 2.1 million hectares for grain crops with a budgetary requirement of about US$1.7 billion.
- Financing of agriculture will be through the following:
- Banking Sector Support - the banking sector, under the coordination of the Reserve Bank, has set aside about US$1 billion.
- Anchor Farmers - the Reserve Bank has already announced its readiness to facilitate additional financial facilities under which commercial banks will identify productive anchor farmers who will be targeted for enhanced support and recapitalisation at affordable interest rates.
- Contract Farming Arrangements - contract farming has become an important financing model for agriculture in Zimbabwe, particularly in tobacco, cotton, barley, soya and sorghum. Contracts for 2015/16 season valued at US$392.9 million have since been concluded.
- Farmers’ Own Financing – timely payments to farmers for deliveries made to GMB enhance their capacity to finance their own operations. Government paid US$67.8 million towards the 2014/15 arrears and deliveries for the 2015/16 agricultural marketing season. Government has cleared all its arrears to farmers for the maize grain deliveries.
Vulnerable Households
- Speaker Sir, US$28 million was allocated for the Presidential Agricultural Support Input Scheme targeting 300,000 vulnerable households for the 2015/16 agricultural season.
Restoration of the Stop Order System
- Restoring the stop order system is vital to the sustainability of agricultural financing.
- Government will review Section 11 of the Farmers Stop Order Act in order to promote the participation of all financial institutions; and curb side marketing through orderly marketing of crops.
- Speaker Sir, let me now turn to efforts by the Government to revive the production of cotton, horticultural products and soya bean.
Cotton
- The cotton industry has been grappling with numerous challenges resulting in output falling from a peak of 353,000 tonnes in 2000/2001 to 95,000 tonnes in 2015. As a result, private companies exited the cotton industry, while Cottco, a major player in the industry with about 35% market share has been on the verge of collapse.
- Government, in August 2015, took over Cottco to restore its role in the cotton industry value chain that benefits more than 300,000 smallholder farmers in rural communities around the Gokwe, Sanyati, Rushinga and Chisumbanje areas.
- Speaker Sir, a total of US$25.8 million was availed for the cotton Input Financing Scheme targeting 250,000 ha in the current season. Mechanisms to ensure efficient management of the Input Scheme Programme, introduction of a Stop Order System, registration of farmers, and marketing of cotton through designated buying points are some of the initiatives taken by the Government to promote the resuscitation of the sector.
- Speaker Sir, Government will also be giving free cotton inputs to cotton farmers for the next three seasons in order to encourage farmers to return to cotton production.
- Further to Government support, there are also Contract Farming arrangements targeting 255,000 ha that will benefit 157,500 growers.
Horticulture
- At its peak, the horticulture sector was the second largest foreign currency earner after tobacco, and contributed 2.6% to GDP in 2005. However, the sector has been declining due to challenges relating to capacity and access to markets.
- Government applauds the initiative by the industry players to establish a Horticulture Development Board to coordinate implementation of the country’s horticulture strategy.
- Speaker Sir, in this Budget, fiscal incentives for incremental exports of horticultural products will be given.
Soya Bean
- Speaker, Sir, Government seeks to increase soya bean production from the current levels of below 60,000 tonnes to about 240,000 tonnes.
- Banks have so far availed US$25 million towards soya bean production during the 2015/16 agricultural season.
Mechanisation Programme
- Speaker, Sir, in May 2015, His Excellency the President successfully launched the US$98.6 million More Food International Programme financed by a loan facility from the Brazilian Government which caters for agriculture machinery and equipment, targeting 21,136 small holder A1 and communal farmers on 178 irrigation schemes across the country’s various Provinces.
- As at end of October, equipment worth US$32.8 million had been received; and distributed to all provinces on a full cost recovery basis. In this regard, the necessary recovery arrangements have been put in place through Agribank.
- The second Phase, with equipment valued at US$30 million, depends on the successful implementation of the first tranche. Therefore, honouring the obligations by the beneficiaries is essential to the sustainability of the More Food International Programme from Brazil.
Utilisation of Water Bodies
- Under-utilisation of the country’s water bodies remains a major cause of concern. There is, therefore, need to utilise these bodies particularly in view of the risks associated with climate change. To this end, developing an integrated value chain system as well as rehabilitating and developing the irrigation infrastructure is imperative.
Irrigation
- The country has a total of 220,000 hectares of installed irrigation capacity out of which 155,000 hectares is functional.
- A total of US$2.6 million was availed in 2015 towards completion of 13 irrigation schemes covering about 635 hectares which are ready for commissioning.
- Irrigation development will be given priority under the 2016 National Budget targeting 11,290 ha of irrigable land that will benefit 3,890 households throughout the country. This development will be funded from the Budget to the tune of US$7 million and US$8.6 million from Development Partners.
- Speaker Sir, allow me to acknowledge the support we continue to receive from Development Partners towards irrigation development.
European Union (EU) Support for Irrigation
- The EU availed US$2.6 million out of a budget of US$7.8 million through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) towards technical support for 20 irrigation schemes covering 1,206 hectares in Beitbridge, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Gwanda, Makoni and Mangwe districts.
Swiss Supported Projects
- The Swiss Development Cooperation availed US$1.3 million for rehabilitating 14 schemes, covering 656 hectares for the benefit of over 1,425 households in Bikita, Gutu, Masvingo and Zaka districts. Japanese Supported Projects
- Speaker Sir, Government signed a US$15 million Grant Agreement with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the rehabilitation and development of the 674ha Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme; starting in 2016 with a disbursement of US$6 million.
IFAD Supported Projects
- Negotiations with the International Fund for Agricultural Development for a US$60 million concessionary loan facility, under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme are underway. Discussions on this facility are to be concluded on 7 December 2015, and the project rollout is expected to start in 2017.
Kuwait and Abu Dhabi Funds Supported Projects
- The Kuwait Fund and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development have expressed interest to co-finance the Zhove Irrigation Scheme with contributions of US$20 million and US$8.7 million respectively. Under the Protocol Agreement, Government will contribute US$7 million.
Research and Extension Services
- Research and Development is vital to the development of a sustainable agricultural sector. I, therefore, propose an allocation of US$3 million towards Research and Extension Services in order for them to resume research work.
Development of Property Rights among A1 and A2 Farmers
- Speaker Sir, Government has been working on measures to improve the security of tenure of both the A1 and A2 farmers with the support of the European Union and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that have availed €4.74 million and €500,000 respectively.
- The exercise involves remapping the land in order to establish the new farm boundaries that should inform key decisions such as valuations, compensation, dispute resolution and capacitating the future Zimbabwe Land Commission.
- Furthermore, the programme will facilitate issuance of permits and tradable lease agreements, thereby giving economic value to land under both the A1 and A2 resettlement model.
- The exercise while ensuring that A1 and A2 farmers will undertake their farming operations under secure boundaries is the first step towards eventual granting of property rights to A1 and A2 farmers.
Livestock Development
Milk Production - Dairy Herd
- Government will facilitate the importation of some dairy heifers in order to increase the herd from the current level of 28,000. Government will also provide incentives for companies participating in dairy outgrower schemes.
BENEFICIATION AND/OR VALUE ADDITION
- The Government remains committed to implementing the beneficiation and value addition strategies in the mining and manufacturing sectors.
Mining Sector
Gold
- Designating Fidelity Printers and Refiners as the sole buyer and exporter of gold in December 2013, the subsequent ban on the export of unrefined gold; and fiscal measures in 2014 and 2015 have yielded positive results.
- Speaker Sir, production of gold is projected to reach 24 tonnes in 2016 compared with an expected 18.7 tonnes in 2015.
Consolidation of Diamond Mining Companies
- Speaker Sir, the consolidation of the diamond sector, whose objective is to plug leakages through close monitoring, enhancing oversight, transparency and accountability in the sector, is underway. However, the process will no doubt take a bit of time.
- Government has, as part of the consolidation framework, established and registered a company, the Zimbabwe Diamond Mining Corporation which will run the affairs of all diamond mines in the country, with the various diamond mining firms acquiring shares in the consolidated mining company.
- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development will proceed to work with the three concessions belonging to Marange Resources, Kusena and Gyname under the consolidated Diamond Mining Company. In this regard, Government has already sourced equipment to undertake expanded diamond mine activities from Belarus.
Diamond cutting and polishing
- Aurex, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank has already started cutting and polishing diamonds, benefiting from state of the art cutting and polishing machinery acquired from India.
Chrome
- Pursuant to the lifting of the ban on the export of raw chrome and chrome fines, Government established a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to buy chrome ore from small scale miners, and grow exports that are vital to enhancing the level of liquidity in the country.
- Government also licensed 12 smelting companies to export chrome ore which is excess of their smelting capacity. The first shipments of chrome fines started about three weeks ago.
Coal bed methane gas
- Plans to invest over $2.1 billion towards setting up gas mines, power stations and dams in the Gwayi - Lupane areas are underway. Progress has been made and an investor has completed exploration in Dandanda area in Lupane and Binga. The project has the capacity to produce 300MW of electricity.
Coal
- Speaker Sir, in December 2014, Hwange Colliery Company Limited got a Government guaranteed Line of Credit Facility amounting to US$13.03 million from the Export Import Bank of India for the purchase of mining equipment and spare parts.
- Further, the Company will benefit from a PTA Bank facility of US$18 million, also guaranteed by Government, for the procurement of dump trucks from Belarus.
- Speaker Sir, during the course of the year Government underwrote the
Company’s Rights Issue and also converted the Company’s debt into equity.
- All these initiatives were expected to increase coal production and revenue inflows, guarantee coal supplies to local industries and to improve Hwange’s productive efficiency. Unfortunately, there has not been any noticeable change of the Company’s performance. Management should urgently address this situation.
Resuscitation of Dormant Mines
- The country is losing revenue from closed mines and those under care and maintenance such as Kamativi and Shabanie-Mashaba mines. Government will, therefore, take advantage of the recovery in mineral prices to resuscitate these mines with potential to create over 3,000 jobs.
- With regard to tin mining, ZMDC signed a Joint Venture Arrangement with a Chinese company, Beijing Ping Chang Investments, in September 2015 with a view of investing $102 million into the tin mine which is estimated to have reserves of around 100 million tons.
Geological Survey
- I propose to capacitate the Geological Survey Department in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development with funding for the purchase of equipment and technology that will enable it to carry out enhanced exploration activities.
Cadastre Mining Titles Management Information System
- Government will through E-Government and Cadastre Mining Titles Management Information System, computerise the country’s register of all minerals data including geographical location, mineral rights and titles, claims and mineral quantum.
- The envisaged system will enhance efficiency in managing claims and dispute resolution.
Mining Legislation
- Speaker Sir, amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act already approved by Cabinet but not yet gazetted, primarily provide mining title for a specified period, and require holders of mining titles/rights to work their claims within a specified period. Mining firms will also be compelled
to establish funds or make other provisions to meet the cost of addressing environmental degradation arising from their mining activities.
- Speaker, Sir, let me now turn to the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing
- Mr. Speaker Sir, level of capacity utilisation in the manufacturing remains extremely low. Government has, therefore, initiated some measures to help the manufacturing sector through fiscal and import tariff reviews on some selected products, access to resources (Distressed Industry Marginalisation Assistance Facility (DiMAF)) and Zimbabwe Economic and Trade Revival Facility (ZETREF)) and investment approvals.
ENCOURAGING PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT
National Competitiveness
- Constraints to the country’s competiveness are reflected in inefficiencies in the goods, labour and financial markets, slow uptake of new technology, high tax rates, infrastructure deficiency and multiplicity of business licences and levies.
- Government has already transformed the National Incomes and Pricing Commission (NIPC) to the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) in order to address competitiveness challenges. Therefore, operationalising the NCC will be expedited in 2016.
Ease of Doing Business Reforms
- Focused commitment on implementation of reforms pays dividends. Zimbabwe’s rank, in the recently published 2016 World Bank Ease of Doing Business improved from 171 in 2015 to 155 out of 189 countries.
- Also, the country’s rate under the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) improved from 2.3 in 2013 to 2.7 in 2014.
- Government will intensify efforts to address the cost and ease of doing business in 2016. This area is under the purview of the Office of the President and Cabinet under the Rapid Results Approach.
Indigenisation and Empowerment Framework
- Speaker Sir, the position of the indigenisation in the resources sector has been clarified on several occasions by His Excellency the President, to reflect that the contribution of our designated entities towards 51% shareholding will be effected through the resource being exploited, and at no monetary cost to the Government or designated entities.
- Consultations towards strengthening and clarifying the processes of implementing the indigenisation policies in the sectors of the economy outside the resources sector have been completed.
- To this end, the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, will be announcing and gazetting before Christmas the frameworks, templates and procedures for implementing the indigenisation policies in a manner that both promotes investment and eliminates discretionary application of the Law.
Efficiency at Border Posts
- Efficiency at border posts is important to both exporters and importers through avoiding unnecessary costly delays and other administrative costs. Government will expedite the process of transforming border posts into a one-stop centre.
Special Economic Zone
- The Special Economic Zones Bill was approved by Cabinet, and was gazetted on 23rd of November 2015. This will pave way for the implementation of the SEZs.
Tourism
- Tourism, one of ZIMASSET’s quick wins, is recognised as one of the pillars anchoring Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and growth.
- Speaker Sir, the Tourism Enhancement supported by the African Development Bank is progressing well. A total of US$0.6 million against an allocation of US$1.3 million was disbursed as at 30 September 2015, with an additional US$200,000 expected by end of year. In 2016, US$500,000 will be disbursed towards the tourism enhancement project.
Victoria Falls Tourism Special Economic Zone
- Speaker Sir, the designation of the corridor stretching from Victoria Falls to Gwayi to Binga and Kariba as a Tourism Special Economic Zone International Financial Centre should be followed up with the necessary investments for the economy to realise the tourism potential arising out of this.
- Already, Government has availed 274 hectares of land to a Special
Purpose Vehicle, the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company incorporated in March 2012 through the Ministry of Tourism and
Hospitality to facilitate the implementation of this concept.
- This project should leverage on the various tourism products already in existence, which include, among others, leisure, business; conferences, financial, medical, sports, religious, cultural; and education.
Official Diaspora Remittances
- Diaspora remittances are an important source of capital. Government will finalise the National Diaspora Policy in order to harness official remittances.
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF SMES
- Despite the role that the SME sector plays in sustaining the livelihoods of many people, the sector continues to face many challenges.
- Speaker Sir, Government will introduce the following measures to address these challenges:
- SMEs industrial parks;
- Completion of Indo-Zim Common Facility Centres;
- SME bank (SMEDCO capitalisation);
- Entrepreneurial skills upgrading;
- Market access through business to business linkages and trade promotion;
- Cooperatives development;
- Promotion of value chains through SMEs; and
- Development of the SMEs formalisation strategy.
Women Empowerment
- Notwithstanding resource constraints, the 2016 Budget prioritises women empowerment projects and programmes.
- In considering various bids from line Ministries, Treasury was guided by the policy requirement for line Ministries to reflect gender mainstreaming in their Budgets, through gender specific Budget lines.
- Hence, the Budget thrust is on carrying forward the various women empowerment projects and programmes in line with the above requirement as well as the ZIMASSET objectives on value addition and poverty eradication.
Youth Empowerment
- Youth empowerment is being pursued through a combination of skills training and facilitating access to finance. Supporting Vocational Training Centres is crucial for the development of technical skills required to support our development agenda. During the period January to September 2015, Government supported Kaguvi, Magamba and Chaminuka training centres, among others.
- The International Labour Organisation is also supporting youth sponsored centres. The support targets equipping youth training on business projects and marketing. Government will complement this effort by allocating US$75,000 per Administrative District.
- On the 16th of October 2015, Government launched a US$10 million Localised Empowerment Accelerated Fund (LEAF) that will be administered through Banks for the benefit of the Youths.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND UTILITIES
Energy
- Government has prioritised the following projects:
- Hwange 7 & 8 Expansion Project;
- Kariba South Extension Power Project;
- Deka Pump Station; and
- Bulawayo, Harare, and Munyati Small Thermal Power Stations
Other Generation Plants
- In addition, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) signed EPC contracts for the construction of Insukamini and Gwanda solar plants with potential generation capacity of 100MW each.
- Resource mobilisation for the construction of a 30MW hydro plant at Gairezi is currently underway.
Emergency Power Station
- Government is looking at options of procuring rented diesel power, with potential to generate 200MW at short notice.
Independent Power Producers
- Government liberalised the energy sector by encouraging the participation of Independent Power Producers (IPPs). To date 20 IPPs have been licensed, and Government stands ready to support such projects by providing Non-Financial Guarantees, incentives and regulatory support for the projects. As of now projects by Per Lusulu, Makomo Resources and China Africa Sunlight Energy (Private) Limited are promising.
Rural Electrification
- The Rural Electrification programme is key to promoting inclusive development. Mr. Speaker Sir, I propose a Fund of US$27.1 million to be supplemented by US$1.2 million in fiscal resources towards the Rural Electrification Programme.
Electricity Bill Arrears
- ZETDC’s debtors stood at US$1 billion as at 30 September 2015. This has had a negative impact of the Company’s operations. ZETDC should, therefore, expedite the installation of the prepaid metres.
Dam Construction Projects
Tokwe Murkosi Dam
- Speaker Sir, implementation of the Tokwe Murkosi Dam project had been affected by the limited capacity of the Budget to finance the remaining works and the outstanding amounts due to the contractor.
- I am happy to report that following consultations between Government and the contractor, we have been able to pay US$40 million to the contractor over August - November this year.
- This has enabled us to liquidate some of the outstanding certificates as well as capacitate the contractor to mobilise and undertake the outstanding works estimated at US$27 million.
- Government, working together with the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe is looking at options of mobilising additional private sector funding to complete the remaining works, leveraging of investments already made on the project.
Marovanyati Dam
- Speaker Sir, you will be aware that works on the Marovanyati Dam Project, meant to provide water to Murambinda Growth Point and surrounding communal irrigation schemes, had stalled due to financial constraints. Remaining works require US$33 million over 30 months.
- I am proposing to allocate US$8 million of fiscal resources to enable the resumption of works on the project.
Causeway Dam
- I propose to allocate US$4 million for the construction of Causeway Dam on the Macheke River about 64km from Marondera.
- The dam will supply water to the new Marondera University, irrigate 1,800ha of land and neighbouring communities such as Svosve, Zviyambe, Dorowa and Chiduku communal areas.
Water and Sanitation for Local Authorities
- I propose to channel a total of US$2 million from tax revenues to the following local authorities: Chinhoyi Municipality (US$900,000), Hwange Local Board (US$300,000), Mvurwi Town Council (US$200,000), Chipinge Town Council (US$300,000); and Gwanda Municipality (US$300,000).
- Further, I propose to allocate US$0.6 million through DDF for the rehabilitation of 240 boreholes and drilling of 56 new boreholes countrywide.
Zim-Fund Phase II Water and Sewer Projects
- A total of US$18 million is expected in 2016 to facilitate project implementation.
- This Project will be financed to the tune of US$35.99 million, and targets water and sewerage infrastructure rehabilitation in Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Redcliff.
UNICEF Wash Programme
- The programme targets rehabilitation of water and sewage systems, hygiene promotion, institutional capacity development to facilitate sustainability, and stakeholder coordination to ensure optimal and cost effective use of resources. The programme is expected to avail US$6.6 million in 2016.
- With regards to the Rural Wash Programme, UNICEF is also drilling new boreholes and rehabilitating broken-down boreholes in 33 districts in Mashonaland West, Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces. An amount of US$13.5 million will be availed through UNICEF in 2016, targeting construction and repair of 200 and 2,000 boreholes respectively; 3,000 latrines and sanitation facilities for 240 schools.
Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund
- Support under the programme in 2016 amounts to US$7.6 million targeting the following local authorities: Lupane, Guruve, Nembudziya, Gutu, Zimunya, Mataga and Madziva.
Transport
- Speaker, Sir, the Victoria Falls Airport project, built at an estimated cost of US$150 million, will be commissioned by the end of this year. The new airport has the capacity to handle around 1.2 million passengers per annum compared to the existing capacity of 400,000.
- Government has also completed Phase I of the Harare Airport Road Project; the Save, Mbembesi, Little Sebakwe and Musavezi bridge approaches which have all improved the flow of traffic on these sections of the road network. Phase I of the Harare Airport Road was in effect commissioned by His Excellency the President only yesterday.
- For the 2016 financial year, I propose to channel US$135.8 million to the transport sector, financed from tax revenues, US$20.7 million; retained funds, US$77.1 million; own resources, US$10 million, as well as US$28 million in loan financing
Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway Dualisation Project
- Honourable Members will be aware that Government, in August 2015, amicably resolved the long standing legal dispute that had undermined the implementation of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway Dualisation Project.
- The resolution of the dispute has allowed Government to plan and seek investors interested in the dualisation of the 971 km highway, to be implemented through the Public Private Partnership
Rail Projects
- Speaker Sir, efforts to mobilise US$1.9 billion for the capacitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), including rehabilitation of the rail network, are still to bear fruit.
- Meanwhile, I propose to allocate US$3 million from tax revenues to be complemented by NRZ’s own resources of US$10 million.
Housing Construction
- Government applauds efforts by the Honorable Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to restore order in the national housing delivery sector by ending the malpractices of the selfanointed “Land Barons”. This intervention facilitated restoration of Rule of Law thereby allowing sanity to prevail in the sector.
- Speaker, Sir, Government is exploring the formulation of a policy to transfer all undeveloped urban State land onto the balance sheet of the Urban Development Corporation (UDCORP) in order for it to leverage its balance sheet for the mobilisation of resources required for servicing land for housing and industrial infrastructure development.
Solar for Housing
- Solar geysers can reduce the average household’s cost of heating water by up to 40 percent.
- Accordingly, future new housing construction schemes will be required to install solar geysers. The Finance Act already provides tax incentives for importation of solar equipment.
Role of the Private Sector
- Mr. Speaker Sir, we would want to applaud the private sector for complementing Government efforts in mobilising resources for housing projects.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES REFORM
- State Owned Enterprises which have long been identified as a source of fiscal leakages due to their continuous loss making and over-reliance on Government grants and subsidies are being restructured.
- Government has since prioritised the following ten major public entities for initial reform.
- Currently, auditors have been engaged to conduct forensic audits into the operations of the Grain Marketing Board and the Cold Storage Company.
These audits, Mr. Speaker Sir, will enable Government to make informed restructuring policy decisions.
- Government is also finalising work on a Corporate Governance Bill which will establish corporate governance and performance principles for state owned enterprises. This will be ready by the first half of 2016.
ZISCOSTEEL
- Speaker, Sir, the country cannot enjoy a meaningful recovery without a robust steel industry. It is imperative that efforts to resuscitate ZISCOSTEEL be expedited.
- Central to this will be the need to free the Zisco balance sheet of historical “baggage liabilities”, including an accumulation of new obligations with regards to wages that arise on account of workers that are not producing anything, and are actually sitting at home or pursuing other engagements.
- Accordingly, all contracts for Zisco employees will be terminated on a 3 month notice with effect from 1 December 2015. Government will, therefore, through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, be updating Honourable Members on the progress in engaging a new investor.
Performance Audits
- In addition to the support by the World Bank, I propose to commit US$2 million to the Office of Auditor General to facilitate performance audits.
- I am also creating a dedicated Public Enterprises Reform and Monitoring
Unit in the Accountant General’s Department under my Ministry to:
- Vigorously monitor public entities’ performance;
- Proactively coordinate the implementation of restructuring reforms; and
- Analyse budgets and financial statements of public entities.
Auditor General’s Observations
- In my 2015 Mid-Year Review, I highlighted that Government was instituting measures to address concerns raised in the Auditor General’s Narrative Reports.
- I propose to establish another Unit within the Accountant General’s Department that will analyse the audit reports and enforce compliance.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Education
Junior and Secondary Education Infrastructure Bonds
- Speaker Sir, the infrastructure at most primary and secondary schools remains inadequate resulting in students travelling long distances to school or shortening of learning periods.
- In complimenting Budget financing, Government will in 2016 vigorously pursue floating an infrastructure bond to be underwritten by School Development Association levies.
- Furthermore, in 2016, Government will focus on completion of the various education infrastructure currently under construction, with more emphasis on newly resettlement farming areas.
Higher and Tertiary Education Infrastructure Bonds
- Speaker Sir, our State Universities, Polytechnics, Teachers Colleges and other Tertiary State Institutions require investment in physical infrastructure that includes staff and student accommodation, lecture theatres, laboratories, workshops, sporting facilities, administration blocks and student service centres.
- Government will, therefore, in 2016 vigorously pursue arrangements for the financing of infrastructure through issuance of an infrastructure bond, to be underwritten by rentals paid by students and staff.
- To enhance market acceptance, the following features will be provided:
- Government guarantee; Prescribed asset status; and
- Liquid asset status.
- As part of the security of the bond, a sinking fund will be created, ceded and escrowed to ring fence receivables.
Health Care
- Mr. Speaker Sir, our investment in the public health care system is yielding positive returns.
Public Health
- Speaker Sir, malaria still remains a preventable public health challenge. I propose to allocate US$1 millionin support of the Malaria Indoor Residual Spraying programme, as well as Pre-elimination of Malaria programme, covering the malaria prone zone of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo and Mashonaland West.
- Speaker Sir, Non-Communicable diseases and conditions continue to pose a growing public health challenge. Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, cancer and mental health conditions continue to afflict a growing number of Zimbabweans. Mr. Speaker Sir, I propose to allocate US$1.5 million towards improving the capacity of our public health facilities.
Primary Health care
- Speaker Sir, we shall continue investing in low cost high impact primary care interventions which focus on community health and preventive care. Mr.. Speaker Sir, I propose to allocate US$7 million for this purpose in the 2016 Budget.
- An additional US$575 000 will be allocated towards the construction of five rural health centres, namely Chibila, Siyabuwa, Munemo, Dhongamuzi and Mbuya Maswa.
Hospital Care
- Speaker Sir, Government is progressively strengthening the capacity of our district, provincial and central hospitals which respond to referrals as well as offer specialised care.
- Speaker Sir, I propose to allocate US$13.7 million in 2016 as support towards the provision of medical services, and also set aside US$23.2 million towards on-going works at various hospitals.
Kuwait Fund
- Mr. Speaker Sir, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has since availed a grant amounting to US$1 million earmarked for the preparation of technical, economic feasibility study and detailed designs for the construction of two 140 bedded district hospitals in Harare with full supporting services.
Health Development Fund
- In 2016, a total of US$75.8 million will be made available under the Health Development Fund, of which the EU will contribute US$59.2 million with the balance to be availed by other above mentioned development partners.
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER SUPPORT
- Speaker, Sir, allow me to acknowledge and commend the support from Development Partners.
- The estimated support from the Development Partners in 2016 is US$171.2 million.
FINANCIAL SECTOR STABILITY
- A number of initiatives have so far been implemented in order to restore financial sector stability. It should be recognised that the financial sector is central to resource mobilisation and financing of investment. The Governor of the Central Bank will give a detailed account on the State of the Banking Sector in his forthcoming Monetary Policy Statement. I will, however, focus on non-deposit taking financial institutions.
Pensions and Insurance Industry
Compliance with the Insurance Act
- Speaker, Sir, the current insurance legislation restricts placing of insurance business offshore in respect of risks arising in the country, unless authorised by the Regulator. However, a significant number of foreign businesses are placing local insurance business offshore without exhausting local capacity and without obtaining the approval of IPEC.
- I, therefore, propose to review the fine from Level 6 to 14 on the standard scale of fines or a penalty equivalent to the sum assured, whichever is higher.
Compliance with Prescribed Asset Requirement
- Non-compliance with the Prescribed Asset Requirements has been rampant in the insurance industry.
- I propose to introduce measures that include review of qualifying assets for calculation of prescribed assets, an agreed roadmap on compliance between Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) and industry players as well as deterrent penalties which include cancellation of operating licences.
Review of Minimum Capital Requirements
- Given the dynamic nature of the financial services sector and the need for adequate capital that is commensurate with risks involved as well as assumed in the insurance business, I propose an upward review of minimum capital requirements for short term and life insurers as follows:
Table 1: Minimum Capital Requirements
Class of Business |
Current (US$) | Proposed (US$) |
By |
Short Term Insurers | 1,500,000 | 2,500,000 | 31 December 2016 |
Life Assurance | 2,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 31 December 2016 |
Funeral Assurance | 1,500,000 | 2,500,000 | 31 December 2016 |
- IPEC will soon be reviewing the qualifying assets for minimum capital requirements to improve asset quality.
Conversion of Insurance and Pensions Values
- Government established a Commission of Inquiry into the conversion of insurance and pension values from the Zimbabwe dollar to the United States dollar. The primary task of the Commission is to assess fairness in the conversion process. Information gathered from the public will be used to determine an appropriate compensation and value entitlement for former and current insurance and pension subscribers. The hearings and other submissions started on 30 October, and this is expected to be closed by 3 December 2015.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Rationalisation of the Public Service
- Speaker Sir, Cabinet noted with concern during its Third Meeting of 10th February 2015 that wage expenditures of over 80% of the Budget are leaving little room for development expenditures.
- Pursuant to redressing this, Cabinet resolved “that consideration be given to some rationalisation of the country’s Public Service Establishment in order to cut down the size of the wage bill”.
- In this regard, Cabinet directed the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Service to proceed with the rationalisation of the country’s Public Service Establishment in conjunction with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and the various line Ministers.
- Speaker Sir, Cabinet recently considered the recommendations of this Inter-Ministerial consultative process, which drew input from the Civil Service Human Resource and Payroll Systems Audit Report undertaken by the Civil Service Commission, and has accordingly, approved implementation of various rationalisation measures which will unlock savings of around US$14.2 million per month from the 2016 Budget.
Public Service Pension Fund
- Cabinet has adopted the principle of migrating from a Pay-As-You-Go to Defined Benefit pension arrangement to ensure long term financial sustainability.
- Furthermore, a decision to re-introduce employee pension contributions at the rate of 7.5% of pensionable emoluments from 1st December 2015 was made. This is an important step towards implementing a funded Defined Benefit Pension Scheme arrangement under which both the Government and employees jointly contribute towards pensionable emoluments in respect of members’ pensionable service in the future.
Local Authorities Service Delivery
- Government, through the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is challenging local authorities to realign their cost structures in line with their revenue streams.
- Going forward, our State owned enterprises need to observe the golden rule that a maximum of 30% of revenues should be set aside for remuneration, whilst 70% goes towards service delivery.
Treasury Oversight on Statutory Funds
- In order to enhance transparency and accountability over Statutory Funds and other Retentions authorised by Treasury, Government is directing all entities authorised to retain revenue collected to open bank accounts with the Reserve Bank and transfer all balances to the said bank accounts by 31 January 2016.
- Failure by such entities to comply with this directive will result in the retention authority being revoked.
GOVERNANCE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Public Procurement
- Honourable Members will be aware that Government undertook to review the role of the State Procurement Board (SPB) as part of the ZIMASSET measures for a more efficient and transparent public procurement system, supportive of improved service delivery.
- Speaker Sir, the main goal of the reform process is to decentralise the procurement of goods and services to Ministries, parastatals and state enterprises including local authorities, and allow the SPB to perform a regulatory function, supervision, monitoring and evaluation.
ANTI-CORRUPTION THRUST
- Mr. Speaker Sir, Government reiterates zero tolerance for corruption in all sectors of the economy in order to foster good governance. Accordingly, Government’s anti-corruption thrust in 2016 will target wide spread corruption through inflated and unrealistic pricing of goods and services sourced through the public procurement system, and leakages at our country’s borders.
Leakages at Borders
- Speaker Sir, there are challenges with revenue leakages at border posts due to smuggling and corruption, with such activities depriving the fiscus of resources that should be deployed towards national infrastructure development and service delivery.
- Government is putting in place various measures to deal with the scourge. Implementation of some of these will be immediate, while others will require investment and time. The immediate measures involve:
- Establishment of transparent systems for handling goods, vehicular and human traffic passing through our borders, including adherence to the principle of “First Come, First Served”;
- Installation of Closed Circuit Cameras at all critical points across the country’s points of entry;
- Introduction of Client Timeline Service Registers;
- Automation of systems at all border posts, parallel to CCTV coverage; and
- Visible Clients Public Notices of processes and timelines for delivery of various border posts services.
- Speaker Sir, harnessing Information Communication Technology not only speeds up service delivery processes, but also optimises use of online platforms which minimise physical interface between service providers and their clients, which ordinarily creates opportunities for corrupt practices.
- These measures should be in place by the first half of 2016.
Procurement and Inflated Pricing
- Speaker Sir, with respect to public procurement, rent seeking activities and behavior increase the cost of implementing projects and service delivery.
- As already alluded to, the conduct of procurement transactions will be devolved to the procuring entity level. This will be complemented by provisions for:
- Review mechanisms to facilitate verification of bidders’ capacity;
- Publication of all contract awards and prices;
- Publication of mandatory progress and contract completion reports; and
- Reconciliation of above reports to budgets and timelines, to foster transparency and accountability.
- Government will also embrace the e-procurement platform to minimise opportunities for corrupt practices, while getting access to a wider selection of potential suppliers.
REVENUE MEASURES
- Speaker Sir, the revenue measures that I am proposing seek to enhance revenue collection, provide relief to taxpayers as well as improve efficiency in tax administration.
- The measures also seek to enhance the competitiveness of local industry by lowering the cost of production, thereby enabling local companies to increase capacity utilisation.
- This will be further complemented by measures aimed at curtailing importation of non essential goods.
REVENUE ENHANCING MEASURES
VAT Fiscalised Recording of Taxable Transactions
- Honourable Members will recall that, during the 2015 Mid Term Fiscal Policy Review, I advised that in order to realise the full benefits from the VAT Fiscalised Recording of Taxable Transactions project, ZIMR.A was going to set up a platform to receive data from fiscal devices to enable monitoring of transactions in real time.
- A has made progress in setting up a platform to receive data from the devices. However, installed fiscalised devices to the platform have not yet been connected to the platform.
- In order to finalise this important project, a Project Monitoring Committee chaired by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Board will be set up by 31 December 2015.
- The Committee will be comprised of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, ZIMR.A and co-opt suppliers of fiscalised devices on a need basis.
TAX RELIEF MEASURES
Rebate of Duty on Capital Equipment
- Speaker Sir, in support of industry retooling, Government removed customs duty and also provided a VAT deferment facility on importation of industrial and capital equipment.
- Despite the above measures, the VAT obligation remains payable. It is, thus, necessary that Government reduces the cost of importing capital equipment for plant upgrade, refurbishment and new projects.
- I, therefore, propose to extend a rebate of duty on capital equipment imported by the mining, agriculture, manufacturing and energy sectors, for equipment valued at US$1 million and above, with effect from 1 January 2016.
- Capital equipment imported under the facility will not be liable to Customs Duty and VAT.
Royalty on Gold
- Speaker Sir, in order to ensure the viability of gold producers following the decline in international prices of precious metals, Government, reviewed downwards the royalty rate on gold produced by primary producers from 7% to 5%, with effect from 1 October 2014.
- I propose to introduce a reduced royalty rate of 3% on incremental output of gold using the previous year’s production as a base year, with effect from 1 January 2016.
- Since incremental production will only be accounted for by the end of the following year, mining houses that qualify will benefit from the scheme through a tax credit which will be used to pay future tax obligations.
Tax Exemption on Long Term Deposits
- Speaker Sir, the ability of financial institutions to support productive sectors through provision of long term funding is being undermined by the short term nature of deposits.
- In order to encourage long term savings, I propose to exempt from tax, interest earned on deposits with a tenure of more than 12 months.
- This measure takes effect from 1 January 2016.
Pension Commutation
- The current legislation provides for exemption from income tax on a third of the total value of the pension or annuity commuted by an individual who has attained the prescribed age of 55 years.
- In terms of Pension Fund rules, a member who is retrenched before attaining the prescribed age of 55 years is deemed to be a pensioner and is allowed to commute a third of the total value of the pension or annuity. However, the commutation is subject to tax.
- Due to the current economic challenges, a number of employees are being retrenched before attaining the prescribed retirement age of 55 years. Most of these employees, however, have minimal opportunities to be reemployed.
- In order to provide relief to retrenched employees who have not yet attained the prescribed retirement age, I propose to exempt a minimum value of US$10,000 or one third of the total value of the pension or annuity up to a maximum of US$60,000.
- Future pension payouts accruing to these retrenched employees will, however, not benefit from the income tax exemption.
- This measure takes effect from 1 January 2016.
Stamp Duty on Policies of Insurance
- Stamp duty is levied on any policy or certificate of insurance or any other document which is in the form of a guarantee, fidelity, security or surety bond, at a rate of US$0.05 for every dollar worth of premiums paid up to a maximum of US$100,000. This measure was effected from 1 February 2009.
- However, due to oversight by insurance companies and brokers and laxity on the part of the tax administration authority, insurance companies continued to collect stamp duty at the rate of US$0.01 for every dollar worth of premiums instead of US$0.05. As a result, these companies incurred a tax liability of over US$45 million over the period 2009 to July 2015, when the anomaly was corrected.
- Although Government does not condone non-compliance, retrospective application of the Stamp Duty will render most insurance firms insolvent, since the industry is already experiencing liquidity challenges due to nonpayment of premiums by clients, thus, posing a systemic risk within the sector.
- I, therefore, propose to reduce Stamp duty on policies of insurance in retrospect to US$0.01, with effect from 1 February 2009 to 30 July 2015.
- As a quid pro quo, insurance companies have pledged to subscribe to bonds amounting to US$30 million in support of infrastructure development.
EFFICIENCY IN TAX ADMINISTRATION
Transit Fraud
- Speaker Sir, transit fraud which involves the evasion of customs duty and taxes or avoidance of existing import restrictions or prohibitions through the abuse of the transit procedures under which goods passing through the country, has become rampant.
- Transit fraud is mainly perpetrated by a syndicate of transporters and officials operating at ports of entry.
- Under schemes of transit fraud, goods which include cooking oil, fuel, clothing and fresh produce, among others, purported to be in transit for destinations outside the country, end up being offloaded onto the local market.
- In order to mitigate the adverse effects of transit fraud, Government announced the intention to implement an electronic cargo tracking system that uses electronic seals and transmitters to monitor transit cargo.
- Government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank will implement the first phase of the electronic cargo tracking system during the first half of 2016.
Clearance of Goods Transported by Hired Carriers
- Speaker Sir, there has been an increase in informal transport carriers mainly at Beitbridge Border Post, transporting and clearing imported goods on behalf of cross border traders.
- These transporters unlawfully clear commercial consignments duty free through remission or rebate of duty facilities, in collaboration with local residents or other travellers.
- This has grossly undermined growth of the local industry, health and safety standards, revenue to the fiscus as well as crowding out bona fide transporters.
- I, therefore, propose that consignments transported on behalf of third parties be cleared under commercial importations as opposed to private importations, with effect from 1 January 2016.
Travellers’ Rebate
- The Travellers' rebate is a duty free allowance granted on goods imported into the country by a traveller once per calendar month.
- The rebate is granted, provided that goods are properly declared, not for resale or of a commercial nature and the value of goods does not exceed
US$300. Notwithstanding the noble intention behind the travellers’ rebate to grant relief on travellers’ personal effects, it is, however, being abused by informal traders to import commercial consignments duty free.
- I, therefore, propose to review downwards the duty free allowance to US$200 per calendar month, in order to complement efforts to resuscitate local industry, with effect from 1 January 2016. Efficiency at Beitbridge Border Post
- Speaker Sir, the Beitbridge Border Post is one of the busiest inland ports in Sub-Saharan Africa, which links the Northern and Southern Corridors.
- The Border Post, however, lacks capacity in both soft and hard infrastructure that includes information technology and inspection bays, among others, to deal with high volumes of traffic.
- Bona fide travellers are, thus, experiencing serious inconveniences taking an average of 6 to 18 hours to complete immigration and customs formalities. It also takes about 3 days for commercial traffic to be cleared.
- Whereas the Border Post should facilitate trade, the delays in clearance of cargo and travellers have, however, resulted in increased cost of doing business and ultimately the cost of goods and services.
- Furthermore, this has created opportunities for rent seeking activities, whereby travellers end up paying bribes in order to speed up clearance procedures or avoid paying duty.
- Whilst Government is in the process of upgrading Beitbridge Border Post to international standards, it is necessary to put in place interim measures to alleviate the current challenges and also take advantage of the strategic position of the Border Post.
- In this regard, Treasury will identify a company to install a Closed Circuit Television System that will be used to monitor adherence to border procedures by ZIMR.A and other agencies.
- The company will report to the Chairperson of the ZIMR.A Board and the Minister.
- Furthermore, Government will engage an independent Border Post expert to reorganise Beitbridge Border Post. The Expert will work in collaboration with ZIMR.A customs officials and report to the Chairperson of the ZIMR.A Board.
- This measure will be implemented during the first quarter of 2016.
MEASURES IN SUPPORT OF THE PRODUCTIVE SECTORS
Agricultural Implements Manufacturers
- Traders are taking advantage of the lower duty on spare parts to import ploughs in kit form. The kits include a plough beam, which constitutes a major component of the plough.
- In order to level the playing field between locally produced and imported finished products, I propose to introduce a specific duty of US$5 per kg on plough beam, with effect from 1 January 2016.
Suspension of Duty on Wheat Flour
- Government increased customs duty on wheat flour from 5% to 20% and also ring-fenced 5,000 metric tons per month of wheat flour imported by approved bakers for blending purposes at a lower rate of duty of 5% with effect from 1 August 2012.
- Consequently, capacity utilisation of the milling industry has increased and imports of wheat flour have also declined.
- Notwithstanding the improved wheat flour production, there is, however, need to import flour for blending purposes, in order to enhance the quality of bread as well as maintain the price of bread at competitive levels.
- I, therefore, propose to extend the facility for a further period of twelve months and reduce the wheat flour quota from 5,000 to 4,000 metric tonnes per month, in line with the utilisation capacity of approved importers, with effect from 1 January 2016.
- In order to improve local milling capacity, the facility will cease to apply after 31 December 2016.
CONCLUSION
- Speaker Sir, recent developments have shown that our concerted and focused attention in addressing impediments to the country’s development,
are yielding positive results, fostering confidence in our people, investors and global stakeholders.
- The progress made, thus far, with the ease of doing business reforms, Staff Monitored Programme and strengthening fiscal management, among others, has contributed to improvement in our international rankings and enhanced prospects for debt and arrears clearance.
- This country has enormous potential, a rich diversified resources sector, good weather, nice, warm, friendly and hospitable people with high literacy rate. Vast opportunities abound but as Thomas A. Edison once said “most people miss opportunities because opportunities are dressed in overalls and look like work”.
- Let me also conclude by quoting from Leonard Sweet that “the future is not something we enter. The future is something we create”.
- Speaker Sir, I commend the 2016 National Budget to the House, and I lay the Estimates of Expenditure on the Table.
I thank you for your kind attention.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 15th December, 2015.
On the motion of THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA), the House adjourned at Quarter to Five o’clock p.m.
until Tuesday, 15th December, 2015.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 25th November, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
WOMEN PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS GOLF TRAINING
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to inform all members of the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus who are interested in playing golf to register their names with the Women’s Caucus Office Number 181 for training to be held on Thursday, 26th November, 2015 at 0900 hours at Chapman Golf Club.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to
raise a point of order. My point of order is, we debated about PSMAS in this august House. However, the PSMI doctors are on strike and people are dying. On the 20th February 2015, the Government ordered for a forensic investigation of PSMAS and to date, the report is not yet out.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member.
Today is Wednesday and we are going to have all the questions we may need in the House. The Ministers are here. Hon. Member, please wait for time for Questions Without Notice and then put across your question.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Mine is not a question. I would want to present the forensic report of the investigation – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you cannot
present a report unless you raise a motion.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
*HON. CHIKOMBA: My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Made. Farmers were told that they will be given their back-pay at the end of September, but to-date, they have not received anything. There is cotton which is over US$3000 and this is rotting in the rains and being destroyed by white ants. What is being done to salvage the plight of the cotton farmer?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have been explaining yes,
but what is the question?
*HON. CHIKOMBA: Farmers were told that they were going to be paid according to how their cotton had been graded.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are supposed to say out
your question so that the Minister responds.
HON. CHIKOMBA: My question is, when are the cotton farmers
going to be paid the balance of their payments. I would also want to know when the Government will collect the cotton which has not been collected from the farmers.
*THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): Thank
you Hon. Member for raising this question which is too broad – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. Your
whispers are too loud.
* HON. DR. MADE: You are talking about something specific on the first part of your question. I would advise the Hon. Member to write down the question so that we can make a follow up. However, regarding the policy on cotton farmers, cotton farmers and ginners made an agreement that there was going to be partial payment. After their cotton was sold, they were going to be given a back-pay. As far as we are concerned, that agreement should be upheld and they should receive their back-pay.
On the collection of cotton which was bought by the Cotton Marketing Board and was supposed to be taken to the ginneries, this is the responsibility of the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO). We are all aware that Government is going to be involved in COTTCO so that we can uplift the livelihoods of cotton farmers. As a Ministry, we are going to give the measures we are taking to protect the farmer.
Let me hasten to say, we are giving inputs to the farmers so that they can do their cotton farming in time with the aim of making them have a good livelihood.
*HON. CHIKOMBA: I understand what the Minister has said. My question is, Government promised that farmers would be paid in
September but the rains are upon us and farmers have not been paid. How are they going to manage to go back to the fields and do the ploughing. *HON. DR. MADE: Madam Speaker, I responded and requested
him to put his question in writing so that we make a follow up and we will be able to see why farmers have not been paid.
*MR. MURAI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. My
supplementary question is why is it that Zimbabwe as a country does not have an agricultural policy?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, that one does not
arise from the original question.
*HON. MANGAMI: My supplementary question to the Hon.
Minister is that, since Government is giving cotton seed to the farmers, is Government going to buy this cotton so that farmers do not suffer?
*HON. DR. MADE: Thank you for asking this very important question. The answer is yes, Government is going to buy the cotton harvest from the farmers because Government cannot supply the inputs and fail to buy.
HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. My
supplementary question is; we understand that Government has taken over or wishes to take over COTTCO. Is it not wise that as a Government policy, Government shows goodwill to the farmer that they also take over whatever is owed to the cotton farmers who supplied their cotton and those who intend to grow cotton would come in because Government will now be involved? I thank you.
*HON. DR. MADE: Thank you Hon. Member. This is not a question but a comment and a suggestion. The Government is looking at a wide range of proposals and I thank the Hon. Member for that valuable question.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is
directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. Can the Minister inform this House on whether all the farmers who were owed money by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) have been paid? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. The
Minister would like to hear the question from the Hon. Member, you are making a lot of noise.
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION
AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): Thank you Hon. Member for the question. It is not a policy issue; farmers who have delivered to the GMB will be paid. However, to say whether all of them have been paid would be very specific, but they are all being paid.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to acknowledge the
presence in the Speaker’s Gallery, of students and teachers from Siziphile
Primary School from Matebeleland North Province – [HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.] –
HON. ZINDI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. My question is in relation to the issue of the road resurfacing or rehabilitation, that is,
Harare-Mutare highway. As we speak, I would like to find out from the Minister what is the policy is in terms of mediocre performance by contractors when they are given tenders to undertake such major jobs and yet in less than a year, the road is already being patched up.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MADANHA):
Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Zindi for asking such an important question. I think it is something very visible that some sections on our roads – particularly on this road which was recently rehabilitated, that is, the Plumtree-Harare-Mutare road, some sections are showing signs of failure. There are various reasons to this, the first one which we suspect is the major one and it has to do with lack of supervision and poor workmanship.
When it comes to the point of what the Ministry’s policy is – when there is a problem of construction, the contractor is supposed to carry out corrective measures at his own cost. That is the solution to this problem. The contractor is supposed to go and correct all defects of construction at his own cost. That is the solution to this problem and that is what is stated in the contract.
*HON. ZINDI: Supplementary. I was very much worried when I heard the response given. We are saying Zimbabwe has no money and we are supposed to be very frugal in using the amount which we have but the Minister is responding and saying when the workers are carrying out their work, there is no inspection and yet they have to be paid after doing such a shoddy job. My question to the Minister is, when they awarded the tender to this South African company which is constructing the Plumtree-HarareMutare highway, I am one of those people who drive along South African roads and they have magnificent roads yet this is the same company which is constructing roads in South Africa and doing the same job in Zimbabwe.
Why are they doing a shoddy job in Zimbabwe and yet they do the best in South Africa? May I please have a response?
HON. MADANHA: The actual issue is poor workmanship. The supervision is there and the engineers are there but the problem is poor workmanship. That is the correct answer which I can give to this problem. Definitely as a Ministry, we have seen that something was amiss on the quality of our roads. So, what we are doing as a Ministry is that we are taking corrective measures so that whoever is responsible for delivering poor quality work must account for his actions at his cost. That is the solution to this problem.
HON. T. KHUMALO: My question is directed to the Deputy
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. What is
Government’s policy on issues of the engineers that we trained at our local universities and why are we not using them to avoid this poor workmanship? What is Government’s policy on these engineers?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We cannot talk of engineers in Zimbabwe when this contract was already awarded to a South African company. Can we talk of that company and that particular road?
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Supplementary. Thank you Madam Speaker
for giving me the chance to ask my question. I thank the Deputy Minister for the way he answered the question. You are now answering this way because we will be looking at the roads which have been repaired but they are in bad shape. It is less than two weeks since these roads were repaired and they are already bumpy and at times the tar melts. Are you telling me that when this poor workmanship was in progress you were not aware that this was going on? Were you not aware of what was happening? Do you not have inspectors?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, that question
was responded to in English.
*HON. MAONDERA: On a point of order. My point of order is that when Hon. Khumalo asked a question you said it is not the duty of our engineers in Zimbabwe. If the Ministry awards a tender to a company….
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do not put words in my
mouth. Hon. Member can you resume your seat. I just want to respond to your question. The supplementary question that was raised was seeking to establish why our local engineers are not being employed. We are looking at a road which was not done properly by a company which was given a tender. We are talking about engaging our engineers when we are talking about rectifying a problem.
*HON. PHIRI: My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Are there any plans in line with giving out food in the urban areas where people are in trouble because of unemployment? I noticed that last time they did not get their share of rice.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): The
people who are getting drought relief this time are those whom we got from a report which is called ZIMVAC, which only looks at people in the rural areas. Those in urban areas get help from public assistance programmes. So, the drought relief that we are giving to districts is only channeled to rural areas. Thank you.
*HON. MAPIKI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Moyo.
In the past few days, the media talked about Dangote, a millionaire from Nigeria. We would want to know the progress on this investor?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO): Thank you Madam Speaker. Let
me explain about Dangote; the man wanted to invest in cement production and we had to talk about supply of limestone because that is what he can only supply. However, investment progress is under a different Ministry which I cannot answer for.
HON. T. KHUMALO: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Transport, in terms of the law of your Ministry which says when roads are being built by contractors whom you have awarded a tender, our engineers are supposed to supervise. So, my question is what is then Government policy on the issue of supervision to avoid this chaos that you are telling us about?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MADANHA):
Thank you Madam Speaker. The Ministry has got engineers who are doing supervision but what happens in construction is that there might be poor workmanship which can go unnoticed but the contract is clear that any defect of construction on the road, the contractor is supposed to rectify those defects at his cost. I thank you.
HON. D. P. SIBANDA: Hon. Deputy Minister, earlier on you
indicated that there could be a problem of supervision. Could you tell this
House specifically at what point in your Ministry’s hierarchy, supervision could be lacking. What is the policy in terms of response to any queries that could have been put forward to your Ministry regarding infrastructure that falls under your Ministry?
HON. MADANHA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also want to
thank the Hon. Member for asking this question. Maybe there was a misunderstanding of some sort. I did not say that there is lack of supervision in the Ministry but I said that it is one of the causes – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – One of the causes of poor workmanship is lack of supervision, which is correct.
Now, the Ministry does its supervision through the Department of State Roads and this department is the one responsible for all the supervision and any defect which is a result of construction by the constructor is supposed to be rectified by the contractor at his cost. The Ministry will not foot any bill for the rectification of those works. I thank you.
HON. CHIDAVAENZI: My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. The 2015/16 season has already started, are you are going to support A1 and A2 farmers. If so, in what terms, is it financially or in form of inputs and is that support available. Secondly, when and how is that support accessible?
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): I want to
thank the Hon. Member for the question. Firstly, the support for all the farmers is related to inputs support in relationship to those farmers who have delivered their maize to the Grain Marketing Board and there are a number of famers who have done so. Payments to those farmers is being done and has been done before. Government is supporting a programme for 300 000 vulnerable households and this programme has already started. Secondly, Government is supporting cotton farmers to the extent of one million households, a quarter hectare of inputs in terms of cotton. Thank you.
HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to check with the Minister when he spoke about the Government’s programme of support to about 300 000 for the vulnerable. Could the Minister explain to the House, how this particular Presidential Input Scheme is being conducted. Is it being done in a manner that is fair in terms of identification of beneficiaries? Who are those members who form the committee which is doing the selection and if you can also explain the role of elected officials that is the Councillors and Members of Parliament in that committee?
HON. DR. MADE: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for
raising that question. In the provinces, relating to the programme of the vulnerable group; that relates to the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare because the identification is through ZIMVAC as has already been indicated by the Deputy Minister here.
At the Provincial, District, Ward levels, there is a standing committee that deals with that subject. However, if the Hon. Member has a specific item he can put it in writing or he can raise it with me by giving me any area of concern, we will be able to intervene. Thank you.
+HON. L. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is
directed to the Deputy Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, Hon. Tshinga Dube. I want to find out from you, we have heard from radio and television that the war veterans should come and re-register with your Ministry. How are those who do not have radios or do not have access to newspapers going to know about it?
+THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR
WAR VETERANS, WAR COLLABORATORS, FORMER
POLITICAL PRISONERS, DETAINEES AND RESTRICTEES
(HON. T. J. DUBE): There is no better way of disseminating information to the public other than using media such as radio and television. Those who do not have access to radio, television and newspapers will hear it by word of mouth from their colleagues – [Laughter] –
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, let us shorten
our laughter. We cannot continue laughing, let him answer.
*HON. MAONDERA: Minister, what are you doing as a Ministry
to make sure that those who fought in the struggle for independence are the ones that benefit?
+HON. T. J. DUBE: Those people know each other.
+HON. T. KHUMALO: My question is directed to Minister Dube
on the fact that your Ministry disseminates information to the intended public through radio and television, yet you are aware that not all areas in Zimbabwe receive radio and television signals from ZBC and ZTV. Why do you not utilise the services of Studio 7 which is accessed in most areas
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
+HON. T. J. DUBE: Madam Speaker, Zimbabweans have a lot of ways of disseminating vital information. These methods include the use of dissemination of information through political parties, newspapers, radios and television. This means that nobody can miss vital information which is to their benefit.
HON. CHASI: Thank you Madam Speaker. In terms of our
Constitution, Section 75 (1), there is created there-in a right to education to every citizen of this country and every permanent resident of this country. I would like to extend my question to both Ministers responsible for education who are present today. I would like to understand what Government is doing to prepare itself for this very dear right. I raise this issue in particular in view of the developments in our neighbouring South Africa, a few weeks ago, where it was clear that the authorities there were caught flat footed when people began to demand this right.
I would like to know what specific steps are being taken in the two Ministries to ensure the realisation of this particular right and to ask whether the two Ministries would consider the creation of a fund for the country to be prepared to fulfill this right. I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DR. DOKORA): Thank you Madam Speaker. I
would like to thank the Hon. Member who raised the question arising out of a constitutional provision, which is located in the aspirational aspect of our Constitution but it is desirable that the State provides for its citizens in the various categories that he refers to. The enjoyment of this right or the satisfaction of this condition is conditional upon the State availing itself of the resources to achieve this objective. It is quite clear to both the questioner as well as the Ministry that at this stage of our development, the economy cannot sustain that right.
HON. CHASI: Madam Speaker, contrary to what the Minister has
said, that section is very explicit and very clear that this right is a substantive right. The implementation can be progressing and this is the question that I am putting to the two Ministers, to say that Government must take steps immediately to prepare for the implementation. This is not an aspirational right, it is an immediate right.
HON. DR. DOKORA: Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to a basic State funded education, including adult basic education. We are walking this path as a nation. Recently, we carried out in 2013, a census of the requirements that this nation needs in terms of educational institutions and we were able to identify 2056 institutions required across the nation. In recent weeks, we have started delivering by using the US$22 million facility provided for through the Arab funds. The State, in its budgetary provision, takes care of the teachers’ remuneration and indeed, under Public Sector Investment Programmes, takes care of a large portion of the infrastructure requirements for the nation. Indeed, yes the State is about its tasks of providing supported education.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Chair. On the issue of
education, I would want to find out the plans that the Government has in providing food for children from Grade 1 to Grade 7.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will not allow the Minister to
answer that because it is an outstanding question. It is not originating from the previous question.
HON. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural
Development. What is the Government policy with regards to appointing and termination of service of board members? I am asking this question with regards to the NRZ Board Chairperson, Engineer Mabhena who just woke up one day only to find his contract terminated. What is the Government policy?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MADANHA): I
would want to thank the Hon. Member for asking such an important question. I would like the Hon. Member to know actually that the Minister is empowered by the law to appoint and disappoint board members. There are so many reasons why a board member can be fired. What the policy says is that the board member should hold the qualifications which are necessary and adequate for the job that he is going to execute. I thank you.
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I have
stood to raise a very important point of order that relates to the attendance of Ministers – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - I think you must wait and listen; do not just open your mouth without listening –
[Laughter] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member. I am
presiding. You are not the one to talk to Hon. Members. Can you please put across your question or point of order?
HON. CHAMISA: I withdraw that, only that my character is averse to people who are very funny.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just go straight to your point of
order.
HON. CHAMISA: Madam Speaker, we have observed as Parliament and we must commend as I raise a point of order in terms of our Standing Order Number 92. We have noted that there are Ministers who are very religious and punctual to their business in Parliament. They are very consistent. I must mention that we have discovered that the Vice
President, Hon. Mnangagwa, Hon. Made, Hon. F. Moyo, Hon. Mabuwa,
Hon. Dokora …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
HON. CHAMISA: That is the point of order – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – These Ministers, including Professor Gandawa are Ministers we have seen, even if you check with our Hansard, they are Ministers who make it a mandate to come to Parliament for Question Time.
Our Constitution in terms of Section 107 is very harsh and hostile to Ministers who play truant with Parliament. I must say that there are Ministers who have become notorious and this is the point of order Madam Speaker. We have Vice President Mphoko, Hon. Mumbengegwi, Hon. J. Moyo, Hon. Sekeramayi, Hon. Mohadi, Hon. Parirenyatwa, Hon. Zhuwao and Hon. Bimha. These Ministers have not availed themselves for
Parliament business – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
It is our duty to defend the Constitution because we have that power and authority. It has nothing to do with either being ZANU PF or MDC. It is just to make sure that those who are being paid by the taxpayer are indeed accountable to the taxpayer – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I may need to read Standing Order 63(1). In order to fulfill the requirements of Section 107 (2) of the Constitution, Vice Presidents and Ministers must attend Parliament and Parliamentary Committees in order to answer questions concerning matters for which they collectively are responsible. It is a must, it is peremptory and it has to be a mandate. Every Minister shall report and those who fail to report shall be in contempt of Parliament –
[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
This is a very serious point of order and I may need to have your full attention Madam Speaker. A Minister who is unable in terms of that order to attend for a good reason, is given the allowance and latitude to approach the Chair, yourself Madam Speaker, to say may I be granted the leave of absence so that he or she is not able to attend to the questions that are raised by members. We come here and we have a lot of work. We leave a lot of things; some are farmers, some are Comrade Chinotimbas – [Laughter.] – They have a lot of things that they do.
It is very important that the business of Parliament is taken seriously, and I so require Madam Speaker, that you pronounce yourself on this matter. It is important so that we move to the next level. We instigate contempt of Parliament charges so that Ministers are accountable to the people. We are not going to ask President Mugabe or the police to come and do it on our behalf. We will not go to the riot police to say go and get these Ministers but we can do it on our behalf because we are the riot police, President and we are everything when it comes to the oversight role in Parliament. Thank you very much.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I hear you and
your point of order is noted. We are going to write to the Hon. Vice President so that he will help us to whip in the Ministers who are supposed to be here. Actually, there are some who do not even know that the House is supposed to be attended to. Thank you.
HON. D. SIBANDA: My supplementary question goes to the Deputy Minister of Transport. If the Minister has such powers to hire and fire board members willy-nilly, when he hires such members, does he also check on qualifications? I would also want this House to know that Engineer Mabhena did not have such qualities to head such a big organisation. According to what we know, Engineer Mabhena has always been with the NRZ; he has worked for it and he is a qualified engineer.
Can you explain to this august House, Hon. Deputy Minister?
- MADANHA: Thank you Madam Speaker. As I stated before, the Minister is empowered by the law to hire or fire board members. He does not do this on his own, he recommends to the Cabinet, which will make the final decision. I am not very much aware of the reasons behind the firing of Engineer Mabhena, but what I do not understand is; what is so special in Engineer Mabhena that he cannot be fired? – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. For those
who need to know about this question, I think it is very important. Can this question be put in writing so that – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Hon. Sibanda having stood up to raise a point of order.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am not recognising you, can you resume your seat – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Members, the whole House would like to hear what happened on Mr.
Mabhena’s case, so if we put this question in writing, the Minister will go and research on what happened so that everyone knows.
HON. KHUPE: Madam Speaker, it is not fair for the Hon. Minister to say, what is so special about Engineer Mabhena, he must withdraw that
– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, do you have
anything to say on this one?
HON. MADANHA: Thank you Madam Speaker. For those who
have been accompanying the press, they can see that there are a lot of changes in the board members – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I am sorry Hon. Members, I have got nothing to withdraw but what you can do is put your question in writing so that I can bring you the correct answer on why he was fired. I thank you – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think the Hon. Minister said, what is so special about the case of Engineer Mabhena – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Minister, in short, can you tell the House, what you meant – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
HON. MADANHA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I think the whole
House knows that a lot of people were given three months’ notice and they lost their jobs.
Hon Chinotimba having stood between the Hon. Minister speaking and the Chair.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chinotimba, would you
please sit down – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – What is this?
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: My point of order is that we have about 40
000 workers who were fired on three months’ notice and out of all those people, why should we waste our time talking about Engineer Mabhena? What is so special about him and his case versus the 40 000 workers who were fired? So, I repeat what is so special about Mabhena? – [HON
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. D. SIBANDA: My contribution is that you people from ZANU PF are used to bad habits. May you please be quiet? Madam Speaker my point of order is that the Minister clearly said what is so special about Engineer Alvord Mabhena. That is what we are asking him to withdraw – [HON MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister was still
explaining. May you continue?
HON. MADANHA: If there is any Hon. Member who is interested in knowing the details of why Engineer Mabhena was fired, I think just put your question in writing so that we can prepare a detailed answer – [HON
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: If I call for order I mean
everyone. From now onwards, I am not going to accept any point of order concerning this question. We are abusing the rules of this House. HON. WADYAJENA: We must take this House seriously – [HON MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – My point of order is so simple. Hon D. S. Sibanda is not dressed properly. Look at her sleeves. Look at her.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Sibanda, honestly you are not dressed properly. Leave the House – [HON MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.] –
HON. D. SIBANDA: Madam Speaker, this is an African attire and I am well dressed.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, do not come here. I want to
talk to you from where you are. You have corrected it but you were not dressed properly. I think you have to apologise. Hon. Members we have rules in this House. You cannot just shout. Can we proceed?
HON. D. SIBANDA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, I feel we are being victimised. This is part of the sexual harassment of women – [HON MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – We are allowed to put on Africa attire unless if you are suggesting that we should not put on African attire in this House then I will withdraw.
*HON. MUPFUMI: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. We know that ZUPCO imported some buses and this was done four months ago. These buses are still parked because duty has not been paid for them. We have no cash at the present moment to pay duty. What is Government’s policy in relation to this matter? I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MADANHA):
Thank you Madam Speaker. I am not very sure whether the Hon. Member has directed his question to the rightful person because ZUPCO falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. I thank you.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development. A few weeks ago, the Minister announced in this House that Government policy was going to ensure that one company is going to be formed in tandem with ZMDC in order to mine diamonds in the Chiadzwa area. May the Minister apprise the House as to how far this Government policy has been adhered to and do we still have diamond mining in Chiadzwa? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO): The Government position is that a decision has been made to consolidate diamond mining companies not only in Chiadzwa but all diamond mining companies in the country. The current position is that we have been consulting the companies so that this policy position is not implemented with attrition from a legal point of view. We hope that all the companies will have held their annual Extraordinary General Meetings so that we get a position as to whether they agree to consolidate or they do not. For those who would have decided that they do not want to consolidate, then obviously, we will engage them with regards to who we are going to deal with their position going forward.
At the moment, a few have had their Extraordinary General
Meetings; I am not able to disclose the outcomes of those EGM’s. It is also important to note that almost all these companies had their agreements with ZMDC as well as their operating licences expired at the moment. So that is the other complication that we have, but we will be able to apprise this House on this important matter once development has unfolded.
Thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: With the presentation that has been done by
the Minister, my supplementary question is, can the Hon. Minister tell this House as to whether the mining of diamonds in Chiadzwa specifically is happening as we speak right now. Bearing in mind the fact that it has been put to the attention that all the licences for Chiadzwa mining companies have expired, what is the position?
HON. F. MOYO: Some mining is taking place in Chiadzwa for those companies whose licences are in order. For those companies whose licences have expired, obviously the law would not allow them to continue to operate. Thank you.
+HON. J. TSHUMA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am directing my question to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. As far as the Ministry is concerned, are they aware of the policies which are to be followed on coal mining in Hwange. As we speak right now, ZPC in
Hwange no longer has coal and Kariba has no coal. So, what is
Government policy regarding the mining of coal? Is the Ministry aware of the day to day operations of coal mines because we may run short of coal as time progresses?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO): I respect the question that has been raised because it is very important with regard to power supply to the country. Yes, it is correct that there is some level of coal shortage supply to the power stations at the moment but I would want to assure the House that a lot of effort is now directed by the Ministry to correct the challenges that are affecting coal supplies to the power stations. I believe that we will be able to normalise coal supply to power stations in the shortest time possible but we take note of the concerns that are being raised. They are being addressed. I thank you.
HON. J. TSHUMA: What I really wanted the Deputy Minister to also expound on was the issue of those grants that were issued in Hwange and surrounding areas. Some people were given grants and they are not working on them, hence the coal production is low. What is the Ministry’s policy on the timeframe of the turnaround so that those grants can start working in order for us to have enough coal?
HON. F. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I think we need to recognize that at the moment, the main power generating plant that uses coal is in Hwange town itself. You can only commercially supply coal to that power station from coal fields that are within the vicinity of that power station.
The people who have applied for grants for coal are outside the radius that would supply coal to the power station that we are talking about at the moment. The issue of people who have applied for grants, I think is a separate matter. Those who have got business plans to open up new power stations are presenting those to Government and are receiving attention. I thought we were dealing with the issue of Hwange Power
Station which can only be supported by coal concessions that are within its vicinity. Those are the mines I am saying we are dealing with to make sure that they jerk up their performance and support the Power Station adequately.
HON. MUNENGAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My Question
is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Dokora. Madam Speaker, Hon. Dokora once assured this House on the issue of exam leaks. He actually assured that this year there were not going to be any leaks again. However, that is not the situation on the ground. We have heard people who have appeared in court facing charges on exam leaks. Rumours are moving around that those leaked papers are going to be re-written again. So, can the Minister explain to this House whether these rumours are correct or false - if it is true that those papers are going to be re-written, especially Mathematics Paper 1 and 2.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DR. DOKORA): Thank you Madam Speaker. I
would like to thank the Hon. Member for the second part to the question.
The first part had almost alarmed me, whether I will be coming to Parliament to answer on rumours or to treat the business of the House as a serious matter?
The fact of the matter which the Hon. Member asks us to comment is the leakage which took place, extended to some 32 persons and the 32 persons were accounted for fully. The source of that irritation in the system has been accounted for including those that were accomplices in the process. The implication of the activities of that one person and her accomplice do not extend to a massive misconduct or breach of examinations. One or two provinces, what was circulated during the time of the examination was a fake creation of craftsmen who were making money out of innocent examination candidates. In other words, they simulated ZIMSEC examination questions. In fact, the Mathematics Paper was coded as 4028 and the fake paper was circulating as 4008 and was being sold as the examination paper.
The content totally was unrelated, but people were making money out of the crazy notion that they wanted to have access to the paper. What it also means and I have a lot of respect for the Hon. Member who raised the question…
Hon. Wadyajena having made some noise.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Wadyajena please.
HON. DR. DOKORA: We heightened our security surveillance system in order to contain and minimise any such breach. My ideal situation would have been to have arrived at the November examinations with a Tender Board authority to institute the additional authority that I had wanted. We could not meet that target and I do not have control over the other system.
HON. MUNENGAMI: Thank you Hon. Minister. I think you
acknowledged that the extent of leakage actually extended to about 32 people. That was because of the correct paper. Still you did not answer my second question of whether there is going to be any re-writing of those people who were convicted because of the leakage which arose?
HON. DR. DOKORA: There are consequences for action of a criminal nature and those consequences are not contained within the Examination Act itself. The provisions, do not extend to protecting a person who has breached the examination system.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
RELEVANCE AND COMPETITIVENESS OF SMEs
- HON. MANGAMI asked the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development to state initiatives the Ministry has undertaken to make the local Small and Medium Enterprise owner relevant and competitive in line with rapid development in technology.
THE MINISTER OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT (HON. NYONI): Thank
you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for a very pertinent question. The Ministry is assisting SMEs in minimizing the growth of their business through the following areas among many of the strategies that we have in place:-
- Business Management training in areas such as record keeping, financial literacy, financial management, business planning, project proposal writing, costing, business registration and a lot of other management skills that we give them. In 2015, 500 small scale miners, especially youths have received training in Shamva, Bindura, Mazowe, Umzingwane, Mberengwa, Shurugwi, Umguza….
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order. I am not sure if the question that is being answered is the one which has been asked because she is referring to the minimization of the growth of SMEs, yet the question is about initiatives being undertaken to improve the competitiveness. Is that the same question?
HON. NYONI: Yes.
HON. CHAMISA: Okay, you have used the word minimise. So, I thought you were answering a wrong question.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (HON. DZIVA): There is
no point of order Hon. Chamisa. Minister, you may continue.
HON. NYONI: Thank you, the second point is that co-operative development, small scale miners are being organised to form mining cooperatives where they pull their resources together. The Ministry has registered 35 co-operatives who are into mining. Registering them into cooperatives is a way of formalizing them and it becomes easier for them to access support in terms of loans and equipment facilities and therefore improving their competitiveness. I thank you Madam Speaker.
GOVERNMENT ACTION ON ERRANT MINISTERS
- HON. CHIBAYA asked the Vice President and Minister of
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs what action will be taken by Government in the event that a Minister disobeys a ruling of the courts, as is the case with Gweru councilors who were ordered to go back to their offices by the High Court and the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has defied this.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN VICE PRESIDENT
MNANGAGWA’S OFFICE (HON. C. C. SIBANDA): Thank you very
much Madam Speaker. I would like to respond to the question by Hon.
Chibaya to the Vice President and Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Madam Speaker, contempt of court is an act of deliberate disobedience or disregard for the laws, regulations or decorum of a public authority, such as a court or legislative body. It is also behavior that opposes or defies authority, justice and dignity of the court. Civil contempt generally involves the failure to perform an act that is ordered by a court as a means to enforce the rights of individuals or to secure remedies for parties in a civil case.
Criminal contempt can occur within civil or criminal cases. Criminal contempt is punitive. Courts use it to punish parties who have impaired the courts functioning or bruised their dignity. Madam Speaker, our
Constitution provides in Section 66 that we are all equal before the law. The same Constitution under Section 165 provides for the rule of law. The rule of law essentially relates to a system of governance which respects and abides by the laws of the country and those agreed upon within the international community. It is a principle premised on at least three fundamental pillars. Firstly, supremacy of the law as opposed to the influence of arbitrary exercise of power.
Secondly, that all citizens are equal before the law regardless of political position, wealth or other non-legal considerations. Lastly, is the sanctity of the judiciary whose decisions must be effective instruments in the protection of the rights of citizens.
Where the rule of law prevails, the decisions of magistrates, judges and international tribunals would therefore have to be totally respected by all and sundry at all times. The rule of law also includes compliance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which is the supreme law of Zimbabwe. Failure to follow court orders compromises the rule of law. The above notion applies to everyone, including Cabinet Ministers since no one is above the law.
Madam Speaker, the issue of separation of powers comes into play here. The court has power to enforce its orders as a consequence of the binding nature of such orders in terms of Section 165 of the Constitution. The judicial authority of the court, the rule of law and the administration of justice should not be undermined. It is a crime to unlawfully and intentionally disobey a court order, thereby violating the dignity, repute or authority of the court. Contempt proceedings are concerned with the unlawful and international refusal or failure to comply with a court order.
Madam Speaker, we are a law abiding nation. Whilst I do not intend to exonerate the Minister or to condemn him as alleged, we as the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs have not been favoured with the full facts of the alleged contempt. Therefore, there might be need for my Ministry to gather more information on this matter so that we might have an appreciation of what the Hon. Member is alleging. I thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker. With the
presentation that the Minister has done, it is quite eloquent and I appreciate it. However, a supplementary question arises Hon. Minister as to when we can expect as a House which abides by the separation of powers to hear a response with regards to specifics in line with the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. C. C. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. As I said, this is an issue where we have not been favoured by that contempt. We have not been favoured by that contempt as a Ministry. So, if we are favoured by that contempt, then we can respond. I thank you.
HON. CHIBAYA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker and Hon. Minister. I think the reason why we put Questions With Notice is to allow the Ministry to research. Inasmuch as I appreciate the response by the Minister, I do not understand why their Ministry did not do a research to get the facts on the ground of what is actually taking place. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Chibaya, I think the Hon.
Minister has responded very well and he has articulated the case in question. What he is saying is that he needs more time to investigate into the issue of what is happening with the Ministry of Local Government. So, we will give the Hon. Minister time to go and research on the issue so that he will come with a full answer to the House.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Madam Speaker, it arises specifically because this question was given in this House orally. Hon. Speaker, Mudenda advised the Hon. Member to put the question in writing so that it would be responded to with enough research. That process was done Madam Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mutseyami,
this is what the Hon. Minister has responded to in the first instance and he is going to further investigate into the issue and bring the answer. Let us give him an opportunity to do that. Failure to do that then we can actually take action on this question. Hon. Minister, you have been granted the right to investigate into the issue of the Ministry of Local Government,
Public Works and National Housing in relation to the Gweru Council.
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you. Madam Chair, it has to do with the time frame. You know that in our Constitution, in terms of Section 278(2), we are supposed to have an independent tribunal to preside over such circumstances and instances as the one obtaining in Gweru. It is not the only one; I think we have many others. When is the Ministry going to initiate that law through a Bill so that there are necessary changes made to the law to also be able to guard against such occurrences in future?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN VICE PRESIDENT
MNANGAGWA’S OFFICE (HON. C. C. SIBANDA): Thank you very
much Madam Speaker. The submission that we did as a Ministry is to the effect that we have the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in the House and it is the duty of the same Minister to respond for himself. As of now, we have given Government policy on the position of the contempt of court. –
The Hon. Minister C. C. Sibanda having been speaking to the gallery.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister of State in Vice
President Mnangagwa’s Office, can you please speak to the Chair.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN VICE PRESIDENT
MNANGAGWA’S OFFICE (HON. C. C. SIBANDA): Sorry Madam
Speaker, as of the time frame on when Parliament will come up with the laws, I think that rests with Parliament Madam Speaker.
Hon. Maridadi having stood up to ask a supplementary question.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, I will not allow any other supplementary question because you have already made four supplementary questions. However, I will advise the Minister of
State in Vice President Mnangagwa’s Office to go and make a thorough research on the issues and also allow the contributions that have been made by Hon. Chibaya and Hon. Chamisa on the issue of time-frame to also be considered on that issue. Hon. Minister, please make sure that when you are coming with your answer next time you also factor those issues.
FORMALISATION OF SIYASO AND OTHER INFORMAL
BUSINESS CENTRES
- HON. MARIDADI asked the Minister of Small and Medium
Enterprises and Co-operative Development whether the Ministry has plans to formalise Siyaso in Mbare and other informal business centres in order to facilitate the ease of collecting tax.
THE MINISTER OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT (HON. NYONI): Thank
you Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question on formalization. Madam Speaker, formalization can be defined as recognition, regulation and promotion of an economic activity under the laws of the land on which a business is operating from. The Ministry has identified formalisation of Micro Small to Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as of paramount importance to revamp and develop the sector in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIM ASSET), which clearly articulates the importance of MSMEs. Therefore, the Ministry is in the process of coming up with a formalisation strategy which is targeted, not only at specific areas, but the whole of the informal sector throughout the country. Let me hasten to say that this formalisation process is at an advanced stage. It is also important to note that the formalisation strategy’s main goal is not tax collection alone, but the growth and development of the sector.
Let me turn to Siyaso in Mbare. Siyaso is divided into various sections. The first section is where the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing provided workspace for 400 people after Operation Murambatsvina. That figure rose to about 1500 people. As a way of formalising the informal traders there, some of them formed cooperatives and registered with the Ministry. One such cooperative is Best Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which has 58 members. They have since constructed one office block with a total of six shop blocks with 99 shops. The members were each allocated a shop which they use for individual trading purposes with ownership of the building being retained by the cooperative. The excess shops are sublet to non members on a monthly
rental basis.
The open space is also sublet to non members on a weekly rental basis. Members and tenants are engage in both manufacturing and retail business. Major lines in manufacturing include mechanical engineering workshops which produce grinding mills and other entrepreneurial machines, metal fabrication, production of window frames and door frames, carpentry, furniture manufacturing, shoe manufacturing and other leather processing businesses. They are constructing a building which will house a conference hall and plans are in place to utilise the building for their Savings and Credit Co-operative (SACCO) or let it out to a bank that has SMEs facilities.
However, this is not enough as Siyaso is congested. More land is needed to accommodate them since the provision of workspace is one of the first steps to formalising the informal sector. I need to point out that formalisation is a process and the Ministry will continue to explore various strategies for formalising the informal sector throughout the country. I thank you Madam Speaker.
STATUS OF THE ESSAR DEAL
- HON. MARIDADI asked the Minister of Industry and
Commerce to inform the House;
- The current status of the ESSAR deal;
- When was the ESSAR deal signed?;
- Who negotiated and signed on behalf of Zimbabwe?;
- How much money did ESSAR deposit to Treasury? and
- Why after His Excellency launched, the deal work did not commence?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
(HON. MABUWA): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would like to
thank Hon. Maridadi for asking these very important questions. It is actually five in one. I will try to articulate all the five questions. In response to the first question, I wish to advise Hon. Members that my Ministry and the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (ZISCO) Committee have been engaging ESSAR to establish the position regarding the implementation of the transaction. The delayed take off of this investment project is due to issues surrounding the conclusion of the ZISCO transaction itself that was accompanied by a fall in the price of steel on the international market. The price of metals, including steel, has increasingly been fluctuating on the global market and this has negatively affected the viability of the steel industry. Owing to the highlighted undesirable trends, the investor (ESSAR) has slowed down its pace in concluding the deal.
On part b of the question, the Share and Asset Purchase Agreement
(SAPA) on ZISCO was signed by the Government and ESSAR Africa
Holdings Limited on 9 March, 2011 and was subsequently launched at Redcliff by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde. R. G. Mugabe on 3 August, 2011.
- Cabinet, at its meeting in 2010, set up a committee to work on the resuscitation of ZISCO. The then Minister of Industry and Commerce was tasked by Cabinet to engage potential investors in ZISCO. He was assisted in this exercise by technical experts in the Ministry, ZISCO management and board, financial advisors (CBZ), Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development, the Attorney-General’s Office and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
The former Hon. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Prof. W.
Ncube signed the SAPA on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.
- The value of the investment by Essar in Zimbabwe was originally expected to be US$750m comprising Essar’s clearance of the Sinosure and KfW debts amounting to US$300m and the US$450m for recapitalisation and the steel plant at Redcliff. The expunging of the Sinosure and KfW debts are part of the conditions precedent on the Essar side, prior to closure.
So far, the investor (ESSAR) has invested US$14.5m in CBZ to cover part payment of the salaries for ZISCO Steel workers. ESSAR has also invested in exploration of iron ore deposits at Mwanesi Range as well as in drawing up feasibility plans and steel revival plans for ZISCO, in conjunction with potential contractors to the programme.
- Members, you may need to note that the Share Asset Purchase Agreement (SAPA) had conditions precedent that required both parties to the agreement to fulfill first, before full closure of the agreement could be released. Fulfillment of those conditions precedent took a long time to realise and hence there was a delay in the closure of the transaction.
May I also advise the House that during the operationalisation of the deal it became necessary to amend the SAPA. The protracted discussion on the SAPA could not yield positive results and subsequently, led to the outcomes that I have already alluded to. During the process of concluding the ZISCO-ESSAR deal, a number of exogenous factors also adversely affected the global steel industry leading to a reduction in the price of steel. It is against this background that the Ministry of Industry and
Commerce has urgently assigned the ZISCO Committee to work on the best available options that can speed up the operationalisation of ZISCO. I thank you.
HON. MARIDADI: Supplementary. Thank you Hon. Minister for
that indepth answer. Ordinarily, you would expect that when a Head of State and Government goes to commission whatever he goes to commission, you expect that everything has been done and it is all systems go. We expected that after the launch for which I was the Master of
Ceremonies on that day, work should have commenced the following day. For the Government of Zimbabwe then to come back and say SAPA was renegotiated and amended and now the Essar deal cannot take off because there were some disagreement, what it means is that His Excellency, the President was sold a dummy. People told him everything was okay when things had not been concluded.
If you go to the Essar website today, Essar is actually saying we have closed shop in Zimbabwe. That is what the Essar website is saying, - we have closed shop in Zimbabwe. We are not operating in Zimbabwe and they list the reasons. One of the reasons listed is that there is so much corruption. It is very difficult to do deal in Zimbabwe because there is so much corruption.
Now, my worry Hon. Minister is that anyone worth his salt, who wants to invest in this country from wherever they are, they want to find out what happened to Essar deal because the Essar deal would have been the biggest investment in this country ever since 1980. The Hon. Minister talks of US$750m which would have been the biggest. I am really worried that this is the state of affairs but Essar has closed shop. I think the nation needs to know that and people have been fired. They have closed their offices in Harare at the corner of Leopold Takawira and Jason Moyo. People have been sent home and that is the position of things. To tell the nation that something is being done about it and hope that Essar will come back and resuscitate ZISCO, it might not be the correct position. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I think Hon. Maridadi, this
comes as a comment and not as a question. We have heard your comments on the issue.
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS IN UZUMBA-MARAMBA-PFUNGWE
- HON. KAUNDIKIZA asked the Minister of Primary and
Secondary Education to explain why there are no Government primary and secondary schools in Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DR. DOKORA): The school infrastructure
development is an issue of concern to the Ministry and measures are being taken to ensure that decent and adequate infrastructure is provided to all learners countrywide, not just in the specific area. The Ministry will soon roll out the joint venture partnership programme to develop school infrastructure in order to cater for the deficit. Already, the forerunner has recently announced a US$22m loan facility from the Arab funds that is initiated and targeted 17 primary and secondary schools.
A number of companies have so far expressed interest to partner with the Ministry in its endeavour to provide decent infrastructure. With regards to Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe, plans are at an advanced stage to establish Machekera Government Secondary in Uzumba. Over and above that, the Ministry intends to establish some additional schools in the area in order to reduce long distances that are traversed by learners.
TRANSFER OF MWENEZI PRIMARY SCHOOL FROM THE
BAPTIST CHURCH
- HON. L. MOYO asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to explain the steps the Ministry has taken to speed up the transfer of Mwenezi Primary School in Mwenezi West Constituency from the Baptist Church which illegally took ownership of the school without parents agreement given that Mwenezi Rural District Council is dragging its feet over the issue.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DR. DOKORA): The Ministry notes with great
concern the inconsistencies, administrative gaps and inadequacies in the submissions with regards to transfer of schools from Mwenezi Rural District Council to the Baptist Church in the same district. It is a standing policy that schools consult the Ministry first before such transfers are effected.
The Ministry, through the Provincial Education Director, in a letter dated 25th October 2010, advised the council on steps to be followed. Like all Baptist schools in the particular locality, Mwenezi Primary School remains under Mwenezi Rural District Council. It is not a Baptist Church school. Of particular note is the following: the Mwenezi Rural District Council Social Services Committee came up with recommendations to the full council but there is no evidence that the full council acceded to the take-over of schools by the Baptist Church. The Social Services Committee in its recommendations proffered the following conditions which were never fulfilled:-
Their minute C27/09.3 that the three delegates request Pastor Chigoyi to give first preference to the most needy schools, especially those without building structures for the process of take-over, that is, schools in the resettlement areas. Quite clearly, this shows that the effort was really arising out of a poverty trap. There was no proof additionally at the school site…
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order! My very sincere apology to the Hon. Minister for disrupting his very eloquent answer, I just want to say at this moment, we are not properly constituted in terms of quorum which is supposed to be 70. This is the second time we are having such a problem. If you were to count or the bells were to be rung, perhaps we will then be able to constitute a quorum. We are supposed to be constituted properly and legally. As it is, we are not able to constitute ourselves properly for purposes of transacting business Madam Speaker.
So, I would want to say if you may be able to just count, you will see that we are not in good position quorum wise. You do not want to blame some of us; we are supposed to make sure that things are done properly. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I will allow the procedures of
Parliament to take place, that is Sergeant-at-Arms to ring the bells so that we can alert Hon. Members who are outside and then count the Members who are in the House.
[Bells rung]
[Quorum formed]
HON. DR. DOKORA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I was
almost concluding after citing the minutes of the sub-committee of the Mwenezi Rural District Council (RDC). The second quote from the minutes shows under C 29-09b, that all schools that need financial material assistance from the Baptist Church should apply through council and Ministry of Education so that there could be proper accountability for whatever assistance offered.
Further, the fact that there was no proof of voting at the school site is a clear indication that due processes were not followed. The Mwenezi RDC suspended payment of administrative levies which suggests that the attempted transfer was not properly handled. Furthermore, the 2008 minutes of Parents Assembly Meeting do not reflect that the 57 parents who were present acceded to the transfer. It was a proposal and remains a proposal and seemed to be a reaction to the non-payment of levies during the harsh economic meltdown.
As Government, we are willing to assume the responsibility and it will be noble to hand over to the State rather than for the school to keep changing hands, putting children at risk and at the mercy of those who may only want to collect dues from them. However, the church is welcome to build on new sites designated for schools and not to assume control of council schools. If councils have challenges, they return the schools to Government. Thank you.
CIVIL SERVANTS RETIREMENT PACKAGE
- HON. SARUWAKA asked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services to state the formula for calculating the lump sum that the former civil servants receive upon retiring?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Thank
you Madam Speaker. I thank the Hon. Member for his question. The lump sum payments are calculated as follows:
- A calculation of full pension is done first, based on length of service and pensionable emoluments as at the date of retirement. That is, length of service multiplied by the final salary and allowances.
- Then a third of the full pension is calculated.
- The one third is then multiplied by the age factor which is on life expectancy. The result of this calculation constitutes the lump sum, for example, at the age of 65, the age factor is 8.47. Assume a full pension of $15 000.00; the one third would be $5 000.00, thus the lump sum would then be $5 000.00 x 8.47 = $42 350.00. I thank you.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BUFFALO RANCH AIRPORT
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: All members of the Portfolio
Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development will travel to Chiredzi next week to witness the official opening of the Buffalo Ranch Airport.
COLLECTION OF FUNDS FROM POSB BY WORKERS
COMPENSATION FUND BENEFICIARIES
- HON. ZHOU asked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services to:
- state whether is it Government policy that beneficiaries of the
Workers’ Compensation Fund of the National Social Security Authority
(NSSA) to collect their money from the Peoples’ Own Savings Bank (POSB) only and not from any other bank accounts.
- explain what happens to the money that would have been returned to the NSSA Head Office in the event that the beneficiary has failed to collect the money for a period of two months.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR
AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): I thank
Hon. Zhou for the question. (a) Payments under the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund are done through a manual warrant payment system and it is only the ZIMPOST which can host such a system and not banks. The Workers Compensation Insurance Fund pensioners are all over the country, with some in the most remote parts of the country. ZIMPOST was chosen for its wide geographical spread, as some of their post offices are located in the most remote part of the country, which makes them accessible to the majority of our beneficiaries.
NSSA is currently in the process of migrating to an electronic payment system for Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund pensioners. In doing so, NSSA will always ensure that its pensioners have ease and convenient access to their pensioners.
(b) When NSSA sends out warrants to ZIMPOST, they are valid for two months. The two month period is meant to safeguard Authority funds and ensure that NSSA money does not lie idle with the paying agent.
I f a beneficiary fails to collect the money within the two months of warrant being issued, the uncashed warrant(s) together with the funds are returned to NSSA. Once NSSA receives the uncashed warrants and the funds, the beneficiary is contacted to establish reasons why the warrants were not cashed. Reasons for warrants not being encashed vary from the beneficiary being deceased, ill and in hospital or being committed elsewhere.
- Where the beneficiary is deceased, leaving behind qualifying dependants (surviving spouse, children or other dependants), relevant documents are requested and the benefit is then paid out.
- Where the beneficiary is contacted and found to be alive, the
unclaimed money is paid together with the following month’s payment, or paid when the beneficiary will be available and in a position to collect the money.
HON. RUNGANI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can we proceed with question
time but I think question time is over. You cannot move to adjourn questions.
On the motion of HON. RUNGANI, seconded by HON. MUKWANGWARIWA, the House adjourned at Fourteen Minutes to
Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 24th November, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
INVITATION TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICE
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House that
there will be a Catholic service tomorrow, 25th November, 2015 at 1200 hours in the Senate Chamber. All members who are Catholics and nonCatholics are invited.
INVITATION TO A POST BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I also wish to inform the House
that all members are invited to a Post-Budget Seminar which will be held on Monday, 30th November, 2015 at Pandhari Lodge, from 0830 to 1300 hours. Buses to Pandhari Lodge will leave Parliament building at 0745 hours.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. RUNGANI: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 8 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 9 has been disposed of.
HON. MUKWANGWARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
HON. A. MNANGAGWA: Madam Speaker, I rise to move the
motion in my name; that this House takes note of the Report of the Pan African Parliament Session held in Midrand, South Africa, from 4th to 18th October, 2015.
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: I second.
HON. A. MNANGAGWA: Madam Speaker, this motion seeks to
highlight the main issues raised during the recently held First Session of the Fourth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament.
The delegation comprised of members of the Zimbabwean
Parliament to the Pan African Parliament including Hon. D.
Chimutengwende, Hon. Ndoro, Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira, Hon. A.
Mnangagwa and Hon. Mashakada.
- Introduction
Madam Speaker, the session was held from the 5th October, 2015. It was opened by the Minister of International Relations in South Africa – Hon. Maite who highlighted the need for continental integration. The advantages of continental integration …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members. I am appealing to you. Would you please lower down your whispers or else you go to the lobby.
HON. A. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. The
advantage of continental integration is that Africa will be able to speak with one voice, especially in the forthcoming COP 21 conference, which will take place in Paris where developed and developing countries will meet to decide on the climate change policy for the next decade. Several eminent personalities made goodwill speeches including Speakers and former Speakers of National Parliaments.
- Caucuses
The Parliament is divided into regions – South, North, West and East African caucuses. The Southern African Caucus put in place an interim Bureau which includes myself as the Deputy Chairperson. The leadership of the caucus is with Zambia. Elections will be held in May to choose the Bureau of the caucus.
Madam Speaker, I observed that other regions are more organised than the PAP. My recommendation is that the SADC Parliamentary Forum should be used to discuss regional matters pertaining to the region before attending the PAP session. This would synergize the work of the
SADC Forum with that of the PAP. There was no mention of SADC’s position on many of the issues discussed during the session. There is need to use the SADC Forum to harmonise positions. The East African Legislative Assembly has clear policy position on many issues, for example, telecommunications where citizens use one sim card. So, whilst other regions already have positions, Southern Africa does not have one.
These caucuses must also be used to identify issues that require a regional approach. In my first meeting, South Africa presented a list of issues which they requested the region to look at. These issues pertained to them as a country and not as a region.
Madam Speaker, the session covered many issues and reports. I will highlight some. The President of PAP, His Excellency, Hon. Roger Dan Nkondo presented an activity report where he highlighted many administrative issues including recruitment of staff and other programmes. It was clear that the report was factual. A lot of debate ensued after the presentation.
- a) COP 21 and SDGs
The Session agreed that there was a need to rotate the Presidency of the PAP according to regions. The presentation on COP 21 evoked a lot of reaction. The PAP agreed that whilst there is need to reduce global emissions, this must be done in a fair and balanced manner and developed countries must be made to fulfill the commitments they made in Rio,
Copenhagen and subsequent summits. The main question was how we ensure that developing countries can achieve economic growth whilst at the same time reducing greenhouse emissions.
Madam Speaker, in this regard, the Zimbabwean delegation should, where possible, receive all session documents so that we get our Government position and prepare ourselves before the session.
The economic and social committees dealing with issues on SDGs should report regularly to Parliament so that we keep track of how we are doing as a nation. Many Members of Parliament referred to the need to achieve sustainable development goals to reduce poverty in Africa.
- b) Pan African Parliament Revised Protocol
The 23rd Ordinary Session Summit of the African Union concluded in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on 27th June 2014. The summit’s Assembly, comprising Heads of State and Government of the African Union, was held from 26th to 27th June, 2014. The Heads of State and Government adopted a number of key decisions with a view to enhancing the socioeconomic and political development of the continent, notably in the areas of education, health, agriculture, trade and women and youth development.
At the end of its deliberations on the envisaged legislative power of the PAP, the African Union Meeting of Heads of State and Government adopted the Draft Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), paying particular attention to Article 8(1) (a) and 8(2) as revised. The meeting agreed that the PAP may exercise legislative powers on the subject areas that the Assembly has approved/proposed model laws in accordance with its Parliamentary mandate.
Madam Speaker, the membership of the PAP shall comprise five members elected by each State Party. At least two of the elected members shall be women. A delegation which does not satisfy this requirement shall not have the right to be accredited for representation in the Parliament. The representation of each State Party must reflect the diversity of political opinions in each national Parliament or other deliberative bodies.
The elections of Members of the PAP by the national Parliaments or other deliberative bodies shall be conducted as far as possible in the same month throughout the Member States as may be decided by the Assembly.
Hon. Members having been making discussions on top of their voices.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members
please. You are making noise, I think you can even hear the noise yourselves. That Hon. Member in a green shirt, I can hear your voice from where I am. Hon. Member, can you please proceed.
HON. A. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Until a
code is developed for election to the Pan African Parliament by direct universal suffrage, the procedure for election to the Pan African Parliament shall be determined by the national Parliament or other deliberative body of each Member State. A Member of a national Parliament or other deliberative body is eligible to contest an election to the Pan African Parliament.
Madam Speaker, the term of a Member of the Pan African Parliament shall be five years. He or she shall be eligible for re-election for one further term only. The term of a Member of the PAP shall commence from the date on which he or she is sworn into office and shall end on the last day of the term of the Parliament.
Madam Speaker, the implementation of the revised PAP Protocol is however, subject to the signing and ratification by the requisite number of States before coming into force. At least 28 African Parliaments should ratify the instrument to enable it to come into force. To date, only Mali and Mauritania have signed the amended Protocol. This is despite the fact that the PAP is situated in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe did not even sign the Protocol. Other countries have at least signed and have commenced ratification. These include: Swaziland, Ghana, Senegal, Malawi,
Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Western Sahara. Only Parliaments which have ratified will continue their membership when the Protocol comes into effect.
Madam Speaker, it is recommended that our committee dealing with issues of international protocols and laws and international cooperation, study and make recommendations so that we know whether to advocate for the ratification of the Protocol or not. My recommendation is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should advise us on all the African Union Instruments that our President signed so that we decide on ratification and ultimately domestication.
Madam Speaker, the Women’s Conference dealt with issues of access to wealth, women empowerment, Human and People’s Rights on the rights of women. The Maputo Protocol provided the legal framework for the discussions.
The Maputo Protocol guarantees rights to women including the right to take part in the political processes, to control their reproductive health and advocates the ending of female genital mutilation and child marriages. Madam Speaker, I have a DVD that I think Hon. Members can watch so that they can encourage our people on the benefits of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIM ASSET). I thank you.
DVD played as Hon. Members watched.
HON. DR. MASHAKADA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to second the motion moved by Hon. A. Mnangagwa on the deliberations of the Pan African Parliament which were held in October this year in Midrand, South Africa. Madam Speaker, before I delve into the discussions I think it is important for Hon. Members in this House to appreciate where the Pan African Parliament is coming from, what it is, and where it is going.
We know that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established in 1963 to carry forward the agenda of “One Africa, One
Voice”. Since 1963 when the OAU was formed to bring Africa together to improve the welfare of Africans, economically and socially, the OAU has mutated. It is now called the African Union (AU) which was established by the founding fathers like Julius Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah and other African luminaries. For Africa to speak with one voice, the AU has got so many organs. One of the organs of the AU is called the People and Human Rights Courts which makes sure that democratic governance and human rights in Africa are promoted. The other organ of the AU is the Pan African e-University to promote tertiary and higher education. The other programme of the AU is the NEPAD. NEPAD is Africa’s economic development programme, just as good as Zimbabwe has got ZIM ASSET.
The AU has got NEPAD as its own programme.
The other institution created by the AU is then the Pan African
Parliament. I thought I should give this context so that Hon. Members can appreciate where I am coming from. The Pan African Parliament is the Parliament for the whole of Africa. Its duty is to make sure that all AU member states are monitored and there is oversight on the economic, social programmes and policies of the AU countries for the welfare of African people. That is the role of the Pan African Parliament – to provide continental oversight in all African countries. As you know Africa has about 54 countries. Imagine a Parliament which has to oversee governance, political and economic issues in all the 54 countries of Africa.
I think the Pan African Parliament is an important institution.
What was discussed at the last session were the following; the first thing which Hon. A. Mnangagwa has referred to is the Revised Protocol of the Pan African Parliament. When the Pan African Parliament was set, it did not have legislative powers. It was an advisory body which did not have full parliamentary powers. At the last session it was discussed that it was important for all 54 member countries to ratify the revised protocol which would give the Pan African Parliament legislative powers rather than advisory or a body which makes recommendations.
The challenge we have as a country is that our President is the Chair of the African Union which is the mother body of the Pan African Parliament. It does not give a good image that Zimbabwe has not ratified the Revised Protocol of the Pan African Parliament to give legislative powers to this organisation. I would urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cabinet to make sure that Zimbabwe ratifies this revised protocol which gives Pan African Parliament legislative powers because tinoita chiseko chenyika kuti ndimi muno cheya African Union but you do not lead by example.
The other issue that was discussed in the last session is the COP 21 which is going to be held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015 on climate change. As you know you cannot talk about sustainable development without talking about the impact of climate in Africa. If you look at the droughts that are affecting Africa, the rise in the sea levels and coastal areas, deforestation and desertification, all those things are caused by climate change. As a Parliament, the Pan African Parliament had to discuss what Africa should go and talk about in Paris. As you know when you go to Paris to the climate change, there is the Asian group, there is an African group and the European group - so, the African group must speak with one voice on the impact of climate change.
Africa is on the receiving end of climate change. We are concerned about mitigation and adaptation of the impact of climate change but mind you, the greatest polluters are China and United States. Those are the greatest global polluters of the ozone layer but they do not take responsibility on mitigation. So, Africa is going to argue in Paris that the developed countries must carry the cross. They must fund climate finance, mitigation and adaptation for African countries and also the question of compensation to loss and damage caused by global warming – is one thing that is going to feature in Paris. This was a very topical issue that was discussed by the Pan African Parliament and a decisive recommendation was made to the AU for Africa to take up these issues in Paris regarding reduction of global emissions, mitigation adaptation and the question of climate finance.
The other issue that was discussed is the establishment of a
Continental Free Trade for Africa by 2017. The idea is that by the year
2017, Africa should remove all barriers to trade, all tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, must be removed so that the flow of goods and services and the movement of people across borders in Africa is improved, that we promote intra-African trade.
As you know Madam Speaker, it is a paradox that Africa among itself, the volume of trade among African countries is only 12%, whereas Africa trades more with Europe and China than among ourselves as African countries. So, the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area will ensure that Africa trades more within itself, thereby creating jobs, reduce poverty and create linkages that will lead to regional integration.
So, it was very topical that by 2017, this goal of a Continental Free Trade Area will be established.
The other issue which Hon. A. Mnangagwa referred to was the
Maputo Protocol which is Africa’s voice on the rights of women, the empowerment of all women in Africa. It was considered that 2015 is a year of women empowerment that was the resolution of the Pan African Parliament. In terms of the Maputo Protocol, women must be involved in decision making, in the public sector, private sector and Government levels – [HON. MEMNBERS: Hear, hear.]- So, it was a very important recommendation and it was thought that the Maputo Protocol should be complied with by all African countries to make sure that women are uplifted.
The other issue that was discussed is Africa’s vision 2063. There is an economic blueprint called Africa 2063 – the Africa we want. How do we raise Africa from its poverty trap? How does Africa create jobs, how will Africa deal with migration, refuges and internal conflict? What priority infrastructural projects can Africa embark on? One of the major projects of Africa 2063 is the railway line that will run from Ethiopia to South Africa, linking all other African countries along the way that will promote regional integration.
So, in terms of Africa’s development, the Pan African Parliament and the AU are of the view that Africa needs to promote cross boarder or cross country project that benefits the whole region not just a single country.
Madam Speaker, the other issue that was discussed was the question of sustainable development goals. The MDG’s expired in 2015 and now
Africa has to implement the new sustainable development goals. Whereas the MDG’s were only 8 targets which were not fulfilled, this time the sustainable goals are 17. So, if Africa could not achieve 8 goals what more of 17, so it is a tall order. These are the issues which the African Union should be seized with and the Pan African Parliament is there to make oversight and make sure that these policies and programmes are implemented by African countries. I thank you.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
LIAISON AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE MEETING
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, I would like to inform all
Chairpersons that there will be a Liaison and Coordination Committee meeting tomorrow Wednesday, 25th November, at 0900hrs in the Senate Chamber. All Portfolio Committee Chairpersons are urged to attend.
HON. CHASI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I wish to start by congratulating Hon. A. Mnangagwa for a very lucid presentation on this trip that they conducted to represent us. I also want to thank Hon.
Mashakada for the additional information which was quite illuminating. Hon. Speaker, I am personally concerned, first of all at the apparent lack of interest by Members in this House in this report which I think is of paramount importance. The report that has been given to us indicates that Pan African Parliament is working towards supra national law making powers which I think is a matter that must be of concern to this House, to say that this development needs to be studied very closely as it impinges on the powers that this House has.
I am also concerned by the lack of coordination internally in Zimbabwe; Hon. A. Mnangagwa indicated that when they traveled they did not have Government positions on various situations. I think that is a most unwholesome situation because it would be completely embarrassing if our representative speak along lines that are completely different from the position that Zimbabwe has on a number of matters. I also think that there needs to be a deliberate exercise to synchronise the work that is happening around PAP and also the work that is happening around SADC to ensure that we are moving purposefully in unison and with one voice in both bodies.
There has been talk of membership of PAP and I want to say that in making the decision to second members to the Pan African Parliament, I think we must deliberately look at the skills, particularly international relations skills and choose persons who have an understanding of how international organisations work. I support the need to have the protocol signed but I also want to add a word of caution to say that we need to study this protocol and make a very deliberate decision to append our signature to this protocol.
Now, regional intergration is a reality which we cannot avoid and I think it is absolutely necessary that we must examine our positions in the various regional organisations that we work with that are SADC,
COMESA et-cetera. I think that the intention to establish –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Madam Speaker, I cannot even hear myself speak.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members! I think
this is a very important debate, those who have gone to Pan African Parliament are reporting back and you are busy talking. They are bringing very important issues for us to consider but we are very busy talking. I do not know whether we come here to talk amongst ourselves or to debate issues concerning the whole country. I think Hon. Members you have to be very serious on these things.
HON. CHASI: Thank you very much Madam Chair. I was just referring to the Continental Free Trade Area which seems to be upon us in the next two years. I want to emphasise the need for us to co-ordinate with the relevant Government ministries, to ensure that what is happening at Pan African Parliament (PAP is in sync with what Government is working on. I am not quite sure of our state of preparedness for this but it seems to me that the time that we are left with is very little, two years to work towards this, given that we have also memberships in other regional arrangements.
Obviously, some of the regional bodies are also working towards some of these goals. As Parliament, we need to engage economists who understand the implications of these things so that we take informed positions. The Maputo Protocol is very important. Our Constitution is very clear on the need for gender equality. I think we need to consciously understand what this Protocol means and also synchronise it with our Constitution – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – On that note, I wish to close my comments.
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Let me begin by thanking Hon. Mnangagwa and Hon. Mashakada for this very important report to the House on the feedback in terms of the goings-on at the PAP. I was one of those who were assigned to go to the PAP from its inception in 2004. I had the privilege of being invited there, having been in the first Women’s Parliamentary Caucus of the PAP.
Let me also thank Africa for having taken a deliberate effort in terms of addressing women’s issues through the Maputo Protocol, in terms of human and peoples’ rights. Women’s rights are also human rights and more importantly, when we are gathered as women Parliamentarians from across Africa – I will cite for example, Hon. Speaker, when you talked about wealth for women. How many women are rich and how many women are in poverty? I have always heard women talk that the face of poverty wears a woman and that is correct. Hence, the deliberate attempt by the leadership of the PAP to talk about how we can improve wealth amongst women in Africa is a genuine one and I would like to support and congratulate the PAP and our delegation to the PAP who did an excellent job in terms of team work in talking and sharing with other women.
When you talk of women empowerment, you also find that women are excluded all over Africa, Zimbabwean women included. If we do not talk about it, we will leave the women out. When we talk about the Maputo Protocol signing, I want to diverse a little bit and say, when we sign these Protocols we need to domesticate them. If we do not domesticate them, to design them according to our programmes, they will not be as effective and efficient to address our needs as Zimbabweans – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – After domestication, there is the issue of implementation which is the biggest problem. If you do not implement when you have domesticated or ratified a Convention, you have not done anything in terms of action.
I would call upon our Executive actually to implement the Protocols that we would have signed, especially the Maputo Protocol since it addresses the issues of women’s wealth, rights and empowerment. I am saying this with the knowledge that we have a privilege and an advantage that the Chairperson of the AU is His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe. We can actually benefit from his tenure of office by doing us fast track in terms of domesticating and implementing.
Hon. Chiota having stood at the House entrance.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Chiota, you are up, is there any problem? – [AN HON. MEMBER: Arikutopinda.] – He has been standing there for quite some minutes.
HON. MPARIWA: Having said that, I am talking about this at a time when I know that at least the current Chairperson of the AU is a
Zimbabwean and the President of Zimbabwe. He can do a favour to the Zimbabweans in terms of domesticating, implementing and supervising those ministries that are to do with any issues to do with women. Specifically, you can come to the Portfolio Committee on Women. You can also go to the Portfolio Committee on Labour because there are a lot of aspects that also get to women. We talk of decent work, equality at work, et cetera, women’s health at the work place and sexual harassment. All those issues are pregnant of issues that we can improve upon whilst the President of Zimbabwe is still the Chairperson of AU. I want to believe that when Zimbabweans start, Africa also can shake because the
Chairperson will have walked the talk.
My last point is on the equality of women in politics, that is political equality in terms of men and women. This is also enshrined in our Constitution but when Instruments and Protocols pronounce them, let us also take advantage that we are also part of the AU. We cannot just watch and say, it is contained in our Constitution. I know there is a deliberate push – just to push aside women’s issues because it is also part of the Constitution. We have not aligned the laws to the Constitution hence we can actually start with the Maputo Protocol.
Whilst there are 400 pieces of legislation that are supposed to come into this House, we do not know when but we can take advantage of the recommendations that have been put through by our delegation from the PAP. I want to thank you for a job well done.
*HON. MAPIKI: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion. I would like to thank Hon. Mnangagwa and her delegation for this report. This shows that we have a visionary President who was aware of the fact that we would come to these things. We have a President who launched the programme on irrigation using equipment from Brazil. In this irrigation scheme, we are using equipment which came from Israel. He is also promoting the small grains. Our President is visionary because he is aware of the climate changes and hence takes precautionary measures to win this war on climate change.
We also realise that His Excellency, the President has put in a strategic response to the Climatic Change Programme. He is also promoting the programme of irrigation and also making a hybrid of cattle so that we have cattle or draught power which can stand the drought which will be coming because of this climate change. We also see that our President and the Chairperson of the AU is a pro-active man, an intelligent man who is leading by example, other countries of Africa. May I also thank members of this august House who worked on a board which is looking at the climatic change and this group will be part of the team which will go to Paris to represent Zimbabwe on this subject and it will show that Zimbabwe is a country which is prepared to discuss and tackle climatic change. We are also aware of the fact that our President will be going to Paris, France to discuss this issue.
We realise that in this report, there was backing of resources on
COMESA so that there can be intra-trade amongst African countries and removal of the barriers that affect trade amongst Africans. We have about 12 countries which are in Africa that are discussing cross border traders, such as those who will be moving from Zimbabwe to Tanzania through Zambia and Libya. These should operate on a simplified trade regime form where they will import goods worth $500, which are imported duty free. In that manner, we will be removing the barriers of trade amongst African countries. We know there are some African countries which are skeptical about this idea of COMESA. They are about 12 of them. I am sure these countries will soon realise that they should join the bandwagon.
We have noticed that South Africa is now taking measures to join the COMESA trade pact.
We also have other countries which are now operating to look at the climate change. These are countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo which have rivers that can generate enough electricity. We need to have a union of these countries such as Inga in DRC so that when we have enough electricity, we can distribute it. In countries like Zimbabwe, we have plenty of sunshine and we can start looking for ways of using solar system. We can also drill boreholes using solar energy. When we are running short of the energy, we then import from the DRC. We can also borrow irrigation schemes from Israel whereby the drip irrigation scheme saves water but brings in a lot of harvests.
I praise the people who went on this mission as they showed that definitely, Zimbabwe is well educated because they are pro-active. We look at transportation whereby we have countries which were in the federation of Northern, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. These countries built a very strong transport infrastructure, whereby the rail would move to the sea and even go to Tanzania. These countries realised that they needed to be independent and not rely on other countries for this.
I therefore thank Hon. Mnangagwa and Hon. Mashakada. They have a foresight and are intelligent people. They have brought us ideas which we can implement so that we have progress in Zimbabwe. We should really appreciate what they have brought into our country. As Members of Parliament, when we go back to our constituencies, let us hold meetings and educate our constituents on climate change. We should promote drip irrigation and the growing of small grains. We have other crops which can grow within two months and we have some crops which can do well with a very short rainy season. As Zimbabweans, let us share ideas with the rural people so that we uplift our standards of living using the meager resources that we have. I thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 10 to 19 be stood over until Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 are disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
RECOMMITTAL TO COMMITTEE STAGE
GENERAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL, 2015 [H. B. 2A, 2015]
First Order read: Recommittal – Committee: General Laws Amendment Bill, (H. B. 2A, 2015).
House in Committee.
On Part 1:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move the amendment standing in my name; with
regard to Part 1, under the Interpretation Act, on Page 2 of the Bill, in Section 2, interpretation, insert new Subsection g, h, i and j in between lines 24 and 25 as follows; By the repeal of the definition of
Administrative Court and substitution of the following, Administrative
Court means Administrative Court referred to in Section 173 of the Constitution.
Under h, by the repeal of the definition of Police Force and substitution of the following; Police Service, means the Police Service referred to in Section 219 of the Constitution. Under i, by the repeal of the definition of Public Service and the substitution of the following; Civil
Service, means Civil Service referred to in Section 199 of the Constitution.
Under j, by the repeal of the definition of Public Service Commission and substitution of the following; Civil Service Commission, means Civil Service Commission, referred to in Section 202 of the Constitution.
Amendment to Part 1 put and agreed to.
Part 1, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part VI:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move the amendment standing in my name that; under Part VI Mr. Chairman, on page 9 of the Bill, in between line 30 and
31, insert the following paragraph after paragraph C, which is D; Mandatory, automatic and electronic voter registration.
Amendment of Part VI put and agreed to.
Part VI, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part XX:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chairman, I move the amendment standing in my
name that; in relation to Part XX, on page 22 of the Bill, line 3, delete subsection 2(a) and substitute with the following; Where extramarital sexual intercourse or an indecent act occurs between young persons who are both over the age of 12 years but below the age of 16 years at the time of the sexual intercourse or the indecent act, one of them shall be charged with sexual intercourse or performing an indecent act with a young person except upon a report of a probation officer appointed in terms of the
Children’s Act, Chapter 5:06, showing that it is inappropriate to charge either of them with a crime.
Amendment to Part XX put and agreed to.
Part XX, as amended put and agreed to.
On Part CIX:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chairman, I move the amendment standing in my name. This amendment relates to the University of Zimbabwe Act. The same amendment which was proposed by Hon. Members here applies to the University of Zimbabwe Act, Zimbabwe Open University Act,
Midlands State University Act, Bindura University of Science and
Education Act, Chinhoyi University of Technology Act, Great Zimbabwe
University Act, Lupane State University Act and Harare Institute of Technology Act.
The amendment is similar. On page 55 in line 35, by the insertion of the following words, after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved. The same applies under Zimbabwe Open University on page 56 in line 26, by the insertion of the following words after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved. The same applies to Midlands State University, but under page 57 and line 3, by the insertion of the following words after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved.
Mr. Chairman, the same applies on Bindura University of Science Education Act, but it is on page 57, in line 29, by the insertion of the following words, after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved. The same applies to Chinhoyi University of Technology Act, on page 58, in line 4, by the insertion of the following words after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved. Similarly, under Great Zimbabwe University Act, on page 58 in line 28, by the insertion of the following words after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved. Lupane State University Act the same, but on page 59, in line 4, by the insertion of the following words after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved. The same is under Harare Institute of Technology Act, on page 58 in line 4, by the insertion of the following words after the word women, and fair regional representation is achieved.
Amendment to Part CIX put and agreed to.
Part CIX, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXII:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): I move the amendment standing in my name; that on page 56 in line 35, by the insertion of the following words after the word
“women” “and fair regional representation is achieved”.
Amendment to Part CXII put and agreed to.
Part CXII, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXIII:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my
name; that on page 57 in line 3, by the insertion of the following words after the word “women” “and fair regional representation is achieved”.
Amendment to Part CXIII put and agreed to.
Part CXIII, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXIV:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my name that; on page 57 in line 29 by the insertion of the following words after the word “women” “and fair regional representation is achieved”.
Amendment to Part CXIV put and agreed to.
Part CXIV, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXV:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my
name; that on page 58 in line 4, by insertion of the following words after the word “women” “and fair regional representation is achieved.
Amendment to Part CXV put and agreed to.
Part CXV, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXVI:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my name; that on page 58 in line 28, by the insertion of the following words after the word “women” “and fair regional representation is achieved”.
Amendment to Part CXVI put and agreed to.
Part CXVI, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXVII:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my name; that on page 59 in line 4, by the insertion of the following words after the word “women” “and fair regional representation if achieved”.
Amendment to Part CXVII put and agreed to.
Part CXVII, as amended, put and agreed to.
On Part CXVIII:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chair, I move the amendment standing in my
name; that on page 58 in line 4, by the insertion of the following words after the word “women” “and fair regional representation is achieved”.
Amendment to Part CXVIII put and agreed to.
Part CXVIII, as amended, put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): I have an
announcement to make. The Ford Ranger which is white in colour,
Registration Number ADA-3042, can the owner of the vehicle remove his car as it is blocking other vehicles [AN HON MEMBER: Ndeya Mphoko].
Hon. Mutseyami, can you please withdraw your statement?
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Ndemedza mashoko angu andareketa.
Zvadarika.
RECOMMITTAL TO COMMITTEE STAGE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE AMENDMENT
BILL [H. B. 3A, 2015]
Second Order read: Recommittal Committee Stage: Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill 2015 [H.B. 3A, 2015].
House in Committee.
On Clauses 6:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): The substitution of Clause 6 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill. On page 5 of the Bill, delete clause 6 from lines 23 to 32 and substitute the following—
6 New section substituted for section 16 of Cap. 9:07
Section 16 of the principal Act is repealed and the following is substituted—
“16 Certificate of Prosecutor-General that he or she declines to prosecute
- Except as is provided by subsection (4), it shall not be competent for any private party to obtain the process of any court for summoning any party to answer any charge, unless such private party produces to the officer authorized by law to issue such process a certificate signed by the Prosecutor-General that he or she has seen the statements or affidavits on which the charge is based and declines to prosecute at the public instance, and, subject to the conditions set forth in subsections (2) and (3), in every case in which the Prosecutor-General declines to prosecute he or she shall, at the request of the party intending to prosecute, grant the certificate required.
- The Prosecutor-General shall grant the certificate referred to in subsection (1) if—
(a) there is produced to him or her by the private party a written
request in the form of a sworn statement from which it appears to the Prosecutor-General that the private party—
- is the victim of the alleged offence, or is otherwise an
interested person by virtue of having personally suffered, as a direct consequence of the alleged offence, an invasion of a legal right beyond that suffered by the public generally; and
- has the means to conduct the private prosecution promptly
and timeously; and
- will conduct the private prosecution as an individual (whether personally or through his or her legal practitioner), or as the representative of a class of individuals recognised as a class for the purposes of the
Class Actions Act [Chapter 8:17] (No. 10 of 1999);
and
(b) no grounds exist in terms of subsection (3) for withholding the
certificate.
(3) The Prosecutor-General may refuse to grant the certificate referred to in subsection (1) upon any one or more of the following grounds,
namely—
- That the conduct complained of by the private party does not disclose a criminal offence; or
- That on the evidence available, there is no possibility (or only a remote possibility) of proving the charge against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt:
Provided that if the private party has any additional evidence that was not availed to the Prosecutor-General at the time when he or she declined to prosecute the case, the private party shall disclose the nature of that evidence in his or her request to the Prosecutor-General made in terms of subsection (2) (and any failure to do so shall constitute the offence of defeating or obstructing the course of justice contrary to
Section 184 of the Criminal Law Code); or
- that on the facts alleged, there is a civil remedy available to the private party that will meet the justice of his or her case equally well or better; or
- whether the person to be prosecuted has adequate means to conduct a defence to the charge (in the case of a person who, but for the fact that the Prosecutor-General has declined to prosecute him or her, would have qualified for legal assistance at the expense of the State); or
- that it is not in the interests of national security or the public interest generally to grant the certificate to the private party.
(4) When the right of prosecution referred to in this Part is possessed under any statute by any public body or person in respect of particular offences, subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall not apply.”
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Chair. I rise to register concern and
infact, an objection to subsection (3) of Clause 16, actually starting from Clause 2, Clause 16 sub clauses (2), paragraph (b) as it effectively is inherently contradicting to subsection 2.
Hon. Chairperson, subsection (2), provides that the Prosecutor General is required to grant a certificate of non-prosecution. It is couched in peremptory terms. The Prosecutor-General must issue such a certificate of non prosecution where the Prosecutor-General decides not to prosecute.
However, if you read on to sub clause (b), on last page of Clause 6, 13 it makes a total U-turn, total reversal and contradicts totally to the peremptory effect of the Prosecutor-General having to issue such statement. Now, in sub clause (3), it provides that the Prosecutor-General may refuse to grant the certificate which is the total opposite of what has been said in sub Clause (2).
So, Hon. Chairperson, even from a drafting point of view, in terms of drafting of statues and of any documents, surely they cannot reside in one document, positions and statement that totally contradict each other. It is difficult to make sense of it as to which it is that will prevail. If the Prosecutor-General is required to issue a certificate of non-prosecution as he shall, as indicated in sub clause 2, how then may he do so? He or she cannot have discretion to refuse to grant it if he is required to do so. What this in fact amounts to, is that it is a claw back. That means that the section is purporting to recognise the right of individuals to have the protection of the law in terms of the Constitution where the Prosecutor-
General does not want to prosecute.
However, it then goes around the back door and totally removing everything. If that is the intention of the Hon. Vice President who is responsible for the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, to make sure that people do not have a right to prosecute, possibly we should save words, space and time, just to indicate that the Prosecutor General can refuse to grant a certificate. It is contradictory but worse, it is giving the Prosecutor-General judicial functions.
In sub clause 3, it is actually giving the Prosecutor-General the right to decide whether or not a person’s issue should disclose a criminal offence. Secondly, it is also going further to give the Prosecutor General the power to weigh evidence, adjudge evidence and decides whether such evidence, there is a possibility or a remote possibility of a conviction.
That Mr. Chairman is a sole prerogative of the Judiciary.
In terms of Section 102 of the Constitution, the only judicial authority is the courts. Section 162 says that Judicial authority derives from the people of Zimbabwe and it vests in the courts and it lists the Constitutional Court, the High Court, the Supreme Court, the Labour
Court and any other courts that are provided. The Prosecutor General,
Hon Chairperson, is not a court of law and should not be a court of law. This violates the very core principle of separation of powers that is central to the rule of law.
This clause is not constitutional and it is in fact, not lawful. It violates the Constitution by removing that opportunity for those who are victims of crime but who the Prosecutor-General does not want to prosecute on whose behalf. It deprives them of any remedy whatsoever. It should be up to the courts to do so and it contradicts what is already in Subsection (2). Those are my humble submissions Hon. Chair.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Chairman. I rise to support some
of the points that Hon. Majome has raised. If you look at Sections 2 and 3, they are contradictory. Section 3 says that the Prosecutor General may refuse to grant on two grounds:-
- If the conduct complained about does not disclose a criminal offence;
- On the evidence available there is no possibility of proving the charge against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Hon. Chairperson, this is the function of the Prosecutor-General. Before he takes any case to the courts, he has to ensure that there is a possibility that he is going to get a conviction. The moment he notices that there is no case, he refuses. Now, when the Prosecutor-General has refused to prosecute and an aggrieved party feels that he has a chance to adduce evidence which may lead to a conviction, the Prosecutor General then cannot turn around and say no, I have already indicated that there is no evidence and therefore, I am refusing. The grounds for refusing to prosecute except if it refers to subsection (e), which I agree with and which says that if it is in the national interest, security interest or public interest, the Prosecutor General may refuse to prosecute but if it does not confine to those areas, surely we are giving the Prosecutor General a lot of powers to refuse arbitrarily and there will not be any justice that will have been done.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGANGWA): Thank you Mr. Chairman. I see that the two lawyers have hurriedly stood up before they finalised the construction of the provision. With regard to subsection two, it says “the Prosecutor- General shall grant the certificate referred to in subsection one, if – the ‘if’ derogates ‘shall’. I rest my case on that one.
We move on to the next one which the Hon. Member Ziyambi also got lost, dealing with Section 3, both the two lawyers also got lost. The
Prosecutor-General may refuse to grant ‘may’ not ‘shall’ the certificate referred to in subsection 1, upon any one or more of the following grounds, namely: (a) that the Conduct complained of by the private party does not disclose a criminal offence that is inherent in the functions of the
Prosecutor General,
(b) that on the evidence available, there is no possibility again that is inherent in the functions of the Prosecutor General.
However, there a proviso which the two lawyers were not able to connect. There is a proviso to those two provisions. The proviso says,
‘provided that if the private party has any additional evidence which had not been adduced to the Prosecutor-General at the time determined not to prosecute has now been adduced. So the proviso provides what the Prosecutor-General has to do. So, there is no contradiction at all when you read them properly. I thank you.
Amendments to Clause 6 put and agreed to.
Clause 6, as amended, put and agreed to.
HON. MARIDADI: I think you are making it a tradition that when you say those of the opinion say ‘aye’ and those of the contrary opinion say ‘no’, you are quick to say ‘the ayes have it’. How do you know that the ‘ayes’ have it because you did not measure the decibels.?
HON. MUTSEYAMI: On a point of order. My point of order is the ayes and noes, the echoes were equally the same. How did you manage to devise a means that this was higher? What system are you using? – HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE CHAIRPERSON: Order! I am the Chairperson, I have ears.
On Clause 30:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Section 121 (“Appeals against decisions regarding bail”) on the principal Act is amended –
(a) by the repeal of subsection (1) and substitution of –
“(1) Subject to this section where a judge or magistrate has admitted or refused to admit a person to bail –
- the Prosecutor-General or the Public- Prosecutor, within 72 hours of the decision; or
- The person concerned, at any time; may appeal against the admission to or refusal to or amount fixed as bail or any conditions imposed in connection with bail”,
- by the repeal of subsection (3) and the substitution of –
“(3) Where a judge or magistrate has admitted a person to bail and the judge or magistrate is notified immediately after the decision that the Prosecutor-General or a Public- Prosecutor wishes to appeal against the decision, the judge or magistrate shall order the person to remain in custody until the appeal determined:
Provided that the person shall not remain in custody under such an order for longer than 72 hours unless, within that period, the Prosecutor-
General or Public -Prosecutor lodges the appeal”.
( c) In subsection (6), by the deletion of “subsections (2) to (6) of
Section 116” and substitution of Section 117 (2) to (6)”.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I rise to object to the amendment of the notorious Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. I rise with a lot of sadness because I believe we have made a tremendous amount of progress in this country in the sense that our Constitutional Courts have ruled very clearly and unequivocally that the provisions of Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, that allow a person who has been duly granted bail by a court of law, that has duly weighed the circumstances of the accused person; it has weighed the interest of justice; the risk of escape or other factors and has decided to grant a person bail. Then the Public- Prosecutor stands up and simply indicates that -‘I want to appeal’. There and then, the bail is suspended,
the person is sent back into custody for seven days.
Our courts have ruled that, that practice is patently unconstitutional. It violates the very basic principles of natural justice. It also violates the principles of our Constitution. We have been encouraged previously when this Bill was debated that the Hon. Vice President, the esteemed Vice President who is responsible for the Ministry of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs, I heard that he had indeed looked at the issue from a judiciary’s point of view, from a point of view that respects and recognises the need to dispense justice in each and every case and he had moved somewhat down to 48 hours. In my respectful view, he had recognised that indeed, it is a travesty of justice to revoke a person’s right to freedom and bail granted by a court merely because the prosecutor says that he is thinking about appealing. Usually, they do not even do so. Even when they do so and had been reduced to 48, which in my respectful view is still problematic because it still amounts to the same thing of interfering with a person’s right that they had been given by a court of law because a Public- Prosecutor does not have judicial authority. They will be overriding the decision of a duly constituted court and violating the same authority in Section 162 of the Constitution which provides that the judicial authority vests in the people of Zimbabwe and is exercised with the courts.
The Prosecutor- General and any of his officers are not the courts of Zimbabwe; they are not listed anywhere in Section 162. They are not endowed with the authority to decide on matters. Once people go before the courts, they are equal. No animal is more equal than another animal when parties are before the courts. This practice of giving the upper hand to the Prosecutor-General to decide singlehandedly literally overrides the decision of a magistrate. It is unconscionable and it is very sad indeed. It will be a very sad day for justice again. If we were to wind back the progress we have made and go back now even to the 76 hours because even the 48 hours is objectionable. It quarrels fundamentally with the basic principle of justice and natural justice.
What is more worrying is that it breeds inefficiency in the conduct of prosecutors. Why cannot the Prosecutor-General’s officers act with alacrity, speed and efficiency? If they want to file appeals, why do they drag their feet? Why are we legislating for inefficiency and ineptitude on their part? Surely, if they are meant to prosecute, they must behave like any other lawyer. They must do what they are required to do on behalf of their client in the time available; that is what they exist for. Surely Hon. Chairperson, this particular amendment to even raise it back to 76 hours is a hard slap again in the face of the Judiciary, which is what the
Constitution gives authority to decide over matters.
It is also giving licence to the Prosecutor General to continue abusing this provision because when Hon. Chief Justice Chidyausiku ruled in the recent matter, he actually ruled that this provision is sadistic. It is more sadistic than legal. It will be a sad day for justice and for the people of Zimbabwe Mr. Speaker Sir. If again in this Legislature, we legislate such sadism. Even if it is now 76 hours, it is still a travesty of justice and it is unconscionable. Surely we can do better than this as a Legislature. We will be actually encouraging the Prosecutor General to act professionally, efficiently and with speed. As the credo says, justice delayed is justice denied.
No prosecutor however loud voiced should be able to overturn the decision of a duly constituted court that is established in terms of the Constitution. The Prosecutor General in a criminal trial is only one of the parties. The Prosecutor General is not more equal than any other litigant. Where a court has ruled, let us respect the decisions of the court. Where a court does grant bail, let that be respected. If the Prosecutor General is successful in a bail application in an appeal, the accused person can still be brought back to custody. Bail conditions can actually be issues that are severe that allow the person to be close by such that if the ProsecutorGeneral does succeed in appealing and which they never do sadly; they hardly ever succeed in the appeals that they do. Then they can be sent back to court than to stand in the way of the established rights of persons, particularly those who are yet to be convicted of any criminal offence because they are still presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.
Again it would also violate the rights in Section 70 of the Constitution of accused persons to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, especially those who are not yet convicted and even those who are also granted bail pending appeal. Where a court has ruled, let us respect our courts and let us not use the Legislature to help the prosecution to oust the jurisdiction of the courts. I thank you.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. Chairman. I rise to contribute to the debate in that I am looking at the 72 hours that the Hon. Vice President is requesting in this Bill and the practicality of and applicability of it in real life situations where you have also a court that has made a decision maybe in Gokwe. The record has to be transcribed and they have to note an appeal and the practicality of not soiling the name of the Prosecutor
General by failing to note an appeal within the required time, the possibility is very high. I am not very sure about the rationale of reducing it from seven days to 72 hours without removing it completely if there is some intention of ensuring that the Prosecutor General does not have the powers to override a judicial decision.
My only other worry or clarification that I wanted is are we not going to breed laziness in the Prosecutor-General’s office in that they have the second bite of the cherry? They are supposed to prepare their papers and argue against granting bail. What they are saying here is the powers are okay in that maybe a criminal may be granted bail when he does not deserve to go out there and he will continue committing crimes. Why not craft your arguments correctly and have the court granting the correct decision in the first place rather than having a scenario where the separation of power principle is now diminished by the Prosecutor General having judicial powers to override a court decision?
The other request that I wanted from the Hon. Vice President is on
Subsection A, it is written the Prosecutor-General or the Public Prosecutor,
I think now we have the office of the Prosecutor-General and everyone is prosecuting under the name of the Prosecutor-General. Is there a need to say or the Public Prosecutor? I thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): The Prosecutor-General is an officer of the court. He is not being a judge. Whatever court at whatever level can make a decision and that decision can be appealed against; if somebody is aggrieved by that decision it can be appealed against. When the Prosecutor General is appealing against a decision of a court, he is not making himself a judge at all. Again, I do not know where the honourable learned friend got lost.
In the past the law was seven days, allowing the Prosecutor General to appeal within seven days. We have reduced this down to three days; he must do so within days – which mean that we have improved the period within which the Prosecutor-General is compelled to make his appeal against the granting of bail. So, it is an improvement, it is administrative. Hon. Ziyambi was correct. If the case is being heard in Gokwe or
Chipinge and there is going to be an appeal. You cannot say the same day the Prosecutor General who is in Harare should be able to appeal. The docket or record must come from Chipinge and come here and then make the preparation to lodge the appeal. This is why we have given three days. The seven days was viewed as too long and I agreed when she made that argument. We have reduced this to 72 hours which is three days. Again we must always know that the law is not intended to please anybody. The law is intended to be just and this is what is just. I thank you.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
COMMITTEE STAGE
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL, 2015 [H.B.6, 2015]
Third Order read: Committee: Resumption on the Banking Amendment Bill, 2015 [H.B. 6, 2015].
House in Committee.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that the Chairperson reports progress and seek
leave to sit again.
House resumed.
Progress reported.
Committee to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that Order of the Day, Number 4 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 8 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Madam Speaker, I have been advised that Hon.
Muderedzwa was in the House but I understand he has gone outside. I therefore move that Order of the Day, Number 8 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 7 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed on.
MOTION
ROLE OF THE ZIMBABWE DEFENCE FORCES IN SOCIO-
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ZIMBABWE
HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I seek leave of the House to withdraw the notice of motion standing in my name.
HON. NDUNA: I second.
Motion; With leave, withdrawn.
On the motion of THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, the House
adjourned at a Quarter past Four o’clock pm.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 18th November, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. MAONDERA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. This House has been expressing concern about the absence of Ministers and I am happy that the Leader of Government Business is in the House. We do not know what is happening because the bench is empty and who are we going to pose the questions to when there are no Ministers? So, I am proposing that we defer Questions Without Notice until such a time when the Ministers are in.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have mentioned the
Leader of the House, are you posing a question to the Leader of the
House or you are making a point of order?
HON. MAONDERA: I am raising a motion and I am allowed on
a point of privilege.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, the Hon. Member is
proposing that we defer Questions Without Notice, is there any objection?
HON. CHINOTIMBA: I object.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Now, we proceed with
Questions Without Notice.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr. Made. Hon. Minister, firstly I would want to thank you for the inputs that you gave to farmers but my question is, I think you realise that it is very hot and if we do not empower A2 farmers, the inputs that you gave to communal areas, it is like they will end up being a waste. We are saying, instead of people who have vast pieces of land going to banks to get loans where they already are indebted for three years now, is it not possible that you empower GMB by giving it money so that it buys seed and gives to farmers for contract farming? I realise that the more people go to borrow money from banks; the chance that they end up not being able to approach the banks because they already owe money to the banks for the past three years.
Other countries are getting subsidies but Zimbabwe is not doing that. Is it not possible that farmers go and get inputs from GMB and places like that, for people who cannot go and get loans from the banks so that they can manage to plough and get their own food?
*THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (DR. MADE): I would like
to thank Hon. Chinotimba for the question. He asked a very pertinent question. As a policy, Government is looking after all farmers and there is nothing like small farmers, for example, people from the resettlement areas or those from the purchase areas, the A2 farmers. Let me take you back a bit. Initially, we were assisting A2 farmers and I just want to remind him of that. We were sourcing grain for small farmers and the
Government decided that the small farmers should also be assisted but we did not forget about A2 farmers. I would like to make that point known that we did not forget about them. What we have done this year is to look at all the farmers and we did not mind about whether or not he was on A1 or A2, we thought that all farmers should be paid equally for their grain that they would have taken to the GMB. That was the first point. Like now, some farmers took their wheat and maize to the GMB and we are supposed to be paying for those who delivered in 2013/2014.
We will be paying those very soon starting tomorrow.
Now, coming to those other people whom we have referred to the banks, we are saying that all farmers should go to the banks, talk to them and maybe, honour up that they are owing the banks. Every farmer should go to their bank. We know that farmers are owing banks but we are not saying that they should go today. What we are saying is that we are aware that farmers are owing the banks. We are saying that they should go back to their banks and honour up to the banks and maybe they will be given advice by the banks which they have to follow.
Coming to what the Government is going to do with the farmers, we are looking at vulnerable farmers and at the moment, we are looking at the rains. The rains have come late and we are not expecting a lot of rains, but we will assist the farmers. We are not saying that there are no rains, but there are other things that we are also doing. We are trying to put up irrigation that will assist the small farmers and we are also going to go into irrigation to cater for the A2 farmers. We will be helping each other.
What we are really looking at this year is the issue of cotton because he has asked a question that was directed towards that. We will be assisting about 1000 0000 households. We will be assisting them with cotton inputs especially in the dry regions. We will also try and assist the cotton farmers. We are still discussing the issue, but at the end of the day we know that we will assist. The Government is going to announce that it will assist cotton farmers with inputs because we want to go back to serious cotton farming. We will be looking at fertilizers and crop chemicals because those are mostly expensive for cotton farmers.
We know that we will get good harvests from there. We will also get seed cake where we can get cotton cake. The Chairman, the Hon.
Vice President is here. He is responsible for the Food and Nutrition
Cluster. We will still have to sit down and come up with proper things. I am saying, we will not discriminate against the A2 and the A1 communal farmers. We will be looking at all the farmers and all farmers will be assisted.
Now, coming to this year, we have been told how much rains we are going to get. We are not saying that because of the weather forecast we are not going to do anything. No farmer is going to sit back because of the weather forecast. We are expecting all our farmers to start ploughing. We will also look at our farmers who are into animal husbandry and other things. I thank you very much.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to recognise the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery, students and teachers from Gateway Junior School, Harare Province. You are most welcome.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Minister, you did not understand my question. My question is, we have contract farmers – as Government, why do we not empower GMB to get into contract farming where they will plough maize? Here you are talking about cotton but we do not get food from cotton. We might plant vegetables and cotton, but what we want is our stable food sadza.
I am saying that as Government, why do we not give money to GMB for GMB to buy seed from SEEDCO and other places like that so that they can go into contract farming? After ploughing, they can just get their money instead of us going to the banks because we do not get money from the bank. From what I am being told, the money that is meant for farmers has been taken to the banks but people have lost their houses because of these banks.
What I am saying is, why do you not give the money to GMB to buy inputs so that we go into contract farming for people to get food?
*HON. DR. MADE: Madam Speaker, I think I answered properly and I explained that we are paying the farmers that took their grain to GMB. Hon. Chinotimba, I said we are going to look into assisting all farmers. I said we started by assisting A2 farmers and I also went on to say that we were not going to leave out the A1 farmers.
When he says we should give money to GMB, it is not only GMB that the Government has to look after. There are other institutions. GMB as a parastatal has its own contract activities. GMB looks at how they can assist farmers and we also look at how we can assist. This is just a suggestion that the Hon. Member has made which we will examine, but there is a lot that we have to look into when we look at our institutions and what we ask them to do.
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, in the absence of the
Minister of Home Affairs. In terms of the Constitution, Section 70, on the rights of accused persons, there is a certain amount of protection that the accused person is supposed to get. Last week it was reported in the media that an accused person died at St Mary’s police station after having been taken into custody. This is not the first time that an accused person has died at this particular police station. I would like the Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to explain to the nation what Government policy is as regards the rights of accused persons as enshrined in the current Constitution of Zimbabwe, Section 70?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Hon. Madam Speaker, I thank the Hon. Member for
the question directed to the Minister of Home Affairs but in his absence I will give a reply.
It is true that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to life and right to protection. Again the same Constitution allows people who commit crime to be arrested. So, from what I understand the person referred to committed murder and he was arrested and kept in police cells. I am not aware of the details of the death but I am informed that he was found dead the next morning.
Unfortunately, the Constitution does not guarantee that where God decides a person must die, the Constitution will protect. I have no doubt that proper investigations will be undertaken by the relevant authorities as regards to the cause of the death of that individual. The scant facts that are there, which were in the paper, I do not know whether it is correct or not. It was discovered that he was hitting himself against the wall and then was taken to Chitungwiza hospital, somewhere – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members.
HON. MNANGAGWA: For medical checkup and all this is in the
newspapers and I have not heard a formal report from the Ministry. What I have is what other colleagues have also read about. There is not much that I can do but to say that every citizen is protected constitutionally, to right of life, to protection against any torture, to protection against any harm and to receive humane treatment under the conditions of arrest. I thank you.
HON. MADONDO: Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker. My
question is directed to the Leader of the House, Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. I just wanted to know, what is the Government policy regarding cancellation of
Government policy by parastatals. This is in reference to Sable Chemicals that it was formed in 1966 and the Government took a position that this is a critical factory and they have to be subsidized or not to be charged commercial rates. The power company decided otherwise and that has resulted in quite a number of people losing their jobs and multiple effects in so many companies like ZFC, BOC which receive some bi-product from Sable Chemicals. What is Government policy regarding that because people are now suffering?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I did not hear what policy he is looking for? I think he is talking about some entity which has gone into some commercial problems and I have no doubt that there is the Ministry of Industry which is suited and mandated to deal with issues of that nature. I think even the Ministry of Industry would not answer about problems in a particular firm or company without investigating the issues that the Hon. Member is asking. So, I would recommend that the Hon. Member should put his question in writing so that the facts he is asking can be investigated. I am not sure if the issues relate to policy. I thank you.
HON. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker. My
question goes to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural
Development. We have asked several questions in this House. I do not know whether it is Government policy to ignore certain roads for as long as they live. I have asked a question on the road from Chivhu to Triangle, on that road I have lost two tyres myself. It has so many ditches and potholes, we have asked about it since last rainy season. Another rainy season has come and nothing completely is done and if more rains come it is really going to be a disaster. I do not know how many more people have lost their tyres but right now it is going to have more serious accidents then probably loss of life.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is on a particular road
but I think you can take the opportunity that the Minister is here.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Mudzuri for asking that question but he is asking a question which relates to a particular road which has particular problems which I think needs to be investigated. As a matter of policy, it is not Government policy to ignore any one road for rehabilitation or resurfacing or whatever. The policy is that all roads must be attended to but at this particular moment and time, it is not just that particular road he is referring to but also many other roads across the country which need attention. The problem at this particular time is funding for rehabilitating the road. I can assure you that as soon as funds are made available, we will attend to the road that you are talking about so that you will be happy and you will not lose more tyres. I thank you.
HON. MUDZURI: Supplementary Hon. Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think that the question was
well answered because you are asking on a particular road so, I think the Minister is requesting that you put it in written form so that he goes to research about that road.
HON. MUDZURI: My supplementary question is for how long
will the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development say its plans are indefinite until funds are available because the plan must be there? It must be planned such that we get results. If you just say until funds are available it could be in 10 years. So the Minister must be specific that they are working towards doing something.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister the question is
can you be specific when the funds will be available?
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker. I will ask the Hon. Mudzuri to put the question in writing so that we can then go to the plan of attending to all roads then I can come back specifically to tell you whether it will be next year or the following year. Now you want to be specific and this is why I am saying put it in writing then we can go back to the plan of rehabilitating the roads then come up with a specific date. The underlining answer to your question which I put earlier on is that it is because of the issue of funding but there is also an issue of priorities. Now, if you put it in writing, I can then be able to tell you when that particular road will be attended to. I thank you.
*HON. R.N.S. MAWERE: My question is directed to Hon Made. We have heard that ARDA has been allocating land to people but we know that Government has not exhausted all its land. There are still tracts of land that can still be allocated to people. Why are they targeting the Government institutions which should be reserved for the future generation? Is that what is happening or not?
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): My
answer to that question is no, land is not being distributed to other people by ARDA. When we allocate land to institutions, we expect those institutions to utilise the land but if they are working with others on other activities, maybe it could be something else which could be good. Maybe you can put your question in writing and give any other information that you may have so you can get a clear response.
*HON. R.N.S. MAWERE: Hon Made, this is an open secret that it is happening. Maybe we can assist each other and send people out there to go and check if that is what is happening. There are places like Gairezi Estate which can be visited.
*HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think the Hon Minister said put
your question in writing and mention the affected places so as to enable him to investigate.
*HON. R.N.S. MAWERE: I did hear that Hon Speaker but I will
stand guided. I thought he could assist but I will do as you said.
HON. BEREMAURO: I would like to find out from the Minister of Energy and Power Development what Government policy is on ensuring that there are no power cuts to institutions like hospitals and ZINWA. As I speak now, Karoi Hospital is discharging patients due to non availability of water.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE): It is indeed Government
policy that in all critical institutions including hospitals where there are sewer works and pumping of water, electricity should not be cut in such institutions.
HON. SITHOLE: I will direct my question to the Vice President Hon Mnangagwa and it is based on the disturbing media reports concerning the health of the President viz-a-viz the events that happened in India at the airport. Can the Vice President inform the House and the nation at large on the state of health of the President of the nation?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Madam Speaker, I assure the Hon. Member that the
President is healthier than him.
HON. MAJOME: I will direct my question also to the Leader of the House Hon Vice President Mnangagwa. Why is this House receiving annual financial reports of State Institutions and Parastatals towards the end of the year? In yesterday’s Order Paper, there were the Agricultural Marketing Authority’s reports and the Tobacco Marketing
Authority’s reports, two months before the end of the year and these are
2014 financial statements. Last month we also got that of the Grain Marketing Board and the National Railways of Zimbabwe for 2014, yet the Public Finance and Management Act requires those Parastatals to submit reports to the relevant Ministers within five months before the end of the year and the relevant Hon. Ministers to table those reports to this august House as soon thereafter. This is now like 10 months afterwards. Why is it taking that long to simply table a report that has been prepared by another entity?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): What I know is that every Parastatal falls under a particular Ministry and the period of submitting reports are stated in the Act. What I do not know is whether she is telling the truth or not about whether they have been submitted or not. She specifically mentioned three or four reports from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Minister is sitting right here and I do not know why she is afraid of asking the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development as to what has happened – [HON. MEMBERS: Laughter] – but I feel very proud that she thinks that I know everything and that is very good. I really thank you for thinking that I know everything that happens in every Ministry. In terms of policy, as to when a report must be submitted and why a report has been delayed, that would be understood. It might not even be the Minister but the institution which will have submitted the report late. So, those are specific questions which would require to be investigated for us to establish the facts relating to a particular report.
I thank you.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Madam Speaker. This is a very
serious issue because it talks about governance and it talks about the economy of the country. The Ministers that are here, Hon. Minister Undenge and Hon. Minister Made, parastatals that are under their purview have not submitted audited accounts on time and I think they owe the nation an explanation. We want to know why it takes long for an organisation like ZESA, GMB and NRZ to submit their audited reports on time. Why does it take so much time? I will direct that to Hon. Minister Undenge.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, they cannot speak
while they are two, so it will be one by one. It is a supplementary question which is directed to someone. So, the Hon. Vice President has responded to the questions, that is when you ask the Minister, but you have asked for a supplementary question while the Hon. Vice President has answered you. If it is an outstanding question, you can direct it to the relevant Minister, but I am not giving you this chance – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – yes, because you stood up for a supplementary question.
HON. MARIDADI: Since the question has come already Hon.
Speaker, they have all heard it, I think it must just be …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, we do not operate that way.
HON. MARIDADI: Okay thank you.
*HON. CHAPFIKA: Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker. My
question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. We thank you for encouraging A2 farmers to go into contract farming with others who are well resourced. We know you will be working with other people and other Ministries but are you aware that some of these contracts are just as good as slavery. Maybe you are not aware because some of the farmers are getting 5% or even 7%. Those who would have got a bigger percentage would have got about 10%. Instead of him not doing anything on the farm, they think it is better to go into contract farming with whites. Secondly, are you
aware that some of these farmers who were on contract are delivering maize at a very low price to the contractors and those are the people who take the maize and sell it to GMB for a profit. Can you comment on that Hon. Minister?
*THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): Thank
you Hon. Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Chapfika for asking that question. The question was in two parts. I will answer the other part where I can, as the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and the other part can be directed to the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, but I will just answer all the same – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, could you
please raise your voice so that the whole House can hear what your answer is to the question that was asked by the Hon. Member. This is a request.
HON. DR. MADE: Firstly, I will answer on the contract question. There is no one who has signed a contract from what he has said before they get permission from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.
If you enter into a contract without the authority of the Minister of
Lands, then it means you will be committing an offence. I think the Minister of Lands once said that. I think all those farmers who go into contract farming should first have the contract checked. Maybe the place they would have been allocated would have been either an A1 or an A2 farm. He also explained that they have to investigate the person you will be entering into contract with as he has already said that some farmers are getting 5%, 10% and so on. That is my answer from a policy point of view. He spoke about certain people selling maize to GMB. Those are specific people that have to be investigated and if he has evidence, then it can be investigated.
*HON. MAPIKI: My question is directed to the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry. We would like to know how far he has gone in terms of the preparations for ICASA and how far he has gone in preparing for those visitors who will be staying in South Africa, and coming to spend the day here because they say things here are expensive.
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. ENG. MZEMBI): Thank you Hon. Speaker. We
are very advanced with the preparations for ICASA and all systems go, we are on course and as far as accommodation is concerned, as I indicated last time…
HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a Point of order Madam Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA): What is your
point of order Hon. Chinotimba?
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: My point of order is that when we speak in the vernacular, we want the whole country to understand. Hon. Mzembi is from Masvingo, he is a Karanga. We have killed our country by speaking in English. He should speak in the vernacular for everyone to understand.
*HON. ENG. MZEMBI: I would like to thank Hon. Chinotimba for asking me to speak in the vernacular. What I would like to say is that this meeting that is going to be held in Harare where people will be talking about HIV/AIDs – I cannot translate HIV/AIDs into Karanga, the preparations are progressing very well. We have more than enough accommodation, hotels and some homes whose owners have registered for hospitality purposes and people can go and stay. We have plenty of food and there is no need for our people to go and eat food in South Africa. Everything is on course and even electricity distribution has improved. I have not received any report, especially hotels in Harare that they have had power cuts. I would like to thank the Minister for the provision of electricity in hotels. I also urge everyone to be very friendly to our visitors who are coming. I thank you.
HON. MAPIKI: Hon. Minister, a lot of visitors who are coming to Zimbabwe are complaining that Zimbabwean hotels are very expensive. Some people from the hotels are saying that the Government has imposed some fees and this results in things becoming very expensive for them. What is it that the Government will do to assist them?
HON. ENG. MZEMBI: Before the conference begins, we agreed
with the organisers of the meeting that delegates will be getting a certain concessional rate. I have not received any report complaining that we are very expensive here such that they are going to be sleeping in South
Africa. I think they are all going to be staying here in Zimbabwe. What
I am saying is that, one can go and register their homes with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA). You can now spend your bonuses and put them away or in your pockets. This is the time for you to make money as well. This is the empowerment we are always talking about.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Hon. Minister, I think there is a question that you have not answered properly. Some visitors come and spend the day here in Zimbabwe and go back to South Africa. I have an example of visitors who visit the Victoria Falls, they come from South Africa, spend the day in Zimbabwe and go back. I think our hotels are not benefitting and our country is not benefitting. I think that is the question that was being asked.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Chinotimba I think that question has been answered; let us move on to another question.
HON. CHIBAYA: My question is directed to the Leader of the
House, the Vice President, Hon. Mnangagwa. Hon. Speaker, is the Government able to deliver anything, given the vicious in-fighting and power struggle in the ruling party? I thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I thank the Hon. Member for asking that question. You did not only help the people in this House, but the entire region, that Zimbabwe is among the most peaceful countries in the region. Zimbabwe is the most stable country we have in the region. We are so peaceful. Other parliamentary institutions in the world fight in parliament. We do not have that in here; we are so peaceful and dignified. I am so happy that this is the country which ZANU-PF rules –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members, particularly
those to my right. The Hon. Vice President is talking and we are busy shouting at each other, we should show respect.
HON. MNANGAGWA: The stability we are enjoying in this country is a result of ZANU-PF being in power.
HON. CHIBAYA: Hon. Vice President, I am talking about the infighting in ZANU-PF. Do you not think that this in-fighting in ZANUPF will deter investment?
HON. MNANGAGWA: Madam Speaker, I understand that this
side of the House (signaling to the right side of the House) is of the ruling party and the other side is of the opposition. A member of the opposition is talking about the ruling party. I am not so sure whether he has crossed the floor and has the knowledge of what is happening in the ruling party. We in the ruling party are not aware of any in-fighting.
We are so united in our political party.
HON. CHIBAYA: Hon. Speaker, I think it is within my responsibility as a Member of Parliament to ask the Leader of the House. I belong to the opposition yes, but what I am talking about here is; one of the factors which is considered by investors when they want to invest is political stability. Therefore, what I am talking about here makes sense. We get worried when we hear that some people in Chitungwiza got killed whilst doing party business. This is a pertinent question Hon. Speaker and with all due respect Hon. Vice President, I deserve an honest answer.
HON. MNANGAGWA: Indeed, the Hon. Member deserves an
honourable and honest answer. The honest answer in relation to the case he has mentioned is that some murder was committed, which is criminal. The person who committed the crime was arrested. This shows how the rule of law applies in this country. It does not matter which party you belong to, if you commit a crime, you will be arrested. Whatever type of crime you commit, you will get arrested.
However, we are so happy that this country is peaceful and stable. Committing of a crime where a person has been murdered cannot be the reason for anybody who wants to invest to stop investing. There is not even one single country you can point to me and say in this country, there has never been a murder. I thank you.
*HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I am surprised
by the answer that was given by the Vice President. It is good that the country is peaceful. Hon. Vice President, from the time that you were elected into office, are you happy? Are you having a good night sleep because the First Lady has been moving around all over the country and the slogan has been Handei naAmai, Handei naAmai –
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order. My point of Order is that before the Vice President answers, let him respond to the fact that Hon. Chamisa is being insulted by the MDC-T. So, can he answer that as well?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do not think there is any need to keep on raising point of orders. Hon. Chamisa posed a question to the Vice President, can you please give a chance to the Vice President to answer that question.
*THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. E. D.
MNANGAGWA): I was asked by this boy –[AN HON MEMBER: What is muchinda?]- The Hon. Member who asked the question spoke in Shona. Honourable is not a Shona word. In the kings court, members are referred to as machinda which is a Shona word which refers to a virtuous person. If he does not understand vernacular, then I will call him honourable because he does not know the vernacular word. He asked if I am getting a good night sleep. Do I look like someone who is not getting a good night sleep? – [Laughter] – He knows my wife is here and why did he not ask my wife if I slept well? You can even find out from my sister-in-law if I do get a good night sleep. If you are too shy to ask my wife, you can find out from my sister-in-law over there.
Coming to the second part of the question that was asked about the
First Lady holding rallies across the country, the First Lady is conducting ZANU PF rallies and not MDC-T rallies. Why should you be bothered by that?
*HON. MAVENYENGWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. I come from Zaka Constituency which is situated in the rural areas and there is drought there. Government used to buy maize at $390 per tonne from the farmers but now, the Government is selling the same maize it bought from the farmers for $500 per tonne. I just want to know how the Government can assist the people in rural areas in view of the fact that they are facing starvation and hunger. The price that the Government is selling its maize is even higher than that which obtains on the black market which is $360 per tonne?
*THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): I want
to thank the Hon. Member for asking that particular question. I will explain how we buy grain from the farmers. At the moment, we have an arrangement with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services that we should assist those families that are facing hunger in the rural areas. The programme is already in motion. That is what is happening throughout the country.
Then, there is maize that is sold by the GMB. At the moment, the maize that is being sold by GMB – and he mentioned a price and he was specific – but what I know is that all the maize at the moment is being kept by the GMB so that we could assist those families that are facing hunger. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the information that we got. I will go and check how much maize is being sold. At the moment, we are keeping maize for those people who are under the programme which is being run by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services. I thank you.
*HON. MARIDADI: My point of order is that there is a ruling that was supposed to be delivered by the Speaker of the National Assembly on the contempt of Parliament regarding Hon. Kasukuwere and Hon. Wadyajena. When we were in Victoria Falls for the Pre- Budget Seminar recently, there was an argument between Hon.
Wadyajena and Minister Patrick Zhuwao where it was alleged that Hon. Wadyajena wanted to kill the President. So, I am now saying, we want to know about those rulings and we want to know who was in the wrong between Hon. Wadayajena and Hon. Kasukuwere. I thank you.
HON. CHAMISA: My question is directed to the Minister of Media and Broadcasting Services. Recently, we saw the arresting of some journalists in the country, we want to hear from the Ministry because clearly that arrest hinged and almost infringed Section 61 of the Constitution on freedom of expression, freedom of the media as well as the freedom to hold a profession. Do we get an assurance of the Minister that this is not the beginning or heralding of another spate of an onslaught on media practitioners and also on the freedom of the media?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MEDIA AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. MUSHOHWE): I would like
to thank the Hon. Member for this question that he has asked. Surprisingly, the Hon. Member is a distinguished lawyer who knows that the matter is sub judice and we cannot deliberate on it until it is disposed of. [HON. CHAMISA: What about the policy of Government?]- I am saying the issue is sub judice.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, just answer
your question.
HON. MUSHOHWE: No, no, no, the policy of Government is not to violate – let me assure you that it is not Government policy to arrest any member of society without any due process. But if the police, I am sure would do whatever they do on the basis of the information given to them but the courts are the ones but I can assure you that Government has no policy of violating the Constitution, which is our Constitution.
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Hon. Minister. My supplementary
has to do with the criminalisation of the profession of journalists. If you look at the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, there is a section that was struck off, which criminalises the profession, especially when then one looks at the current Section 31. Are we seeing a shift in Government from the criminalisation of the profession or you are actually entrenching it? This is what I would want to hear from you. *HON. MUSHOHWE: I had given the assurance but I cannot go
into the details of the matter because it is sub judice. I have said it and we cannot discuss the matter as yet.
HON. MARIDADI: I doubt that the Minister is understanding. We are not talking about this particular matter, but we are talking about criminalisation of the profession of journalism in general and not this particular matter. This has been used as a reference but criminalisation of the profession in general Hon. Minister.
*HON. CHAMISA: Should I ask in Shona so that he understands?
THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, maybe it is because of
the noise that he is not understanding the question.
*HON. CHAMISA: Our Hon. Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr. Mushohwe - the question is, whenever a journalist is arrested, not particularly in this case but this is a criminal offence that journalists are being arrested. He must try to understand what I am saying that as a journalist, whether short or tall, black or white, fat or thin, gamatox or not, I am saying Sections 31 and 95 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, is that this is a criminal offence instead of it being treated as a civil offence. How is the Government treating it? Is Government taking it as a criminal or a civil offence so that we know if one wants to sue?
*HON. MUSHOHWE: Firstly, I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking the question but let me assure him that his speaking in Shona does not mean that I did not understand what he was saying. Madam Speaker, the point that I was making is that Government has no policy for arresting people just because they are journalists or carpenters. So, there is no such policy that they are arrested because they are journalists or that they are not journalists.
*HON. ZHOU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is
directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. There is a very short road and a bridge in Beitbridge and only 2 km were done. So, is that on the Government plan for them to be completed and when?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think Hon. Member, you
should put your question in writing so that the Minister can go and check with his Ministry to see if that road is also on the cards.
HON. MURAI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. My
question goes to our Vice President Hon. Mnangagwa. The civil servants have already started receiving their salaries exclusive of their 13th cheque as promised by the Minister. Do we still expect the 13th cheque to be received and if yes, when do we expect that?
*THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking the question. I was not aware that some people have already received their salaries but what I know is that Government promised that they were going to pay bonuses and that is still the position.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is
directed to Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon. Eng.
Mzembi. I am asking on behalf of women, how much we got from the Carnival that was conducted in this country that exposed us for what we are? How much did we get as a country out of it?
*THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY (HON. ENG. MZEMBI): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for that question on the Carnival and how much we raised. We had no intention of raising money when we conducted the Carnival. We wanted Zimbabweans to meet and get to know each other. Everywhere else where carnivals are held, the main reason or why it is held is for the social cohesion of people. Their coming together, going on to the streets, having fun, walking and marching and they were selling each other things like airtime, freezits and such things. That is something that happens and it is not money that is taxed.
Now getting to the point where people were being served, we were not trying to raise money but we wanted Zimbabweans to get to know each other and be happy as Zimbabweans.
*HON. MUCHENJE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to
seek more clarification on this issue. The Minister said we were not
after money but socialization. I thank him very much for saying that it was not meant for raising money but it was meant for socialisation. We were exposed as women, but now we are saying that maybe men also should have been exposed – [Laughter] –
*HON. ENG. MZEMBI: I did not get the question.
*HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Maybe we would like the Hon. Minister to inform this House that men should also expose themselves in future carnivals like what the women did – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*HON. ENG. MZEMBI: We invited Zimbabweans to come and meet and have fun. We wanted them to be happy as Zimbabweans. I did not strip anyone and I did not see anyone stripping. I saw people marching. Some were wearing body suits and some were wearing their traditional clothing. There was no one who was stark naked on that day.
Everyone was dressed.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question that was asked
by the Hon. Member was, in future is there going to be such an event where men will also be asked to do that?
*HON. ENG. MZEMBI: I have seen such carnivals in places where they allow gays and lesbians, but here we do not allow gays and lesbians – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. Please
listen to what is being said here.
HON. MAJOME: On a point of order Madam Speaker. The Hon. Minister I think is advised not to make sexist comments that are also discriminatory against women because our Constitution finds men and women equal. So if his response is to the effect that we do not do that because we are not homosexuals, is he implying that the nakedness of those women who were around was to appease men only and women are only sexual objects and that was the object of the carnival?
HON. ENG. MZEMBI: Madam Speaker, now that she has asked this question in English let me just give it back to the Hon. Member in the manner that I understand carnivals to be. We do not organise carnivals in the name of nudity. We organise carnivals so that the people of Zimbabwe are socially organised to express their happiness. The objectives of carnivalism are in pursuit of gross national happiness of a people, their social cohesion and I am referring to the people of Zimbabwe who include men and women.
Now in conducting carnivals, in organising them, we invite countries and locals to organise themselves into floats so each float expresses the brand image or construction of the act that they want the people of Zimbabwe to see about themselves. I did not see during that procession any float that sort to express the aspect of nudity, whether it was coming from men or from women. I think that by fielding such questions we are now hanging on to the coattails of peripherals regarding this concept and I do not further wish to trivialise it because that was not the intended objective of the carnival.
*HON. ZWIZWAI: Thank you Madam Speaker. When the
Minister answered the question he said that men do not go about wearing body suits because we are not gays. This therefore means that, from what he is saying, those ladies who were exposing themselves it would appear were lesbians. We had children who attended the carnival who participated in the carnival. So, we would like the Minister to withdraw the word lesbians because he is saying those ladies who were exposed were lesbians or they were after men. I think he should withdraw that.
*HON. ENG. MZEMBI: Madam Speaker I have no reason for withdrawing what I said.
*HON. ZWIZWAI: Madam Speaker, you should make a ruling on whether or not he should withdraw his statement – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members
let us listen to the question by the Hon. Member.
+ HON. M.G. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
question is directed to the Minister of Welfare Services for War
Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees. We understand that war collaborators will be vetted. My question is how about those who were detained in Botswana, Zambia and other countries? Are you also going to vet them together with collaborators?
HON. ENG. MUDZURI: According to the rules and regulations of Parliament if someone raises a point of order you are supposed to give a ruling and not for the Minister to answer. I think on a point of order given by the Hon. Member, no matter how trivial it is, you must give a ruling and then the question can be answered because it is a point of order not to be answered by the Minister.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member and that Hon. Member who asked the Minister to withdraw there is no need to withdraw because there is this word ngochani. It is always being talked about, so there is no way he can withdraw.
+THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR WAR VETERANS, WAR COLLABORATORS, FORMER
POLITICAL PRISONERS, DETAINEES AND RESTRICTEES (HON. T. J. DUBE): What happened is that all those who were in camps and refugees are all going to be vetted. Earlier on it was the liberators who were vetted. These people were being given guns and we wanted to see whether or not they could assemble the guns. There were others who were assisting the liberators, some were teachers, some were those who were cooking for the liberators but they did not qualify. As of now, it has been agreed that they will also qualify. It is going to be a tall order because already we have vetted 700 000 war veterans, collaborators and the ex-detainees and there are still a lot more who are going to be vetted, may be they will come up to a million. I thank you.
HON. KHUPE: My question is directed Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. Zimbabwe has come up with brilliant documents and I think we have had more than 10 Blue Prints, ZIM ASSET included. The problem that we have is that when it comes to implementation nothing is implemented. My question is, is there a problem in ZANU PF to the extent that you are allergic to implementing some of these documents? I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF ECONOMIC PLANNING AND
INVESTMENT PROMOTION (HON. S. K. MOYO): Thank you
Madam Speaker. I thank the hon. member for her question. She is very much aware that she was part of the Inclusive Government and for her to say nothing has been implemented when she was part of Government, it is really most unfortunate. The position I can talk of now, after the expiry of the Inclusive Government is; we have as a ruling party, an economic Blueprint called ZIM ASSET. A lot of is happening, you have seen a lot happening across the country because this is an instrument which addresses effectively the issues of food security and nutrition. This is a Blueprint which also addresses the issue of social services, infrastructural development, utilities, value addition and beneficiation.
It is quite clear that if one understands that premise and follow what is happening across the country – we are making sure and the Minister of Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development is making sure that we received as you know - a lot of tractors from Brazil which are being distributed across the country. Also you can be rest assured that the issue of failing to implement this Blueprint is a thing of the past. You saw yesterday the Hon. Vice President here together with the President with a delegation from Belarus bringing a lot of implements as well as to improve the agriculture sector. You have seen a number of roads also being attended to in terms of the use of infrastructure development. The issue of energy – you have also seen a lot of things happening both in terms of hydro and thermal. So, to say nothing is happening is not fair to the truth.
I want to assure the hon. member that this is not of course a matter of a day’s event, it is not an event, and it is a process. We are giving it such time that by the time the Blueprint itself expires in terms of the time factor, this country will be something else. You can see what is happening, so it is up to you if you do not want to use the roads which we are making please use the foot paths, you are welcome you can take the so called foot paths. If you do not want to use the electricity we are generating, use the candles. If you do not want to use – be rest assured –
[HON. CHIBAYA: Ndosaka wakabviswa muhuChair.] -
HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Minister I heard
something which was said by Hon. Chibaya of which he should withdraw.
HON. CHIBAYA: Thank you very much Madam Chair can you tell me what you said I must withdraw.
HON. MADAM SPEAKER: You said ndosaka wakabviswa
muhuChair. Withdraw that.
HON. CHIBAYA: I withdraw Hon. Madam Speaker.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by HON. MADAM
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
POLICY REGARDING PROVISION OF DAMS
- HON. MANGAMI asked the Minister of Environment, Water
and Climate to explain the policy regarding the provision of dams for irrigation purposes in all the wards in the country.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): Hon. Madam Speaker, I would
like to thank the Hon. Mangami for the question.
According to part (6) of the Water Act the functions of the Minister include development of policies to guide the orderly and integrated planning of the optimum development, utilization and protection of the country’s water resources in the national interest. The Water Policy of 2013 identified water as an essential requirement and enabler for all sectors of the economy and for national growth and development. Availability of water is also critical for the attainment of the required outcomes under ZIM ASSET.
Madam Speaker, the Government launched the Dam per District programme in order to ensure that availability of adequate and sustainable water supply to meet domestic, agricultural and industrial water demand. The Government planned to build one medium sized dam per district under the Dam per District in response to fulfilling the requirements of Agenda 21 adopted after the Rio Earth Summit held in 1992 and also in order to meet national requirements. The programme would also be critical in the mitigation of climate change effects as rain fed agriculture is no longer sustainable in light of changing rainfall patterns.
The programme has slowed down due to limited fiscal space. The
Government is looking at alternative forms of financing such as Joint
Ventures using the Build Operate and Transfer approach. I thank you.
COMPLIANCE TO COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP
SCHEMES
- HON. MARIDADI asked the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment if companies have finally complied with their obligations to Community Share Ownership Schemes.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,
INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT (HON. TONGOFA):
My Ministry has established 61 Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) which have been duly registered with the Deeds Office. Out of the 61 registered CSOTs, 60 are rural and Mabvuku/Tafara is the the only urban CSOT registered to date.
To date, a total of US$134 million has been pledged by qualifying businesses. Out of the 61 Community Share Ownership Trusts, 21 have received seed capital from qualifying businesses within their jurisdiction. A total of US$38 182 698 was released to the trusts and has been directed towards socio-economic infrastructure development in the communities. The trusts have managed to provide goods and services to their respective communities to the value of US$14.6 million to date. The balance of US$23.7 million remains in the accounts of the Trusts for various purposes including investment.
Hon. Speaker, some of the qualifying businesses have fully honoured their pledges and these are Zimplats, Unki and Pretoria
Portland Cement (PPC). Zimplats pledged US$10 million to MhondoroNgezi, Chegutu and Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trusts. Unki pledged US$10 million to Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust and PPC pledged US$3 million to be shared equally between Gwanda and Umguza Community Share Ownership Trusts. Some of the qualifying businesses have submitted their payment plans which were approved by the Ministry. Annexure 1 attached shows CSOTs that are operational, the seed capital pledged, and the seed released. We are continuing to engage the companies so that they fulfil their pledges.
COMMUNITY
SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUST |
NAME OF
QUALIFYING BUSINESSES |
AMT OF SEED
CAPITAL PLEDGED (US$) |
SEED
CAPITAL PAID TO DATE |
REMARKS |
Chegutu
MhondoroNgezi Zvimba |
Zimplats | 10 000 000 | 10 000 000 | Zimplats has fully paid the seed capital agreed on. |
Tongogara | Unki | 10 000 000 | 10 000 000 | Unki has fully paid the agreed seed capital. |
Zvishavane | Mimosa | 10 000 000 | 6 000 | The deed of Trust for Zvishavane CSOT has been amended to incorporate
Mberengwa District which is also affected by the operations of Mimosa Mine. |
Mberengwa | Mimosa | The Deed of Trust for Zvishavane CSOT has been amended to incorporate
Mberengwa District. The $10 million will be shared between the |
two districts. Mimosa Mine has promised to disburse the first tranche of US$300 000 by 20 November 2015. | ||||
Murowa Diamonds | 500 000 | 300 000 | The company is yet to release the remaining balance of US200 000. | |
Umguza | PPC | 1 500 000 | 1 535 000 | PPC has fully paid the agreed seed capital. |
Gwanda | Blanket Mine | 5 000 000 | 5 000 000 | Fully paid. |
PPC | 1 500 000 | 1 524 900 | PPC has fully paid the agreed seed capital. | |
Jessi | 250 000 | 250 000 | Fully paid. | |
Farvic | 150 000 | 30 000 | The company will release the funds once its financial position has improved. | |
Bikita | Bikita
Minerals |
500 000 | 50 000 | Bikita Minerals is yet to release the balance of US$450 000. |
Masvingo | Lenox Mine | 10 000 | 10 000 | Fully paid |
Chivi | Murowa Diamonds | 500 000 | 300 000 | Murowa Diamonds is yet to release the balance of US$200 000. |
Zimunya-
Marange |
Mbada diamonds | 10 000 000 | 200 000 | Negotiations are underway for the companies to pay the seed capital. |
Anjin | 10 000 000 | Marange Resources and Mbada | ||
DMC | 10 000 000 | Diamonds released |
US$250 000 and US$200 000 respectively. | ||||
Marange Resources | 10 000 000 | 250 000 | ||
Jinan | 10 000 000 | |||
Mutasa | Metallon Gold | 5 000 000 | Metallon Gold will release US$1 million every year for five years. | |
UMP | Lafarge | 1 000 000 | 333 000 | Lafarge pledged US$3 million to be shared equally between UNP, Goromonzi and
Mabvuku/Tafara CSOTs. The amount is to be paid over a period of three years i.e. one million per year. |
Goromonzi
Mabvuku/Tafara |
1 000 000
1 000 000 |
333 000
333 000 |
The company has released US$1 million to the trusts to date. The company deposited US$333 000 into the accounts of the three districts. | |
Bindura | Freda Rebecca
– Mwana Africa |
10 000 000 | 2 000 000 | Freda Rebecca pledged US$10 million to Bindura CSOT Trust. The agreement made is that the company pays US$1 million per year for 10 years. |
Shamva | Magobo
Milling |
50 000 | 10 000 | The company will release the funds once its financial position has improved. |
Canteberry | 50 000 | 10 500 | The company will release the funds once its financial position has improved. | |
Metallon Gold | 5 000 000 | 10 000 | The company will release US$1 million every year for five years. The company has released US$10 000. | |
Natural Stone
Export Company (Pvt) Ltd |
666 666 | 1 666 | Natural Stone Export
(Pvt) Ltd pledged US$2 million. The company operated in three districts namely; Shamva, UMP and Mutoko. The seed capital is to be shared equally among three districts. The company proposed to release US$5 000 per month. However, the Ministry is negotiating with the company to narrow down the period of payment. |
|
Hwange | Hwange
Colliery |
600 000 | The companies are yet to contribute towards seed capital due to cash flow constraints. | |
Makomo
Resources |
600 000 | |||
Chibondo Mines | 600 000 | |||
South Mining | 600 000 | |||
Hwange Coal | 500 000 |
Gasification | ||||
Bubi | Duration Gold
(Casyme Mine) |
1 000 000 | 29 000 | The company proposed to pay
US$29 000 quarterly. |
Umzingwane | Metallon Gold | 5 000 000 | 10 000 | The company will release US$1 million every year for five years. The company has released US$10 000. |
Mazowe | Metallon Gold | 5 000 000 | 10 000 | The company will release US$1 million every year for five years. The company has released US$10 000. |
Mutoko | Natural Stone
Export Company (Pvt) Ltd |
666 666 | 1 666 | Natural Stone Export
(Pvt) Ltd pledged US$2 million. The company operates in three districts namely; Shamva, UMP and Mutoko. The seed capital is to be shared equally among three districts. |
The company proposed to release US$5 000 per month.
However, the Ministry is negotiating with the company to narrow down the period of payment. |
||||
Wedza | Imire Game Park | 2 000 | The company did not make any pledge but has paid US$2 000. | |
Mutemwa
Holdings |
300 | The company did not make any pledge but | ||
has paid US$300. |
TARRING OF MUTOKO TO RWENYA RIVER ROAD
- HON. HUNGWA asked the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development to state when the road from Mutoko to Rwenya River will be tarred in view of the fact that it is a busy road that links Mashonaland East and Manicaland.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Hon. Speaker, the road from Mutoko to Rwenya was one of the roads which was improved under the labour based programme, making it an all weather trafficable condition through gravelling. The Ministry would very much want to upgrade this and other roads to a surfaced standard. The major constraint is funding. Whenever funding levels improve, consideration will be given to upgrade this road. I thank you.
PLANS ON REDUCING THE OUTBREAK OF FOOT AND
MOUTH DISEASE
- HON. VUTETE asked the Minister of Agriculture,
Mechanisation and Irrigation Development to explain the Ministry’s plan to reduce the outbreak of foot and mouth disease which affects livestock in Chivi District every year.
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (DR. MADE): I want to thank
the Hon. Member for raising the question. Indeed Chivi District is targeted for the following measures in order to avert any possible foot and mouth outbreaks. In areas where the buffalos come into contact with cattle, the areas are separated and we are intensifying that activity. This is on the national side but Chivi is not affected by that. There is also quarantining of affected areas only if the cited area is affected, as said by the Hon. Member in terms of an outbreak in Chivi.
Animal movement control is the third item. That means that if that area is affected, we then control the movement of animals, particularly animals that are going to be slaughtered. Lastly, there is vaccination of animals against foot and mouth disease in the appropriate areas if there are specific matters. I know that the season which we are now approaching, because of lack of water, what will be intensified will be the programme of water development and deepening of boreholes. That is a separate issue in order to contain the animals. However, generally answering this question, we also seek cooperation of the farmers in specific areas in terms of working with veterinary services and bringing notification of suspected cases. The cases must be examined by those with the expertise in diagnosing foot and mouth disease. I thank you.
ELECTRIFICATION OF NYAHOMBE CLINIC, SCHOOLS AND
AGRITEX OFFICES
- HON. VUTETE asked the Minister of Energy and Power
Development to state when the following areas in Chivi District will be electrified:-
- Nyahombe Clinic;
- Nyahombe Primary School;
- Nyahombe Agritex Offices; and
- Nyahombe Secondary School.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH, INDIGENISATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (HON. TONGOFA) on behalf of THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE): Madam Speaker, I thank
the Hon. Member for his question. Hon. Member, it is my Ministry’s wish to see all rural areas having access to modern forms of energy, be it grid or off-grid technologies. Plans which are currently in place will see all public institutions (primary, secondary and rural health centres) within 15 km from the existing grid network being electrified by 2018. Those areas which are further than 15 km from the grid will be provided with other forms of modern energy services such as solar and biogas before the grid eventually reaches them.
As I have reported before to the august House, Nyahombe Primary School is earmarked for electrification this year, 2015. The Rural
Electrification Agency (REA) is not deviating from that position. As such, REA implementation teams will be moving to site by 23 November 2015 to implement this project, which includes Nyahombe Primary School, Nyahombe Clinic and Nyahombe Agritex offices. Nyahombe Secondary School is planned for electrification by 2017 as previously advised. I thank you.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
BENEFITS OF THE PUNGWE WATER PIPE LINE TO
MUTASA COMMUNITY
- HON. SARUWAKA asked the Minister of Environment Water and Climate to state when the people of Mutasa specifically those from
Mutasa, District Council Service Centre, Tsonzo Small Scale Farmers,
Watsomba Business Centre, Schools and Communities along the Pungwe water pipe line are going to benefit from the pipeline.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Hon. Member, Hon. Saruwaka for the question. The Pungwe pipeline has six specific take-off points which were provided for by the City of Mutare during the construction phase of the pipeline. These were meant to serve villagers and institutions along the pipeline. Each take-off point has an estimated discharge of five cubic metres per hour. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), has engaged the local communities along the pipeline route with a view to setting up community gardens and irrigation schemes. Meetings with the following communities and groups were held during the week from 12 to 16 October 2015;
- Headman Sakupwanya and his community,
- Headman Sanyamandwe and his community,
- Chitova/Matsaire Irrigation project,
- Nyakatsapa Mission,
- Shamu shopping Centre and the surrounding community.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, through ZINWA is currently working on the modalities for resource mobilisation to establish these gardens, irrigation and water supply schemes. Setting up of the gardens, irrigation and water supply schemes will commence as soon as resources are in place.
The Engineers from my Ministry responsible for overseeing the project are Eng. Albert Mare, contact number 0712641691 and Eng.
Tendayi Linda Myambo. Both Engineers can be found at Save
Catchment Offices which are found at number 7 Park road in Mutare.
ROLE OF THE MINISTRY RELATIVE TO LAND CONFLICTS IN
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
8. HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA asked the Vice
President and Minister of National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation to explain the role of the ministry in relation to land conflicts in Local Communities.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF NATIONAL
HEALING, PEACE AND RECONCILIATION (HON. MPHOKO):
As the Vice President responsible for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation, may I point out that my wish is to ensure that peace prevails in Zimbabwe at all times. Conflicts of any form occur because relations have broken down and people are not seeing an issue from the same perspective. It is thus important that parties in a dispute or conflict are brought to a round table for dialoguing in order to come up with an amicable solution that builds or restores the relations for the two parties to continue working together for the benefit of themselves and their families and development of their communities.
In Zimbabwe, we have Local Government structures in place where our Chiefs down to village heads play an important role of resolving conflicts that occur in their various communities. These structures help to resolve conflicts closer to where they occur. At the National level, the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement was given the mandate to distribute land to Zimbabweans. In the process of conducting its work, land conflicts do occur in some instances. The Ministry then works with the parties involved in the conflicts to come up with a workable solution.
As the Vice President responsible for National Healing, Peace and
Reconciliation, my role is to ensure that all relevant Government structures that have a role to play in resolving conflicts are functioning properly. That way, even land conflicts at the Local Community level are dealt with accordingly.
EMPLOYMENT CREATION THROUGH THE YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT CREATION FUND
- HON. CHIRISA asked the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment to appraise the House on the measures that the Ministry has put in place to ensure employment creation through the Youth Development and Employment Creation Fund (YDECF).
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, INDIGENISATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (HON. ZHUWAO): Thank you
Madam Speaker.
1.0 In response to the Hon. Member’s question, the Government has come up with some initiatives to support employment creation and reduce unemployment. Among the initiatives are the Youth
Development and Employment Creation Fund and the Youth
Empowerment facilities run in conjunction with the private sector.
2.0 Youth Development and Employment Creation Fund.
In order to promote access to project finance for the youths as a strategy for employment creation, Government established a Youth Development Fund (YDF) in 2006, a revolving micro loan facility for the youth. The YDF was merged with the Employment Creation Fund (ECF) that was established in the late 90s. The facility is now known as the Youth Development and Employment Creation Fund (YDECF) and has a constitution that was approved by Treasury. The facility financially supports youth in the 18 – 35 years age group from entrepreneurship development with a view to create employment for the entrepreneurs and other youths. YDECF provides loans at a concessionary rate of 10% per annum with a tenure of up to 36 months depending on the nature of the project. The facility has a bias in supporting projects in the productive sectors that are in value addition and beneficiation.
The facility is co-administered by the Ministry and some financial institutions. These are IDBZ, Stanbic Bank and CBZ. The objectives for collaborating with the financial institutions in the disbursement processes include taping into the banks’ expertise in loan management and introducing the youths to the real business environment where they work with financial institutions for the development of their enterprises. The move also served to stretch the dollar from Treasury, as the banks mobilise more resources against guarantee investments invested in the banks by the Fund.
3.0 Youth Empowerment Facilities
The Ministry also engaged the private sector to form Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to increase the capital base for financial support for youth self-employment initiatives. One of the major partnerships is between the Government of Zimbabwe, as represented by the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment and Old Mutual that is the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund, administered jointly with
CABS.
The Facility supports youth self-employment initiatives and the funds are availed for both capital expenditure and working capital at a concessional interest rate of 10% per annum.
The background to this Fund is that Old Mutual Zimbabwe
Limited, in partial fulfillment of its Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment quota allocated 2.5% of shares to a Trust fund for youth empowerment. The shares have been hedged as security for a youth empowerment facility (Kurera/Ukondla). The facility is securitised to the tune of $10 million and is administered by the Kurera/Ukondla
Youth Fund Trust which comprises of Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited, CABS, Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment and Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC).
Stanbic Bank has also setup a youth enterprise support window (the Wealth Creation Fund). The facility supports on-going projects with security. It provides a maximum of USD 20 000 per project.
Meikles Pvt. Ltd has setup USD 200 000 horticulture and Small
Livestock out-grower scheme that runs under IDBZ. The scheme has been on a Pilot phase and has funded 73 projects in horticulture and small livestock production. The projects have created 199 jobs.
4.0 Statistics on Youth Enterprises supported and employment created
To date, nationwide, about 6 213 youth enterprises have been supposed from these various windows to the tune of US$8 400 000. The projects have created 11 285 jobs for both the entrepreneurs and other youths.
5.0 Current Plans
The Ministry is conducting an evaluation of the Youth Development and Employment Creation Fund with a view to develop improved lending models benchmarked against best practices. The details of the new model will be made available in due course.
Government has also unveiled the Localised Empowerment Acceleration Facility (LEAF). The facility is a direct outcome of the inaugural National Economic Empowerment Conference. The conference adopted several resolutions including the need to facilitate opening up of empowerment windows in financial institutions. This is, therefore, an empowerment window setup in partnership with the RBZ and financial sector. The funds will be distributed equitably to all parliamentary constituencies and will initially target previous beneficiaries of various windows who have fully repaid their loans. This is designed to restore confidence in the finance sector and in turn, the financial sector will also have confidence in doing the business with the youth. The facility will be run by financial institutions with the involvement of the community in which the applicant resides. This enhances social security and will ensure that the money revolves within the locality.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in conclusion, we are convinced that the new lending model, supported by LEAF, adequate resources and stakeholder buy-in, will immensely contribute towards reduction of youth unemployment.
I thank you.
COMPLETION OF TARRING OF MREWA-MADICHECHE ROAD
- KAUNDIKIZA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to state when tarring of the Mrewa – Madicheche Road will be completed in view of the fact that it serves people from Uzumba – Maramba – Pfungwe, Mudzi and Mutoko to access health services at Karanda Mission Hospital in Mt. Darwin.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Mr. Speaker Sir, Murewa –Madicheche Road was an ongoing low volume road construction. Work stalled due to shortage of funds to continue with the works. When funds are available, the construction works of this road will resume. In the meantime, the department of roads will continue to grade the road and re-gravel in selected spots to make it trafficable. I thank you.
REHABILITATION OF ROADS IN MUTASA CENTRAL
CONSTITUENCY
- SARUWAKA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to state when the following roads in Mutasa Central Constituency will be rehabilitated in view of the fact that bus companies have withdrawn their services owing to the bad state of the roads while commuter omnibus operators and private vehicles are charging exorbitant prices:
- Watsomba – Gandanzara road which is a major link between
Mutasa Central and Rusape;
- Jombe Road especially at the Mbito Section just above ‘B’
Shopping Centre; and
- Bonda road especially the Bonda – Chikonye potholed section, Nyamazi Stores Section and the District Council – District
Administrators Offices section.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Mr. Speaker Sir, the following roads Watsomba- Gandanzara to Rusape and the Jombe Road are gravel roads which both District Development
Fund and the department of roads will continue to grade to keep them in good trafficable condition since both road authorities are now receiving disbursements from ZINARA.
In the same vein, the Bonda road which is a surfaced road will be receiving attention on the patching of potholes, since the department of roads is now receiving disbursements from ZINARA. The department has a huge backlog of roads that require attention but it is planning to attend to all roads that require attention. I thank you.
REVAMPING OF MANYUCHI BRIDGE
- HON L. MOYO asked the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development to state measures in place to repair the
Manyuchi bridge which links Mwenezi West Constituency to Mwenezi East, Beitbridge and Mberengwa Constituencies given that the bridge was swept away ten years ago.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Madam Speaker, the Manyuchi Bridge is one of the bridges that was affected by the Cyclone Eline floods. Because of funding constraints, we have only managed to attend to Nyahodi Bridge. We still have bridges like Runde, Tuli and Manyuchi still to be attended to. As soon as funding levels improve, the bridge in question will be attended to.
GRADING OF ROADS IN MWENEZI CONSTITUENCY
- HON L. MOYO asked the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development to explain why the Ministry and the District Development Fund have not graded the roads in Mwenezi Constituency since 2013.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Madam Speaker, the Department of Roads and District Development
Fund have not been able to grade most roads in the Mwenezi
Constituency due to inadequate releases of funds from Treasury and ZINARA. Since ZINARA is now releasing funds, both authorities will soon be visible in the Mwenezi Constituency grading roads in this area and regravelling in selected spots.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that Orders of the Day Numbers 1 to 16 be stood over until Orders of the Day Numbers 17 and 18 are disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
LEAVE TO MOVE FOR THE RECOMMITTAL OF THE GENERAL
LAWS AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 3A, 2015] AND THE CRIMINAL
PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 2A,
2015]
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Madam Speaker, I seek Leave of the House to move that the General Laws Amendment Bill [H. B. 3A, 2015] and the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill [H. B. 2A, 2015] be recommitted in terms of Standing Order Number 153 (1).
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
RECOMMITTAL OF THE GENERAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL
[H.B. 3A, 2015] AND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND
EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 2A, 2015]
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that the General Laws Amendment Bill
[H.B. 3A, 2015] and the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment
Bill [H.B. 2A, 2015] be recommitted in terms of Standing Order Number 153 (1).
HON. CROSS: Madam Speaker, can you explain to us what
exactly this means?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Thank you Madam Speaker. It means that we recommit the Bill back to the Order Paper so that we can have the amendments that have been proposed to appear in the Order Paper.
That is Parliamentary procedure.
Motion put and agreed to.
On the motion of THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER
OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA), the House adjourned at Fourteen Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 18th November, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
First Order read: Adjourned debate on great strides made by Government in raising literacy rates in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MUSAKA: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to thank Hon. Sen. Goto for raising this important motion, seconded by Hon. Sen. Bhobho. Not only do I commend the
Government since independence for the success in the education field.
True, when we talk of the highest literacy rate, in Zimbabwe we are not saying everybody having a degree, “A’ level or ‘O’ level, but at least in Zimbabwe the majority, about 96% or above, can read and write in the main languages, either Ndebele, Shona or English. Madam President, this is commendable.
Madam President, this is an important topic. I want to take it to a different and much higher level, in terms of employment. My contribution Madam President on the motion is that this should become another export product for Zimbabwe, just like I alluded to the same on sport. The Government should continue to make every effort in creating and building more schools, both public and private, with the aim of making sure we produce the very best in academia, trades and in whatever our children do in the education field. They should be exportable. We should export educated people to work anywhere in the world and we should be well known for that. It should become a brand. We should not just end at congratulating the Government for having done so well after independence but for continuing to make every effort to make sure that well educated Zimbabweans are another export for Zimbabwe. We should export our graduates like what is happening in other countries like India where the graduates are excelling in IT, medicine, we hear of medical tourism to India. We should actually aim to achieve that if not better.
Madam President, I really think this is important. I urge the Government to increase and give opportunities or facilities to individuals who want to create institutions of learning. They must be given licences and opportunities to do that. We should embrace both the philosophy of sponsored and contested mobility in education. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU): I
move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 19th November, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. BHEBE: Thank you Madam President for the
opportunity that you have given me to add my voice on the issue of sports. I want to thank the mover of the motion, Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi and the seconder Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. We have been talking about how important sporting is in our country. I know we have talked a lot concerning all the sporting activities that we have in our country.
Sports say a lot to an individual and even to the country as a whole. Those who have debated before me highlighted that because of sporting activities, a person would always be kept fit. We have different sporting activities in our country, for example soccer, netball, body building, et cetera and we have seen so many people getting involved in all these sporting activities in order to keep fit, it is one very important activity in our country. When you take into consideration the sporting activities that we are doing; it also beautifies our country.
If we do our sporting activities well, like what the other Hon. Senators who spoke before me said, if only the Government could support all the sporting activities that we have in our country so that those who are involved in those sporting activities could benefit from that so as to develop and improve even the life styles of those who engage in sports.
One thing that I have realised concerning sports is that, even the children love all the sporting activities; therefore it is a sign that all the sports that we have in our country are very important. You will find children trying to make handmade plastic balls so that they can play. If only we can put our ideas together as a nation and support all the sporting activities, so that those involved will get encouraged.
I have also realised that those people who are involved in sporting activities, are rarely found admitted in hospitals because they are always fit, hence are not easily attacked by diseases. So, if only the Government could put a certain percentage, whether it is a dollar or whatever amount that can be deducted from our earnings so as to support sports. There is an AIDS levy, if we had money in our country, we could try by all means to support all the sporting activities that we have. Those who are involved in sporting activities, especially the national teams, more often they have failed to undertake their games because of lack of funding whilst all the sporting activities are very important.
The Ministry of Sport and Recreation is one of the very important
Ministries that we have in our country for they help in keeping one’s body fit. We also have different sporting activities like what the Hon. Senators who spoke before me highlighted, that we also have the Paralympics. It is another important area that needs to be prioritised by the Government so that we can improve our sporting activities as a nation. I thank Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi for taking into consideration issues to do with sport and encouraging every citizen of Zimbabwe to take sporting activities into serious consideration. So many people have improved their life styles through, soccer like Peter Ndlovu, Madinda Ndlovu and many others. Right now, we have our Mighty Warriors; we thank our Government for giving the girl child an opportunity just like what their male counterparts do.
As an individual, I feel that there has to be a certain percentage that has to be deducted from our earnings as a way of supporting the sporting activities that we have in our country. It is a disgrace to say that the National team was not able to travel because of lack of finances.
Madam President, I wanted to add my voice on this issue and also encourage each and every one of us to support this motion so that the issue of sports can raise our National Flag high.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to contribute on this motion before the House; a motion which was brought in by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. It is a very important motion; it is there for us as the people of Zimbabwe to be self driven in sporting activities so that we can see how we can improve on sports for it to develop.
I will talk about what I saw when I was growing up and what is obtaining now Madam President. Sports in this country wants us as a people to plan properly because sports is like a dam which has to feed water into all catchments. So, sporting activities should be supported and it will develop. Although those who are engaging in sporting are not getting anything from the Government, even when I was growing up, when I used to play around with those plastic balls, we used to pretend to be Peter Nyama, George Shaya, James Khumalo, Chieza, the likes of
DD and some stadiums like Gwanzura and Rufaro. At that time Madam President, the country was stable, we could see companies that were interested in sporting activities that would accompany national teams wherever they would go. This motion was raised because the Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe, when they wanted to go out of the country, they were told there were no resources. The warriors also tried to do the same, again it was the same story that there were no resources. When games are played, the stadia will be full of people but the footballer does not get enough money. The administrators are the ones who get more money and that destroys the motivation of the players.
Long ago, those who were playing for the country generally came from Chamber of Mines; those were the times of John Madzima and Chirwa as administrators. Also during that time, the likes of John Nxumalo would go around doing road shows with tobacco companies, putting on their football teams’ regalia. When these companies were functional, the Government was not facing any problems. These sportspersons would come from their companies and their companies would support them. When they played for the national team, they were not after money because they would be working somewhere. Right now, that is not the case, they only play football for survival. You will see that even our media do not talk about our local teams only. Every day they talk of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and all those English soccer teams. They do not talk of the likes of Harare
City, Dynamos, Highlanders and the like.
Madam President, football was played in this country; sport needs to be planned for. If you look at those who are trained in the medical field, they make sure that there is a mortuary in place at a hospital because they know death is certain. If you go at places of n’angas and prophets, there are no mortuaries because they think that they can stop death. That is wrong planning. Those people in ZIFA, do they know the risk of football in the country?
HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order, order! I think
we all have copies of the motion under discussion. It is not in our motion to be chronological. Please stick to the motion.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: Thank you Madam President
for your guidance. I am driven because sporting is there to create jobs.
Those who will be in sport should have work and live sustainable lives. When the youngsters see that they will emulate them and they would want to play sport. Those who are ferocious should not fight in the streets, but go into boxing and the like. Thank you Madam President.
HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: There is an element that
is being left out, that of sanctions - [Laughter]-
HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion which was moved by Hon. Senator Chimbudzi and seconded by Hon. Senator
Mumvuri. It is true sports are important and they should be developed. I would like to start by thanking our Government for the development of sport. There is a Ministry which deals with the promotion of sports. We also have a Sports Council which is in charge of those sports.
Sports unite people. We see that when we are at a stadium no one thinks of where he comes from or which party he belongs to. All of us will be concentrating on the game, encouraging our national team to win. Sports help us in our ordinary lives, some get jobs as sports administrators, players, coaches and some as ground attendants. The pleasure of sports also gives us physical health. The food we eat these days makes us fat and we are prone to many diseases. If you work out and do some sporting activities, you will be fit.
There are sporting activities, if you cannot play football, you can play golf, even darts. That will give you time to while up your time. The problem that we face is we always keep our minds busy with problems. Sports also make us to be equal, both men and women become one. If you go into soccer, you will find the mighty warriors excelling. If you go to darts, you will find women. That will give equal opportunities to both sexes.
I would like to second what Senator Chimbudzi said that we should put in place laws that promote activities of the Sport Council to be properly managed. We also need to have a stadium in all districts. We should not only watch football in Harare. We should find a stadium in Dotito and teams from other places should also come to such stadia. Local authorities should leave portions of sporting activities. Even in locations there are some open space left where children play football. We used to play plastic balls as well but today the plans are no longer accommodating that. Children should occupy themselves playing with those plastic balls, so our plans for cities and growth points should accommodate that. We should also have resources for sports activities. If we do not do that individuals will end up having something to do with sporting activities and they will do as they want because they are donating their own money. If the country has resources for developing sporting activities, we will not fail in that venture.
We want as well to encourage parents to remove that spirit that if a child is engaged in sporting activities, he is no longer interested in academics. Most parents say children should be academic but a child should be engaged in sporting activities as well. Parents should support children so that they are engaged in sporting activities. I would like to conclude by saying all senators should have their own sporting activities.
On Tuesday, I will start playing golf. With those few words I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. We thank them for that motion. Sporting activities help a lot in a person’s life. If a person is engaged in sport professionally, he will be able to raise some monies to sustain life and it makes one physically fit. People just wake up and sit and as a result their bodies end up being susceptible to various diseases. Sport is important for health and physical well-being.
Sports should be encouraged, starting from primary level up to university. You find that there are some students at university and are not given the opportunity to engage in sporting activities. They should be encouraged to engage in sporting. I would like to thank the senator who said that parents should be engaged so that they identify natural talents in their children.
There are three children in my family. You find one child saying what can I engage in so that I can realise a lot of money. Can I be a
Chief Executive Officer or a doctor? The other one asks what sport can I engage in so that I can sustain my life? We had a problem with the parents because they delayed in identifying the child’s talent. The child is talented in sport and is able to watch somebody dancing and after the dance the child imitates the dancer very well. However, the parent suppressed this child for a long time. The child told the mother that he is not academically gifted and if he is denied the opportunity to engage in sporting activities, there is nothing that he can do.
The third one said I can only manage to dance. It does not mean academics only can make me sustain my life. The child requested to come to Harare for dancing lessons but the parents said they did not have the money to pay fees. You find that it is the only talent that the child has. The child moves around dancing at weddings to entertain people. That child should be encouraged. We see a lot of children on television who have dancing talents. Let us encourage children to engage themselves in various sporting activities. The nation as well should be engaged in sporting activities to support the children because the children will raise the flag of Zimbabwe high through sporting activities they engage in.
I am happy there is a girl child who was engaged in body building and I did not know that girls can also be engaged in such sports. That child was engaged in that sport in South Africa and represented Zimbabwe. I was of the view that such a sport was for men only. Our girl children are now aware that they can engage in various sporting activities of their choice. You find that even other parents are now open to the view that children should be left to engage in sporting activities of their choice. Each and every child has his or her own talent. They are not all the same. There is a boy who said if you think that I can only progress through academics, I am going to sit here and you shall fend for me for the rest of my life. The boy requested for money to go to Harare for training. So, parents should be encouraged to help in the development of sports.
On the issue of golf that was mentioned here, I do not even know how to hold the golf club but I was urged to go and train. All of us women, let us go and be trained so that we can be entertained. Instead of continuing thinking of our problems at home, we can get rid of blood pressure problems. We spend most of our times going for BP check-ups so let us engage in sporting and forget our domestic problems at all. Let us engage ourselves in sporting activities. Those who are like me should go to play golf where you do not have to exert yourselves physically.
Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MANYERUKE: Thank you Mr. President for
giving me this opportunity to contribute towards the debate which was raised by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. It is very important to have sporting activities at constituency level even in remote areas. The sportsman Gwekwerere is from Muzarabani. He came to Harare, played football and he excelled. It is something that we did not know how it can be done. We are urging the Government that the coaches should not pick children from Harare only but from all constituencies in Zimbabwe. If you would audit those engaging in sporting activities, you would find that we have children who can excel in sporting activities such as soccer, basketball, athletes, et cetera in our constituencies. We have athletes; our children can run after an elephant and catch it. Sporting activities help reduce the rate of crime and provide entertainment. When there is a football match, people are entertained.
As elders and parents, we should also be engaged in sporting activities. Our Parliament team went to Zambia and Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira was the goal keeper for that team. We should allow our bodies to engage in sporting activities. It is important for us to engage in sporting activities. We should have resources so that we can continue with these sporting activities. I thank you Mr. President Sir.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: Thank you Mr. President Sir. I rise in support of the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi and seconded by Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. Mr. President, I call upon Government to support the Sports Council of Zimbabwe to raise awareness but I just want to differ slightly, and say that this is the responsibility of everyone not just Government.
The sports bodies should also make it their business to go into areas where people are disadvantaged like the townships, growth points and rural areas promoting the kind of sports that they are into, for example rugby, cricket, football and so on. It should not just be about football only but all the different sporting disciplines because there are so many children who are gifted in some of these sports. These children are not even aware that they have a gift but once they are exposed to those sports, they might actually be found to be among the top in the world. So, it is very, very important that children be exposed not just by Government but maybe, Government can provide incentives to the different sports bodies to encourage them to go countrywide and scout around for different talents.
Mr. President, this is not happening in this country but I can assure you in South Africa, children there are no longer just playing football but are also into rugby in a very big way. They are also into cricket and swimming. It is because the different Sports Councils are actually making it their business to do so. Government has got enough on its plate. As we all know, there is no money around but if tax incentives and other incentives are given to the different sporting disciplines, this might happen. I thank you Mr. President – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –
*HON. SEN. MASHAVAKURE: Thank you Mr. President for
giving me this opportunity to contribute towards this motion which was moved by Senator Chimbudzi and seconded by Senator Mumvuri. It is a pertinent motion. It actually looks at all aspects of our lives. Others think that life is about academics – no, we know that in many countries, many people even those who are not academic engage in other activities. I believe that even when we are looking at psychomotor activities, we should also look at how hands and legs work in sporting activities. We must also make instruments that are used in the sporting arenas, for example the uniforms that are put on by the sports persons. This means if we look at all things that I have mentioned, we can create employment by making uniforms, instruments or even stadia. We can get people who maintain those stadia so that everything goes well. That is another step that we can take to create employment for ourselves and other generations to come because people always want to exercise and engage in their sporting activities and to raise money through professional sportsmanship. If a person does well in sports, things will go well financially.
Mr. President, this is a good thing which supports ourselves and Government. Private companies used to sponsor sports activities. Even some of the things that used to exist; of late, they were aligned to certain companies, for example Rio Tinto and Chibuku. These companies used to support sports activities thereby creating employment. I am of the view that even at schools, universities and colleges, there should be proper policies to encourage sporting activities.
Mr. President, if possible, sports should be studied. Even in some other departments where I have been, there are some departments for sports at university level, be it at undergraduate, Masters or PhD and even in music, they have degrees for that. We can create our own instruments here. We can start from the lower level and end up excelling technically. We are then able to develop as a country and our children are able to move on. Our universities should have departments involved in sports not to concentrate on academics only. There are a lot of things that can be done.
I want to thank the Government that has managed from independence to promote sports for the disabled. I remember there were sports activities that took place on the 3rd October, 2015 at Danhiko. We actually witnessed that there are a lot of things that the disabled can engage themselves in. People are disabled in various – ways some legs, hands and eyes. The disabled can engage in various sporting activities and our Government supports such activities. Sports associations should promote the disabled into the mainstream sporting or training programmes. There is wheelchair tennis and wheelchair golf. All things are possible, we are grateful, our Government has played its part.
Some of the people are now in the private sector. Even in nongovernmental organisations, they will continue to support sporting activities. This weekend you can come to ZIMCARE Sport Day and witness for yourselves what happens with some of those people. Go and see what happens, it is good. Our Government promotes such sections of our societies to excel in sporting activities. I thank you Mr. President. +HON. SEN. A. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President. I want to add my voice on the motion that was raised by Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi and the seconder Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. I want to thank the mover of the motion because in Zimbabwe sport is one of the things that we really prioritise. We know that we have different people who are participating in different sporting activities.
I want to say that all the sporting activities combine people and most of them when they are watching soccer, they forget about their troubles or burdens and it takes away even partisanship among the people will be watching the sporting activities. We realise that so many people unite as a family when they are watching any of the sporting activities.
I will dwell much on soccer and I would like to ask that we take note that when we are playing soccer we do not need to start a war or start quarrels, especially against the losing team. This is done mostly by the supporters and we realise that even those who will be playing, even the losing team will be able to shake hands with their opponents.
Our wish as a nation is that if only sports could be prioritized especially in our country. We were so embarrassed when we heard that our national team was not able to participate in the qualifying games of the World Cup because of unpaid subscriptions. Yes, this was because of corruption. I cannot blame Government for that but the leaders of all the sporting activities, I remember I said I will dwell much on soccer. There is so much corruption especially when it comes to soccer. Our leaders take advantage because they know that there is more of an income that comes from soccer. Maybe, it is Government to blame in that they allocate too much funds to soccer and at the end, the leaders benefit from that. We have seen that in our country, there is what they call match fixing whereby a certain team will be sent to go and play in another country and they would be paid to lose matches in that country. We realise that the issue of match fixing happens and we have seen this in so many different countries.
I am urging each and every one of us to work hand in hand with the Government in promoting sports. This should be done starting from home whereby we encourage our children to also participate in all the sporting activities. I remember years back, there was a child who used to participate in athletics and when she was asked to come to participate in athletics in Harare, when she was asked to come and train in Harare, the parents refused and said there was no way she could take sport as a way of a life style because they wanted her to become a teacher.
One thing that we are doing as parents is actually discouraging our children not to participate or to take sport as a way of living. Also, even when a child is trying to become a musician, most of the parents will discourage the child and say musicians fail to have an orderly in life.
But, we have people like Lovemore Majaivana and Jim Reeves whom even today when you play their songs, everyone still listens to them.
Therefore, sport is one of the things that is so important in one’s life and I am urging the parents to take into consideration that it is not all the children who are academically gifted. Some of them can be gifted in sports and music, so we should encourage rather than discourage them.
In schools some of the teachers notice that a certain child is gifted in sports, for example Volley Ball but they face challenges from parents who do not support that. We realise that because of sports, you can travel to countries like United States of America or Russia. We have some children who excelled well, some of whom were in Standard 6 and others in Form 4. They have improved their life styles through sports. If they had not taken sports seriously and concentrated in trying to improve their life style through academics whilst they are not gifted in that, their lives would have been different.
Taking into consideration countries like South Africa, they have programmes, one of which is called ‘South Africa Has Talent’ whereby they bring in different people to showcase their singing talents. We realised that some few weeks back, there was a child who was 4 years old who excelled and was the winner of that programme. The child was playing drums, was given an award and got a scholarship before she even got to Grade Zero.
Therefore, sport is one thing that is so important in our country.
We have seen it even in 2014. In South Africa, we realise that all the
South Africans united and worked together in trying to prepare for the World Cup. If only in our country we could do the same working hand in glove with the Government, not only when it comes to soccer but in all the other sporting activities.
If I had grown up in such times like this, I know I would be one of those counted among the Mighty Warriors. I used to play women’s soccer and I know I was good in that. However, all that I can do for now is to support our Mighty Warriors. I used to play with the boys and as a girl; I used to do so well.
We have seen that when we have different sporting activities especially World Games, sports like High Jump or Javelin; those are also part of the sporting activities that we should take into consideration as a country. If in a country we have people who play sports so well, we realise that it brings unity in the country. When we had the ‘Dream Team’, as Zimbabweans we used to boast about our country and people loved to watch that team playing soccer.
It is a disgrace when we have our national team failing to travel because of lack of finances. I urge the Government to seriously look into the issue. Now, we have the Minister of Sports who is young and energetic. I believe that he is going to uplift the Ministry so that everything that happens in that Ministry will be done well.
I also urge the Minister not to concentrate on soccer only but even those who are able to showcase their talents through dances like Jerusalem or playing the drums like the drums that are played just before we have our news should be given a chance to do so. Yes, that is part of the sporting activities that we have in our country. All the sporting activities that were not prioritised in our country, I would like to urge our Minister to really try and uplift all of them.
Mr. President Sir, my wish is that before we conclude this motion, if only we could have all the Ministers here especially the Minister of
Sports so that he would take our views on this issue of sports and present to Cabinet. Our wish as Members of Parliament is that, if only all the sporting activities could be prioritised and revived in our country so that our Zimbabwean flag could be lifted high. We also take into consideration that sports unite people. It is our wish again as women that we could come up with a netball team. I believe after this, we will go and form a team of such elderly people who would be part of the netball team of Parliamentarians. We could keep our bodies fit. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Mr. President, I move that the debate be now adjourned.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 19th November, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MANYERUKE: Thank you Mr. President for
giving me this opportunity to contribute to what His Excellency
President R. G. Mugabe said here. This motion was moved by Hon. Sen. Tawengwa and his seconder. The presentation by His Excellency who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe National Army took his time to capture what we think and what we are in this House, in Parliament. I would like to thank as well those who witnessed him deliver his speech through the television.
The President gave us guidance on what was going to be tabled in this House, various Bills in need of amendment. He encouraged us as leaders. Some Bills pertaining to rural and urban councils, education, health, welfare of war collaborators and war veterans will be brought before us. He encouraged us to continue being united as Members of the august House so that the country can be stable and peaceful. He said
that as leaders, we should be united so that there is stability and peace in the country. Such sentiments are important to me and to us all.
The President wants us to develop the country and to speak in one voice as one people and one nation. Such sentiments make our country to move on. As members of this nation, we should speak with one voice and move in one direction so that the country develops.
The President raised issues on mines. Yesterday on the television, we saw the Vice President receiving some machinery for mining. Those in the mining sector will do well and make a lot of money. The machines are now here and we saw them. We thank our leader because he says what ends up happening. He tries at all levels to befriend those countries that could help us so that we can develop, particularly those areas we are now deteriorating. When the country develops, our flag is raised high and we progress as a black people.
The President also spoke on the land. I would like to believe that in Muzarabani, we are already cultivating our tobacco. When the rains come, we will apply fertilizer. Our maize crop has already geminated.
We have received maize seed and fertilizer. Widows and child headed families were also helped. Our President is important particularly to our constituency, we are happy with what our leader is doing for us. I am happy that the President is always thinking of his people, all the people in the country so that people understand that the President is there. With those few words, I would like to thank the President of the country.
Thank you.
+HON. SEN. D. T. KHUMALO: I want to add my voice on the motion that was brought by one of the Members in this House concerning the Presidential Speech. The President highlighted on the issue of Bills that were supposed to be aligned to the Constitution, for example, on education, roads infrastructure and then on health.
I would like to say that this should be done properly. The Bills should be aligned properly. We should have laws for example, for those who want to start business so that they can be given extension of getting visas earlier and also the ease of doing business so that people do not face challenges in trying to do business. We have seen this happening, for example, ZISCO Steel failed to open their company. This is because of the long procedures that are there in trying to do business. I also want to add that if people agree that they want to start a business, if only we can have laws or a court that would look into business only so that issues to do with business would not be taken into general courts because it takes a long time. For example, if there is a breach of contract between the business partners, if we could have a specific court that looks into issues to do with business, be it a Zimbabwean or a foreigner, if only we can have a specific court that deals with such issues. Our President also highlighted on the issue of education where he said the 2006 Education
Act, should be amended so that it is in line with the new Constitution. We are happy, especially some of us who went to school way back where we were taught on practical things for example, knitting, cooking, manufacturing of refrigerators, as a mother, how to repair your refrigerator when it is not working and fixing sink drainage. However, our children of today cannot even fix a blocked drainage.
One thing that troubles me Mr. President, is that why should we have a Ministry of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education when we do not have enough finances. This can be combined with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and it also adds the burden of paying our civil servants. Most of the time, we realise that Ministries are created so that we accommodate our friends and you would find that those who are in high positions are being paid a lot of money. Therefore, I urge the Government not to create so many Ministries.
The President also highlighted on the issue of aligning Bills to the Constitution. There are times when the Government say there is no enough money to pay civil servants but you find that in one Ministry, there are a lot of positions such as directors, deputy directors, principals and so many others. If that money that is used to pay all those workers can be diverted, the expenditure on the wage bill can be cut. I once heard one of the Chiefs in our Portfolio Committee where people were being told to grow tobacco saying that if people could have devolution of powers and are able to cater for their needs in their community, they will be able to do their farming well.
Another issue that was touched by His Excellency, the President is to do with Public Health. The Bill on Public Health will touch on issues to do with cancer, high blood pressure and sugar diabetes. Those diseases can be cured or prevented through the food stuffs that we take.
His Excellency, also highlighted that we look into food and nutrition. What he highlighted only dwelt much on health and not food. What causes many diseases is the type of food that we take. We might have enough food but fail to take it in a proper way; hence at the end, we will get chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure. People should be taught what to eat, at what time and how much intake; it will reduce all these diseases. There are also issues to do with cancer; again people should be taught on what type of food to take in order to reduce the level of cancer patients in this country. The nation should be taught on how to have a balanced diet. You will realise that when we came from our rural homes, we were so slim but because of lack of knowledge on nutrition, most of us have much intake of sadza and too much meat which causes some of these diseases. However, when we go back to our rural areas, our folks will think that we are having a good living in town whilst we would have destroyed our health. Some of us add too much salt and claim that it helps in keeping your body fit yet it is one of the causes of high blood pressure. All this is as a result of lack of knowledge on balanced diet. People should be taught on how to avoid diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure. They should also be taught to eat lots of vegetables and fruits so as to keep their bodies healthy and avoid these diseases.
Again, on the issue of Public Health, the President highlighted on the issue of maternal health, the problem with maternal health is intake of improper foods. Our young women, especially those who are still at reproductive age, there are issues of lack of iron when they are having their monthly menstrual cycles. They are not being taught how to take care of themselves. As Senators, when addressing our rallies, we should highlight to our members that if you do not have enough in your home, as long as you have spinach or lemons, they can also help in improving your diet. We should teach them that it is healthy to add lemon in their vegetables or meat especially those who are still at the reproductive ages. When we talk about food and nutrition, we should not talk about carbohydrates only but touch on everything that touches on a well balanced diet. We realise that in urban areas we have 30% of stunted growth whereby we have people who are not growing up well. What can be done to avoid this? It is an easy thing only if everyone who wants to contribute in this House could urge people in their communities to have a mixture of sugar beans and nuts to feed their children. This will reduce too much of stunting in our country.
We should support our President when he is highlighting such issues and avoid talking about issues to do with maize only. Our young children should be given the mixture of sugar beans and nuts. We should teach the young mothers that a proper meal for a young child should be four times a day. As Members of Parliament we have opportunities to talk to people. We realise that many people highlighted that there is 27% of malnutrition. I know that all the Members of Parliament can do better when they take into consideration that when they are addressing people in their Constituencies they also encourage them to feed their children four times a day.
There is an issue to do with gender equality. I want to add my voice by looking at the boards that we have in our country. We have
GMB, there are 10 members. Out of the 10, we only have two women. ZIMRA, we have nine members and only two are women. POSB, there are seven and only one woman. REA, there are 10 directors and out of that there are only four women. At NSSA there is only one man. The Judiciary Services Commission, they are 10 and out of that there are only two women. Therefore, there is no gender equality whilst we agreed that after passing our Constitution, we should uplift gender equality. I urge that those who are looking into such issues should also look into the issue of gender equality.
In conclusion, I would like to touch on the issue of corruption in general terms. We have an issue for example of ZIFA, whereby when our soccer players are going for their games they want to be catered for in a way that satisfies them. As Members of Parliament we should look into this issue and make it a point that those who are asked to be part of the boards are people who really have proper qualifications. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MACRO-ECONOMIC PLANNING AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION (HON. SEN.
MUTSVANGWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 19th November, 2015.
On the motion of THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MACROECONOMIC PLANNING AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION
(HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA), the Senate adjourned at Four Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 17th November, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
MEETING FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR GLOBAL ACTION
ZIMBABWE CHAPTER MEETING
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Hon. Members
of the Parliamentarians for Global Action Zimbabwe Chapter, a nonpartisan international network of legislators are invited to an annual meeting to be held on Thursday, 19th November, 2015 at 12 o’clock noon in the Government Caucus Room. New members are also welcome.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I move that Order Number 1 be stood
over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. HLALO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on great strides made by Government in raising literacy rates in the country.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Goto who moved this important motion, seconded by Hon. Sen. Bhobho about raising literacy rates in the country. They gave their opinion on the position of our literacy in this country, that it is high as a result of our Government led by our President His Excellency, Comrade R. G. Mugabe. He has put across good policies so that we can increase our literacy rates here in Africa.
I would like as well to reiterate what His Excellency; Comrade R.
- Mugabe said when he officially opened the Third session of the Eighth Parliament, when he looked at educational issues. He said that there will be an education Bill to be brought in addition to the Education Act of 2006 which will look at our literacy in the country in line with our Constitution, which is good for the country. The curricular for the primary and secondary education is also being looked into. That is a way to try and raise our literacy rate in the country. We know that when a country has educated people, development is easy because people understand better what is happening in the country because of the literacy that they would have been given through education.
Madam President, may I read my notes about Mt. Darwin. I am requesting for authority to do that.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Normally, we
request that Hon. Members should inform us before they do that.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I am sorry about that. Let me say if we look at issues of schools in Mt. Darwin, before independence, we had
53 primary schools and two secondary schools which are
Mamvuradonha High School and Ruya Secondary School.
MT DARWIN DISRICT BEFORE 1980
PRIMARY SCHOOLS | SECONDARY SCHOOLS |
53 | 2 |
These secondary schools are mission schools, Mamvuradonha is an Evangelical school and Ruya is an SDA School. Let me say it helped a lot but it was very difficult particularly for education in Mt. Darwin.
SCHOOLS IN 1980 AND AFTER
PRIMARY SCHOOLS | SECONDARY SCHOOLS |
85 | 27 |
From 1980 up to now, the schools have increased by 32 primary schools and 25 secondary schools.
We now have nine ‘A’ level school and two boarding schools which are Mamvuradonha and Ruya, nothing changed there. We have five satellite schools at primary and 15 secondary schools. We have been granted authority to build an additional seven primary schools and four secondary schools.
We have 26 substantive male headmasters and four women and that gives us a total of 30. We have 25 substantive deputy headmasters and seven who are female. We have 18 substantive secondary school headmasters and there are no women. We have four substantive heads as deputy and there are no women. Substantive Heads - Primary
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL | |
26 | 4 | 30 | |
Substantive Deputy - Primary |
|||
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL | |
25 | 7 | 32 | |
Substantive Heads – Secondary |
|||
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL | |
18 | 0 | 18 | |
Substantive Deputy/Heads – Secondary |
|||
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL | |
4 | 0 | 4 |
There are few female Heads as compared to their male counterparts at primary and secondary school level.
Current Enrolment
Primary
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL |
26 680 | 27 159 | 53 839 |
Secondary |
||
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL |
7 110 | 6 745 | 13 855 |
There are more boys at primary and secondary school than girls.
Staffing
Primary
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL |
915 | 779 | 1 691 |
Secondary
MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL |
332 | 254 | 586 |
There are more male teachers both at primary and at secondary school than female teachers.
This motion is very important for us as representatives of the people. I think it is important to have more schools in our constituencies so that pupils do not walk long distances. We should encourage parents to work together with Councillors so that schools are built. Hon. Senators and Councillors are only involved in the development of the constituency; hence it is our business to approach the parents. When families are far from schools and they have school going children, the girl child will end up not going to school. The family will say we cannot allow the girl to walk 20km to and from school, so they will end up deciding that the girl child remains at home and that will lead to disparities.
However, I would like to thank Senator Goto for this motion, it has given us a lot of work so that we realise where we are lagging behind, where we are supposed to work hard and where we are supposed to work in conjunction with Councillors to improve the situation. Thank you Madam President.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU): I
move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th November, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. NCUBE: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this motion which was brought in by Hon. Senator Chimbudzi. I cannot remember properly as to who seconded the mover but I would like to thank the Hon. Senator as well.
The issue of sports is something which we used to look down upon, but right now, it is so important and as a country, we should make sure that we make it important. Sports come in various ways in their various disciplines, people are gifted differently. When we grew up, we did not recognise that if a child is not academically gifted, he or she can do something like sporting. However, with the times that we have moved into, sports are now important because if a child is not gifted academically, that child may be gifted in the sporting arena. What I am trying to say is that, here in Zimbabwe, no matter how important a sport is, the country does not recognise its importance; that is not good at all.
If people are going to be engaged in sporting, they are doing so for money, they should be supported by the Government so that when they start at lower levels, they will reach higher levels. The country should be proud that we have children who can raise the flag of this country high. What saddens us most is that we as Hon. Senators have grounds at our constituencies where children play, whiling up time. They should play such that they benefit from that sport, be it football or any other sport.
My wish though is that when a motion of this nature has been brought to this House, the Government should look at these matters thoroughly. If children read in the newspapers and hear what has transpired in Parliament, when they are supposed to go and play elsewhere in other countries, they will feel that if they play, they will realise something and be able to sustain their lives. Every time when the Warriors, our big team are supposed to go and play, in most cases, they will not have enough resources to perform. Sometimes, they go at short notice and do not get enough time to practice. I feel that, that demotivates them.
Hon. President, as Senators we have an important responsibility but our problem is that we do not have the money to give them to go out to play. I feel that sport has a Ministry, it is important for children to play sport and get some money. I would like to condemn my country Zimbabwe. I am not going to condemn the Minister because he is also given resources. When resources are being disbursed we should value all Ministries. Let us give the Sports Department enough resources so that our children can play wholeheartedly and raise the flag of the country high.
In conclusion, our problem as a country – not all organisations are bad but members in those organisations are the ones who are evil. If an organisation is put in place, its purpose is to lead and give guidance so that those in need can be helped easily. I have observed that when it is time to choose the administrators of sport, many people are willing to lead but when they represent those players they do not represent them properly. As of now, we should support sport. There are no jobs, children spend most of their time playing football. At the end of the day they should realise some money out of that so that they can be able to sustain their lives.
In some countries, footballers are bought with a lot of money. Such people can make the country of Zimbabwe improve and improve their lives as well. That is not possible to be realised because some people have jeopardized that and those youngsters are no longer playing properly. With that Mr. President, I would like to say to the Minister, when they look for people to lead ZIFA, the person should be someone with the passion for football, not people who are after fattening their pockets at the expense of the players. I thank you.
HON. SENATOR MASUKU: Thank you Mr. President Sir for
giving me this opportunity. I would like to thank Hon. Senator Chimbudzi and her seconder who brought this important motion on improving our sports in Zimbabwe. Mr. President Sir, you would realise that when it comes to sports, it help us in different issues like body building and assist in improving one’s academics. It is also a way of creating employment and income generation.
Therefore, it is very important to prioritise sports in our country.
When we talk about sports, I realise that we give top priority to football and forget other sporting activities. We should not forget that there was a time when the flag of our country was lifted high by Kirsty Coventry through swimming. We need to prioritise every sporting activity not only football. I will also give an example of volleyball, golf and many others. We also need to prioritise such sporting activities. We need to urge our children to be involved in different sporting activities right from the tender age when they are still in high schools.
I also take into consideration that the mover of this motion highlighted that we should build different sporting fields in all the provinces as a country. This is a very important point; this will help us to identify a person’s talent at a tender age. Therefore, we need to support all these children in all the 10 provinces. We need to build different sporting fields where these children can engage in different sporting activities at a tender age. That is where we can identify the talents of various children and choose those who will represent our country. They will improve from district, provincial and up to national level. We can also have a team like one of the teams that we once had long back, which was called ‘dream team’. I do not know whether this team still exists.
We need to encourage all the youngsters to participate in all sporting activities and we should support them taking into consideration that this is one thing that is important in building one’s future. I have come to realise that in yester-years, as a country we never used to take into serious consideration any sporting activities that are done by women but we realise that women are also lifting our flag high, especially if you look at what the Mighty Warriors have done. Therefore Mr. President Sir, I would like all of us to congratulate our Mighty Warriors for they have done so well. They have represented the mother figure in our country.
Mr. President Sir, I would also want to highlight that when Zimbabwe was playing against Guinea, so many people from Bulawayo filled up the Barbourfields Stadium. The stadium was filled up, which surprised even the Minister of Sports who highlighted that he did not know that people from Bulawayo could fill up the stadium, especially to come and watch soccer. Yes he was expressing his happiness about what the people of Bulawayo had done. However, I would want to urge everyone not to look down upon Bulawayo for you realise that most of those who excelled well in all the sporting activities came from Bulawayo. Also if you look at the Chiedza boys and the Shaya boys, they all used to play in Bulawayo. Bulawayo is a very beautiful city when it comes to sporting activities for they will accept you as you are regardless of your religion - as long as you are supporting or participating in sports.
When it comes to all our sporting activities, in Bulawayo people would come together regardless of their religion, as long as they are playing for the country. Our wish is that such an idea should be carried out throughout the country and everyone adopts it because it is one thing that will improve the sporting activities in our country.
Mr. President Sir, I would want to urge everyone to support all the sporting activities. The Government should take it in a way that anyone who is involved in any of the sporting activities is playing for our country Zimbabwe and not for their team only. This is one thing that people should prioritise and therefore support all the sporting activities.
I also take into consideration that there is one sporting activity that is not prioritized, which is Paralympics. It is not taken seriously, especially in our country. Therefore, I am urging and I am inviting all the members of this august House to support the disabled and try by all means to fully support them as they are playing for our country and not for themselves. Mr. President Sir, when I was doing my research, I remember there is a time when the whole nation would come together to participate in different sporting activities and the participants would be drawn from different ages right from five years up to 90 year olds. They used to meet once per year and I remember we used to give them the names ‘isipatha kiyada.’ We used to have some people excelling well from such kind of groups. This was a way of trying to encourage everyone to participate in sports.
Mr. President Sir, we should therefore try to prioritise all our sporting activities. If it is a major game, it can take two or three days for people to showcase their talents in all different sporting activities and it is a way of improving our sports as a country. You realise that even a 90 year old can run. This will be a lovely sporting activity whereby the 90 year olds will run in a race and at the end we will be able to come up with one person who is the best in that sporting activity. We should therefore urge everyone in our constituencies that all the sporting activities are open to everyone.
I would like to congratulate you Mr. President that as Parliament we have realised that it is important to also participate in sports. As Parliament, we now have our soccer team, however, it should not be soccer only but all the sporting activities should be represented. People can look at us and say if Hon. Senator Masuku is able to play netball, the young ones will be encouraged to also play as well. We should have volleyball, netball teams and any other sporting activity as Parliament. This will encourage even those who are outside Parliament to participate in any of the sporting activities.
I would like to end Mr. President Sir by a point that was brought by a member who moved this motion, which is one thing that destroys our sporting activities. It is one animal that I do not even know how many legs it has but I know it has two legs for it is something that is done by a human being. I do not know whether it is being greedy or whatever but all that I know is, using our western language it is called corruption. This animal called corruption Mr. President Sir, is caused by the fact that in our sporting activities there are some people who think of themselves only and look at an opportunity of improving their lifestyle and not to work for the country. This is one thing that discourages the players who will be participating in whatever sporting activities they are involved in.
Someone who has sports at heart will not allow those who are involved in whatever sporting activities not to go for training because of not being satisfied by the welfare they are receiving. A person who has sports at heart will not rest until all things are in order. Therefore Mr.
President Sir, I am looking forward that the Government would encourage especially those who are put in positions of being Ministers of Sports to support our sporting activities so that our flag as a nation could be uplifted.
Mr. President Sir, it is a disgrace to the nation when we hear that our team was not allowed to play in world games because the subscriptions were not paid up. Therefore, if we choose someone who has sports at heart and who is fully committed to sports, this person will try by all means to push that our subscriptions as a nation are fully paid up. When this happens, it is not only the team that is punished and embarrassed but the country as a whole.
Amber light having been switched on.
Yes, Mr. President, I realise that the amber light has been switched on; I would like to wrap up my contribution by urging the Government and everyone in this House to take note that when we choose our leaders, it is very important to choose someone who has sports at heart to lead our Ministry.
+HON. SEN. MKWEBU: I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chimbudzi who brought in this motion and the seconder Hon. Sen. Mumvuri. What is there Mr. President with our sporting activities, we realise that we do not make checks and balances on what is being done by the Minister or whoever will be leading that Ministry. What we should realise is that when we look at our players especially those who are in the national team or whatever sporting activity is there, everyone should be involved and participate in that. What I mean by saying this is that those who have spoken before me have highlighted that there are shortages in finances especially when our national teams are supposed to go outside the country.
Mr. President, it is not the Minister’s fault but it is everyone’s fault, for when they highlight that there is a need to do with the national team going outside the country, everyone especially in this House, should participate in trying to fundraise so that our national team goes outside the country to represent us well. This is one thing that we should take into consideration. It is not the players who are ashamed but the country as a whole. If we come up with fundraising activities or we say a dollar per individual, you realise that almost everyone has a dollar in his or her pocket especially us who are leaders in our communities. It is a disgrace to us as leaders and as many as we are at Parliament, when you combine members of the National Assembly and the Senate, if we all contribute a dollar each, we are able to raise so much. Yes, we may not want to participate but it is a very important issue that we are discussing. There is a lot that has been said.
We realise that women football was something that was looked down upon but now, everyone is prioritising women football. When you look at them playing, you might think that it is our national team that is playing. One of the previous speakers highlighted that - yes, some of us might say we do not want to participate in any of the fundraising activities, but if we do these in advance and have money in our pockets as a nation, we will not be found wanting especially when it comes to the issues related to our national team travelling – [HON. SENATORS:
Inaudible interjections.]-
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT (HON. TAWENGWA ):
Order, order, Hon. Sen. Mkwebu, please concentrate on addressing the Chair, do not be disrupted.
+HON. SEN. MKWEBU: Thank you Mr. President, I would like
to urge everyone in this House to also take into consideration that in our sporting disciplines, we also have soccer that is being coached by deaf people. I saw this on television whereby the coach was deaf but he was able to carry out his duty very well. As a country, we should also prioritise any of the games that are done at the Paralympics level so that even those who are disabled, they do not feel isolated because of their condition. As a nation, we should support such kind of people if they are involved in sports, more-so if they are part of the national team.
When you look at those who are in urban areas, they are the ones who benefit a lot whilst those who are in rural areas are the ones who are always fit for they walk long distances when they are going to schools. Those are the people that we should also involve in any of the sporting activities. It is not easy for them to get support, therefore, I urge the Government to look at this issue. I urge the Government to really take this seriously into consideration, to involve children from rural areas that they participate in any of the sporting activities. Those are the players who are fit because they walk long distances when going to school. A lot has been highlighted.
I will just add on to what had been said that we realise that this motion has been debated at length and everyone has been emphasising that the Government should support all the sporting activities that we have in this country, be it Warriors which is our national team, swimming or any other sporting activity that is there in this country. I am also emphasising that the Government should support members of all the teams; for anyone who is involved in the national team, we know that they are uplifting our Zimbabwean flag high. With these few words, I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I move that the debate be now adjourned.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 17th November, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MAKORE: Thank you very much Hon. President,
for giving me this opportunity to highlight my few sentiments on the
Presidential Speech. Mr. President, the speeches that are presented in Parliament by the President are there to provide vision and to sort of assess the line of development that we do move and also to make serious contributions towards the seriousness of development that we are all entitled to.
First of all, I want to look at the alignment of laws that has ever been echoed by the President from the First Session of Parliament, the Second Session of Parliament and the Third Session of Parliament Mr. President. He echoed on the alignment of laws to the Constitution. To me, this is fundamental Mr. President. It is not only alignment of laws but also knowledge of the Constitution. –HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- The President quoted Section 324 of the Constitution. If I may be allowed to read this section to sort of make emphasis.
Section 324 talks of the diligent performance of constitutional obligations, Mr. President. All constitutional obligations must be performed diligently and without delay. To me, this is very fundamental. We have Section 7 of the Constitution which also calls for the interpretation of these laws into vernacular languages. Mr. President, the misunderstanding or not knowing exactly of the constitutional dictates makes people not to realise their rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. There are obligations enshrined in the Constitution as well as their entitlements such as the dignity of a woman, man, girl and boy.
We have seen a lot of violence escalating Mr. President, on the basis that people think they are above the law. Sometimes, we wonder it is perhaps because of not knowing or not knowledgeable about their entitlements. It is alarming that the parties themselves have demonstrated extra-ordinary violence and again, dehumanising each other on a want to take just a position. -[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- This is alarming Mr. President.
The culture that is emanating is very bad and it is intolerable because we have to leave a legacy that people should also be known to respect each other. It is not one party that I can point but of recent, we have heard exactly that one could take an axe and chop somebody to death on a want of a position. Can I advise this nation that the positions that you are taking are not very important but what is important is humanity. -[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- If you take that position, where do you go with that position, what does that mean? A want to that position must be a normal thing. I want to sort of echo this sentiment which perhaps was pronounced by the President but I hasten to say that the speed with which we are moving in terms of aligning laws with this
Constitution are very slow.
On the education side, we are also requesting that an attention be given such that a budget be apportioned for the training and education of the society and again, jointly with private partners, they must also take it up to sort of educate people about this Constitution. People must know their freedoms their fundamental rights and that is of prime importance.
The next issue I think in terms of my contribution is the Land
Commission, starting from Land Board that existed before. The Land Commission in terms of Section 297 has got very important fundamentals in terms of the functions. It gives us this straight away that while it is very important that a person should own one farm, we have got people having multiple farms yet the Constitution says ‘one family one farm’. The question of auditing Mr. President, is very important. To audit land is to want to know who has land and what are you doing with that land? Land is an economic factor which we believe should not lie derelict without being utilized to the maximum. It is important that a country which was once a bread basket, we should drift quickly to be the bread basket, of Africa. [HON. SEATORS: Hear, hear.] This country is beautiful. We cannot allow the multiplicity of land, just to acquire that land for the purpose of just pointing that I have so many farms. That in itself in terms of this is not fair.
I want to thank the President so much on the pointer that will also look at the audit as very important. So, the Audit Commission if it is put in place, will do the auditing ensuring accountability, fairness and also transparency in the administration of the agricultural land. That statement that was pronounced by the President himself, to me is onerous because people are too greedy. We become poor because of individual greediness -[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- They want to take everything to themselves, we should not do this. Some of these people have natural talents that must be known and if you cannot farm do not take a farm. Why should you? If you are like Makore, just live in the urban area and allow those with competencies to do the job for the benefit of the whole society in Zimbabwe. –[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
We do not want just to be challenged. Our skin can do, but sometimes we bemoan that we cannot because we fall short of planning that is supposed to take place first before we indulge ourselves into those issues. Let us plan first, have a short, medium and long term. We believe Mr. President that, that in itself is very important.
The other third point that I also looked at is that of flexing laws of indigenisation in which there is a room to sort of negotiate. To me it is onerous. We want to create employment, attract foreign direct investment and the flexibility that is called for by the President, to me is onerous. We are indigenising but indigenisation with meaningful production, absorption of employment opportunities. To me it is very important. If you say you are an indigenous person who cannot grow and thing outside the box, you are supposed to be a contributor. It is also about talents and abilities that people take such things. It is important Mr. President, that you put yourself on a scale first whether you can do it or not. If you are not an employer, you are an employee, get employed.
- [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – If you are an employer then
behave like one. Copying is not bad, in fact you must learn to copy. Some people used to say if you are a dunder-head, you may copy with a full stop. That is not it in reality, copy sensible. Copy other things that are better and implement them. That is very important. – [AN HON. SENATOR: Inaudible interjections.] – Thank you for your comment although I did not get it very clearly.
I only wanted to make these remarks, thanking the President on this particular contribution and calling the nation to be very serious in this particular direction that we did take. Thank you for raising this motion, I also read your analysis, to me it was very appeasing. I do not want to take much of your time, thank you.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President for giving
me this opportunity to make a contribution to the Presidential Speech. First and foremost, I want to pledge my total and unreserved loyalty to this nation. Therefore, my criticism and praises should be taken within that context.
The first point I want to make is, I have listened to Hon. Senators here debating this motion. To some extent, I have been disappointed by some Senators who have assumed that because Senators look neat, fat and over-fed – [HON. SENATORS: Inaudible interjections.] – Yes that has been said in this House, therefore, the people of Zimbabwe have nothing to complain about. I am absolutely certain Mr. President that that has happened. I regret, I also advise that…
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Please just address the
Chair, do not worry about those comments.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I would like to remind Senators that our constituency is the grass root therefore, our big concern here must be about the state of the nation in as much as it affects the grass roots, not in as much as it makes us look fat shiny, fat and well fed.
I want to move on and say the President has challenged us on a number of issues and it is incumbent on us as a senior House in this legislature to take a lot of the suggestions seriously. However, my concern is about the delays that have been associated with proposed legislation, Parliament on and Parliament on. For example, if you look at the Land Commission, the delay in setting it up, I think it is well over due. It should have been set up a long time ago. The land audit should have been set up a long time ago. I seriously believe that it would have changed the food situation in Zimbabwe if it had been taken seriously and implemented as expeditiously as possible.
Secondly, I would like to refer to Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). I know that for a long time there has been debate about the direction of the economy. I also know that there has been a hard push that we relax our ideology in order to look in all directions. I am happy to say that when we were at Victoria Falls, one of the Ministers said that it is essential that we look in all directions. I think that is plausible because we cannot be fixated in one direction and hope to improve the fortunes of this land. In order to deal with our foreign direct investment needs, including local direct investments, it is essential as Hon. Sen.
Makore has said that we revisit our indigenisation laws. I believe that indigenisation is not a bad agenda but I also believe that it must be tailor-made to suit specific situations.
I also want to emphasize that when last time we raised the issue of violence here, it was felt as if it is an opposition song. It was indicated that we want to appear on the front pages of newspapers. I for one value the lives of each Zimbabwe, young, small political or apolitical. - [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – It is when we lose that humanity as a people that all the blessings that God can give us disappear.
Thirdly, I would like to say that corruption is now endemic in this land. It is essential that we do not treat the subject lowly. We treat the area with respect and give it the attention that it deserves. A lot has been said about it and it is not necessary for me to re-emphasize it.
The President also proposed that we need legislation regarding to our borders and infrastructure. The worst thing that can happen to you, particularly when you move through a border post like Beitbridge, is to have a visitor with you and you are a Zimbabwean. On average, it will take you 10 to 30 minutes to cross on the South African side and it will take you anything from two hours to eight hours to do the same process on our side with the same vehicle, goods and the same passport. You start wondering exactly where our problem is. I therefore, argue that it not the infrastructure that needs attention, it is the mind set, corruption element in this land that needs attention much more than the infrastructure. In fact, if you look at the South African infrastructure in Beitbridge, it is not much more civilized than the infrastructure that we have. It is the difference in our attention to the needs of the people, some of whom are tourists into this land. Their first interface is our border posts.
I then come to a very sensitive area that I want to talk about. Not trying to evoke sentiments, we went through the 1980s and the President came back to us and said we accept it was a moment of madness but we still think an apology was essential. Over the past 12 months, I have witnessed what I believe is an assault on the people of the southern region. The first was when we, as men felt insulted that we impregnate our women, abandon them and go to South Africa. It is only Zimbabweans that have to leave this country and go to South Africa and the reasons are the same. What boggles my mind is why that should be addressed to the people of the southern region. You will understand that I am not talking about people of a tribe, I am talking about regional people and this dilemma affects every Zimbabwean. I rightly place the responsibility in the hands of this Government; they have created an environment where people are forced to emigrate. They in-turn, turn around and insult us as men of the southern region.
The second is the jibe that was directed at the Kalanga people. It is my strong conviction that we are the children under this Government, all of us and we are equal – [HON. SENATORS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Whilst we allow
interjections, Hon. Sen. Ncube, let us have order please.
HON. SEN B. SIBANDA: I believe that the President should protect all of us equally. Mr. President, I am not Kalanga myself but I get hurt if any Zimbabwean is treated in an unfair manner, particularly on the basis of the place of his origin and ethnicity. I object to that.
The last applies to what has been said about Dr. Nkomo. I believe that unless we learn to treat every Zimbabwean as a valuable citizen of this nation, we lose direction. I distinguish Dr. Joshua Nkomo as the only liberation organisation leader, whose house in 1979, was razed to the ground by the regime with the intention of killing him. He is the only leader, I know of - none other. I also know that in Zambia a lot of planes were brought down in one day and I remember General Walls wailing that these dirt terrorists with their…
HON. SEN. MOHADI: On a point of order! Mr. President, I beg that if we are debating in this House, let us leave out politics because the Hon. Senator is mentioning names of people. I do not think it is appropriate.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President. I am grateful to your ruling. I believe that Joshua Nkomo is not alive, those people from the southern region can defend their political space, but he cannot. I therefore, will attempt to defend it for him. I move on Mr.
President and say it is unfair for them to say that about a person of that integrity, a person who in my opinion had the greatest passion for the land redistribution, not only passion innate - [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] - Well considered and executed. Determination for land distribution – to turn around and say Smith tells us he was a lackey of the white man.
I also believe that towards the end of the Lanchester House
Conference, Joshua Nkomo consulted no other person except the Patriotic Front, that is a fact and for us because he may not be in a position to answer for himself to say he was a lackey of the white man that is why he did not win the 1980 elections – I think is ill considered.
Mr. President, I invoke and I request the Presidency of this country to lead this nation towards a unity of purpose and I am certain that all the people of this land will follow the Presidency. They will not question them because they will be showing the direction but we cannot show that direction by being divisive among our own people. I thank you, Mr.
President – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear]-
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN. MATHUTHU): I
move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th November, 2015.
On the motion of THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MEDIA,
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. SEN.
MATHUTHU), the Senate adjourned at Thirteen Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 19th November, 2015
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
LECTURES ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I wish
to inform Hon. Members who registered for a course in Community
Development with the Women’s University in Africa that lectures will commence today at 1730 hours in the Clerk’s Board Room, Second Floor, Parliament Building.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: I rise to move that Questions Without Notice be deferred until other items on the Order Paper are disposed of.
HON. SEN. MAKORE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
SUCCESSES AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCHOOLS
- HON. SEN. CHIMHINI asked the Minister of State for
Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education to state the Ministry’s practical and measurable successes and achievements in schools ever since the Ministry was established.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR LIAISING ON
PSYCHOMOTOR ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION (HON.
HUNGWE): Thank you Mr. President. Firstly, I would like to thank
Hon. Chimhini for this question. The Hon. Member wanted to know the Ministry’s practical and measurable successes and achievements in schools ever since the Ministry was established.
May I state precisely the mandate and the functions of my
Ministry. The idea of my Ministry’s mandate is to move the education system of this country from the academic path to the practical path. It is where skills training become the main business of schools and also the business of my Ministry and Ministry officials. It is where learners find and create jobs for themselves and other people. The skills to be trained are specifically mentioned that they should be appropriate skills to be given to our learners and they should be life skills. The learners will depend on themselves because of the type and quality of education that would have been given to them through skills training.
It should be noted then therefore, that at school level, the effect of work accomplished by the office of the Minister of Psychomotor Activities will be felt in the medium and long term through increased psychomotor skills training. The desired impact therefore, being increased employment and self sustenance projects through acquisition of appropriate psychomotor skills.
However, to date, the office has made significant progress towards creating an enabling environment, it was important that we create such an environment for increasing psychomotor skills training. Work accomplished includes the following:-
- i) Assessment of psychomotor activities at all selected education institutions, inclusive of schools, was undertaken in various provinces country-wide to take stock of the prevailing situation, identify psychomotor skills gaps and opportunities; ii) Engagement of key institutions/stakeholders for the development of a policy framework to guide the mainstreaming of the psychomotor philosophy principles at all levels of learning from zero grade, primary, secondary and tertiary.
We would like the skills training to change the quality because the idea is to develop and produce a wholesome product that can stand on its own education to sustain a living. This is all we are supposed to do in this Ministry.
iii) Possible ‘Quick Wins’/psychomotor model or demonstration
projects designed to yield positive results within the shortest possible period are being explored; iv) The development of a communication and stakeholder engagement strategy to demystify the psychomotor concept and influence change of mindset. Mr. President, the mindset that we are talking about here is the one that ourselves as adults, parents are used to a type of education that was started in 1893. At best, this type of education produced a cadre which was an administrator but never a manager. However, we are on a paradigm shift to move from academic education to practical education where the individuals will have to find jobs for themselves. To find a job or create a job is in the hands of God.
Mr. President, the citizens’ perceptions is that they are used to academic education where their children go. During our time, we used to go to concerts, spend the whole day there, talking in English and clapping our hands. But I want to add that there was a debate about education in 1718 century, about how educated is an educated man and what is the measure of education? Someone said an educated man is the one who has degrees, that is popular in places like Boston in America. Boston has the number of universities in this world. If you have no letters after your name, they cannot understand how you can be called educated.
However, in Greece again, another country in Europe, they said can he make bread, what can he do? They believe a person who is educated is able to do something, which is the kind of education I think this country is moving towards. In England, the same question was asked and the answer from the floor was what does he know, knowledge is important as well.
Finally, I must say the combination of the academic and practical education would produce what I consider to be a wholesome cadre, capable of looking after him or herself because he can do something like manufacturing a chair, bread, build a house et cetera. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chimhini for asking this question. I will continue doing the same if the people here can ask me to come and have a discussion interaction with them wherever they are so that we can discuss. You have your own ideas about how education should be and from the
Ministry’s point of view, I can also put across to you what we think should be considered as good education for our new nation. I thank you.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
TO THE 7TH WORLD WATER CONFERENCE
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: I move the motion standing in my name that:
This House takes note of the Report of the Parliament of
Zimbabwe Delegation to the 7th World Water Conference held in
Gyeongju, Republic of Korea from the 13th to the 16th April, 2015.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I second.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Mr. President. I move to
table the report of the delegation that was led by the President of Senate Hon. Madzongwe, to the 7th World Water Forum in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, at the invitation of the World Water Council. The venue of the forum was the Hwabaek International Convention Centre in Gyeongju.
The delegation comprised of the following members:-
- M. Chinomona, Deputy Speaker of the National
Assembly;
- Senator S. Mlotshwa and
- W. Mashange, Member of the National Assembly
Mr. President, the World Water Council is an international organisation whose aim is to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues. The Council’s strategy is to bring people together through hydro-politics while they serve as the linkage between decision makers, including Members of Parliament and various stakeholders.
Participation
The World Water Forum is the largest water related event in the world and it included different sessions running concurrently in
Gyeongju and the city of Daegu. Parliamentarians, Ministers of National Governments and their officials, International Organisations, entrepreneurs, Non-Governmental Organisations, youths and invited citizens participated in this forum.
Seventy Parliamentarians from 30 countries participated in the
Parliamentarians’ Conference under the broad theme of the Political Process.
The World Water Council aimed to increase awareness of legislators on water issues, as through discussion they sought to put water issues high on each country’s national development agenda.
Parliamentarians, acknowledge that Members of Parliament play an important role in the adoption, development, legislation and oversight of water related laws as well as pass national budgets for water, sanitation and hygiene activities.
3.0 The Parliamentarians Helpdesk was presented to the meeting.
The Help Desk’s main focus would be on helping Parliamentarians find information related to the development and implementation of waterrelated legislation and national budgeting for water.
3.1 The Objectives of the helpdesk are to-:
- Provide specialised technical services related to adoption, development and implementation of water legislation and budget allocation.
- Enable knowledge sharing between local Members of Parliament (MPs), MPs and water legislation experts in different countries.
- Develop and present examples of best practices around water legislation.
3.2 The meeting approved implementation of the Help Desk and applauded it as a well thought out technical tool.
- In Plenary Session
- Parliamentarians present acknowledged their role in legislating water policies that help authorities secure sound water resources for the development and management of efficient and sustainable national water access.
- Parliamentarians noted their responsibility in creating water laws and passing budget allocations that ensure citizens’ rights to safe and clean water.
- Parliamentarians agreed on the importance of enshrining the right to water and sanitation in the appropriate legislation of each of their countries and its subsequent implementation in both rural and urban constituencies.
- In Section 77 of the Zimbabwe Constitution, the Constitution enshrines the right to safe, clean and portable water to every person. In this vein, the submission of the Zimbabwe Delegation, presented to the forum by Hon. S. Mlotshwa reported the efforts made in Zimbabwe through drilling numerous boreholes in each of the provinces, in an effort to meet this call. She further submitted that, more still needed to be done to close the distance-gap to the boreholes in the various communities.
- Parliamentarians in the different national delegations in turn, noted the various gains made by their countries as well as the pressing challenges faced by their Governments in:
- Creating universal access to water and sanitation services for households in both rural and urban sectors;
- Overcoming challenges of water security in so far as harnessing rainwater, managing ground water, river basins, watersheds, wetlands et cetera.
- Building resilience to address economic, climatic and health challenges.
- Creating a political consensus to address water issues.
4.6 Delegates called for stronger international cooperation on both a global and regional scale to support national efforts to solve challenges of water supply and water sanitation issues, particularly in rural areas. Ensuing discussions highlighted challenges faced, particularly by developing countries, in water source development and the attendant problem of developing strategies to ensure progress in sustainable water sanitation.
- Conclusion
- The deliberations of the conference of Parliamentarians culminated in the formulation of signing of a Parliamentarians’ Statement (APENDIX 1).
- Recommendations
- It is recommended that we as MPs support the proposals contained in this report to ensure that water security is given the utmost priority in the allocation of financial resources and we continue to provide oversight on the implementation of related policies.
APPENDIX 1
Parliamentarians’ Statement
We, the representatives of Parliamentarians participating in the
Seventh World Water Forum, meeting within the framework of the Conference of Parliamentarians for Water held in Daegu Gyeongbuk on 15 April 2015.
- Reiterating that billions of people still lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation services in spite of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the official recognition in 2010 of the human right to water and sanitation; the challenge after having recognised the human right to water and sanitation.
- Recalling the good legal frameworks are crucial in order to
Ensure water security for all, for present and future generations.
- Stressing that the global water situation continues to deteriorate due to climate change, poor water governance and other crises, exacerbated by environmental damages that are artefacts of unsustainable models;
- Recognising the existence of conflicts over shared water resources, despite regional and national efforts to establish relevant water governance;
- Acknowledging the need to share and diffuse comprehensive water management solutions, that encompass food, energy, both urban and ecological and cultural solutions, not only confined to water;
- Affirming that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) based on hydrographic basins concertation between stakeholders and creations of synergies between different policies, are a key to adaptation and attenuation for climate change;
Accordingly, we, the representatives of Parliamentarians participating in the Seventh World Water Forum, commit to support the following solutions and requests to advance human right to water and sanitation and to improve management:
- Ask that water security be given utmost priority in allocation of financial resources in countries that lack access to water and sanitation; and that other countries get involved in decentralised cooperation. Allow prompt amendment of laws and minimise budget execution process to enhance global right to water and sanitation, improving budget execution efficiency in the water sector compared to the past, and allocate additional and separate financial resources for urgent water sanitation challenges.
- Support continuously, education and training, in order to optimize investment in water and sanitation as a human right.
- Establish institutional mechanisms to allow participation of all stakeholders, both directly and indirectly, in water management.
- Call for all countries to promote sustainable economic Development in due consideration of the environment and for developed countries, to participate actively in providing financial support underpinning these efforts; make environment-related funds available for prompt financial support for countries in need; pursue effective environment restoration efforts both at national and international levels; thus aim to achieve green growth.
- Minimise water-related conflicts; strengthen collaborative research at national and international levels to establish governance that involves all stakeholders for protection of human rights and efficient water management; in particular, reaffirm the important roles of central, regional and local government officials, water expert organisations and other stakeholders.
- Create a global model for sustainable development and for synthesis of water with various sectors in the society, based on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) research. The model should encompass eco-friendly and sustainable agricultural, industrial and urban development strategies. Establish legal instruments to support IWRM, as water, in synthesis with all sectors of society, have contributed to development in the past and will continue to do so in the future; mobilise and secure financial resources.
- Work towards providing legal basis and procurement of financial Resources for establishment of organisations that support operation of governance over shared water resources (transnational and trans-regional), executing water-related solutions for governance at the national level; efforts for the operation of various governance with regard to shared waters, establishment of legal base for this supportive organisation and preparation of working funds. In addition, secure execution ability for solutions of water issues to be implemented in each country through governance.
- Share and evaluate past statements of Parliamentarian process and results of today through the ‘Water Legislation Helpdesk’ and allow regular access to information on changes in water management circumstances of each country and its Parliamentary response.
Conclusion
We, the representatives of Parliamentarians participating in the Seventh World Water Forum, within the framework of the Conference of Parliamentarians for Water at the Seventh World Water Forum held in Daegu Gyeongbuk:
- Hereby present solutions for the past, present and future water issues and pledge to implement them;
- Declare the necessity for continuous efforts to secure safe drinking Water and sanitation and for changes in water management to effectively respond to climate change and future water crises.
- Ask our representatives to support the above proposals and commitments at the UN General Assembly to be held in September, 2015.
- Ask our representatives to incorporate water as a central component of adaptation during negotiations at the Climate Change
Conference to be held in Paris in 2015 (COP 21). As a consequence, water has to be treated as fundamental to the allocation of climate findings.
Madam President, since everyone acknowledges that water is life, we need to take advantages of the debates in the Committees that we will sit in, for the post budget debates. It is incumbent upon us to make sure that water supply to our citizens is not compromised as is stated in our own Constitution, Section 77, that every person has the right to safe, clean and portable water. There is no replacement for water. In Ndebele we say, “amanzi yimbilo kumbe ngumuthi”. That is, when you are dirty you cleanse yourself using water and by so doing you avoid diseases. When fatigued, after a bath you feel refreshed. When you are about to die of hunger, just a sip of water can avert death. For days, you can live on water only. Last but not least, when one thirsts for water - no matter the availability of other fluids, the body still yearns for water.
In conclusion Mr. President, experts say that if you want to know how much water your body needs in a day, you use this formula: your weight divided by seven, multiplied by 0.3. The answer is what you have to take yourself. I did that Mr. President and I am even scared to share with my colleagues how much I must drink.
Also you can do a urine test to check how dehydrated your body is. It is said by the experts that the darker your urine is, it is an indication that you are not taking enough water. If you take enough water, your urine should be light, unless you have other medical issues to deal with.
Mr. President, we can substitute ZESA energy by firewood and other things; we can substitute diet but we cannot do that with water.
That is how important it is. I thank you for the opportunity.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: Thank you Mr. President. I rise to support the motion moved by Hon. Sen. Mlotshwa and I make a few comments. The first comment I make is that the world has become one big village. It is very clear from the conference that people discussed how information can be shared and I think it is important that we share information, knowledge and skills as one global village. The subject that has been raised of water is a critical issue which we must all embrace.
She has already quoted Section 77 of the Zimbabwe Constitution and I still want to repeat that every person has the right to safe, clean, portable water and sufficient food. In most cases, we are told that it is expensive to provide water but I stand to argue that if it is a basic human right, all efforts must be made to ensure that people access clean, safe and affordable water. It is also important Mr. President that in the provision of clean and safe drinking water, we also look at vulnerable groups of our communities.
There is talk in Zimbabwe where we are going to introduce prepaid meters for water. With this subject which is before us, I question whether it is the right approach to providing safe and clean drinking water. In Harare just to make an example, we have areas like Mabvuku and Tafara that have never known running tap water. We also have areas like Mt Pleasant and Greystone Park where people survive on borehole water. However, what is surprising is that people are asked to pay levies for the boreholes and yet people are trying to provide some form of water for the communities. I want to argue that it is time that we looked at possible ways of ensuring that people access water.
If we look at what happened in 2007 and 2008, there was a serious catastrophe in Harare in terms of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Maybe it was a question that we did not look at providing clean water and we should have learnt lessons from that experience. I also want to say we need to pass legislation that will ensure that we look at water provision without really looking at the budget per se, where we are going to say we do not have the money but we have to save lives. It is critical that money must be found so that we provide sufficient clean drinking water.
We have been talking about the Zambezi Water Project and my question is what have we done about it? We have areas that are always dry and the Zambezi Water Project has remained a pipe dream. I think we should be serious as Government that we provide water as a basic human right and we cannot continue saying we have no resources. Let us create resources for it. We also have wetlands where we have discovered that people have been parceling out land. We have areas like Belvedere where a business enterprise was built. What happened? Is this not a benefit to just a few individuals or an individual rather than protecting our wetlands? It is important that as we look at the provision of water and legislation, we are looking at the global problem rather than looking at individuals who actually just benefit.
Last but not least Mr. President, as parliamentarians we need a lot of research and I think it is important that our Clerks here are also trained so that they do help us in coming up with policies, priorities and experiences which we can use in terms of providing clean drinking water. We are now told there is going to be El Nino; one of the worst in the past 18 years. What are we doing as a nation in terms of preparation? At Kariba, we are told that there is only 1% of water that can be used in terms of electricity generation. This is all about water and my worry is that we may not be planning sufficiently. This is why I talked about a lot of research and preparedness so that once we are talking about provision and accessing of water, we do that, bearing in mind that we have a section in the Constitution that calls upon us to ensure that we have water for irrigation, domestic consumption and water that can sustain people’s lives. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. HLALO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 24th November, 2015.
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on great strides made by Government in raising literacy rates in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. GOTO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 24th November, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
SENATOR CHIMBUDZI: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 24th November, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: I move that the debate do
now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MASUKU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 24th November, 2015.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE
LECTURES ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have
to re-read the information I gave you earlier on that those who registered for a course on Community Development with the Women’s University in Africa, that the venue has now been moved to the Senate Chamber.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: On a point of order Mr. President. Are we not going back to Questions Without Notice.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: We
have already passed that one; that will be for next week.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR LIAISING
ON PSYCHOMOTOR ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION (HON. SEN.
HUNGWE), the Senate adjourned at Fourteen Minutes past Three o’clock p.m until Tuesday, 24th November, 2015.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 24th November, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
INVITATION TO A CATHOLIC SERVICE
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I wish to inform
the Senate that there will be a Catholic Service tomorrow, the 25th November, 2015 at 1200 hours in the Senate Chamber. All members who are Catholics and even those who are non Catholics are invited.
INVITATION TO A POST BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I also wish to
inform the Senate that all members are invited to a Post-Budget Seminar which will be held on Monday, 30th November, 2015 at Pandhari Hotel from 0830 hours to 1300 hours. Buses to Pandhari Hotel will leave Parliament Building at 0745 hours.
MOTION
DECLINING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House :-
CONCERNED about the socio – economic conditions in the nation which are a direct result of;
- A heavily underperforming agricultural sector;
- A collapsed and continually collapsing industrial sector;
- Unchecked corruption perpetrated at the higher echelons of society;
NOTING that there have been no concerted and consistent efforts over the past 20 years to stem economic decline, except during the brief period of the Inclusive Government, inspite of the numerous economic blueprints produced by Government including ZIM ASSET;
WORRIED about the looming food shortages especially in the southern and eastern regions as a result of inter alia, continued poor performance in the agricultural sector;
ALARMED by the number of organisations, including the private sector, parastatal and Government itself, that are either downsizing or downright closing down;
FURTHER CONCERNED about the collapse of the formal sector
and close to total substitution of this sector by the informal sector;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon Government to;
- Convene a national stakeholders Indaba to address these critical national economic challenges;
- Stop high level corruption which will emasculate recovery programmes;
- Make concerted efforts to resuscitate international FDI and domestic investment to jump start the economy; and
- Improve domestic productivity through export incentive and productivity based remuneration.
HON. SEN. HLALO: I second.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity. First of all, I would like to thank this House for giving me the opportunity to debate this motion. I think it is a critical motion. It is about the Zimbabwe of yesterday, today and of the future. It is not good Madam Chair that every day you read in the international …
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I am not Madam
Chair. I am not chairing a Committee.
HON. SENATOR B. SIBANDA: Madam President, forgive me.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Aiwa,
kungofundisana.
HON. SENATOR B. SIBANDA: Okay. Every day you read
international and local news, our economy is described variously as comatose, in a tailspin state or in limbo and this is not good for our ears and minds. We would derive better pride if our economy was described in different terms. In terms of our Constitution, Chapter 2, Section 13,
(1) (a) to (c), the onus to lead this country economically is placed on the leadership of the country. Therefore, all of us have singularly an important role to play with regard to our economy.
I for one, measure the competence of leadership on the basis of its ability to satisfy the economic needs or the economic well-being of its citizens. If we look at the development of economic policy in Zimbabwe, you will note that over the past 35 years, we have had ten economic policy frameworks starting in 1980 up to the present time when we are dealing with ZIM ASSET. What I observe is that none of these frameworks have been particularly successful and I am concerned why out of ten economic policy frameworks, we have had limited success. I think later, we will find the answer to this argument.
I am particularly interested in agriculture. We feed our people through agriculture. We have also accepted that we are an agricultural based economy. We may not share the same views on why Zimbabwe
should be agriculturally based in the 21st century, but that is a fact. I feel that we should be graduating towards an industrial economy, looking at our natural endowment. If we look at maize Madam President, we have in the history of this country been able to achieve 2.2 million tonnes of maize and today, if my statistics are correct, we are hovering around one million tonne figure. I am saying that is a challenge that as the leadership of this country, we should be looking at and asking ourselves the question why. I have had various explanations about the drought and other factors. My argument is that Zimbabwe should not starve unless we have had three consecutive years of drought and our dams are running dry.
Secondly, I think Zimbabwe should have the capacity from a manpower point of view, to marshal all the resources at its disposal to avert hunger within a limited period. The biggest challenge lies in the sense that traditionally, 90% of our maize output has come from the rural areas. The rural areas have grown in terms of size after the land distribution effort. However, productivity has not grown in proportion to the level of land distribution. It therefore says there is a question as to what is going wrong. If we look at wheat for example, which is an important element for the feeding of this nation, productivity has declined from at one stage, a peak of around 300 000 tonnes to as low as plus or minus 70 000 tonnes. Once again, I raise the question, what has gone wrong? You will also notice that small grains have hardly changed in terms of the level of production. They have remained small and insignificant. I also think that there are areas that would benefit from a sustenance point of view if both the acreage and the output from small grains increased.
Having talked about crops, I would like to move to livestock which is an important element for the African person in terms of economic survival. Our people value their livestock. It is these elements that are a source of pride, livelihood and a source of income for them. Regrettably, the cattle population in this country has not increased significantly. The lowest we ever had was around three million and has stabilized around to 5.1 million as of now. What is of concern however is that the quality of the cattle that we have has on average depreciated largely due to factors that we can control. I think if we invested effort in managing the cattle herd per area, it would increase both the quality and numbers of the cattle.
I think that we need to invest more in strategic planning in terms of our agriculture in order to ensure that there is growth in all the various agricultural elements. What disturbs me in general in all these facets is that instead of registering growth, except in very minor areas, in the majority of areas, we are registering a decrease and what that says is, we are not moving forward as a nation in terms of increasing our wealth.
Maybe to go back to livestock to just illustrate a point, what is affecting us is largely the birth rate in our cattle. It is also the high mortality rate. I am told that we should actually be aiming at 2 to 3% mortality rate per 100 but we are in excess of that to the extent of 4, 5 or 6% in terms of mortality rate. There is also overgrazing, which we tend to shy from. I do not know the reasons but I hope we are not associating reduction in cattle volumes with the colonial period where we resisted to our best ability, the call to reduce cattle population. We should be doing that now in order to produce a better cow that fetches an exciting market price. The other challenge is lack of finance. Our history has it that if you want your agriculture to be successful you have got to ensure that there is in place affordable finance which farmers can access largely with the support of Government.
The last challenge I want to look at is that the breeding stock in this country has declined. Some of it due to the factors that I have mentioned and other factors also do come in due to the way that the breeding stock was depleted during the land re-distribution exercise. Coming from the southern area, I would say that the amount of investment that Government has put into growing crops is disproportionate to the amount of investment that Government has directed towards the breeding of cattle. I urge that Government considers that a good proportion of, sometimes the inputs is directed towards the development of the cattle industry, together with the cropping industry.
I have mentioned before that generally we find excuses for the state of agriculture but I think we should focus on this. If our dams have water, we have no reason to starve. Secondly, I believe that there are millions of litres of water that go into the Indian Ocean. I do not see why we should donate that water to the Indian Ocean because it belongs to us. If somebody has not taken it before we do, we must increase the size of our dams or the number of our dams.
Again, irrigation infrastructure is derelict with the onset of the drought in the various years that we see these days. It is critical that we focus on irrigation. Unless we focus on irrigation, I think we are doomed for the future. I also think that we have stuck to the traditional methods of farming for far too long. It is important that if Israel can produce enough food to feed itself in the desert, I do not see how and why Zimbabwe should starve in the face of the plentiful water that we have.
Another point that I want to raise is the development of human capital relating to agriculture. We have lost a lot of skills because people have emigrated. I also think we have got a residue of human capital in this country but we need to utilize that human capital to the extent that it can add value to our agricultural processes. I therefore suggest that we revisit our deployment of agricultural officers, both in the rural and resettlement areas. I am sure that once we have a full stomach, as a people, we can then look at our industrial set up.
I think our problems started in the 1980s and 1990s when there was over concentration of power in Harare and firms moved away from places like Bulawayo to Harare, thus rendering a place like Bulawayo an industrial graveyard, whereas it used to be the industrial hub when we used to call it Kontuthu ziyatunqa. The first thing you met as you drove or walked into Bulawayo was the smoke generated by industry. Now, we do not have that. Bulawayo is a sleeping giant and in effect, it is sad to walk through the industrial sites of Bulawayo, which also applies to the industrial sites in Harare. They are in a sad state.
Secondly, there have been negative developments since we are classified as a high risk nation. I think to some extent we have contributed to that. There is also unavailability of finance and when it becomes available, it is expensive. I continue to argue that in an economy that is growing at about 1.5% and that economy borrows at anything between 18% and 25%, business will continue to be relatively an unviable adventure. I also seriously think that the indigenisation business model needs revisiting. I am not against indigenization but I think our model does not work. There are models in Kenya and other countries that we can visit, study and derive informed decisions.
I cannot escape mentioning the role of corruption. Once people label you as a corrupt nation, it is both an embarrassing and painful label but worse still it drives away investment. I for one, have believed that we need to deal violently with corruption, not violently in the negative sense but in other words, let us deal strongly with corruption and it will open some investment gates. It will treat our liquidity challenges.
Lastly, in terms of enhancing our industrial performance, I would urge Government to ensure that there are no internal Government contradictions in terms of policy. There are of course some elements that are not within our ability to control in terms of the industrial base and those may include capital; we do not have our own capital. We have allowed our machinery to be antiquated. If you visit other productive centres, in fact maybe in the same industry, you will find that there is a huge difference between the quality of the industrial machinery that we are using. We are still using some hand driven machines, maybe four or five centuries after the industrial revolution elsewhere.
There is also the challenge from imports; imports have deflated our ability to produce, our ability to be competitive in our own market and I believe Madam President that necessary steps have been taken to curtail the negative impact of imports. One other thing that was within our ability to control was inflation, particularly in the 2008/2009 period when we were rendered - I do not know whether to call it the best inflation rate in the world or the worst inflation rate in the world, which killed everything that we had.
Currently, Madam President, I understand and I think I know that the business confidence index is as low as 30% and similarly the capacity utilization in our firms is as low as around 30%. It is totally uneconomical to run industry at that level. One indicator of the state of our economy is the stock exchange which generated only 12.8 million turnover in the past month – which is way, way below the 50 millions that we have heard of before.
Lastly but not least in terms of our constraints are the challenges associated with energy. We have no energy in the country, we are ambitious to turn around our industrial fortunes, and the big question is how do we do it? Once again people are coming in, they are trying to look for opportunities to generate electricity but that is too late. Each time I think about our economy, I say sometimes we behave like a driver who is tired and asleep. It is when his car hits the dust road, the dust side of the tarred road that he will wake up, it is too late. Two things will happen; you can wake up and control your vehicle and the other option is you wake up and you land on the stones. I therefore, urge that we have strategic plans as a nation in order to deal with various things that can happen in our history. How do we tackle these challenges? I know that as Zimbabweans we sometimes do not always want to consult each other. A bit of history teaches us that whatever the level of conflict or the level of misunderstanding, you end up at the table.
The liberation war ended up at the table at Lancaster House. The conflict in the 1990s ended up with Zimbabweans talking to each other. I therefore, urge that we seriously consider having our own internal detent not a political detent but a national detent where we are going to say we are in crisis, we must accept the state in which we are as an economy. We must sit down as say, we are Zimbabweans, we have a country, we have an economy to preserve, how do we move forward?
That is one suggestion Madam President.
Secondly, I have already referred to corruption; I think we need to take more robust attitude against corruption. Thirdly, I think we need to get rid of all the road blocks that will block people from refraining from being eager to invest in our country. It may be as we have said corruption; it may be anything else that makes us to be perceived as negative.
Last but not least, one of our problems which stretches from agriculture to the manufacturing sector is poor productivity. I happen to know and have attempted to work with the productivity center in Zimbabwe. We have a productivity centre here which we have set up and failed to develop. I believe that when we increase our production to maximum levels per unit or per time unit, it is then that we are going to reap positive benefits from our attempt for economic revival.
Madam President, I think that economics deserves that we shelve politics as a priority and focus on economics as a priority for a limited space of time. It is my view that if we spend four years between the elections focusing on economics and one year focusing on our politics, we would achieve better results than we have so far achieved. At this point, Madam President, I thank the Senate for listening and I thank you for the opportunity. Thank you.
HON. SENATOR HLALO: Thank you Madam President for
giving me this opportunity to also weigh in on what Senator B. Sibanda has just put across to the Senate. This is something which is a concern to me when we look at the state of our economy which is not doing well. What we need to do is to look at how best it is that we can make amendments to whatever is needed for the economy to move forward. When the economy is not doing well, it means we have less people who are employed by the economy. We should look at what exactly is the problem with the economy? The first thing I look at is the level of our foreign direct investment are very low as compared to what is happening in other SADC countries. This is a concern because if we do not do something, it means that all these things will carry on as they would be. So, we need an intervention and intervening is looking at how we can attract foreign direct investment. We should look at how other countries
do it.
When I am talking about this, the first thing which comes into my mind is that, there is this animal which is called NEPAD, an acronym for New Partnership for Africa Development. This is a project which was initiated by the former South African President Mr. Thabo Mbeki. It was something which we should have taken upon ourselves that we embraced it because as you know South Africa, of late it is now the second biggest economy after Nigeria but all this time South Africa was the biggest economy. If we go back to history, Zimbabwe was the second I think biggest business partner to South Africa, which meant that there was a lot of volume of business which was coming through from that area.
You then see that our handicap or rather something which makes us not want to participate is that there is something in NEPAD which they call peer review. Peer review is something which you voluntarily put yourself to that you are going to put yourself to be examined how you conduct yourself in terms of governance, your corruption levels et cetera. So, I think that it is the Government’s duty that we should offer ourselves to this peer review so that we can also participate in NEPAD.
There is another project which is also called AGOA which is very far and this is to do with trading with America but then we should start at home and home is NEPAD. So, unless and until we start looking in that direction that we offer ourselves for peer review, we can be putting all these other schemes to no avail because there is no country which can operate on its own. Even the oil rich countries find that they need to operate with other countries for the sake of getting more volume of business. So for us, I think that it is necessary that as we move forward, that we also put ourselves to the scrutiny of peer review to see how other countries are doing so that as these investments open up. Obviously the economy grows and when the economy grows, the cake grows also, which then it can be able to come down to almost everyone who wishes to partake in business. I think that this is where we should be looking at.
When we do this, it might help us deal with the corruption which is endemic in our country. Those people who would be charged with seeing to it that we put ourselves under scrutiny of NEPAD will have to work hard to deal with the corruption which is the problem. There is a corruption index which any business person who wants to come into your country looks into to see how we fare in that area. If our score is very low, investors tend not to want to come. This is an important object which we should be looking at and also attempting to deal with.
So with these few words Mr. President, I would want to thank the House for listening to me and also hope that we make moves towards engaging ourselves in that direction.
HON. SEN. CHIPANGA: Mr. President, I rise to make my contributions to the motion moved by Hon. Sen. B. Sibanda, seconded by Hon. Sen. Hlalo. This is an indeed very important motion in that it is one motion which in the past few months has attempted to look at the economy of our country. But, the few concerns that I have are that we seem to be debating as people who do not live in this country. We are talking about the decline in the number of livestock in this country, the decline in the quality of the livestock in this country. We also are talking about the flight of human capital from this country as if we were writing a thesis from some remote university in the Pacific Islands.
Mr. President, we all know that the biggest problem – and I am happy that the mover has indicated and touched on a number here where he says confidence in this country has gone down to 30%. I think this is where we want to start from. Why is it that there are no investors coming into this country? Why has confidence gone down to those who want to come and invest in this country? That is where we want to start from and when was this? To start talking about encouraging investors, like I said that it is like people who are not here. We all know that everyone including the Americans, the British and so on is rushing to get foreign investors in their countries. We have seen not so long ago the
British Prime Minister courting the Indians to go and invest in the UK.
We have seen a number of delegations going to the Capital City of China to try and woo the Chinese to go and invest in Europe. In other words, we are all competing for one small cake that is a small number of investors who should come in and invest not only in Zimbabwe.
South Africa is in a similar situation. Those who read the economies of our countries will know that for instance, South Africa is now in a serious situation where companies are also folding, where unemployment is rising. This is where I then say, what is it that we want to talk about rather than simply saying it is the duty of the Government to ensure that the economy is put right.
I suppose the point the mover is trying to drive is what he calls the national indaba. Mr. President, from 2009 to 2013 we had a Government of National Unity and I am not sure whether we need a better and bigger indaba than that one. I am not sure. Where all the best brands were brought from all the political parties, where the Ministry of
Public Service, Labour and Social Services, the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development, the Ministry of Energy and Power
Development, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development were given to a party that is now saying the Government is not doing enough. A party that is now saying since 1980 we have seen a lot of blue prints, we have seen a lot of documents which have come to no avail; it is the same people who are now saying we need another indaba. I think there is something wrong. We need to address the issue and say where is it? When did it start?
I just want to remind this honourable Senate, that our problem started when we embarked on the Land Reform Programme. That is where the problem started from. If anyone wants to critisise the Government, they should simply come up and say you went wrong when you decided to take that which was yours to yourselves. Then, you can agree because that is when the problem started.
Mr. President, to say the indigenisation model is wrong; I do not know what we are talking about. It could be a question of implementation. Who in this world would say they want a situation where the entire economy is controlled by foreigners. I can tell you, Mr. President, that there are certain industries even in the United Kingdom and the United States where the Government simply says ‘no thank you’, but we are saying, let us share in those areas which we know are mainly to do with mining because nobody has ever said, for all I know, that if anyone wants to come and open a bookshop we want 51% from them. What we are saying is that there are certain areas where we should share. If that is what you call a wrong model, then I do not know what the correct model is.
Corruption - nobody in this world or in this Senate would endorse corruption. I repeat, nobody. Let me also say there is no one single country that is corruption free. I am not condoning corruption, but I am saying instead of turning to say corruption in this country is in the higher echelon of Government as if it is only concerned with those who are in Government or higher echelon of Government, I think that it is wrong.
Let us come with ideas and views.
I know there have been views here that no one has been arrested for corruption, which is totally wrong. I have tried to give names of those who were arrested in this country for corruption, but because at that time, some of you were not interested in politics. You simply say it did not happen. Not so long ago, we had people who were arrested at the Harare International Airport for corruption and their cases are still pending. In the 1980s, we had Ministers who were alleged to have been involved in corruption and they were fired from Government. The
Government is still concerned with corruption.
Corruption, Mr. President, the one problem that I would want us to understand from today is that it is one and the only crime in this world where both the corrupted and the corrupter are in the same bottle. Because they are on the same side, it is therefore difficult for the police, even the best police you have in the world, to deal with such a case. Cases are easy to detect and prosecute where you have one person who has been cheated and the other one complaining for having been cheated, but where people agree to do the wrong thing, it is difficult. It then remains to us as leaders, to come up with ideas and views on how to curb corruption.
Rather than simply saying we know there is corruption, where is it and who is corrupt? When someone drives their nice car, they are corrupt. Some people are working hard to earn what they have but of course, like I said, there is no one country that does not have people who are corrupt. So, as leaders, we need to address the issue from that angle; how do we stamp out corruption in our country rather than make allegations about other people who are corrupt.
Mr. President, I have already alluded to the issue of indaba and I have indicated how an attempt was made when a Government of National Unity was put together in 2009. I saw somewhere where it said during that period 2009/2013, there was some improvement in the economy. Only those of us who are politicians and maybe historians would buy that point. The truth of the matter is the economy improved during this period because of the introduction of the United States dollar or multicurrency. That is the only reason. There were no new industries which were established during this period and I challenge anybody to come up with companies that were either resuscitated or were formed during this period. What simply happened was that there was some stabilisation in the economy. Inflation came down, prices of commodities came down and when that happens, it does not mean that the economy is growing. It simply means that there is stabilisation in the economy. When you have such a temporary stabilisation, there will come a time when it comes to a point where the prices either begin to rise or fall. It cannot be sustainable. For starters, the currencies that we are using today are not ours because the US dollar is from America.
What happens is that the Reserve Bank has now become one of those banks, whereas in economic terms, the Reserve Bank should have been the bank that would make sure that there is stability in the movement of currency.
In other words, when there is no money in the economy, they will print some more money or reduce or increase interest rates. That is how they work to ensure that there is always money in the economy. When the money is not yours, you cannot increase interest rates, neither can you reduce it. You cannot even print the money because the currency is not yours. If and whenever you will establish your indaba, what we want to address in this regard is the issue of currency. I know it will be fool hardy for me to stand up and say time has come when we should start looking at the re-introduction of the Z$ because nobody will support me, but it will be worth Mr. President, that as leaders, some people would call us vanasorojena, the senior Members of Parliament. We should start looking at ways of ensuring that the economy of this country is put right, not by shouting or by making accusations. There should come a time and I agree, when we should put our heads together as leaders and say, where are we going?
As long as we turn to make accusations and allegations, I can assure you that we will not go anywhere. Allegations like the Government has been in power for this long and all we have seen is about 10 economic blueprints and nothing more. Surely, there is no one Government, in the world that does not come up with ideas. Some of the ideas fail and some of them succeed. If the Government had not introduced even a single economic blueprint, I am sure we should have been saying in this country, what are they doing? They spend most of their time drinking tea and doing nothing but, here we are. Every effort is being made to try and correct the economy of this country. I believe it is time that we look at our issues and start critising the Government without offering ideas.
Mr. President, let me end up by saying …
HON. SENATOR S. NCUBE: On a point of order Mr. President.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON.
SEN. TAWENGWA: What is your point of order Hon. Sen. Ncube?
HON. SENATOR S. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. President. I think the Hon. Senator’s time has expired.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: No, it
has not yet expired. He still has three minutes to go.
HON. SENATOR CHIPANGA: It is just a warning, when the
light comes on, that one is showing that I still have five minutes to go. Sorry, time yangu yaakutopedzeswa manje. Mr. President, let me end up by saying, nobody is opposed to the idea of NEPAD, luring in foreign investment in this country and nobody is opposed to stamping out corruption, but what we need to do is to look at the issues objectively without pointing fingers because the moment you do that, then human beings being human beings, there will be some resistance. I thank you –
[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
HON. SENATOR MARAVA: Thank you Mr. President. I also
wish to thank the mover and the seconder of this very important motion.
The way I understood the mover and the seconder when they debated this motion - they were talking about an economic indaba; hence, the Hon. Member spoke of reducing the time on political talk and increase or transfer that time to economic talk, which is a very noble idea for our country – [ HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- We cannot indicate right and turn left because the whole world is looking at us. We cannot pretend to be hiding behind our fingers because fingers are not big enough to create the shed that we can hide in. Completely, no one is yearning or hungry for another GNU. No one is feeling orphaned by the departure or the expiry of the GNU. It brought its good things and its beautiful and tangible fruits that we all touched. It brought its wealth to the citizens of Zimbabwe, some of who had not tested bread for 30 years and now for the first time, children of Zimbabwe were able to buy four loaves of bread for $1. That is something we must be proud of because it was achieved by Zimbabweans alone.
When Zimbabweans sat down and solved their problems, they agreed that they could not kill their grand children with hunger. That is the only time that this country realised that inflation could fall from one million per cent to 1%. We are still there – around 2% to 3%. That was brought by the GNU and that GNU had the best brains like the Hon. Member has said. He correctly said the GNU had the best brains in the country. Very good and thank you very much. It really had the best brains in our country and we pulled them together to fight one common enemy which is poverty – [AN HON. MEMBER: And what did you achieve?] – What we have achieved is that people are still building right now from the residues that were left by GNU. People are still eating, we still have a bit and people are clothed. We still have clothes and even the Hon. Members are looking very smart. It was difficult Mr. President for them to dress properly – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
I remember Mr. President in 2009 – 2010 when we went to a seminar at the Rainbow Towers and we were taught on how to dress. They did not know what dark and light colours are for and what colours are wanted in Parliament. They did not know that. Even the ladies were taught how to dress and that was all the benefits of the GNU. Mr.
President, for anybody in this country to stand and say GNU did not bring anything, that person, I want to tell you that nobody must think that he/she is hiding in this building. The people out there are hearing you and the people out there know that GNU brought something – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – The people out there know how good GNU was and they are hearing us right now and we must walk with them. When things are alright, we must say things must work with them. When things are alright, we must say things are fine in our country. When things are bad, we must agree and say things are bad in our country. We cannot sweep corruption off the ground because it is not something small but something very big. We have got hundreds of convicts who are walking out there free. Mr. President, we once asked a question in this House on why these people who are caught after misusing millions of dollars are still walking scot free? The answer we got from a certain Minister was, we will be waiting for a complainant to come and yet thousands of people would have lost their jobs on a clean job, which will have been seen by Government auditors who know that a company cannot survive if it bleeds to that extent.
Mr. President, we have been talking about indigenization, no-one is against the point of indigenising or empowering our Zimbabweans. It would only be a fool who would go against indigenization but you will also be a fool to go and encourage thieving in the name of indigenization. You would also be a fool to go and encourage the tall people to enslave the shorter people and take their wealth because they are taller. No, that will not be accepted by anyone. We are all crying that we are competing for a few investors whom we are trying to lure to come to us. Countries such as Russia, Jamaica, America, Botswana and Mozambique who we are asking to come and invest in Zimbabwe. We are luring a small niche of rich people who have their own wealth. Which fool amongst those people will ever agree to come and lose 51% of his shares the moment he drops off at the Zimbabwe airport? The moment he lands at the airport, he loses 51% of his hard earned wealth. No-one will do that. So, we can kiss foreign investment goodbye as long as our ….
HON. SEN. MAWIRE: On a point of order Mr. President. Can Hon. Marava withdraw the word fools? We are not fools, we are human beings here and we are all adults here. He should not take us like his children. He is insulting us.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT (HON. SEN. CHIEF
CHARUMBIRA): Senator Marava, if you used the word fool, that is un-parliamentary and it should be withdrawn.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Mr. President, I withdraw the word fool
and I will use the word naughty. I was actually referring to the investors when I said, who would be out of his senses to come to Zimbabwe to lose 51% of his hard earned money and not to the Parliamentarians.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT: Can you repeat the
statement using the non derogatory word?
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Thank you Mr. President. It would be a naughty person who would want to come to Zimbabwe and lose his 51% and end up with 49% of his investment. It would indeed be foolishness to lose what you have hard earned.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT: Order, Sen. Marava, I think
there are certain words or language that is just un-parliamentary whether you are talking of the investor or Parliamentarians.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Thank you Mr. President, they would only be unreasonable people. Only unreasonable people would come and ….
HON. SEN. MASUKU: On a point of order, this is an honourable
House where we have to demonstrate that we are Hon. Members.
[HON. SEN. MARAVA: Inaudible interjection]
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT: Order Senator Marava, you
may then forfeit the floor if you continue with such behaviour.
HON. SEN. MASUKU: I was saying this is an honourable House and we should demonstrate that we are Hon. Members. We would love to see Hon. Members debating without emotions so that such unparliamentary words are not used in this House. Can we maintain our honorable dignity?
HON. SEN. MARAVA: Thank you Mr. President, I am now using the word unreasonable. Only unreasonable so called investors may come to Zimbabwe to lose 51% of their hard earned cash. Some of us are used to speaking loudly because we were teachers before. Teachers have to raise their voices in order to be heard by those students who will be far from the teacher. So, if we deal with our own in-house issues, definitely – you remember very well Sir, when Zimbabweans would not pick up a rand if they saw it on the ground. They would say handinonge zuda because our economy was very strong.
We should also know by now what it means to attain the age of majority. When one has attained that age, they are supposed to look after themselves and be able to survive. That is why we say 18 years is the age of majority and we let our children go free into the world and learn to fend for themselves. That is exactly the same with Zimbabwe. We are now 35 years old and we cannot be heard crying and pointing fingers at other countries. We should be strong and learn to stand on our own feet. Every year we celebrate independence, which means growth in age. We must now fend for ourselves. If anybody slaps us with sanctions, we should slap back and not be cry babies all the time. If we are cry babies at the age of 50 years, then something is wrong. If we do not correct that wrong thing, it means we will have to suffer for a very long time. So, I just want to say to the lovely Hon. Members in this House, the more we unite and scold the evil doers or the evil things together, I know we can do it. The same way we are all now shouting about corruption. Everybody now is shy to be on corruption’s side and I like that. Although some are still supporting quietly, it is fine because no one is preaching the gospel of corruption now. We like that.
What is left for us is to fight the one common enemy, which is poverty. If we live in poverty, our children and our great, great grandchildren will laugh at us. They will ask what we were doing and yet this country is good and the economy can be resuscitated. I know it can be revived, otherwise we would not be here by now. I think we should try even harder though we think we have tried. We have not yet started; we must start with being honest and have real love for each other as Zimbabweans. We will be alright and now, if you look at our economy Mr. President, I know we have done our very best and some of us are crying for our Zimbabwean dollar which is a very good thing that we have our own currency. If we have our own currency, we can print it the way we want and we can use it the way we want. We forget one thing that our currency has to be measured with our productivity.
The money that we print has to be balanced with what we produce.
Even this US dollar, you can see, it is starting to disappear and why? The reason it is disappearing is that we have been very careful about managing the inflows of the US dollar and when it goes out, we do not care where it goes and we do not care whether it will come back or not. This is the time we have been given and that we should have worried about making sure that our US dollar comes back - we have prepared what to sell so that we can also demand. We should have created madebtors so that we are creditors who are paid in US dollar.
Imagine Mr. President, the debtors are not there, we are not selling anything. We are only getting monies from our toll gates and the issue of toll gates is alright because we have to pay. It is high time we worry about real production because even manufacturing costs – we have now forgotten of manufacturing in this country. Nothing is being manufactured, nothing is being imported for resale, and nothing is done properly so that we can be sure of incoming revenue into the country. The country is crying for revenues, we can do a lot and we can export a lot and we can expect a lot and create our own debtors and build our own economy. I want to thank you Mr. President.
HON. SENATOR CHIMHINI: Thank you very much Mr.
President. I stand to support the motion moved by Hon. B. Sibanda. I think as mature people we should face the reality. For anybody to think this motion is targeting somebody, I think it is misdirection. We are debating a serious motion. It is a fact that in this country the economy is collapsing and we are saying as senior citizens what is it that we should do? So, the first thing we must agree upon is that we need a political will and it is the duty of everybody to talk about the problems we are facing and talk about solutions because we have the solutions – [HON.
SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –
Every time if we listen to the media, we have so many analysts, economists, the question is, are we putting them to good use? Let us create an opportunity where they can contribute positively so that we resuscitate the economy of this country. It is not a blame game, we should not be pointing fingers at anybody but say and agree that we have a problem as a country then let us look for solutions to those problems –
[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –
We all talk about natural resources which we have in this country. Why are we a poor country with all the resources? If we are a rich country in terms of resources, why are we failing to turn those resources into an economic giant that can make lives better for everybody? Why do we have vendors today? We need to ask ourselves. Why have we failed? Is it because of the sanctions people want to talk about? It is simply that we have failed as a country and we have failed altogether, we now want to get a solution and we must be debating how to get out of this quandary.
I think time is gone where we must pretend the GNU really made a difference, it is a fact and for somebody to say we learnt nothing, we never benefited, I think it is misdirection. What the mover is proposing is that when he talks about the Indaba, let us sit down and discuss the problems in an objective manner. He is not calling for another GNU but we are not hiding behind another GNU and we are saying what did you do? You had all the economic ministries, what did you do? We did a lot or the MDC did a lot, it is a fact. So, I stand to support the motion and propose that we need to sit together as a nation, discuss the problems in an objective manner, get solutions in an objective and can move this country forward. I thank you Mr. President.
+ HON. SENATOR A. SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. President. I
would like to add my voice on the motion that was raised by Senator B. Sibanda and seconded by Senator Hlalo. As a nation or citizens of this important country, with well educated people and well balanced economy but we do face hunger sometimes. We are a nation that is well educated and we have people who sell airtime, tomatoes and all those are people who are degreed. Therefore, this motion was moved not as a way of blaming anyone. When I was listening to the mover of the motion, he said we as Zimbabweans not pointing to an individual.
The problem that we are facing, we are facing it as a nation not as individuals and as a nation we know that this nation had very good economy. People used to work very hard. I love all fellow Zimbabweans as they work so hard regardless of how difficult the situation or the circumstances are. We realise that most people love Zimbabweans for example South Africans – most of the workers whom you find in the farms in South Africa are Zimbabweans. Most of the people who are working so hard in South Africa are Zimbabweans and sometimes I get disappointed when I look at how the South Africans treat Zimbabweans. I know if Zimbabweans move out of South Africa for example in Hillbrow, that is the time they will realise it was important to treat Zimbabweans well.
What we want as a nation is for people who migrated to other countries to come back. As Zimbabweans who are mature, especially people from this Senate, we should take note that our economy is going down. As Senators we should not disagree that our economy is doing badly and even the Minister of Finance and Economic Development has highlighted that. He has written even in the newspapers that our economy is performing badly. As Senators we are therefore saying, it is our wish that we could earn a better salary. When you go to other countries, other Members of Parliament are proud of what they are earning for example US$13 000 or US$7 000. When you look at our situation and when we ask the Minister to review our salaries, the answer that we get is that our economy is performing badly. I would like to remind all the Hon. Senators that we are regarded as the House of people who are so mature. Let us also take into consideration some of our children who are not working because it is only the elderly people who are working. This is a question that each and every one of us should ask himself or herself that, what exactly is happening with our economy?
We should sit down as Senators and as elderly people to talk with one voice in trying to check where exactly did we go wrong or where we missed it.
As Zimbabwe, we used to be a country that was the bread basket of Africa. We never used to depend on the rand or on the pula. We are a rich country, I know about that but most of the Zimbabweans are so poor because of our poor planning. We should therefore go back to the drawing board and ask each and every one of us to try and check where exactly we went wrong and stop pointing fingers at each other. We should try to find a solution so that we can revive our economy. I know that we have people who are able to plan properly. Maybe, it is the issue of looking down upon each other which has contributed to the issue of the economy performing not so well.
I therefore urge all Hon. Members in this House to sit down and consider this issue with high priority and serious consideration so that even when we are farming, we try and use inputs that will give us good yields at the end. We should also try as Zimbabweans to show especially those that we took the land away from that we can work hard and improve our nation. We should stop being cry babies because we have everything. If you have human resources as a country, that means you are able to do everything. What we can only import is maybe, the knowledge that we can then use in trying to improve the economy of our country. We should therefore sit down as a nation and find ways of improving our economy.
I would like to again urge all the Hon. Members that as a nation, we will never improve as long as we keep on pointing fingers at each other and at the end, we will be the laughing stock of other countries. We used to be the richest country in the world and it is our wish that Zimbabwe as a nation will go back to its flying colours and all the other nations could look at us and wish they were Zimbabweans. As Zimbabwe, we realise that we are so rich and blessed because we are a country that is full of peace. The only problem that we have as a nation is drought and we should therefore take advantage of the peace which other countries do not have. As a nation, we can try to fix all the loose ends and not to wait for someone from outside the country to come and solve our problems.
At the end, the next coming generation will look at us as elders and laugh at us and say that our forefathers who are elders failed to fix our economy because they were busy pointing fingers at each other and failing to solve the problems that they had. It is my wish especially as Senators that we sit down and try to encourage Cabinet to say, let us try and change the way of looking at things so that we can improve the economy of our country. We wish that next year Hon. Members, we must be friends and not enemies so that as Senators we are able to support each other and talk with one voice. For example, if it is on an individual issue that we are talking about, yes we can use different voices. If it something that is affecting everyone in the country, we should speak with one voice and not argue. We are old enough and we are senior citizens who are supposed to work and correct everything that is wrong in our country.
Mr. President, I am therefore asking that we sit down and try to unite and work together in fighting the issue of drought. If you go outside the country and say I am a Zimbabwean, everyone would just turn and look at you for the reason that all the Zimbabweans are very poor people.
I know that even our Head of State is against even the issue of corruption. We realise that the issue of corruption has actually caused us to be almost at the bottom of all the countries and we are counted as the most corrupt country. If there is someone who is corrupt, he should be arrested and should return all the things that he stole because when you are stealing from Government, you are destroying even the future for the next generation.
Mr. President Sir, I therefore ask that we look at this motion, try to priorities it and not look at it in a way that it was raised by a member from whichever party. That way, we can be able to improve our country. I thank you Mr. President Sir.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MARAVA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
TO THE 7TH WORLD WATER CONFERENCE
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Delegation to the 7th World Water Conference.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. SEN.
SEKERAMAYI): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on great strides made by Government in raising the literacy rate of the people in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. GOTO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Forth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MABUGU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the motion that was raised by Senator Chimbudzi and was seconded by Senator Mumvuri concerning the issue of sports and the promotion of the discipline in our country.
I want to thank Senator Chimbudzi for raising this motion because sport is very important to any nation. I say this because firstly, they enhance physical fitness if one is a sports person. Secondly, they are also a form of entertainment to those who will be watching sport and thirdly, it also provides a living for those engaged in sport.
I remember one year on the issue of sports, I think I will start with soccer. There was a soccer star named George Shaya. I was still growing up and did not understand English; there was a song that was sung in English. I cannot remember whether they were saying it is your desire or what, but when we used to sing that song we used to dance to it and it was during the period when George Shaya was still a soccer star.
We used to dance to the song singing his name, George Shaya. Even my young brother also enjoyed the music and really admired him. So, the moment people heard George Shaya, they all got excited and he was a role model to most of the young people.
Now, looking at the issue of traditional dancing which was done in
Gutu, known as Mbakumba, there were expert dancers who came from Mukaro area and they used to play the drums using certain styles. Their dancing techniques were extra ordinary and we used to enjoy this. My father was a teacher at Mukaro Mission but we used to go to the rural areas from there just to go and watch the traditional dancers. So, I just want to urge the promotion of sports.
I also want to come to the issue of table tennis. When I was still growing up and was still a teenager, there was table tennis that was played at clubs. It was organised by the council. We used to enjoy table tennis because it also made us enjoy the game and we became experts. It also enhanced exercise and we were physically fit. Not like now, we are not healthy anymore. We are not physically fit because there is no exercise. Even walking is a challenge because if you walk a short distance, you end up complaining because we are not exercising. So sport is very important.
On the issue of soccer, the Warriors are doing a great job and I feel they should be supported financially so that they can engage in their sport without any worries, but because they do not have some of the resources that they need, it affects their performance. So, as
Government, I urge that we try and support the Warriors, a team that has made us proud as Zimbabwe and has proved that it is also good in soccer. If we continue to support soccer, it will lead to the development of the nation and Zimbabwe will be on the lime light.
Different sports need to be supported because if one can earn a living from sport, I feel it is important and it is a good profession. It can sustain families and also these people can engage in the different competitions in different countries, hence, improving their livelihood.
With these few words, I want to thank you Mr. President.
*THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON.
SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA): When you look at a motion, it is important to check what was raised in the motion. I am referring to those who will debate on this. This motion is talking about sports. It is not talking about traditional dance. So, traditional dance is not part of sports, just to assist those who will debate this motion. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. SENATOR
SEKEREMAYI): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 25th November, 2015.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. SENATOR SEKERAMAYI), the Senate adjourned at Eleven Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 25th November, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
WOMEN PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS GOLF TRAINING
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I
would like to inform all Women Parliamentary Caucus Members who are interested in playing golf to register their names in the Women’s Caucus Office Number 181 for training on Thursday, 26th November, 2015 at 0900 hours at Chapman Golf Club.
MOTION
DECLINING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE
COUNTRY
First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the socioeconomic conditions in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SENATOR S. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. President for
giving me time to also add my voice on the motion that was brought in this House by Hon. Senator B. Sibanda and seconded by Hon. Senator Hlalo. Those who spoke before me yesterday said it very clearly that we are not against the land that was taken from the whites, but it is about those who took the land and are not utilising it properly. That has caused hunger in the country. A lot of things are happening outside here and I always wonder in this House where Hon. Members do not say the truth.
This country has gone to its knees…
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: On a point of order Mr. President.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: What
is your point of order?
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: Mr. President, the Hon. Member
said Hon. Members do not speak the truth, which implies that Hon. Members lie. Hon. Members do not lie. May she withdraw that statement and stick to the motion?
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: We
should try not to be offensive to others. Thank you.
HON. SEN. S. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. President. I think in Shona, they say manyepo and that is the worst word. IsiNdebele sithi sona amanga and that is something simple, but when I say Hon.
Members are not saying the truth, I do not mean to say they lie…
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order,
are you discussing my ruling? Can you stick to the point that you stood to speak on. Thank you.
HON. SEN. S. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. President. I will continue but I am being compromised because I do not know where to start from now. I have to discuss in the way I am thinking because I did not insult anyone. I do not think that is the right way to debate.
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I think
if you stick to what you wanted to say at the beginning without all the other introductory issues, it will be okay.
HON. SEN. S. NCUBE: Thank you Mr. President. I want to say even a school child, a Grade 1 pupil knows that things are not okay in this country. Members always say we should not heckle each other – we should behave as Members of the august Senate because this House has people who are mature, but surely some things that we say in this House are not true. How can you run the country with people who are hungry, corrupt and given hand-outs? This country has got its own resources which are God given, but factories and companies are closing each and every day. Everybody is now a vendor.
So, I do not think we can tell the people that everything is okay yet things are bad outside there. People are failing to get even a dollar, they no longer have three meals a day. Schools are closing at 1.00 p.m. in the rural areas. Children fail to concentrate any time after 1.00 p.m. because of hunger. Mr. President, as a country, let us teach our people to fish so that they know how to fish and they can fish on their own. I thank you.
*HON. SENATOR MAKORE: I would like to thank you Mr. President, for the opportunity that you have granted me to add a few words to this motion that was raised by Hon. Sibanda and seconded by Hon. Hlalo. We are all in agreement that for our country to develop economically, we should be engaged in agricultural activities. We are also in agreement that our economy is agro-based. The motion wants us to introspect ourselves in as far as our land production or farming methods are concerned. Are we doing the right thing? This is a good motion Mr. President because if we cast our memory back, we used to see fields being irrigated if there was a drought so that we would be able to have sufficient food production.
I believe it is appropriate to ensure that we go back to the manner in which we used to have irrigation and to resuscitate our irrigation facilities. When we speak in this august House, we are not here to just throw arrows at them – we are here to remind them to advise them that for us to have sufficient food which is part of the ZIM ASSET, we need to have produced sufficient food for our nation. This motion speaks to the concern over the production coming out of agriculture. That is a result of reduced agricultural productivity and food shortages are now being experienced. As an august House, it is important for us to all appreciate that we should go back to farming. Where there is need for irrigation, there should be irrigation facilities and farmers should be able to irrigate. Any form of assistance that should be given to the farmers should be given timeously.
We have also looked at the budgets and we did say that our country should plough resources into the agricultural sector so as to enable our country to develop. We would also want the farmers to see their weaknesses so that we can work on them to improve on agriculture.
It is not only agriculture which has gone down. Even industries have collapsed. This shows that mining was employing a lot of people. We used to see this from the schools that were there to educate miners’ children. This was an industry on its own because a lot of people were into mining. Our industries have also collapsed now. This means that our children can no longer have jobs because our industry is not performing well and is not functioning at full throttle.
We are saying that as an august House, we should sit down and look at ways to improve this. We should conduct a SWOT analysis so that we know whether it is funding which is lacking or other aspects which need to be attended to. A business person emerges from being a tomato vendor up until they have grown themselves to run large entities. At that level, they will require other advisors. I believe that as we speak, we should look at the private sector to see if it still has people. Do they have the capacity to perform? We would also want to look into what their weaknesses are, so that Government can bolster that.
We are the Government; we are not insulting each other but calling a spade a spade. We need, as Members of this august House, to have a vision. It is us who should be able to enjoy our independence when our children work and those that are enjoying themselves should really do so because we have independence and freedom. Freedom without food is not enjoyable because you find that children are stealing from one another. We now have a glut of thieves.
Corruption is another issue that also has to be borne in mind as a result of such a society. Children are educated, they have gone to universities but they have no work. We have almost 17 universities producing children. Recently, the President capped 2030 graduates. Once you have produced such graduates, they do not have jobs because there is no industry. This causes brain drain as some go to South Africa, America, Britain and develop other countries. As we speak, at my home is only myself and my wife. All our children have left and we now have an empty nest. We need our children to be with us here. When we send them out to schools to learn, we would want them to develop our
country but because of the lack of industries, the educated children would want to get jobs and start their own families well.
Lastly, on corruption, it is an issue that the Anti-Corruption
Commission should work on diligently once it is in place. The Commission should not scrap on the surface. It is human nature that people do steal but stealing should not be the core business. The Commission should do its work to eradicate corruption. Section 235 of the Constitution talks of independence of commissions and if these independent commissions were to discharge their duties independently, it would be for the good of our country. No one is above the law, should you steal, you should be arrested regardless of the position or status that you hold in life because you will have committed an offence.
This country belongs to God and all of us here are waiting for the day when we are all going to die. No one lives on this planet forever. We are here to leave a good legacy for our children. If you take everything and amass a lot of wealth, what would you do with it? If you have more than enough wealth that you have amassed and you are misusing it, each and every one of us has a portion that we should enjoy from the wealth of this country and they are entitled to it. So, that is why there is this outcry on corruption because once one has stolen, he has stolen not only from an individual but from the entire country. It would be good if all the independent commissions would work independently. We have a lot of strategies and all that remains to be done is the implementation.
I would want to thank you Hon. President for the opportunity that you have granted me.
*HON. SEN. MACHINGAIFA: Thank you for granting me the
opportunity to add my voice to this motion raised by Hon. Sen. B. Sibanda and seconded by Hon. Sen. Hlalo. He touched on a lot of aspects as regards our economy and the decrease that has been experienced in the agricultural sector. I would want to say, this is an important motion but we tend to have different perspectives. Hunger comes in two forms. This country belongs to God and if there is a drought, there is nothing we can do about it. There is God’s made hunger if there is no rain and human made hunger because of laziness.
Secondly, I would want to say that we should be united as elderly people and look back on where we came from, where we are today and the future regarding this country. If it is the issue of the farms, I will say as I stand here, I started looking at it in 1965 when there was a unilateral declaration of independence by Smith when he gave farms to whites. They were given farms, motor vehicles and loans repayable in five years. That has not been extended to us as blacks. Currently, we do not have banks that are giving loans to blacks to be repaid in five years.
The current state of our economy, according to my own view is caused by illegal sanctions posed to us. The economy has gone down. We are not looking at it correctly, we are modernizing but at times some of this modernization is causing us problems; problems that we are not seeing. We used to have a Post Office and a postman, there was a person who was employed to put letters in the letter boxes. There was a post person who would deliver letters door to door and these people are now unemployed.
Going further, I would say that the leader of this country His Excellency the President, Cde Robert Mugabe, the Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces and Leader of the Government, has categorical stated on numerous occasions that as blacks we do not have problems because we have two homes. If you are in town, you work in town and have a house there and we have a home in the rural areas. If you have problems in town you go to the rural areas where people are into farming and you go and get maize and dried vegetables and you come back to town and consume that, there is nothing new about it. Those that believe in that are living according to that line, those that refuse it are mourning.
Today, if I say that the Zimbabwean economy has gone down and that there is hunger in Zimbabwe, we become the laughing stock because the supermarkets are filled with food. I remember there was a year when there was hunger the donors came, I had differences with them because they were seeing Zimbabweans that were fat, and there was water and flora. They were wondering how they would give Zimbabweans food. I told them that it was not famine but that it was a drought, it was not anything to do with farming but it was because of the drought.
Coming back to the issue of work and economy – I once talked about the issue of the National Railways when it was the main form of transportation but now we have haulage trucks. What happened is that the railways were responsible for moving goods but they were slow. The truckers would say that they would deliver quickly and while the railways would delay, so when the railways went out of business people became unemployed because the truckers had now taken over.
I will come back to the issue why people are saying everyday jobs are being lost. True, it is because of illegal sanctions that were imposed. If Senator so and so said Senator Machingaifa has tomatoes you should not buy his tomatoes, my tomatoes will rot. So, how am I going to be able to pay my workers because there are no sales? So, companies that are producing in Zimbabwe are not exporting because of illegal sanctions. I am saying this truthfully because I am a former worker. We took over from the Smith Government. There were sanctions before and up to now we still have sanctions meant to bring Zimbabwe to its knees. We will never be brought down to our knees because we know how to bust sanctions.
Rain belongs to God, let us sit down and educate each other. We have tried to enlighten our children but our children are a different generation. They are conferred with a degree, he or she does not want to work for Zimbabwe and they go to the United Kingdom, place their degrees in the suitcase and starts sweeping the streets of London instead of working for Zimbabwe. We are producing educated doctors but they leave Zimbabwe and go and work in South Africa and Botswana. So, things are not moving well for our country. As Zimbabweans we do not love our country, we should sit down and see how best we can assist one another to emerge from these problems. We should consider how best we can engage those that called the imposition of sanctions on
Zimbabwe. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SENATOR BHOBHO: Thank you Mr. President. I want
to say a few words on the motion raised by Senator B. Sibanda and her seconder. It is good that the motion was brought into this august Senate. I see that the line of thinking is asking that as Zimbabweans we should put our heads together and think of what we should do about it as others who were supporting this motion were saying. They were saying that we should think outside the box and that we should look at our past, our present and future. It is good that the majority of the people that are in this august Senate witnessed what happened in Zimbabwe during the Smith regime and they have also witnessed the Government of President Mugabe.
Let us now then put our heads together because there is no one who is saying those that are corrupt should be exonerated, that is why people are being arrested; that is why the police are arresting these corrupt individuals. Justice has to run its full course, so if allegations are leveled against me and investigations are carried out, I am not merely sent to prison. We are unhappy that a single individual should plunder our wealth due to corrupt ways. Those that are corrupt or engage in corruption should be arrested.
Those that have educated their children and they now have an empty nest should look at ways of bringing them back into this country. We should put our heads together and think about it. We should not value the type of economy that outside countries have better than our own. In the olden days when other children would go outside the country to work, they used to send two pounds but it was powerful. The pound as it was, was very powerful but because of the depreciation of currencies worldwide, it is no longer valuable.
During those olden days it would be clearly seen that a certain family had a child abroad who was sending pounds back home. Let us stress to our children who are graduating today that life is not about going outside Zimbabwe and that good life is not out of Zimbabwe but within Zimbabwe. Let us encourage each other to talk about farming. I am happy that the previous speaker is a farmer and he advised this
Senate that there is drought and famine. For three years if I am not mistaken, we have had erratic rains. It is one of the causative agents of drought or hunger to the country. We should also not turn a blind eye to corruption. It is another issue that we should castigate. We also have brains and we should not be overrun by the corrupt individuals. There are a lot of jobs that children can look at and we want those that are educated to come and educate us.
As farmers we were given the land and it is important and better than just admiring the factories that were constructed by the whites. Our brains are important because if you look at the time when we had sanctions imposed on us, you would observe that there have been a lot of years and we have been able to survive despite those sanctions. We have been able to bust those sanctions because of our brains. A lot of people admire this country because of our President who was given the wisdom to lead this country during better and difficult times. He is a loving President who does not care about the colour, the stature and the height of a person but he loves all of the people in his country. So, let us assist him like what the previous speaker said that we are one arm of the three arms of the State. It is our duty to carry out our work as the legislature.
So, as the Legislature, we should play our part to ensure that Zimbabwe improves in terms of its wealth. This is our inheritance because the land in Zimbabwe belongs to us and the land in America does not belong to us. Let us be happy for being on our Zimbabwean soil and let us be satisfied with it and come up with programmes as we are now doing as Zimbabwean children as we look into issues of schools and farms. Everyone now wants to go into agriculture; it is God’s spirit that is saying we should assist one another as leaders of this country so that we can work with common purpose. We should not look at our differences as leaders. Before we apportion blame, let us look at ourselves and see that we also have our own problems. With that in mind, we should also be able to look at other ways to ensure that our country develops. I thank you Mr. President.
*SENATOR KOMICHI: I thank those who have debated on this
motion. Survival of the fittest is the law of the jungle. Our economy is known by everyone that it has gone down and this is supported by all the speakers that have spoken before. They have accepted that the economy has collapsed and it is actually nose-diving. We are duty bound as leaders of the country to take the responsibility for the problems that the country will be experiencing because as the economy is collapsing; it brings a lot of problems to innocent children, mothers and fathers.
Fathers also do not have the responsibility to make decisions pertaining to the economy. As the economy goes down, we observe that a lot of our children are graduates who are now street boys and girls and are suffering. Our degreed children with Masters Degrees are selling airtime and others have turned into thieves, ladies of the night or prostitutes in the avenues not because of their own volition but because of the difficulties that the economy is experiencing.
This is caused by leaders who fail to come up with conditions and policies that are conducive to the growth of the economy. Zimbabwe is endowed with national resources and has all the ingredients that can create the development of an economy.
We observed when we had the Government of National Unity and that the problem of this country is not the economy as it where but it is the politics of the country. It is the governance of the country. When we came up with some form of good governance in the GNU, the economy developed. Schools that had been closed were reopened, hospitals were reopened and transport which was non-existent was now in existence. Fathers and mothers started dressing in suits and dresses and we became happy and we were admiring each other. Our economy grew by 7 to 8% because the people had then accepted the truth and they had taken responsibility and said we should put good governance in this country as leaders.
As Zimbabweans, we should not suffer because of poverty. We should be able to practice what we have experienced. It is the politics of the country. There is no problem because we have diamonds, gold, the land, water, children, human capacity and education and as leaders if we could take up our responsibility and our economy will grow if we maintain good governance.
In Zimbabwe, anyone who is not corrupt should raise their hand because those that are supposed to arrest us are corrupt people for example what happens at roadblocks. You are supposed to be ticketed but you are asked to pay $5 and you proceed. Those that are leading investments to this country before they are bribed, they will not approve the deal because they want payback. Corruption has cost investment - for example if it was supposed to cost $10 million, because of corruption, $2 million has to be used. So, it eventually costs $12 million. Then corruption flourishes and becomes uncontrollable and it becomes a cancer. To end corruption we should make things available and make the economy grow and automatically corruption will go down because I can also come up with my own company as an investment.
But, at the moment I am unable to do that.
As Zimbabweans, we should be clear and be in the open. The problems that we have as Zimbabweans are that of governance or the leadership of this country. We think that because I, Komichi, a son of the lamb totem regardless of my failures, should continue ruling and that I should be the only one who rules this country. We should disabuse ourselves of that notion. Thirty five years of our own ruling, we should accept that we have witnessed 35 years of decline instead of 35 years of economic growth. If we agree that this country belongs to all of us as children of one person, let us accept that Senator Komichi could be a better leader tomorrow and accept that Senator Tawengwa could be a good leader tomorrow. We accept to alternate leadership depending on capacity because we saw that during the GNU. We proved that if you bring in this one and that other one, things will change. We have removed one of them and things have gone down. Let us accept the truth. We should agree that this country should be ruled by the best person at that time. If we were to do that it would be helpful.
Foreign direct investment - no one will come and invest their money in a bottomless pit. There is no one. Every person who would want to invest would want to come up with a reasonable profit. It means that anyone who has their own money can invest in any part of the world. They would look at lucrative environments where they can maximise their profits which is also conducive to…
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON.
SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA): I am advised that you are using two languages and so the Hansard recorders are having problems. So, if you use English, stick to English and if you use Shona, stick to Shona.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Sorry Mr. President, I was spoilled by the whites. When a person brings in their investment in this country they would want to reap a profit. The problem that we have is that this world is now a global village and investors can invest anywhere in the world. If you look at Zimbabwe, endowed with the minerals that we have, diamonds and gold are even found in Botswana, Mozambique and Malawi. They will come and look at a country where they can invest so that they can reap a profit. They will see that Mozambique is more attractive and Zimbabwe is left behind. We will remain with these minerals buried in the earth. If the mineral has not been mined it is valueless. Once it has been extracted and is gone for beneficiation, it is valuable to the country as is emaciated in the ZIM ASSET.
As leaders, we should come up with policies that are investor friendly. The indigenisation plan with 51% for the Zimbabweans and 49% for foreigners is bad at this period in time. It does not mean that indigenisation is a bad policy. Empowerment is not bad, but empowerment should be done and investors given the chance to come and invest. The percentages that we are asking as Zimbabwe are higher as compared to Botswana. The percentages show that this is what is prevailing in other countries in the region. So, in that regard, our laws are inferior. If we do not correct that, we will lead a nation that has mothers and fathers that are riddled with poverty. We will have thieves and corrupt children in this country and we end up looking for flimsy excuses.
We should take a position, Mr. President, that whenever we have our own elections, they should not be contested. Our elections should be plausible. They should be conducted in a free and fair manner in the eyes of the participants. Today, because of our doubtful election outcomes, those observers do not give us a clean bill of health in the conduct of elections.
We came up with a new Constitution. It was approved by everyone. Let us align our laws in this country to the Constitution. Let us practice what we preach as leaders and implement what we would have agreed to before a lot of other countries. We should not be seen as people whose word is worth nothing. We are in an age where we are a global village. We are no longer an island. There is no way we can run away from it. It is here to stay. We are interrelated, interlinked so that we are people who are progressive in future. With these words, Mr.
President, I thank you.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: I wish to join the others who have spoken before me in thanking Senator Sibanda for raising the motion that is before us and Senator Hlalo for seconding that motion. You will excuse me, Mr. President, I am going to try and be as calm as I can, but I find the subject that we are discussing very emotive. Emotive in the sense that we all know, as the people of Zimbabwe, what is good for our country. We all know across the party lines what is good for Zimbabwe, but for reasons best known to ourselves, we do the exact opposite of what we are supposed to do.
Mr. President, the people of Zimbabwe in 2012 or there-abouts, went and voted a new Constitution into place enmass. More than three million of us agreed to a set of rules by which this country should be governed. As we speak today, not even a quarter of it has actually been actualised. This is an indication of lack of political will, nothing else.
The people spoke and we are ignoring the people.
HON. SEN. MACHINGAITA: On a point of order Mr.
President. If anything which was agreed in 2012 was not done, today we are sitting here; there is the ruling party and the Opposition that was agreed to. When there is a competition there is a winner and a loser.
Thank you.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: That is
not a point of order. Senator Makone, you may continue.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: Thank you Mr. President. Maybe, I need to speak in Shona because I thought I was leading to a point, and before I even make the point, I get a correction which is totally irrelevant.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: You
may continue.
HON. SEN. MAKONE: Senator Machingaifa, I am sorry that you did not understand what I was trying to say. I am talking for all the people of Zimbabwe. I am not talking about just the people in here or people in ZANU PF or MDC, I am talking about Zimbabweans. –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- The easiest thing for us Mr. President, would be to say, wherever the Constitution is more superior to the current legislation, the Constitution takes precedence. Before we even start to deal with the so called 400 Acts, we do not need to go through 400 Acts. Even if we passed one Act every day including Saturdays and Sundays, it will take us more than a year to do so. If the Executive decided that wherever the Constitution is superior to the current legislation, the current Constitution takes precedence, this country can change overnight. We will live in a dream world because there is no Constitution more superior to the Constitution of Zimbabwe in the world.
It is by all accounts, and agreed by all people that have analysed
Constitutions, that ours is the best in the world. –[HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.]- Once we do that and we actualise what is in our Constitution without looking at the past, without apportioning blame, without talking about parties, just putting our own Constitution into place, we will attract any amount of investment that we want and that we deserve. There is no need to talk about the past in terms of who was corrupt because the Constitution will deal with it. Who is taking what from the investor; the Constitution will deal with it. Anything that you can think about will be dealt with but we need the political will.
Once we have agreed as a nation, then we can sit and work out a timetable, across party lines and generations of old and young. What are we going to do by when? Once we agree to do that, this country is the most beautiful country in the world, only retarded by greed. I have said this before in other for a, that the biggest problem that we have as Zimbabweans is fear of the unknown. In this context, we should not even fear the unknown because we already agreed on what we need to
Look at what happened to Parliament. Once it was agreed that a 50/50 should be put in place, a method was found, having seen that men make it impossible for women to come into the House. A way was found of getting them in here. Similarly, if we decide that there shall be no corruption in this country, a way will be found of targeting and zeroing in on corruption and dealing with it to finality. Once that is done, this country will just move.
Mr. President, the movers of this motion were not looking at forming another Government with anybody. They were looking at what is good for Zimbabwe. –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- When that is in place, this country will have free and fair elections without having to talk about changing this or that because that will be dealt with by the
Constitution. Automatically, everything will come into place. So, I am laying the blame if any, on the Executive and on Parliament, for not putting the Constitution of Zimbabwe into place and making it actual in order to attract foreign direct investment.
We are to blame for that failure. Our job as parliamentarians is to check the Executive and we have not done our job. We have failed the people of Zimbabwe. We have not done anything to control the excesses that we see being practiced. We have a job to do and I hope that when we have finished this debate, we will have agreed across party lines that this Senate is going to make sure that change comes to this country – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- So that our names together can go down in history as the Senate that performed and changed the course of history in Zimbabwe. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SENATOR MANYERUKE: Thank you Mr. President
for affording me this opportunity to support this motion raised by Hon. B. Sibanda supported by Hon. Hlalo. The issue of agriculture is a good one but my colleagues are skirting about the surface. They are indirectly insulting one another because we are the ones that are on the farms. I am one of those people that are on these farms as an A2 farmer with 98 arable hactares, but it would appear as we discuss the issue that there are others that are doing so in bad faith. If you are doing so in bad faith as if we are in the election mode, saying that we should have a good leader for this country and we are saying President Mugabe is a suitable leader for this country. The President is on record as saying that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again. So, as farmers, we urge the Government to mobilise funds so that farmers can have tractors, fertilizers and that we have dams constructed so that we can be into irrigation.
We have the power but we have no resources. We should not encourage bad things. If we talk about farming, we should urge each other to have land. Others are lazy, regardless of whether they are ZANU PF or MDC. That is why in the past others would work in parties and asked to be given the muti to enhance their work and were told that it is only bending down or working that would ensure that they are productive. The person with different implements and horsepower tend to farm differently and produce differently.
There are ways and means to ensure that the economy improves by providing funding. The new things should come into place. Psalms says, there is nothing new that people can talk about that has never been brought. Politics has been there from time immemorial. We now talk of modernisation but hunger has nothing to do with modernisation, whether you are in the urban or rural area. As Senate, we should encourage each other because I am disturbed by people who are saying that things have gone down. I am suspecting that others have bags of fertilizers that they could give to me so that I would apply them in my tobacco and maize field where I am farming.
Things have gone down and production has gone down in farming. What are the solutions to enable us to be self-sustaining farmers so that next year, I can produce enough bags for all Senators in this august House. Those that are capable of doing that, ensure it can be done. We have the power to work very hard to cultivate this land and we have the workers that can till the land. That is my plea Mr. President. We should be talking of development in our debates. We have very few implements on the farms.
We would want to work on corruption. These well known corrupt characters, why can they not be dealt with by the Chiefs that are in this Senate? They should try them traditionally. Why should they resort to the magistrates and private prosecutors? We are looking for ways and means to ensure that we eradicate corruption so that Zimbabweans can have a better economy. If there is hunger in the house, you do not run away from your house but you go and look for piece work to enable you to sustain the family. We cannot run away from our President, he is trying the best that he can to ensure that we have tractors and fertilizers. In Muzarabani, we were given fertilizers. Maybe in town you do not have scotch carts that can deliver fertilizers. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA: I would want to start by
thanking the mover and seconder of this motion. The motion looks at how our economy has gone down and indeed it has gone down. Our economy is not healthy. They also talked about the collapsing of industries that we are experiencing. I would want to thank you Hon. Sibanda because you recall that our people should have sufficient food as hunger does not discriminate between a chief and a commoner or a minister and a member of a certain political party. Hunger attacks everyone.
Be that as it may, my appeal to us as an august House, as we deal with such an important topic is; it is important for us to vigorously deal with the solutions that we can proffer, to ensure that we emerge from these difficulties. We are the leaders and the people out there expect that once Hon. Sibanda has raised such an important motion on the collapse of our economy, solutions be proffered that will correct the current situation.
The first solution as regards article number one, as we support your motion Hon. Sibanda, is to speak strongly on the issue of sanctions. Sanctions should be removed because the country cannot survive in isolation. If Britain or America were to be an island and were not to have any form of assistance from other countries, they would not succeed. Zimbabweans, or the Hon. Sibandas that are speaking in this august House as we debate this motion, are the ones who were approaching the British and the Americans to ask for the imposition of sanctions.
HON. SEN. SHIRI: On a point of order, can the Hon. Senator debate the motion and not personalise issues?
*HON. SEN CHIEF. MUSARURWA: Thank you for correcting
- If I personalized a certain member, I am sorry but I believe that I was supporting the mover of the motion, which I am grateful for. It is important that we should now put our heads together and debate on these sanctions as a country.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: On a point of order Mr. President, we
feel quite offended to hear that the speaker on the floor is actually continuing to allege that Hon. Sibanda himself went to ask for sanctions against this country. We are offended by those words.
*HON. SEN CHIEF. MUSARURWA: Let me reiterate by
saying that maybe you did not get me well. I said that as Zimbabweans, including myself and the Hon. Sibanda who has raised this very good motion, we should now go and request with one voice that the sanctions that we requested for, be scrapped. I do not see where – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: Order,
if anyone has a point of objection, you are allowed to take the floor. You should not murmur behind the scenes. Standing up and debating is an honourable way of differing with a fellow Member of Parliament.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA: Thank you Mr.
President. Let me proceed and say that sanctions were asked for by Zimbabwean children. They were in the forefront to ensure that we get to the position where we are today.
HON. SEN. MAKORE: I stand to object on the continual hammering by the neutral Chief, who is expected not to conceal political motions here. I would be very comfortable with somebody who is not a chief, but not a chief who is supposed to be neutral to cause such political divisions in this House. I thank you.
*HON. SEN CHIEF MUSARURWA: Thank you Mr. President
Sir.
*HON. SENATOR MUSARURWA: I would want to thank
Senator Makore for his guidance. As a Chief, I am speaking on behalf of Zimbabwean children. I said Zimbabwean children asked for sanctions from the western countries. I said no country is an island; we cannot survive on our own like we are doing now. I do not know what went wrong for them to say that I am apolitical. I am a Zimbabwean cittizen and I am saying as Zimbabweans we called for these sanctions. I did not apportion blame to anyone; we agree as a country that we are under sanctions.
If you have no one who supports your economy how will the economy improve, it will go down. As part of the solutions we should speak with one voice like what we are doing today. Corruption has destroyed our country and our economy has collapsed. This is what we urge that as Zimbabweans we must speak with one voice against the issue of the imposition of sanctions in this country. I am sorry if I sounded political, I did not mean to sound political. I reiterate that no country is an island, we need support. As Zimbabweans I reiterate that we go there and ask for the removal of sanctions.
Secondly, I want to touch on the issue of corruption. I would like to thank Senator Komichi, you did point out that those that are not corrupt please raise your hands in this Senate. I was very happy that no one raised their hands in this Senate even when you said it you did not raise your hand as well, which means that all those that did not raise their hands are corrupt. As a Chief I looked and I saw that no one raised their hands but I raised mine which means that we should walk the straight and narrow and ensure that our country improves. Our economy has collapsed. The agricultural sector, even when the white farmers were still farming they would have 70% of the produce delivered to the Grain Marketing Board.
The current Government that is being led by those who were in the GNU that I made reference to are busy running around. Recently they were in Marondera where tractors were being distributed together with fertilizers and seed in these difficult circumstances. Cuba was under sanctions for 40 to 50 years but they did not go back. The opposition and the ruling party in Cuba sat down and they became united and started to act in concert. To the friends that we meet we should look for ways to ensure that our people survive and we should not be apportioning blame. When senators raise motions like that one we are debating that was raised by Senator B. Sibanda, we must not hammer him, that is retrogressive to the development of this country. When he stands up and talks about the GNU which is no longer in existence, it does not work. We should support the order of the day and we must support it together so that we come up with solutions so that things could move.
The people we represent are the ones that suffer because of hunger and as Chiefs we become touched by that. We begin to wonder how best we could look after our people in this present economy. We are the ones who requested for the imposition of sanctions so that we can effect regime change. We are now mourning all of us even the Government.
Commercial farmers upon delivering tobacco today, the following day they would be paid and they were given developmental loans for 20 to 30 years. They were given long term loans for ban construction, buying tractors, growing tobacco, cattle ranching and other infrastructure on the farm.
When we discuss these things in this august Senate, we will be thinking that the banks can come up with a solution to give loans to the farmers who are producing and are capable for paying the loans. Good farmers should be adequately supported with infrastructural development so that our country can improve. I would want to thank you Mr. President, for the opportunity that you have given me and to thank Senator B. Sibanda for the motion that he has raised. I would want to believe that those that are going to debate after me would hit the nail on the head as we work towards the development of this country. We must not cast back our minds to the GNU but if 2018 is going to bring GNU back, we will accept it. We should support the Government of the day so that things can work and we must be united.
We should unanimously say that those that did not raise their hands here, who are corrupt, should be arrested and they should be incarcerated. Our economy and our industry should be resuscitated and ensure that the sanctions are scraped off completely. I believe they are going to review this issue very soon. We should not go behind our back because we are mourning as we speak right now. If you encourage them to tighten the sanctions we are going to mourn worse than we are mourning today. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SENATOR MAWIRE: Thank you Mr. President. I want
to thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the motion. I think most of the things have already been said and I might repeat them so I ask you to bear with me. I stood up to thank those who raised the motion, a very pertinent motion. God is good and the Ebenezer has brought us to where we are such that as a family we are able to see the ills and the way our economy has gone down. On the issue of unemployment, poor agriculture and lack of industry, if we work together knowing where we went wrong, we can address this, it is actually a good measure. Everyone requires food and there is need for food security. Everyone needs to get food, be it fruit or whatever and then when we look at the issue of hunger in the globe, it is something that is brought about by God himself because no one has power over the water that we use in our homes that comes from the showers and the tapes. We have no control over the rainfall but only God knows the right time in which to send rain to the earth.
On the issue of land, I realise that what has affected us is that, on the issue of the Land Reform Programme, most of us did not understand that. We have a challenge as a nation that so many people failed to get land because they were looking at and listening to the GNU which is now being talked about and being recorded as a success but I do not see the success. For the Land Reform Programme not to be a success, as some other farmers are saying in this House, it is because the inputs and implements to support farmers are no longer available.
I will explain how it came to be that these are no longer available.
I am surprised when people say Zimbabwe has become the talk of the continent because of the hunger. I remember during the period of Ian Smith, there was hunger and people survived on mealie-meal called “Kenya”. So, most of us should not in any way be disgruntled because of drought. My grandmother told me that in 1947, when Ian Smith and his white people were ruling this country, there was great hunger and people ate the kind mealie-meal that was called Kenya. So even today, let us not be surprised that we have hunger in this country and why. The droughts that we are experiencing today are not a new phenomenon.
HON. SEN. HLALO: On a point of order Mr. President. Ian Smith was not around in 1947.
*HON. SEN. MAWIRE: Mr. President, I think that there are people whose feathers have been raffled when I talked about history. I said this because history is very important because it opens our minds and makes us realise our mistakes just like the motion that was raised by Hon. Sibanda. I remember that when Hon. Sibanda was moving the motion, he quoted the road that we have travelled and I am not going to go into it because I will be wasting time.
On the issue of industries, from the time of independence in 1980, it was strong and there was a lot of work that was being done then. We know that agriculture and industry work hand in glove. If we look at the industries, there are a lot of things that happened that caused our industries to fall. The industry did not just fall like that but it only fell recently. There was a period when it was being asked why these people were mushrooming everywhere. So, when you say such things, you are de-campaigning yourselves as a nation. Even if the investors were to come, if I am talking ill of my own country, how then will they invest?
I will look at the recommendations that we can adopt as a country to ensure that we address our wealth in our country. I heard that the clinics actually got medication but I never witnessed this. The medication that was found in hospitals came from our friends that we grew up with. When I consider this Mr. President, there is someone who debated that we need to work together and address these issues as one.
On the issue of industries, they were in operation in full capacity before the GNU and agriculture was also doing very well. It was because our Government before it got into the GNU, supported its farmers by giving inputs and implements and our silos were always full.
I also became an icon in agriculture because I was being supported by the Government. Now, the GNU did not bring anything because strategies were used against us by other countries or enemies and then we opposed the support given by Government to farmers and that affected farming. If we look at those countries that denounced supporting farmers, they still support their farmers up to today. We should realise that no farming sector can be successful without assistance from the Government. We should not forget the fact that we had stay-aways and final pushes and that is when the economy started deteriorating. It is because we forced people to get into the streets to go for the stay-aways. So, in that case who then was supposed to produce?
So, the moment you leave those companies, when workers are not working, it is obvious that we are not going to produce anything and industry will be destroyed. Today, we have realised that what we were doing is bad and we are now pointing fingers at one another. I also call upon the Government that on the motion that was raised by Hon. Sibanda, our farming sector needs support. The Government should source funding to ensure that it supports its farmers like what was happening before. The white men were given five-year loans for them to engage in agriculture and I think that there is need for us to go back to the drawing board and adopt the same strategy. People were given inputs and implements for them to be able to be productive.
When we were calling for sanctions, we did not know that it was going to affect everyone. We thought that it was just going to affect one person when we called for those sanctions. We did not know that the sanctions would affect our industry and us as a nation. So, the GNU that we are talking about and singing success, what do we need it for? How will it help us? As Zimbabweans, why can we not sit down as a nation and ensure that we come up with strategies to develop our nation?
Lastly on the issue of corruption, corruption yes is an ill in the economy. I want to say if you know that there is a person who is corrupt, why do you not get that person arrested; take them to the courts and talk about the issue that this person is corrupt. You are just mentioning corruption but you have not done anything. If I remember well, no one has said corruption is good. Even our own President, the Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces who has love for his people, has spoken for a long time, not condoning corruption yet the people have ignored him. Now that it is affecting us, we want to start talking about corruption. Let us correct what we failed to address as a nation, work as one and move forward. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHISUNGA: Thank you Mr. President
for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the debate that is in this House. Sometimes it becomes difficult for us that politicians exchange blows verbally and then as we want to add our voices as chiefs, people would say we are being partisan. I will try to ensure that I remain impartial. In the event that I misfire, please do not shoot me. It is not my intention.
Mr. President, I want to thank the motion raised by Senator
Sibanda and seconded by Senator Hlalo. What delights me is that
people have accepted that we have an agricultural sector that is underperforming. We all agree with this. Our agricultural sector is not performing. So, what is it that we are doing? What is it that we can request the Government to look into? What policies can we ask the Government to implement and to come up with to ensure that our agricultural sector performs?
If you were to fly around the country, you would realise that we have so many dams that are 90 or 100% full, as I speak right now on our farms. We should be urging our Government to come up with strategies or establish ways to ensure that those who are on those farms can have the capacity to engage in irrigation to make use of the water to address the issue of food security.
Still on the issue of agriculture, we also need to look at the issue that if the sector is not performing, when those people who engage in agricultural farming and produce, is the market available? How many people have complained that they have taken maize to the GMB and have not been paid for the past two or three years? We need to look into the issue that those who buy the maize should be available and that will encourage the farmer to engage in agriculture. I think these are the issues that can stimulate our economy.
If a farmer knows that there is a market for whatever he is producing and is convinced that in three months time he will have his money, that will encourage farmers to grow more food. If we look at our history, our economy was based on agriculture followed by mining and then tourism. These sectors need us to come up with stimulants to ensure that they thrive. There is an issue that is taking place in Zimbabwe. There are some who are being given import licences to import agricultural produce from South Africa. They are importing apples, green beans; all vegetables are being imported from South Africa including mineral water. What then happens if we grow our own tomatoes, beans and yams? Who is going to buy our produce if people are importing from South Africa. I think the Government should come up with policies that protect the local farmers to ensure that products coming from outside do not affect our prizes. This causes a liquidity crunch. If we import things from South Africa, our money is going out of the country. We do not print money here, so we need to put plugs to ensure that the money that we generate from agriculture circulates within the nation. What I am saying is that GMB needs to be capacitated. It should have the power and the capacity to buy produce from the farmers.
On point number two that was raised by Senator Sibanda on the collapse of industry, the produce that we get from agriculture is what is processed in industry, but if there is no processing then there is no development. What we are saying is, our industry should be vibrant. The economic enablers include electricity. Why is our industry performing at 30% capacity utilisation? Are our resources adequate? I think if we do that with the assistance from the Government to come up with policies, that will enable us as Zimbabweans to farm and produce and also have markets. Currently, the Government is trying to ensure that our industry is resuscitated. What is affecting it is the issue of prices. So, I think we need to support our Government to ensure that we come up with policies and also the need to diversify is important.
Demand is not static. Whatever a farmer produces is demand driven. In the past years, farmers that time engaged in ostrich farming as well as citrus farming. The moment there was no demand, they would then venture into wild life. So, that will assist us to develop our nation. Right now, our exports have nose-dived. We used to export flowers and that brought in a lot of forex into the country. These are sectors that can develop our nation. So, it is up to us as Zimbabwe, to continue pointing fingers or to come up with solutions that will assist us as a nation.
This country has the highest literacy rate, which means that we have think-tanks who should come up with strategies. We need to sit down and go back to the drawing board and come up with solutions; why do we not do this, why do we not do that? We can then look at the blunders that we made and address them, but we need to come up with solutions. We have the best economists around and the best agriculturists in Zimbabwe who are in this House. So, let us come up with strategies that will enhance the performance of our agricultural sector, which in turn will lead to the resuscitation of industry. Our national herd also needs to be supported. If you look at this issue, it is all captured in ZIM ASSET hence, the need for us to come up with policies that will assist us.
Mr. President, as the people of Zimbabwe, we need to discuss this motion, sit down and consider it seriously; think of the Agricultural
Finance Co-op of Zimbabwe and why it is unable to finance agriculture. The culture that we have now, that once I borrow money and I need to pay it back, I then do not pay it but seek the bank manager for his protection. Whatever I have borrowed should be paid back so that it becomes a revolving fund to support the others. That way we can develop as a nation.
Mr. President, my request is, if only the Government could look into the issue of the leases that we have so that they become bankable. It will assist us because for a bank to loan me money, they want collateral. Whoever has money needs some form of collateral. They even want to find out my history in terms of loans, whether we politicise this issue or not, this is what is on the ground. We need to unite and speak with one voice. We now have the land in our hands and it was a good step by the President. We need to establish markets and protect them so that they are not infiltrated by those who are selling cassava. We grow cassava here and we have a lot of mineral water but we are importing these from South Africa and we are taking our US dollars outside. With these few words Mr. President, my request is that we speak with one voice as one people. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: The
Chair appeals that this is a very important motion for debate and all those that want to debate should make sure that they add value to it, not to create conflict and commotion – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
+HON. SENATOR D. T. KHUMALO: Thank you Mr. President
for giving me this opportunity to debate on this matter. It is a pertinent matter which we should work on so that we may develop our country. Zimbabwe is very literate. Its people are clever and they are found all over the world involved in a lot of activities. We have heard that our GDP, the money that we realised last year, Government was looking forward that we are going to have 3.3%, but that GDP is now 1%. We are looking forward for that to rise next year to 2.5%.
If we want everything to work well, what is required is that we should look thoroughly as to what we should do. When your child or your son is getting married, when that child wants to set up his own homestead, he marries, weds and when that child has his own homestead, he should decide on his own way what to do and where to take his homestead. That child should not wait for me to make decisions for him because the homestead is his. What I am trying to say is we had our good Government at independence and we go on with that Government so that we can do freely as Zimbabweans since Zimbabwe
is ours.
We therefore request from our Government to look into what we should do in order to develop our country. Our country has people who are free, an economy which is stable and people who are happy because they have everything. The planner is the Government and other people help the Government. Government strategises as to where to move from point A to B, what we should get for electricity because of the global population and what should we do to have excess stuff for these people? Government has realised that on its own, it cannot manage. Therefore, we should pull our ideas so that we can strategise together to move forward.
I am happy that the Minister of Finance last time when we were debating here in Parliament about railways, what did the Minister say when we were in Victoria Falls? He said if we have to develop, we should resuscitate railways, but here we debated and we did not agree. I think that was a lesson for us that we should help each other. We should not fight. We should help each other to strategise so that we move on. The Government should also realise that there are some children who are working for an organisation which is called PSMAS. Our children are not getting their money because it is not paying its workers, but we have heard that it donates money to the party.
When they leave work, what should we say? That is not fair. As Government, I would say do not give the money to the party. Go and pay the workers who do not have the money so that they can proceed with their work. Five months without pay and they took US$20 000 to donate to the party, that is not fair. As people in Government, is that good. If we look again, we have a problem about this issue which we call illegal sanctions. Illegal sanctions are there. There is no home without problems. So, you find people fighting. We have to fight our own battles. These people should come to us and find us doing something. Something that has been raised by the chief that we do not need to be told that water is being wasted in the dam. Everyone can see that. We should use water to irrigate but water is being wasted. Why should we tell each other when it is quite clear that when we are in Government, let us solve our own problem as Government.
We have a problem with parastatals in Zimbabwe. We will not interfere with their affairs but the Government should interfere with those parastatals. They are not doing well. In some other countries when there was inflation in 2005-2008, they used money from the parastatals, but our parastatals need money from the Government. We should leave them on their own. We should not continue pumping money into them. We should privatise them because they are not properly managed. We are not realising anything from them so as to develop the country.
For a country to develop, parastatals should be properly managed so that they realise profit. They should not be a burden to the fiscus. We should look thoroughly to their matter and see where things are and how things are moving there. Our country has faced some problems in the agricultural sector because in agriculture, we let down sectors which were supposed to work with us when we were able to produce. Bales of cotton have always been there, but they were not being utilised because the factories for that were not functional. We were busy buying clothes outside. Why did we not resuscitate our own textile industry? We are all putting on clothes but we are buying materials from Zambia and
Malawi. Do we have to wait to tell each other to come up with one voice when we are the Government? Let us learn to solve our own problems.
In conclusion, let me speak on the issue of our children. Eskom in South Africa produces electricity. It is our children who are in charge there. Why can we not take them back to our own country? Why can we not use our own children who are serving there to come and serve here? We are not happy to live on our own without our children. We therefore request Government to quickly resuscitate some of these factories that process agricultural produce from gardens. Our children will come and there will be additional value on those things, which will result in our children coming back home. Some of our children are even in Canada, producing electricity for Canadians. They are afraid to come back home because if they do, they probably will not get jobs. Everyone should be employable in their country. Lack of job opportunities cause people to run away. We should not be selective on whom to employ but employ everyone. I thank you Mr. President for the opportunity to debate on this motion so as to resuscitate our economy by pooling resources and our ideas together.
HON. SEN. B. SIBANDA: I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday 26th November, 2015.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
TO THE 7TH WORLD WATER CONFERENCE
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on the Report of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Delegation to the 7th World Water Conference.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MASUKU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 26th November, 2015.
MOTION
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on great strides made by Government in raising literacy rates in the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MASUKU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 26th November, 2015.
MOTION
PROMOTION OF SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on the need to promote sports development in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday 26th November, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MASUKU: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUMVURI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 26th November, 2015.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
BREAKFAST MEETING FOR THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON
PEACE AND SECURITY MEMBERS
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
Members of the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security are advised that there will be a breakfast meeting at the Holiday Inn Hotel, starting at 0730 hrs, Thursday, 26th November, 2015.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MASUKU, seconded BY HON. SEN. MUMVURI, the Senate adjourned at Twenty-Nine Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 26th November, 2015
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE
2016 NATIONAL BUDGET PRESENTATION
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to inform the House that the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development will present the 2016 National Budget today at 1445 hours in the National Assembly Chamber. All interested Senators should watch the presentation from monitors in the Senate Chamber. There are four monitors in here.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE POST-BUDGET SEMINAR
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I have to inform the House that the Post Budget Seminar has been postponed to the 8th
December, 2015 due to accommodation challenges resulting from the
ICASA Conference. The seminar will be held at Pandhari Lodge from
0900 hours to 1300 hours. Committees will hold their Post Budget
Consultations on 14th and 15th December, 2015. On the 15th December, 2015, the Consultations will be done in the morning before we sit. The schedule of Committee sittings for this exercise will be circulated in due course. Budget debate will commence on the 16th December, 2015.
ROUND TABLE FOR THE ZIMBABWE WOMEN’S
PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I also wish to inform members of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus attending the Round Table at the British Ambassador’s residence to meet outside Nelson Mandela entrance after Budget Presentation.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. DR.
SEKERAMAYI), the Senate adjourned at Twenty Three Minutes to three o’clock pm until Tuesday, 15th December, 2015.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 28th October, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
ATTENDANCE BY MEMBERS IN PARLIAMENT
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to draw the attention of the
House to a matter of concern relating to attendance by Members of
Parliament. On the 29th of July 2015, I raised a similar concern where I deplored a very worrying trend by some Honourable Members who only attend sittings for a short time before leaving the House. Honourable Members have not taken heed of my concerns as evidenced by the fact that for two consecutive weeks, business of the House had to be interrupted due to lack of quorum.
On both occasions, there were less than 70 Members present in the
Chamber. The first incident of lack of quorum was raised on Thursday,
8th October, 2015. Consequently, the order of the day that was under consideration had to fall off and had to be reinstated the following week. No sooner had it been reinstated, than another point of order drawing the attention of the Chair to a lack of quorum was raised on Wednesday, 14th October, 2015. This was hardly a week later. As if this was not enough, on Tuesday, 27th October, 2015 yesterday, the House had to adjourn prematurely as it had become clear that there was no quorum and proceedings under consideration could face the same fate as what happened last week. This is totally unacceptable.
Honourable Members have responsibilities to fulfill in terms of their representative, oversight and legislative roles. I also draw the attention of the House to Section 117 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which provides for the nature and extent of the legislative authority, specifically that the legislative authority of Zimbabwe is derived from the people of Zimbabwe and is vested and exercised in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I implored Honourable Members to recognise and respect the source of their authority, namely, the people of
Zimbabwe.
Honourable Members of this august House have been clamouring for Ministers and Deputy Ministers to attend Parliament. It therefore, follows that as Honourable Members, we should be leading by example through religiously attending sittings of Parliament and Committees. I also appealed to Honourable Members to demonstrate respect and appreciation of their constitutional obligations in serving the nation through parliamentary duties which require respect of the legislative authority that is derived from the people and the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Hon. Members have been on record stating that Parliamentary business is paramount and needs to be diligently and conscientiously considered. Criticism has been leveled by Hon. Members at the Executive whenever they fail to attend Parliament to answer questions concerning matters for which they are collectively and individually responsible for. Your truancy flies in the face of all such criticism and negates your sincerity as it turns out that you are also not that duty conscious, yourselves as Hon. Members.
In taking oath of a Member of Parliament, you solemnly swear that you will bear true allegiance to Zimbabwe, observe all other laws and perform your duties to the best of your ability, but your continued absence from the Chamber constitutes dereliction of duty. In this respect, you are shortchanging the very people that you purport to be representing.
In view of the foregoing, Parliament will consider directing the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders to come up with penalties to deal with errant behaviour by some Hon. Members. Should these penalties be enforced, please never cry foul because you would have asked for it through your intransigency. The Chair must protect the legislative authority of the people of Zimbabwe and our Constitution, the supreme law of the land be, so guided.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: I have a point of order.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Based on what?
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Based on the absence of Ministers – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – It is important to raise it because we have just faced the music …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I am not accepting your point of order because you are trying to undermine my statement – [HON. MUTSEYAMI: Not at all.] – Yes, you are not supposed to reply to the Chair when I am responding to your point of order. Some Hon. Ministers have given their apologies and I have noted them. Quite a number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers are here to answer questions – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible Interjections.] – Hon. Gonese, could you please take your seat. Hon. Member, can you get out of the House, there is one Chair here.
Hon. Sithole left the Chamber.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. CROSS: My question is addressed to the Minister of
Primary and Secondary Education. I would like him to outline to the House the policy of the Ministry regarding the operations of BEAM in 2016.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. The issue of BEAM is primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services. So, it would be best for that specific Ministry to answer that question. We only receive BEAM in support of the students but the allocation is actually to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services and not to us.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Perhaps Hon. Cross, you might have to
put your question in writing to the relevant Minister.
HON. CROSS: I will do so Mr. Speaker Sir. So, there is nobody in the House who can answer the question?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. The point that Hon. Cross is bringing across is, we have been behind in the disbursements of BEAM. I am happy to say as we stand right now, we have managed to clear school fees up to the end of 2014 but 2015 is still outstanding. From the look of things, it will be outstanding to the remainder of the year but the programme as it stands will continue. You might also need to know that currently, we are running some exercises or audits to verify the authenticity of the beneficiaries of BEAM. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
HON. CHITINDI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is
directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services.
Minister, there has been instability at PSMAS, what is the Government’s level of engagement with PSMAS to make sure that there is stability at
PSMAS?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): I
would like to thank the Hon. Member for his question. Before I address his question, it may be important to just highlight the structure of the Board at PSMAS.
Currently, we have nine Board members there, three are appointed by Government; three are elected by the civil service and three are elected at an AGM of PSMAS. Clearly from that, you will see that six out of the nine are falling directly under Government. So Government’s fiduciary responsibility there cannot be overlooked. Yes, Government has a clear interest in the running of PSMAS.
As we speak, there has been some intervention where four arbitrators have been appointed to give some stability to PSMAS. It is in our best interest that PSMAS runs smoothly and we all look forward to that. Currently, when we find that there are people who are taking Government Ministers to court; it is rather negative and retrogressive. I think people should allow due process to happen and clearly there will be stability at PSMAS. I thank you.
HON. MUNENGAMI: My supplementary question to the Hon.
Deputy Minister is that recently, you reversed a decision whereby one of the Chief Executive Officers blew more than US$1.6million and the Board suspended him for further investigations.
Instead of doing the correct thing of allowing investigations to take place, you reversed that decision and wrote a letter to the suspended Chief Executive Officer for him to return to work. May you explain the rationale behind that reinstatement?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Deputy Minister, may you confirm that the matter is before the courts now from what we read in the papers?
HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, yes,
indeed the matter is sub judice. It is before the courts as we speak.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Sorry, if the matter is sub judice, we cannot discuss it now. Let the court process take its course.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Hon. Deputy Minister, we are all aware of the fact that PSMAS is in great financial problems. As the Deputy Minister, may you please explain to this august House how PSMAS; that is in such financial dire straits can pay a certain amount of money into a
Minister’s personal account for the future free treatment of patients. Is that the correct procedure of paying before receiving treatment?
HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: You will appreciate that that is rather a specific question in relation to a – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - specific individual to a specific case. I would rather the Hon. Member puts that in writing to the specific Ministry that is involved. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, the import of the question is, is that Government policy to give loans by PSMAS to individual people?
HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, no, it is not Government policy.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: If the Minister says it is not Government policy, how does it arise that the Minister is given a loan to his personal account for his private surgery, is it not corruption? How does he qualify that; if the Minister can be very generous for the nation to hear the truth?
HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: It boils down to what I was talking about Mr. Speaker that it now becomes a very specific question because people will then need to delve into the merits of the matter to find out if the incident that he is alluding to actually happened.
I propose that the Hon. Member puts it in writing and investigations will be made.
*HON. MAPIKI: My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Chidhakwa. May you please explain to this House what you have done with the disbursement of
US$100 billion targeting the small scale miners or artisanal miners?
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA): The US$100 billion
facility is a facility that was extended to us by a Chinese bank through a supplier of equipment. The discussions at the moment are that the facility must be underwritten by Sinosure; we understand that clearance at the provincial level of Sinosure in China has been granted. We are waiting at the national level for Sinosure to give us the clearances.
At that point, once the necessary underwriting is done, then the facility will become available. It is a facility that we are very keen about and we hope that it becomes available sooner rather than later. I thank you.
HON. MAJOME: My question is directed to the Minister of
Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Gumbo. Is it Government policy to put unlawful road traffic signals that is road traffic signals that have not been enacted in terms of the Road Traffic Act as well as relevant Statutory Instruments?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO): I
want to thank the Hon. Member for asking that very important question.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is not Government policy to put signs on the roads which, according to what she is telling me have no information that has to be imparted to the people. But should that be the case, because this should be something that I can investigate, I would request the Hon. Member to put that in writing indicating the places where we have such signs so that I can investigate and give her a satisfactory response.
Basically, it is not Government policy to have signs of that nature.
I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am not allowing a supplementary question. The Hon. Minister has been very precise, give him the exact location and the circumstances thereof, he will kindly investigate and correct action.
HON. MAJOME: But Mr. Speaker Sir, they are all over the…
HON. SPEAKER: I have ruled.
HON. J. TSHUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is your ministry’s policy in terms of conscientising parents and guardians in paying school fees to Government schools, bearing in mind that the Ministry has a very good policy of saying no child shall be sent away for not paying fees. Now, we have realised that some parents have actually misquoted that to say that they will not pay school fees at all. What is your policy in terms of conscientising these parents visa-a-visa - if you look at a Ministry like the Ministry of Health and Child Care which vigorously advertised for circumcising male people; you could hear it from everywhere all the street corners, kuchecheudzva. We now know kuchecheudzva even in Ndebele. What is your policy to conscientise parents that they need to pay school fees so that schools do not get crippled in their operations? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you
Mr. Speaker Sir. We have responded several times in this House on the issue of the non-payment of fees by parents. Basically, we have said that let us take it as a collective responsibility for everyone within the nation to ensure that parents pay the fees so that they do not confuse our push for the rights of the learners to education which is the basis upon which we have said learners should not be excluded from school if the parents have not paid. We have said it should be a collective responsibility and we have even asked Members of this august House to work together with SDCs and SDAs and also to work traditional leaders within their own constituencies to try and send the message that the responsibility to pay school fees is not removed by the fact that the learners have a right to education. I welcome his suggestion to say maybe we should do more in terms of public information. It is something that I will take up with the Ministry to see if we can even go on a campaign to say people should pay the fees. Thank you.
HON. SPEAKER: There is a part of the question which says, why do you not advertise like the Ministry of Health and Child Care? You did not answer to that one.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Mr. Speaker Sir, this is why I said, I welcome the suggestion, that comparison with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. This is why I said, I will take it up in the Ministry to see what we can do in terms of doing more social marketing to conscientise people about their responsibility especially, the parents and guardians on their responsibility to pay the school fees.
HON. MUNENGAMI: Indeed it is correct what the Minister has said in as far as conscientising the parents but as we all know, it is the right of every child to have access to education. The contract is between the parents and the school but we have had instances whereby certificates of those who would have finished their ‘O’ level or ‘A’ level would be held by the school authorities until they have paid such an amount. What is the Government policy regarding those instances?
Thank you.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and I want
to thank the Hon. Member for that question. Again, it is an issue that we have discussed in this House and we have indicated that it is not Government policy to withhold the results. It goes back to the contract between the parent and the school. Therefore, it is not Government policy. Where it has happened, I would appreciate being given the information so that we can address that issue.
HON. J. TSHUMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. While we were talking about paying fees and exams, Hon Minister what is your policy in terms of the Grade 7 examination fees payments? I am now meant to understand that parents are made to pay for Grade 7 examinations when a student is in Grade 6 and eventually pay it off when in Grade 7. Some parents do not understand that, they now think that a Grade 6 is now an examinable class. What is your policy in terms of the Grade 7 examination fees payment? Thank.
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Indeed, we have made arrangements for people to start paying the examination fees for learners for their Grade 7 examinations in Grade 6. We have even said those who prefer to start paying in Grade 5, they can do that. The idea was to lessen the burden on the parents so that they do not find themselves paying the requisite $3 when the student is in Grade 7. They can pay a dollar per year until the student is ready to write the examination.
I am happy to say that the response has been very good. A lot of parents have paid for their learners when they are in Grade 6 and that money is ring fenced in an account and only becomes payable to ZIMSEC as an examination fee in the year in which the student is going to write. His question also says, we need to give out more information about it so that people are not confused about when the actual examination is going to take place. Again, it is a matter of just giving our information and publicizing to make sure that Grade 6 is not an examinable class.
HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education is that, while students and their parents are paying the money for examination and you are ring fencing it, what guarantees is the Ministry putting in place to ensure that those examinations that they will have paid for will be safe and will not have leaked given the fact that apparently the System or mechanism that the Ministry had imported from south Africa has failed to work. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that examinations do not leak any more when parents are paying for examination fees even for Grade 7?
HON. PROF. MAVIMA: Thank you Mr. Speaker and I would
like to thank the Hon. Member for that supplementary question. We are happy as a Ministry that we have not had incidences this year, so far of breach of security of examinations - Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Levels. She is right to say that the technology system has not taken off. That was mainly because of technical issues with the State
Procurement Board.
However, having said that, we have put in place a very enabling system of monitoring and making sure that the delivery of examination papers from ZIMSEC Head Quarters to the cluster points is thoroughly done through ZIMSEC’s own officers together with our PEDs and our DEOs. Money has been made available for logistical purposes at the district as well as the provincial levels for this monitoring to take place. We are seeing that so far it has yielded good results. We hope that it continues like that until we have finished the examinations season.
Thank you.
HON. HARITATOS: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. Hon. Minister, from 2009 up to now, Government has not paid the miners from Zimbabwe dollars up to the United States dollars. A lot of mines have failed to re-open because of that. Can the Minister of Mines and
Mining Development tell us when they are going to pay those miners?
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA): Thank you Mr.
Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking that question. I think that question borders between the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. Fidelity, which is our gold buying company, falls under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. They are the sole buyers of gold in Zimbabwe. All payments therefore, for gold delivered to Fidelity will be done by Fidelity as a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). I think it will be better for the Hon. Member to direct his question to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development so that he can then ask the RBZ and Fidelity itself to provide the answer. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
*HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for
giving me the opportunity to direct my question to the Minister of
Health and Child Care. In his absence, to the Minister of Public
Service, Labour and Social Services.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, the Hon. Member must be clear in
terms of direction of the question. To who is it directed? Moda kubvunza ani?
*HON. MATAMBANADZO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I will
direct my question to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services. What is Government policy regarding companies which stopped working because they have no money to operate? I am talking of parastatals such as ZISCO which is in Kwekwe. This company has closed down, the employees were told to stay put because they have experience in the running of this company. These workers are not receiving any salaries. Some of them are sick and others are dying.
As a Member of Parliament of that area, I have been involved in the burial of their relatives, even workers themselves. I am pleading with the Government to make it easy for these unpaid employees to access medication when they are sick. That can be done in form of a credit, when their company gets back to operation, they will repay the monies. I am asking that they be given easy access to Government hospitals so that they can be treated.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Your question Hon. Matambanadzo can
easily be responded to by two Ministries. The Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services. As a result I advise you to put your question in writing so that thorough investigation is done and you will get a suitable response.
HON. MUZONDIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question
is directed to the Minister of Public Services, Labour and Social Services. Minister, may I know the outcome regarding the issue of the audit – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, can the Hon. Member be heard
please.
HON. MUZONDIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question
is directed to the Minister of Public Services, Labour and Social Services. Minister, may I know the outcome of the staff audit which was carried out in different Government Departments? May I also know if there were any ghost workers found. Thank you – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. Yes, the Audit Report has been finalised. From that Audit Report, the staff complement of the Public Service is slightly over 188 000. Of that people who were physically on the job were about
157 000. There is a figure of 160 000 that should, on paper, be accounted for – [AN HON. MEMBER: Aaah.] – Yes, the missing figure, the number that could not tally is a figure slightly over 3 500. Yes, some of those people were not on their posts but have since come forward with proof that for genuine reasons, they were absent from their posts when the audit was carried out. So, that verification exercise is ongoing as we speak right now. I thank you.
HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My
supplementary question is that we have seen a lot of effort being put towards the education sector but we are all aware that the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment is probably hundred percent occupied by ghosts or people who do not have the qualifications – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - So, I wanted to find out when his Ministry is going to do the verification specifically for the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment and those in the security service sector. You can see that even here at Parliament, I think there are more security personnel than the clerks, so when are they going to go into the security service sector and the
Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment? Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have difficulties with that question about ghost workers; perhaps the Hon. Minister can address the question of ghost workers.
HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I
think I went at length to give the finer details of the employees and people who were not found on their work stations. I gave that figure as just slightly over 3 500, if my memory serves me right. So, the ghost workers that the Hon. Member is alluding to, they are certainly not in the Report we are talking about. That Report, I can tell you was extremely detailed.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Is the Hon. Minister saying the ghost workers could not be counted because they are ghosts, chipoko hachiverengeke.
HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: The point I raised was that 157 000 of the Public Service was accounted for. The only number that was not accounted for was slightly over 3 500 – [AN HON. MEMBER:
What about 180 000.] – 180 000 those are the posts. My point is, it is only 3 500 that could not be accounted for and the bulk of whom were in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. I thank you.
Hon. Saruwaka having stood up to pose a supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That is sufficient; I am not entertaining any further supplementary questions.
*HON. CHIGUDU: My question is directed to the Minister of
Health and Child Care – [HON. MUNENGAMI: Minister havamo.] – hanzi varipo – [Laughter] -. My question is that as mothers you know the challenges we face especially when we visit hospitals. We do not have money but we look after children and grandchildren, men are not there. People who suffer from diabetics go to hospitals and are told to go and look for drugs from the pharmacy. Mr. Speaker Sir, I have come from as far as Nyajena and I do not even know what a pharmacy is. Hon. Minister, there are so many doctors in the urban areas, in the rural areas there are no doctors, can you bring us drugs in our nearby hospitals like Ndanga and Ngomahuru, so that we have drugs. We are asking for medication – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Chigudu, the Minister is not
around.
HON. N. NDLOVU: My question is directed to the Deputy
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. What policy is in place to improve the lives of families especially children born out of child marriages? I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Thank
you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Government, through the Ministry, has some programmes in place particularly targeting the welfare of the disadvantaged children. The current programmes which are actively running right now, the main one is called National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (NAP for OVC). Last year, there was a total disbursement of US$20 million towards that particular sector that you are talking about.
Part of the proceeds came from Government and some of the proceeds came from our partners in looking after the orphans and vulnerable children. So, the programme, yes, it is ongoing and that is being administered through the Children’s Act.
HON. SIMBANEGAVI: We hear that your Ministry provides shelters to the victims of early child marriages and gender based victims. How many shelters have been established so far and what services are you providing to the victims?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Sorry, that supplementary question does
not arise; it should be a written question.
*HON. MASAMVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I hope you have
had a nice day. My question is directed to the Minister of Higher and
Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development. Is it
Government policy….
*THE HON. SPEAKER: He is not around.
*HON. MASAMVU: I am re-directing the question to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, be serious about what
we are doing in this House.
+HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Thank you Mr.
Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. Hon. Minister when you came to this House three weeks ago, you told us that the question is supposed to be directed to you.
Sorry Mr. Speaker, I had forgotten - my apologies.
You came to Parliament and told us that the electricity situation would become better. However, we are not seeing this. So, we are expecting you to let us know what is happening and to tell us if it is going to improve. You also told us that we will have a schedule that will show us when electricity load shedding will be taking place. What does this mean, will you please explain this to us?
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE):Mr. Speaker Sir, I am not
fully conversant with Ndebele but I think I have picked the sense of the matter. As far as I understood her, the Hon. Member wants to know the position with load shedding. I am sure the Hon. Member living in Zimbabwe, will bear testimony to the fact that we are now experiencing less load shedding hours than what previously obtained.
The measures which we have introduced for the past three weeks, mitigatory ones, have seen some areas which were deprived of electricity for many –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Mushonga asked a very important question on energy and all of us are affected here. So can you listen to the response by the Hon. Minister.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE): Mr. Speaker Sir, I was
explaining to the Hon. Member that hours of load shedding have actually lessened when we compare with four weeks ago. We have undertaken a number of measures over the past three or four weeks ago, to ensure that hours which people are exposed to, in terms of load shedding reduced and areas which previously went for many hours without electricity, that electricity has been restored to such areas. We are continuing with the efforts to ensure that day by day we experience less and less load shedding hours. It is an exercise which we are undertaking and I am sure everybody knows why we are in this position. It is because of the dropping water levels at the Kariba dam which are beyond any man’s control. These are due to drought which was experienced in the catchment area. As a Government, we have taken precautionary measures to ensure that there is electricity. We are told that the Kariba dam continues to fall, by January 2016, power generated from there is going to be further reduced. We are preparing for that eventuality, Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, can you indulge the
Minister, if he has to appreciate your question, you speak in English.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I will just agree
however, it is painful. I understand Mr. Speaker but others speak in Shona and it is never a problem.
We received a message from ZESA yesterday, where ZESA was sincerely apologising that there is going to be an increase in load shedding outside the publicised schedule due to a technical fault in Hwange Power Station and low water levels at Lake Kariba. Customers will be updated accordingly during the restoration process.
However, the Hon. Minister is telling us that it is getting better when your own ZESA, this is not me speaking, ZESA itself has sent this message to say it is going to be worse.
HON. DR. UNDENGE: Mr. Speaker Sir, I am glad that the Hon Member is mentioning that there has been a technical fault at Hwange Power Station which needs time to be rectified. That is not a normal situation, when you have a technical fault, it is different from the normal trend. A technical fault, usually there is loss of electricity hence you are bound to experience some long hours of darkness, that is not load shedding.
We should distinguish between load shedding and a technical fault; perhaps let me enlighten the House that a fault is not equal to load shedding. If you have a fault, you can undergo total darkness. Load shedding is when normal power generation is reduced at Kariba due to dropping water levels that is what we mean Mr. Speaker. I think the question arises from a misunderstanding of the difference between what is a technical fault and a load shedding; those two are technically different. The low water levels, our generation continues at 475 megawatts during this period; until January that is when we will scale down.
The Zambezi River Authority has advised that our allocation of water from January will be reduced to 20 billion cubic metres but from now continuing up to January, we will produce at an average of 475megawatts. The Hon. Member is talking about what is going to happen in future. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Is that a supplementary question Hon.
Maridadi?
HON. MARIDADI: It is not a supplementary question Hon.
Speaker, it is just a point of clarification. The Minister speaks as if the darkness which is brought about by load shedding is lighter than the darkness which is brought about by a fault. Darkness because of lack of electricity is darkness. If there is no electricity, there is no electricity and that is the point.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I think there is some misunderstanding. The Hon. Minister of Energy and Power Development is very clear. The technical fault that has occurred is redeemable and it does not impinge upon the long term schedule which the Ministry has put in place. That is the distinction that the Hon.
Minister has made reference to.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My supplementary
question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. These turbines keep on breaking down and the equipment that is used, what lifespan did they have in the first place? Maybe they are outdated completely.
HON. DR. UNDENGE: Hon. Speaker, generally speaking, that is in common balancing the energy sector. A power station’s life is usually 25 years but you can extend that life through carrying out what are called extension repairs. You can give it another lease of 25 years. The Hwange Power Station phase one was built in 1983/84. The second phase was built in 1986/87 and it has undergone some life extension. Of course, technically speaking, it is overhauled after a certain period and refurbished now and again. When machinery is old, it does not perform the same way as it does when it is new and due to its old nature, we experience what are called frequent tube leaks. It has six units and on average we have between four and five units operating …
HON. MUNENGAMI: On a point of order Hon. Speaker. The
Hon. Member was very clear in his question. What is the life span, that was his question and we hope the Minister is able to answer that.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, your point of order is misdirected. The Hon. Minister gave a figure of 25 years and I think you were not listening. Hon. Minister, if you can conclude.
HON. DR. UNDENGE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. You are quite
right. The Hon. Member was not listening, he was busy talking to a friend. I have completed the answer to the question. I thank you –
[Laughter] –
HON. MUNENGAMI: Those are second hand. It seems as if they were brought from Germany. They are actually outdated.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member! We are not
in a debating club. If you want a further point of clarification, you stand up and be recognised. Thank you.
*HON. MAKONI: My question is directed to the Minister of
Agriculture. What Government policy is in place that concerns contract farming? – [HON. MEMBERS: Ayenda]-
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mutseyami and Hon. Gabbuza,
may you please give other members a chance to ask their questions. You were given the chance and you have asked your questions. Let us give each other turns to ask questions. Hon. Mutseyami, how can you have a supplementary when the Minister is not available? You are saying supplementary and you are contradicting yourself. The Hon. Minister is not here.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: No, I want to ask a new question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hold on to your colleague.
*HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I am directing my question to the Minister of Energy and Power Development Hon. Undenge. We were informed that the Kariba wall is cracking and that there was need for water in the Kariba dam to be reduced. I am trying to prefix my question so that the Minister may understand me. My question is that the dam wall of the Kariba dam was said to be cracking and water levels had to be reduced. When are you going to repair the Kariba dam wall because high levels will lead to the cracking of the dam wall hence, these low levels of water? When are you going to repair the walls?
THE HON. SPEAKER: That is not a policy question.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me
the opportunity to ask a question. I am directing my question to the
Minister of War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political
Detainees and Restrictees, Hon. Mutsvangwa. May you please explain to this House so that we know of the Government policy regarding war veterans because of the way which they are living after participating in such a war? Some of them suffered post traumatic stress and they need
to be attended to. With time, that illness is getting to unacceptable levels….
HON. ZINDI: On a point of order Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
*HON. ZINDI: My point of order is the fact that the Hon.
Member is saying the war veterans are mentally retarded – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I am addressing the Chair. The Hon. Member said the war veterans are mentally retarded because of participating in the war of liberation. I am one of the war veterans and I know that I am mentally fit, I am not retarded. May the Hon. Member withdraw that statement.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Order! Let the Hon. Minister deal with the question accordingly. Can you complete your question Hon. Mutseyami.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. For the reason that the war veterans were at the war front, sometimes they saw unpleasant things and some became mentally disturbed. I would like to ask the Hon. Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War
Collaboration, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees, what the Ministry is doing – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I will speak in English.
Hon. Speaker, my question to the Hon. Minister is basically to do with the war veterans. We have seen war veterans in and outside the city, in the peri-urban and the rural areas who have a challenge of being traumatised as a result of what they went through during the liberation struggle. What is Government policy with regard to specific rehabilitation of the war veterans – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – in the rural areas, bearing in mind that coming to town is a challenge? If we can have counseling centres and post-traumatic stress centres – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – I thank you.
THE MINISTER OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR WAR VETERANS, WAR COLLABORATION, FORMER POLITICAL DETAINEES AND RESTRICTEES (HON. C. MUTSVANGWA):
Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to recognise Hon.
Mutseyami’s question and acknowledge his clear concern about the war veterans, in particular, the issues that arise from taking part in conflict situations. For instance, the victimization that arises out of the peculiar circumstances of violent conflict like the one which the country underwent, particularly from the 1960s until victory in 1979.
It is common knowledge that war is a terrible thing because it causes loss of life and damages the body. In our instance, for those survivors, some of them were victims of experimental biological warfare by the Rhodesian Army where people were victims of napalm. I escaped cyanide poisoning whilst about 8 members of my colleagues perished after wearing jeans which were laced with cyanide. On sweating, these comrades all died. I missed that group because I was elsewhere, I could have worn those jeans.
Chemical warfare was rife on the part of the Rhodesians because they wanted to make up for their inferior numbers to those of the liberation war fighters who were in bigger numbers. However, beyond that, there were issues to do with napalm bombing from the Rhodesian army in an encounter with the Rhodesian Air force. There was also biological warfare on the part of the Rhodesians. There are the infamous cases of the South Africans like ‘Dr. Death’, who were part of the Rhodesian network of chemical warfare.
Obviously, all these things do affect the body, even in the aftermath of the war. There is also the mere trauma of being involved in combat and surviving where you witness the death of so many people dying. Therefore, it is true that we do have these cases. With the way our independence was won, the efforts at post independence, consolidation of our national sovereignty, a lot of these issues were not adequately addressed from the onset. We were an experimental demobilization state and things which have been done for other countries in post-conflict were not done in Zimbabwe. So there is an issue arising from what the Hon. Member has said.
I am happy to say that we now have a Ministry which is addressing these issues. The President has seen it fit to have a dedicated Ministry because he is very alive to these issues which arose from these circumstances. The issues which arise are the expense and the expectations of what the Ministry can deliver, vis-à-vis, the resources which are available. Everybody knows that our economy has not been doing well. We have been a victim of sanctions and many other ailments by our traditional economic cooperating partners.
However, the good thing is that we are now having an engagement and hopefully the fortunes of this economy will start to improve. It is then that we will begin to have adequate resources. Meanwhile, I keep canvassing the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to do what he can. Beyond that, we are now working with some of the embassies of those countries which were inimical to working with the war veterans, they are coming on board. Some of these countries have a lot of experience because they have been involved in many wars since the First World War.
We are hoping that we can tap into their expertise to deal with the disorders which are being referred to. The response which we are getting, even from the western embassies, is good. I hope that in due course, the European Union may for the first time consider including the issues of the war veterans in its indicative programmes. These issues of welfare and post war trauma nature can be addressed. I am also working on war veterans memorial hospitals, the Cabinet has approved it. I am happy to say, just yesterday, His Excellency, the President, was with our Indian partners in New Dehli.
We are very grateful that one of the largest Indian companies if not the largest civil contracting company is keen to be associated with war memorial hospitals for the war veterans. His Excellency is avidly following this matter and the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is also coming on board. Once we have those hospitals, which will be open to everyone, we may also have a section dedicated to the issues which have been raised by Hon. Mutseyami.
On that note, I would like to say, we are very live to what you have raised. I am confident to say that it is better late than never. These issues have not been properly addressed, 35 years into independence but now we are rising to the occasion. I hope that in the fullness of time and the shortest possible time, we should be having something satisfactory coming to the House to the satisfaction of Hon. Mutseyami and other Hon. Members. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Wadyajena having stood up to ask a supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: How does the supplementary arise? I thought the Hon. Minister’s response is very comprehensive. The Hon.
Minister’s response was very comprehensive.
*HON. A. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I direct my question Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. We have perennial problems of leakages of examination papers. What has the Ministry done in trying to stop these leakages and we believe that whosoever is convicted of leaking these examinations should be punished so that they set an example so that nobody would do it again.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION (PROF. MAVIMA): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir for giving me the opportunity. We dealt with this question on these examinations.
We have now adopted a new technology which we are going to use. If the examination papers are opened on the way at the wrongful place, there is going to be some mechanism which is going to alert the powers that be at the head office. That is the first instance. On the second one, we have set up a tracking team which will follow the way these papers will be going through so that we know where the papers are passing through and which avenues. The third step that we have taken is that the sentence for a convicted person who would have led to the leakages of examinations should be severe so as to act as a deterrent.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is so much enthusiasm in terms of
the questioning and I have been given a number of names here in their order. I was following that order so in future to minimise oral questions, may we put our questions in writing so that we balance between oral and written questions?
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PREBUDGET SEMINAR INFORMATION CIRCULARS
THE HON. SPEAKER: I have a very important announcement. All members of Parliament are advised to collect information circulars pertaining to the Pre-budget Seminar from their pigeon holes as soon as the House has adjourned. May I request hon. members to apply yourselves to read any information that has been put in the pigeon holes and I do not want to be embarrassed at the Pre-budget Seminar there if I begin to ask certain questions and you appear not to have read the information sheet.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
ALLOCATION OF HOUSING COMMONAGE STANDS BY
CHIREDZI TOWN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN TO JUSTIN
CHAUKE CO-OPERATIVE
- HON. CHIWA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to state the circumstances that led to the allocation of fifty (50) housing commonage stands by Chiredzi Town
Council to Justin Chauke Cooperative owned by Chiredzi Town Council Chairman and explain how the Government and Council are going to benefit from such an arrangement?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON.
CHINGOSHO): Mr. Speaker Sir, I am pleased that the Hon. Member has asked this question.
Some hon. members having stood up and going out of the House.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Members, those who
are moving out let not the axe fall on you. Can the Minister be heard in silence please?
HON. CHINGOSHO: Mr. Speaker Sir, the commonage stands
were allocated by the Ministry and the stands are to be paid for.
Government therefore will get revenue and the council will get rates.
The Council’s waiting list for housing will be reduced by 50 percent. I thank you.
HON. ZVIDZAI: Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that Central Government would go and engage in the business of delivering stands in local authorities. I seem to read a contradiction here. My supplementary question is relevant to the fact that Government actually goes to a local authority and does a local authority’s work because within the purview of Chiredzi Town Council, it is the Council that must be delivering stands to the people. What Government is busy doing is interfering with the work of a local authority and we notice that it is happening all over the country.
HON. CHINGOSHO: I want to thank the Hon. Member. First and foremost I would like to bring to the attention of the Member that, local authorities are under Central Government and whatever they will be doing, it would be on behalf of Central Government. Also, the land is State land. So, whenever Government finds it necessary to come in and do what it did in this instance, it is within its jurisdiction. Thank you.
HON. CROSS: I would have thought by now Madam Speaker that the Hon. Minister would have had time to read the Constitution because what he has just enunciated today is a direct contradiction of the devolution principles that are enunciated in the Constitution. It is not the
Ministry’s responsibility. It is the local authorities who have dispensation today under the new Constitution and he is not recognising that fact.
HON. CHINGOSHO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to
thank the Hon. Member for raising that point. I want to repeat again that yes the Constitution says so, but it does not bar Central Government from coming in wherever it finds necessary. So in this instance in Chiredzi, it was found necessary that it be done so. Thank you.
HON. CHIWA: My supplementary question is that, Hon. Minister, are you saying this arrangement was a proper arrangement given that the housing policy that was announced here in September 2014 – we expected that a cooperative should actually be giving Government 10% of the commonage stands but in this case, it is vice versa. It is Government which is giving a cooperative…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member. Can I
guide you please? Can you put your question in writing so that the Hon. Minister can research –[HON MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Yes, I am guiding and I am agreeing with the Minister. Can we go to question number 2 please?
EXPANSION OF BULAWAYO CITY TO THE 40KM PEG
- HON. MPALA asked the Minister of Local Government, Public
Works and National Housing to state when the Ministry will expand
Bulawayo City to the 40km peg as per the proclamation by His
Excellency, the President Cde. R. G. Mugabe in 2004?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON.
CHINGOSHO): Thank you Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Hon Member for asking the question on the expansion of Bulawayo City to the 40km peg. Let me inform the House that although no work has started, the issue is being addressed by my Ministry and according to the
Ministry’s plan, the actual implementation will start in 2016.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Minister, address
the Chair and do not respond to what the Hon. Members are saying. Just address the Chair and stick to your answers.
HON. CHINGOSHO: The actual implementation is going to start
in 2016. However, I would like to quickly point out that there is no such Presidential Proclamation being mentioned. I thank you.
HON. ZINDI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary
question follows that the Minister’s response indicates that the implementation will only start in 2016, may the Minister explain the delay of why it has taken so long and we have yet another year to go in order for the implementation of the 40km peg expansion. What is the reason?
HON. CHINGOSHO: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for
the supplementary question. I would like to point out that one of the reasons for the delay is finance. The second reason again is that, as you are aware the Ministry is under restructuring. Some of the divisions are going to the new Ministry of Rural Development and Preservation of Culture and Heritage.
HON. GABBUZA: The question is about expansion of Bulawayo
to the 40km peg whatever that means. The Minister says there is no funding, what is it that he really wants expanded? Is it the handing over of land or the construction of buildings or the putting of the boundary?
What does the Minister intends to do which is going to start in 2016?
HON. CHINGOSHO: I want to thank the Hon. Member for
asking the question. The delay is caused by the fact that expansion involves adding more land to Bulawayo City. The process is that the land first of all is acquired by Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement and after having been acquired, then it will be handed over.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, address the
Chair please.
HON. CHINGOSHO: It is both the monetary problem but mostly
as you have rightly pointed out, it is the process itself where the land, first of all has to be acquired by Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement and then handed over to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and then handed over to Bulawayo City.
HON. WATSON: Could the Minister actually clarify the question of the acquisition of the land on the boundary of Bulawayo City because some of it is actually already acquired by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement. Therefore, I do not quite understand why there is a delay. Can the Minister also assure us that those people who have already formed peri-urban communities in those areas will not simply be left homeless?
HON. CHINGOSHO: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for
that supplementary question. First and foremost, when that land is acquired, it is going to benefit the people resident around that area. Secondly, the land was acquired already but having been acquired is not enough to just acquire and then you start the implementation of the project. I am saying the process of handing over that land finally to the
Bulawayo Municipality had not been concluded.
BENEFICIATION OF MINERALS
- HON. CHIRISA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to explain the measures put in place to ensure that the beneficiation of minerals such as gold, platinum and chrome among others is expedited?
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA): Thank you Madam
Speaker and let me thank the Hon. Member. Let me say that in as far as gold is concerned, we beneficiate our gold up to about 95.6% purity into gold bars that are then exported out of Zimbabwe.
What is critical for us is to say, when we have got the refined gold, what can we do with it? I want the Hon. Member and this House to know that I spent some time just looking at the jewellery that is made out of gold and the majority of it, African gold, when you go to Belgium. The jewellery that is made is amazing and what we have done now is that, we have presented to Cabinet and Cabinet has approved a raft of incentives that are targeted towards value addition of our gold and diamonds into finished commodities for the markets.
These incentives relate to the provision of knowledge because what is critical when you are going to do that, the gold you have, but what is critical is in fact, the knowledge to be able to make such jewellery out of the mineral that we have. This is something that we are very keen to do and we hope that it can succeed.
I also want to just say that on the platinum side, you know that at the beginning of 2015, we had imposed a 15% tax on the export of nonbeneficiated platinum, meaning the concentrate. We insisted that we wanted our platinum to be exported as platinum matte and subsequently as refined platinum. We went into a discussion with the companies; first and foremost, let me say that Zimplats has got capacity to beneficiate, meaning that it has got the furnaces to create the platinum matte.
Therefore, this 15% was not going to affect them. It was going to affect primarily, Unki and Mimosa. We went into discussions with them; they have now agreed that by 2016, they will have setup their own smelters particularly in the case of Unki; who have now announced and it is contained in their financial statements that they will in fact establish their own smelter.
Let me just say something about our chrome. You know that we have beneficiated our chrome mostly from raw chrome to high carbon ferrochrome to low carbon ferrochrome and ferro silicon chrome. We export it in that form, we have got about 12 smelting companies in Zimbabwe. As we were introducing the export of raw chrome out of the country, we also gave a condition to the smelting companies that they will not be able to export raw chrome unless they fulfill their production capacity in the smelters.
So, we continue to insist that the companies must first and foremost, fulfill their smelting capacity then they will be allowed to export raw chrome. Basically, that is what we have been doing on the value addition of our minerals.
HON. CHIRISA: I would like to thank the Minister for a comprehensive response but I also want to find out from the Minister whether we have the capacity, in terms of human resources and the infrastructure for us to benefit more in terms of finished products? Also, is there a monitoring and evaluation mechanism in place?
HON. W. CHIDHAKWA: The Hon. Member is right, you
cannot beneficiate or value unless you have the skills. We have started a programme to establish, at the school of mines, an additional programme for beneficiation and value addition. This is specifically for diamonds. We have agreed with an international company which itself is doing value addition of diamonds, gold and other minerals into the international markets.
We have agreed with them that they will train our trainers and our trainers will now come back to the school of mines where we will add another discipline over and above the geology, the mining engineering and the metallurgy. We will now have beneficiation and value addition studies at the school of mines in order to broaden the capacity and skills capability of our young people. It is a critical matter and Government has actually extended incentives.
We are in discussion also with the Indians to see if the Chinese on the one hand are coming, the Indians can come and the Italians have also indicated a capacity and desire to assist us in establishing our own design school, design of diamond and gold jewellery. They have promised to assist us in that respect, thank you Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will take that supplementary question but Hon. Members, if I may ask the whole House. The Hon. Minister is giving an answer yet some people are busy having meetings in this House – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!] - Do you not want to know what is happening in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development?
This is the reason why you keep asking supplementary questions because you are not listening to what the Minister is saying. Hon.
Members, I think we should be very serious on the business of the House.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker and also thank you
Madam Speaker for keeping Mutseyami quiet – [HON. MEMBERS:
Hon. Mutseyami!] – Hon. Mutseyami, I am sorry Madam Speaker, I would definitely, as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, want this raw chrome that is being spoken about to be transported by rail as it is exported.
However, my question to the Minister, he spoke about the raw chrome exports, I need to know when this raw chrome export is beginning or starting. He has also spoken in his other response about the special purpose vehicle that has been formulated.
My question exactly is, when are we likely to start exporting this raw chrome even if my wish says, may you please export it via the rail
…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Member,
have you read what the original question is saying?
HON. NDUNA: Sorry Madam Speaker, my responses are arising from the answer that he gave.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is a question about the
beneficiation of minerals but you are talking about exporting of the raw chrome.
HON. NDUNA: It is arising from the answer that he gave Madam
Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, supplementary questions
arise from the original question. May you please resume your seat.
HON. ZINDI: My supplementary question is arising from the response by the Minister - [AN HON. MEMBER: Inaudible
interjection.] -
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We want supplementary
questions from the original question so that we move to other questions.
HON. ZINDI: Yes, it is emanating from the original question. In general, I am in agreement with his response in terms of beneficiation but in terms of policy enunciation, in terms of actually having to announce the policy so as to be embraced by the industry in terms of beneficiation. What steps has the Minister undertaken to do, also in tandem with His Excellency’s enunciation of beneficiation on the AU agenda? What steps have been taken by the Minister?
HON. W. CHIDHAKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker and I
would like to thank Hon. Zindi for that supplementary question. We had two things that we needed to do. The first was to put in place a policy on beneficiation and value addition. The second was amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act. We started off with the policy and as we were going through the policy, we realised that we needed to appreciate what was in our current legislation and what needed to be changed in our current legislation for the purposes of moving the mining sector. We created a preliminary draft of the policy. I hear you when you say that the policy must come and inform the legislation but because of the pressures that were there, to change certain things in the law, we found ourselves concentrating a lot on the amendments to the Mines and
Minerals Act.
This is not to say we have abandoned the policy debate that we had started; a consultant had already finished working on the draft and we had started the debate on it but we had to do the Mines and Minerals Act first in order to deal with urgent issues that would help us move forward.
I hear the Hon. Member; we continue to want to do the policy. There is the policy on the broader mining sector and there is the policy on specific minerals such as the policy on diamonds and coalbed methane gas and so on and so forth. These are things that we have and we need to finalise. It is just that we need to look at the Mines and Minerals Act.
CORPORATE TAX AND DIVIDENDS FROM MARANGE
DIAMOND PROCEEDS
- HON. MARIDADI asked the Minister of Mines and Mining
Development
- how much money Treasury has received ever since diamonds were discovered in Marange in terms of corporate tax and dividend;
- to explain the merits of merging companies before they have met their obligations to local communities;
- if the companies have finally complied with their obligations to
Community Share Ownership Schemes
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA): Thank you Madam
Speaker and I would like to thank Hon. Maridadi for the question. The question as it relates to matters of collection of corporate tax and other taxes are matters that reside on the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. They would ordinarily tell us how much they have collected in the Budget and in the Finance Act. I am not able to deal with that one.
With regard to dividends which are declared by the companies, I want to advise this House that since the discovery of diamonds in Marange except in the case of Murowa, the dividends that were declared to Treasury amount to $259 452 422. This is the dividend that has been declared out of companies operating in Marange.
The second question Madam Speaker, related to the merger of companies in so far as it impinges on the rights of the Community Share Ownership Trusts. Let me advise this House that the model that we have created for merging the companies must of necessity assume that the successor company must inherit both the assets and liabilities of the companies that are being merged. What that means is that if a company comes into the consolidated company, that company has assets and liabilities and has commitments that it has made. All these will be consolidated and brought into this one company. This one company must therefore, honour the commitments that were made by the successor companies.
I want to assure our communities out there that the process of consolidation itself does not do away with the commitment of Community Share Ownership Trusts that are in place. This company will also be subject to the laws of Zimbabwe in so far as the laws relate to Community Share Ownership Trusts. This company must, after being established, take care of communities in the same way if not better than what the individual companies were going to do.
The third part of the question, Madam Speaker, is a question that I think does not lie within my purview. It is a question that lies within the purview of the Minister Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment. I would be more comfortable if the Hon. Member referred the question to the respective Minister.
HON. TOFFA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like the Hon. Minister to advise whether his Ministry has now got a structured format for start-up mining companies. I ask this question because in our meetings with the Ministry, we found that there was no structured format with regards to social responsibility.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, is it arising
from the original question?
HON. TOFFA: Sorry Madam Speaker, yes the Minister was talking about social responsibility and making sure that when companies merge they will be responsible for the social responsibility, if I heard him correctly.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think it is the same as (c) which has been referred to the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment because the responsibilities of ownership schemes are under that Ministry.
AWARDING OF THE REFURBISHING CONTRACT ON
HARARE CITY ROADS
- HON. CHIRISA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to state whether due diligence was done before awarding the contractor refurbishing city roads in Harare, in view of the fact that the recently resurfaced roads already have potholes and melting tar.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Chirisa for asking that question. The answer to the question is that the refurbishing of city
roads in Harare is being done in-house by the City of Harare maintenance units who are the responsible authority. Further questions on this project could therefore be directed to the relevant Ministry which is the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing so that they can get the information from the City Council, then the Hon. Member can be fully answered.
The sections done by Group Five along Samora Machel as part of the Plumtree – Harare – Mutare rehabilitation project which were developing potholes and melting tar have since been attended to by Group Five. I thank you.
HON. PHIRI: The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is responsible for local authorities but the money comes from ZINARA which falls under the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. What measures are you putting in place in these cities and towns to make sure that the money that you are giving them is not being used for other things? Madam Speaker, what might be happening is that the local authorities might not be using the money for the purpose that your Ministry is intending the money to be used for.
- GUMBO: The Hon. Member is right that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is responsible for acquitting funds to the local authority and to the urban councils through ZINARA, but the supervision of that money and how that money is going to be used is the responsibility of that road authority. I thank you.
MEASURES TO CURB ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY CATTLE
ALONG BULAWAYO-SHANGANI HIGHWAY
- HON. MPALA asked the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development to state measures his Ministry has put in place to minimize accidents caused by cattle along the Bulawayo – Shangani highway.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Madam Speaker, a lot of traffic accidents have been happening on the
Bulawayo – Shangani stretch of the road. The majority of the accidents are as a result of stray animals being hit by vehicles especially during the night. The Traffic Safety Council embarked on a programme of targeting cattle and donkeys with reflective materials and branding the animals which identifies the owner of the animal along the section of the highway. This has resulted in the reduction of accidents. The standard for all our highways is that there should…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Oder, order, Hon. Members
at that corner there, stop that meeting.
HON. DR. GUMBO: Madam Speaker, the standard for all our highways is that they should be fenced off to prevent random movement of people and animals on the road. The fence that goes along the highway was vandalised and its replacement has been hampered by none availability of funds. As soon as the levels of funding permit, we will improve fencing along that road and also even amongst other roads as well because this is a cause of concern for the Ministry. I thank you.
HON. J. TSHUMA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My
supplementary question to the Minister is, while you have alluded to the fact of fencing to try and curb the animals from coming onto the roads, we have got another new problem now. Your Ministry had done very well by putting reflectors on our highways, so it was so visible you could see. But now, I have discovered; because I am one of the drivers who drive along that road, I have discovered that these reflectors are being stolen and you can actually go through a patch of the road without the reflectors anymore now. What is your Ministry doing to try and monitor somehow to make sure that probably there is a vehicle that goes around to check on such things because they happen during the night, obviously?
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to
thank Hon. Tshuma for that question, but I would like to say that his concerns are also my concerns. The issue that people go about removing fences and reflectors is something that I think every citizen should be concerned about. It can be very difficult; whilst I take the advice, if funds were permitting then we can have a patrolling vehicle so that people do not remove those reflectors from the roads but definitely, it is something that I think every member and citizen should be concerned about, but it is very difficult. I can take the advice but it is something that is very difficult to implement. I thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: On a point of order Madam Speaker. I
asked the same question about three weeks ago to the Deputy Minister who was present and his response is quite contrary to the response that the Minister has just availed. The Deputy Minister, then said, they will change the type of the reflectors to have new reflectors which are not made out of aluminium. So, I do not know whether his response was not in correspondence with the Minister or it was just shooting from the bush.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think you are at an
advantage now, here is a Cabinet Minister we are talking to. So, that question has helped the whole House. We have the Cabinet Minister to give us the answer.
PROGRESS ON DUALISATION OF THE KADOMA-NORTON
HIGHWAY
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development what progress has been made on the Development Bank of Southern Africa Loan facility of US$147 million for the dualisation of the Kadoma-Norton Highway.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam Speaker. For the benefit of my colleague Hon. Mutseyami, when I read the response by my Deputy Minister, he had said he was going to investigate. That is the answer that was given. I am still saying we are not contradicting each other, because if it is another plan to bring in something that can be permanent, there is no contradiction at all. I answered the question of thieving and of removing,
I do not think there is any contradiction between myself and my Deputy Minister.
Thank you Madam Speaker. Pertaining to question number 17, the
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) agreed to increase the
Plumtree-Mutare project loan, by US$147 million to cover dualisation of the Kadoma-Norton section. One condition of this extra amount was that the Government must increase the fuel levy by two cents per litre, for which concurrence of the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development and Ministry of Energy and Power Development, was supposed to be obtained. This is yet to be done.
There is also currently some internal discussion on the priority of this road, compared to other such roads as the Beitbridge-HarareChirundu and Harare-Nyamapanda roads. I thank you.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE BEITBRIDGE-CHIRUNDU
HIGHWAY
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Transport and
Infrastructural Development, what progress his Ministry has made in the construction of the Beitbridge to Chirundu highway; and further state:
- What will be the local contractors’ involvement in this project?
- What loss the project is expected to make;
- When the project ground breaking ceremony and commencement is expected to be?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Madam Speaker. Proposals for the Beitbridge-HarareChirundu road are being assessed and it is expected that Government will make an announcement very soon.
As regards to the cost of the project, it is estimated at US$2 billion and also as regards to local component involvement in the construction of the road, it is one condition that we have put in place that whoever is given that tender will have to include a section of our local people to get involved. We are actually looking at not less than 40 to 50% local people participation in those projects. I thank you.
RESUMPTION OF LABOUR-BASED ROADS CONSTRUCTION
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural
Development, whether the Ministry is considering resumption of labour based road construction, as was the case with Empress-Copper Queen in Gokwe, Gamwa–Tokwe in Shurugwi and Chegutu-Mubaira.
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):
Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My Ministry is considering the reintroduction of labour based road construction as it is proved from the past experience to assist in attaining fairly good conditions of gravel roads as well as provide incomes to the rural populace through engagement of locals in the projects.
What has hampered the re-introduction of this programme so far, is the unavailability of funding which we require firstly, for the training of contractors and our own staff to be engaged on the projects and secondly, to finance the implementation of these projects. We will embark on the projects as soon as we secure funding.
HON. GABBUZA: Mr. Speaker Sir has the Minister considered how much it would cost, how much funding the Ministry needs for the training of these contractors. Why is it not possible to get this funding from the toll fees collected by ZINARA?
HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Gabbuza for that question. The position is that as a ministry we are looking at providing the locals who will be working on these roads with some tools which we can provide.
As I have already alluded to, we are also looking at training locals who will be responsible for supervising. The costing as you would want to know, of all these involvements has not yet been finalised because I think what is going to happen is that, different areas or different situations will require different funding and also different ways of supervision. The point has been taken, as a Ministry we are looking at that, it is critical and very important that we look at the issues being raised by the Hon. Members. As a Ministry and regarding the importance of the question that has been asked, particularly for our rural roads, it is something which we should be looking forward to because it will assist us in keeping our roads in a better shape, particularly in the rural areas. I thank you.
CONSERVATION OF THE DECREASING WATER LEVELS
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development whether the Ministry has considered recycling water being pumped by the three remaining pumping units at Kariba Dam in order to conserve the fast decreasing water levels.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE): Pumped-storage
hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectricity energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of gravitational potential energy of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps. During periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is released through turbines to produce electric power. This system is normally used for small hydro power plants that do not have sufficient water to run throughout the year.
Lake Kariba is a perennial lake, thus it normally has enough water to run the turbines throughout the year without the need for pumped storage. As such the Kariba power plant was not designed for pumped storage. Pumped storage would typically require another lower reservoir to be built downstream of the turbines so as to allow for installation of pumps and other equipment. Normally, you use reversible turbines that can work as both turbines and pumps. That would be used for pumping the water back to the upper reservoir.
It is therefore, technically impractical to pump back the water to the upper reservoir at Kariba with the current design. You would require 30% more power to pump the water back. Water also needs to be released downstream for other downstream users such as tourism, Hydro Cabora Bassa, et cetera.
HON. NDUNA: Supplementary.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
What is your supplementary question Hon. Nduna?
HON. NDUNA: I think I have been sufficiently answered Hon.
Speaker. I withdraw my supplementary.
ZESA’S REQUIREMENT ON FARMERS DEBTS’
- HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to:
- Clarify the Ministry’s position regarding the requirement by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority that farmers and those owing large amounts of money to this parastatals, pay 50% of their current bill before accessing more credit.
- Explain what position regarding households which do not have pre-paid meters although said households have already paid for them;
- Explain what help the farmers are getting to lessen the effects of load shedding;
- Explain the current position of the Rural Electrification Programme, in particular the electrification of Ward 5 and 6 in Negande area which is 12km from Siakobvu, Kariba constituency.
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE): Hon. Speaker Sir, the
hon. member’s question – the position is what had been proposed and implemented by ZETDC before as a ministry we are advised the continued implementation of the percentage debt deductions. Most farmers are now on post paid system and this means that for the debt, they have to make payment plans for clearing the outstanding obligations with ZETDC. For those who have prepaid meters, they are having the prepaid purchase standard 40% debt deduction on every purchase made, just like the domestic customers. There is no difference between the two categories of customers.
On question (b); ZETDC has a ZIM ASSET target to install 800 000 prepaid meters by year 2018. To this end they have managed to install 551 000. Currently ZETDC does not have meters in stock to connect new customers and to finalise the retrofitting programme. An additional 300 000 prepaid meters will be installed by 2018 at a cost of
US$30 million. Progress to date; tender adjudication for 150 000 meters completed on 18 October, 2015. Adjudication report was submitted to SBP on 20th October 2015. Meters are therefore expected in February, 2016.
In the interim as a Ministry we will facilitate direct purchase of 30 000 meters for interim relief.
On question (c); ZETDC has been engaging the tobacco and wheat farmers every month to find out areas of concern and to provide relief. For these two groups of farmers they have been given some days of uninterrupted load shedding days to assist with wheat-grain filling in the months of August to end of October and for tobacco planting week.
On question (d); more information is required for consideration of the issue. However, at Siakobvu, there is electricity and the grid extension to Negande will be planned for by REA according to the funding availed for the next budget period. Hon. Speaker, this completes the question, I thank you.
HON. GABBUZA: Hon. Speaker, is the Minister aware in part
(d) that by not providing electricity to Siakobvu, Government is in breach of the agreement that was made between the colonial regime and the people of Siakobvu for the construction of Kariba dam and for the evacuation of the residence in that area?
HON. DR. UNDENGE: Hon. Speaker Sir, it is the current
Government’s intention and programme to ensure that every part of
Zimbabwe is electrified despite the existence of colonial agreements. We are not guided by colonial agreements. We are guided by our current policies of which every corner of Zimbabwe must be connected with electricity. Therefore, electricity is coming to Siakobvu irrespective of that colonial arrangement. We are not going to bring electricity to Siakobvu because of the colonial arrangement, it is because of the new current thrust to ensure that every household, every corner of Zimbabwe is electrified. That is why the Rural Electrification Fund was created, simply to ensure that we roll out electricity to most parts of the country as soon as possible. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
*HON. MACKENZIE: Minister like what has been said. The people in Nyaminyami-Siakobvu are the ones that have been removed from Zambezi so that electricity can be made available. The electricity that is there now is for thermal power coming from Hwange which is not strong enough and the people want their electricity to be hydro. Do you have any plans for people in Kariba-Nyaminyami to have hydro electricity which is more reliable?
HON. DR. UNDENGE: Hon. Speaker Sir. I am glad he is a Member of Parliament from that area, I appreciate his passion for him to consume electricity from the Kariba dam but the connection of electricity has its technicalities. It has its own logistics, our aim as a
Government is to ensure that every household in Zimbabwe, every area in Zimbabwe is electrified. We do not distinguish whether it is electricity from Kariba or from Hwange thermal power station. The objective is to put electricity into every home and every area. I thank you.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESTRUCTURING STRATEGY
ADOPTED BY THE HWANGE COLLIERY COMPANY
- 5. B. TSHUMA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to explain progress in the implementation of the restructuring strategy adopted by the Hwange Colliery Company Limited at its 2014 Annual General Meeting in particular.
THE HON. MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA):
- To state the physical places where the five divisions will be established;
- Hwange Coal Mining Division comprises of the following strategic business units and to be established at existing sites.
- 3 Main Underground Mine o Opencast JKL Mine o Chaba Mine (Mota Engil Contract)
- Hwange Plant and Equipment Division to be established as cost
- Hwange Coal Mining Division comprises of the following strategic business units and to be established at existing sites.
Centres at current Engineering Offices and workshops
- Engineering Services
- Hwange Cola Processing and Cokeworks Division will be at the current location of No. 2 Offices, Coal Preparation Plant and Coke Oven
Batteries
- Hwange Properties and Estates Divisions will be established at the current Estates Offices and would take charge of all the residential commercial and recreational properties within the concession area.
- Hwange Medical Division will be established at the current hospital and will run the two hundred (200) bed private hospital and its five (5) satellite clinics.
- Outline the governance structure of each division
- The Mining Metallurgical Operations, Estates and Medical
Division operates as a profit centre while the Engineering Services Division operates as a cost centre.
- The Mining and Metallurgical Operations Divisions report to the General Manager Operations while the Estates and Medical Divisions report to the Managing Director.
- The Division Executive Manager will be supported by a team of managers with expertise in the relevant areas.
- For accountability purposes, each division will have its own finance and human resources functions.
- The other corporate services will remain at company level and will be shared across all the Divisions and SBU’s.
( c ) Explain the nature of the relationship between the units and the main company.
- These will be operating Divisions of Hwange Colliery Company and they are not separate legal entities.
- The Heads of these Divisions report and are accountable to the Managing Director or any delegated Senior Manager and would form part of the Executive Team together with Heads of Services Divisions.
(d) State when the process is expected to be completed
- The Estates Division will be operationalised after the full commissioning of the US$31 million equipment that was acquired from BELAZ (Belarus) and BEML (India).
- The process is expected to be completed by 31st December, 2015.
HOUSING OF HWANGE COLLIERY COMPANY
EMPLOYEES IN OLD COLONIAL HOUSING STRUCTURES
- 6. B. TSHUMA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to explain:
(a) Why Hwange Colliery Company employees are still housed in the old colonial housing structures such as Lwendulu, Madumabisa and Makwika villages, where the community shares ablution facilities?
THE HON. MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA): Just after
independence in 1983, the company employed more than 6 000 employees and all were housed in company accommodation. The notable retrenchments done in 1998, 2004 and 2015 have seen the staff compliment reducing to 2 778 as at 31st December, 2014.
As a result of the reduction in staff head count, the pressure on housing requirements eased. The bulk of the occupants of the old housing structures with shared ablutions at No. 1, 2 and 3 villages are non-colliery employees and domestic workers for colliery employees.
In 2012, the company had plans to close down these structures but this would have left some families homeless. The community leaders pleaded with the company to leave structures available for occupation by the local community at normal and cost recovery charges.
(b) Whether the company had plans to dispose of these houses to the current occupants and if not, state the scheme in place for employees to own houses.
- For the period 2002 to 2012, there was a project to build self- contained units and a total of 227 units were converted from the communal ablution structures at a cost of $2.7 million. This was confined to No. 1 (Lwendulu) Village.
- In 2010, the company submitted an application to the Department of Physical Planning in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, for the sectional tilting of the residential and commercial properties in the No. 1 area, which by the way is mined out. Once approval is obtained, the company can consider whether or not to dispose the properties to current occupants.
There are three (3) schemes in place for employees to own their houses.
- The NEC employees, the company facilitated the establishment of the Dynamic Fund. Employees contribute US$150.00 per month for low density, US$130.00 for medium density and US$100 for high density suburbs.
- The company in a strategic partnership with Hwange Local Board managed to service 250 medium density stands in Empumalanga. Colliery employees were allocated 30 stands on a first come basis upon payment of an amount of US$2 500. For managerial employees, that is from Foreman upward, there is the Company Housing Loan Policy where employees can access various amounts depending on grade and also subject to availability of funds. This has enabled managers top acquire their own houses in urban areas of their choice.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND
POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. UNDENGE), the House
adjourned at Six Minutes to Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 17th November, 2015.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 27th October, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER
INVITATION TO CATHOLIC LEGISLATORS THE HON. SPEAKER: Will all catholic legislators assemble in the Senate Chamber tomorrow at 1145 hours.
COMMITTEE STAGE
BANKING AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 6, 2015] First Order read: Committee Stage: Banking Amendment Bill
[H.B. 6, 2015].
House in Committee.
HON. CROSS: Madam Chair, I would want to report to the
House that this Bill is under consideration by the Budget and Finance Committee. We met yesterday to take advice from the Reserve Bank and the Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. We have agreed on amendments to the Bill and we wish to ask the House to defer consideration of the Bill at Committee Stage until such time we have a chance to submit amendments to the Bill.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Madam Chair, under the circumstances, I move that the Chairperson reports progress and seeks leave to sit again.
House resumed.
Progress reported.
Committee to resume: Wednesday, 28th October, 2015.
COMMITTEE STAGE
ADVERSE REPORT BY THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL
COMMITTEE ON STATUTORY INSTRUMENT NO. 77 OF 2015
Second Order read: Committee Stage: Adverse Report by the
Parliamentary Legal Committee on Statutory Instrument No. 77 of 2015.
House in Committee.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Chairperson, apparently debate is exhausted and also the Minister of Health and Child Care is out of the country. Therefore, I move that the Chairperson reports progress and seeks leave to sit again.
House resumed.
Progress reported.
Committee to resume: Wednesday, 28th October, 2015.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. CHIKOMBA: Thank you for affording me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the State of the Nation Address at the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament addressed by His Excellency the President, Cde. R. G. Mugabe.
Madam Speaker, I will begin with the State of the Nation Address which was in relation to the creation of micro-economic fundamentals and indeed a positive engagement with the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review presented by Hon. Chinamasa earlier this year. I will not go into the …
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: On a point of order Madam Speaker, I think the Order of the Day that has been read does not concern the State of the Nation Address. The Hon. Member appears to be saying that he wants to debate on the State of the Nation Address instead of the Presidential Speech which is motion number three.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, are you
replying to the national address or the …
HON. CHIKOMBA: In fact, I was going to contribute to both, the
State of the Nation Address and the Opening of Parliament. – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, the debate is on
the speech that was presented by the President at the Official Opening of
Parliament. You can proceed if you wish…
HON. CHIKOMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker, I will do it
again.
HON. D. M. NCUBE: I wish to commend His Excellency the
President for the speech that he delivered at the Opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament... -[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Members, may I appeal to Hon. Members to kindly lower your whispers. We want to hear what the Hon. Member is contributing also; he is far at the back of the House.
HON. D. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I wish to commend His Excellency for the speech he gave at the Opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament. The goals which he gave us are clear and achievable if we really decide to work efficiently and effectively.
Madam Speaker, the number of Bills tabled by His Excellency for consideration give a clear signal and message that our economy can grow if we attract both foreign and local direct investment. Zimbabwe should be a destination of choice for direct investments. Most countries in the world welcome and compete for FDIs. The intensity of competition has increased as a consequence of the fallen barriers to international investments and due to globalisation of the world…
Hon. Members having stood to converse in the House between the Chair and the Hon. Member debating.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members,
order! Order, order, Hon. Members.
HON. D.M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. The intensity of competition for FDIs have increased as a consequence of fallen barriers to international investments and due to globalisation of the world economy. Tax incentives are one of the main instruments for attracting FDIs. The other factors are predictable and nondiscriminatory regulatory environment. The absence of excessive administrative bureaucracy, hence the wish by His Excellency that the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) be turned into a true one stop shop investment centre.
Good infrastructure also is a major consideration for inflows of FDIs, such as roads, water supply and power. Madam Speaker, the conversion of the State Procurement Board into a non-executive standards setting and compliance monitoring body shows that as a country we are serious about attracting business. We aim to do all we can to make Zimbabwe the destination of choice for investors both local and foreign. We must therefore, work diligently as Members of
Parliament to ensure that the Legislature ………
HON MUNENGAMI: On a point of order Madam Speaker. The
Hon. Member instead of referring to his notes, he is actually reading word by word.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I saw the Hon. Member
referring because at certain stages he was looking at me - [Laughter.]-
HON. D.M. NCUBE: Yes, Madam Speaker I am referring to my notes - [Laughter] - Thank you Madam Speaker, we must work diligently as Members of Parliament to ensure that the legislative agenda as set out by His Excellency is promptly fulfilled.
I wish to touch on role of infrastructure as an engine of growth and development. By its very nature, infrastructure is capital intensive and requires a long gestation period from feasibility to implementation phases. If we are really patriotic, we need to realise that sanctions have had a major impact for Zimbabwe to attract infrastructure finance. As a result, we have not undertaken much meaningful infrastructure and there has been a lot of neglect in terms of under investment in infrastructure.
Madam Speaker, so many questions have been raised on why the
Beitbridge – Harare - Chirundu highway has not been given any priority. The road carries a lot of traffic, particularly heavy trucks. Some of the trucks straddle onto oncoming traffic leading to head on collisions. The road in some places has no shoulders and some of the edge backs - because of lack of maintenance, are in such a deplorable state that they pose a great danger to motorists particularly those motorists who are coming from South Africa where the roads are in good shape.
In South Africa major highways are tolled and meet a certain minimum standard. We must therefore, not take tolling lightly. It is actually a commitment that you are paying to use a road which meets a certain standard. I should not be a one way ticket to heaven. I therefore, challenge the new Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to make a difference. His candid comments on his provincial tours have been very encouraging.
We also need to pay particular attention to our railway system.
For a start, the railway needs to address particular attention to the signaling system. Around the 16th October, two goods trains collided leading to unnecessary loss of lives. This is unacceptable. Particular efforts have to be redoubled to ensure that our railway system which used to be the pride of southern Africa is returned to its former glory.
On the 30th October, I interacted with some of the recent graduates on the Faculty of Engineering. I was moved by these young Zimbabwean some of whom were facing a bleak future in the job market. There is so much to be done in this country, our infrastructure is in dire need of rehabilitation. In almost all urban cities water supply is awfully in adequate. Sewage treatment works are virtually nonfunctional. These young and keen graduates can assist in building our country but they need to be given opportunities. Opportunities will remain few and far in between if we as legislators do not act in unison. We cannot be contesting for political power while we are ignoring economic fundamentals. It is my humble submission that, maybe we need to regulate the mushrooming of political parties and concentrate on economic matters.
It should treasonous to agitate for punitive economic measures against your own country. Let those who agitate for punitive economic measures against their country be arraigned before the courts and be barred from contesting in any elections until such a time that they redeem themselves.
Lastly, Madam Speaker, the Government and local authorities need to be resolute in addressing the issue of land barons. These heartless people, some of whom I am made to understand are Members of
Parliament, should be dealt with without fear or favour. It is a duty of every responsible Government to safeguard the welfare of its citizens. These land barons or financial leeches should be dealt with decisively and not selectively. Therefore, land barons wherever they are, should be warned that their time is up. I thank you.
HON. SIMBANEGAVI: Thank you Madam Speaker Maám.
Firstly, I want to thank the President of Zimbabwe, Cde R.G. Mugabe for taking his time to preside over the opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of Zimbabwe and setting the agenda for the session. I want to appreciate that the President has directed the Eighth Parliament to focus on improving the economy through discussion of
Bills, such as the Companies’ Act, Zimbabwe Investment Authority Bill and others.
It is gladdening to note that there is serious focus on the stimulation of both local and foreign direct investment inflows. Also that Government is focusing on introducing measures to improve business environment in the country. The consideration of the one-stopshop for investment initiative should be taken seriously by this august House.
In the Public Procurement Bill, this will see better and improved procurement procedures of goods such as drugs and technological equipment. The decentralisation of the procurement functions to ministries, public enterprises and local authorities will improve the movement of essential and critically needed goods. The clearance of administrative bottlenecks at the country’s border posts will also go a long way in improving economic activities.
Special focus on the Economic Zones Bill will improve industrialisation. However, more focus should be placed on skills development and technology transfer, especially for the youths living in rural areas. There is serious need to revive our industries, especially the manufacturing sector. So, it is very gratifying that the President talked about the Banking Amendment Bill as a way of regulating and strengthening the banking system to ensure smooth flow of funds from banks to Small and Medium Enterprises.
The mining sector is critical to the revival of the economy. His Excellency, the President highlighted on the importance to invest in exploration. Value addition and beneficiation is important for the promotion of participation of small scale miners. The issuing of licences and better marketing platforms to small scale miners – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! Can the hon. member
be heard in silence?
HON. SIMBANEGAVI: The issuing of licences and better marketing platforms to small scale miners should be improved as envisaged under ZIM ASSET. Madam Speaker, the protection and promotion of consumer rights for fair business competition and market is also very important. If the Zimbabwe Standards Regulatory Authority is operationalised, compliance and quality, safety and improved standards of imports and exports will be ensured. It is also good that the issue of infrastructure development was clear in the President’s Speech, taking into consideration the state of our road networks and other infrastructure, such as rural schools and clinics. Such focus from the Government is highly appreciated.
Tourism is also another important sector and facilitation of free movement of tourists through the National Border Posts Authority Bill is going to promote tourism. However, it is very critical to keep a close monitoring on foreign tourists to reduce poaching of wild life and other illegal activities by foreigners.
In conclusion, the Cooperative Societies Act will deal with issues of SMEs and vendors. It will also regulate and promote sustainable economic participation of cooperatives. Therefore, it is very gratifying that the President also put much focus on that sector. With these few words, I thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 28th October, 2015.
MOTION
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY
THE PRESIDENT
Fourth Order Read: Adjourned on motion in reply to the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President.
Question again proposed.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 28th October, 2015.
MOTION
REPEAL OF THE VAGRANCY ACT
HON. MUDEREDZWA: I move the motion standing in my name
that this House -
CONCERNED by the increasing number of beggars, street kids, street mothers, fathers and youths at road intersections and pavements in urban areas;
DISTURBED by wanton abuse of alcohol and other intoxicants by younger generation against African values and norms;
ALARMED by the increasing levels of prostitution in both urban areas and growth points around the country;
CONCERNED by the Government’s inertia in addressing such abnormalities in society;
CONSCIOUS that the Government has a constitutional duty to look after the poor and the weak and to hold the norms of society; NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon the Executive to:
- Repeal such laws as the Vagrancy Act that are alien to safeguarding the interests of the poor and the weak;
- Introduce laws that are amendable to upholding human rights and dignity of the underprivileged;
- Effectively play a paternal role to such vulnerable groups in line with its constitutional obligations;
- Engage the service of the abundant pool of social workers from the institutions of higher learning in order to promote reformation and rehabilitation of social misfits for the common good.
HON. MUDARIKWA: I second.
HON. MUDEREDZWA: Thank you Madam Speaker Maám. I
moved this motion being motivated by a number of factors which I am going to highlight and describe. There is an increasing number of beggars, street kids, street fathers and mothers, youths who are found at road intersections and pavements doing immoral things. We have noted that there is an increasing number of youth who are wantonly abusing alcohol and other intoxicants. It is disturbing to see that in urban areas, cities and towns, there is an increasing number of prostitution. In Harare, if you go to the Avenues at night, you will see immoral things happening there.
Hon. Madam Speaker, why is it that we are having these things in a country such as ours? The people I am talking about are beggars, they are found everywhere. They are found right here in the City. If you go to Fourth Street and Samora Machel Avenue, if you go to Avondale and quite a number of intersections, there are a lot of disturbances that take place. People who come to work usually ignore what they see, especially us Members of Parliament and those who are working for the Government. I think these things are supposed to be managed. We are living in a society that advocates for observing African values and human norms. These people really seem to have no protection. There is nobody who is looking after them. This problem is actually increasing day by day.
Hon. Madam Speaker, there is an issue that I regard as the vicious cycle theory. These street kids started long back as young boys and girls and they have now grown up to become men and women. They are now having children in the streets, behind buildings and along the rivers. That is where they are staying. They are actually having their families there but these people are also involved in crime and violence. What we should know is that part of our problem in the administration of justice is caused by us failing to look after these vulnerable groups. These people eventually commit crimes. When they commit crimes, they are taken to prison; the Government will be obliged by law to look after these people in prison. As they stay in prison, they became hardened criminals but with the passage of time, they are going to be released from prison, they go back to the streets, they commit crimes again and this problem continues unabated at the expense of the fiscus. We are saying let us nip this problem in the bud.
Hon. Madam Speaker, as a Government, we are supposed to have a system that manages these problems. I take note that there are a number of inadequacies in our administration system. There is a law that is called the Vagrancy Act. I wanted to know about this Vagrancy Act, then I went to the Oxford Dictionary and I looked at the definition of vagrancy. It is talking of a person who wanders from place to place without a place to settle, without a job and a person who is considered to be lazy or dishonest. If you look at the word vagrant, it talks about a person without a settled home or regular work, hence the word vagrancy is a condition of committing the offence that is called the vagrancy.
Let us now look at the genesis of the Vagrancy Act, how it came about. Hon. Madam Speaker, it is disturbing to note that the Vagrancy Act is part of the colonial laws that were created by our colonisers. We are aware that there was the Land Tenure Act, the Land Husbandry Act, the Land Apportionment Act and the Trespassers Control Act. These Acts were created by the colonisers and they caused our people to move from rural areas into urban areas …
Hon. Mutseyami having moved from his place to the other side of the House.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON DZIVA): Order, order,
Hon. Mutseyami, may you please sit properly and concentrate.
HON. MUDEREDZWA: Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker. I
was making reference to oppressive laws that are also part of the
Vagrancy Act, Chapter 10 (25). That was created long back in the year 1960. This law, according to Government administration, is supposed to be administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, that those people who are caught under this Act should be prosecuted. When I looked at the Act, it describes a vagrant as a person who does not have a place to live and who is not employed. Our people ended up coming to urban areas; you know places like Mbare in Harare and Makokoba in Bulawayo, they were hostels that used to accommodate them so that they create a labour force. But these hostels could not accommodate large numbers of people who were coming to urban areas. What was happening then was that the colonisers came up with this Act so that they can protect these people from moving into the CBD area and low density areas. So, the law is supposed to arrest vagrancy, beggars and so forth …
An hon. member having passed between the member speaking and the Chair.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! Order! hon. member,
may you please go back, you are crossing the floor.
HON. MUDEREDZWA: So, in terms of the law. Hon. Madam Speaker, the law is there to prevent vagrancy and for dealing with THE insane. It used to be there to suppress the black majority so that they are not able to go to areas meant for whites. But this law is still on our statutes and I am saying, why is it still there? If it is still there, why is it not being enforced? The problem with this law is that the law is colonial and it is archaic and the law enforcement agencies are not enforcing it.
As Hon. Members of Parliament, as Government, we are not taking any action and this is not good at all for our nation.
I take note of the fact that the problem of children in the streets is supposed to be catered for by the Children’s Protection and Adoption Act. In a way, this law also is colonial in nature because it is talking of adoption of children which is not a common practice in African culture. Also, any person who is above the age of 16 cannot be arrested or corrected in terms of the Children’s Protection and Adoption Act. The Vagrancy Act from the other side cannot be enforced on people who are under the age of 16, hence there is that vacuum. We are saying, this vacuum should be plugged by coming up with a law, a law that is paternal in nature, a law that is able to look after all the vulnerable people in our society. A Government…
[An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon.
Member speaking]
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member,
go back to your seat. You are disturbing the Hon. Member debating.
HON. MUDEREDZWA: Madam Speaker, I am saying both laws
have weaknesses that cannot plug the problem that we are seeing. It is not proper for us as enlightened members of society to see this type of problem continuing unabated. I am saying, let us come up with a new law, a paternal law, and a law that is supposed to cater for these people. This law should cause the nation to come up with a fund; a fund that is similar to the Aids levy, a fund that each and every Zimbabwean who is working should subscribe to, so that we have a fund that does not run dry. This fund will then be used to cater for these people.
Madam Speaker, even in this Parliament, every day we start with a prayer that relates to the appointment of offices of rulers and parliaments for the welfare of society and the just government of man. This prayer is also talking about rulers and parliaments being entrusted by the people. We are saying we should mobilise the nation including churches and every sector of society to come up with a paternal law. This law will cause the nation to have this fund. The fund is going to be used by the nation so that we are in a position to look after these people.
We have social workers, our institutions of higher learning are coming up with social workers, those who have done psychology and so forth, these people are underutilised. They should be employed where they are engaged in human behaviour modification efforts. We are saying if we nip this problem in the bud, we will be in a position to come up with a society that is law abiding.
I want to make reference to a country called Rwanda which is not far away from here. It is a place where there is a national cohesion towards social ills. Right now, if you go to Rwanda, you will not see papers littered around in the streets and highways. These people have come together as a nation and said we have certain norms and values to observe. They have agreed, even if you call it a guided democracy, they are doing very good things in their country. We are saying as
Zimbabweans, it can be very good for us to ensure that we come up with a programme that is able to address issues that I have been talking about.
I think even tourists will be very happy to come to Zimbabwe, as they drive their vehicles passing certain intersections, they will not see these beggars, street kids, drunken people who are everywhere and some of them even naked. If you go to the Avenues, they put on skirts at night, if you are passing there with a beautiful vehicle; they show their nakedness and then cover themselves afterwards – [Laughter] – Suppose tourists have come to Zimbabwe and see these things, they will see or take Zimbabwe in bad light. Madam Speaker, let us ensure that as a nation we are organised. We claim that Zimbabwe is an educated nation; if we really are, let us show that we are educated by our behaviour, by ensuring that we look after those people who are unable to look after themselves.
Madam Speaker, my debate is to stimulate discussion in the nation about these issues. I hope that Parliamentarians who are here are going to take this debate further so that we are in a position to address these archaic laws as a nation. This is why I am saying my prayer in the motion should be addressed. Otherwise, I would like to thank you very much Madam Speaker.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for allowing me to contribute on the motion by Hon. Muderedzwa. This motion is basically about our youths. Our youths now are victims of some drugs which are being manufactured in South Africa, moved to Botswana and then sold in the streets of Harare. There is a cough mixture known as ‘bronco’ and when they are in Mbare, they call it ngoma. In other instances in the morning, it costs a US$1 and when they get drunk, it increases by the day, it will be sold for US$4. When these youths drink this ‘bronco’, it must not get on to the teeth but the tongue only. When you hear most of those rank marshals shouting
Harare apo! Harare apo! they will be all drunk because of ‘bronco’.
It is actually moving into Zimbabwe in huge quantities, I am sure you saw the arrest which was done by ZRP, where a consignment of over 30 tonnes was confiscated. Bronco is made by a company known as Adcock Ingram Ltd. in South Africa.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Members, may
you please go back and use the other entrance; you are disturbing the Hon. Member speaking.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. These drugs are moved to Botswana, when you go to any waste-dump, like what I did in Murehwa, I commissioned 5 youths; I was paying them US$10 a day and an additional incentive of US$10, if they brought more – 100 containers. We managed within a week to raise 600 empty containers of ‘bronco’ and this shows the extent of the destruction.
We also visited some of the youth who are involved in this drug thing. We greeted them, in the morning they will be struggling to walk and in the evening, they will be very high. Some of them are now 30 years but they do not have any girlfriends. It really shows the social effect of ‘bronco’. Just for people to understand, I worked in the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment for 25 years. I left the Ministry as an Assistant Secretary, I am a youth worker. - [An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon.
Member speaking]-
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order!
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you. So, we checked at their homestead, there is a dog which has nine names; this one comes and gives a name. I think when somebody does not have kids, the desire of naming and just giving those names to dogs and it is an unfortunate situation where our youths are entrenched in this drug syndrome. It is so dangerous that some of them when they have nothing to eat, they now go out and start getting vegetables from neighbours’ gardens and start cooking. It is a situation which needs the nation’s attention. It is a situation which needs the welfare department. It is a situation which we need to do something.
The Youth Development Programme of Zimbabwe must now have
Youth Officers with special skills to deal with these ‘bronco’ graduates. These drug addicts as I am advised here by Hon. Members live a life where on Monday, they put on a jean and they will never wash it until next Monday. These are young people and they are future leaders of Zimbabwe. What do we expect of them?
Our Youth Officers must now get themselves involved. Our urban councils must take a leaf from Bulawayo City Council which gave free land to Amakhosi Theatre led by Conte Mhlanga. I went there to see for myself how they are trying to rehabilitate some of these drunkards. They also tried to bring on board all the youths. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop and we must as a nation look at this problem and deal with it. During the old colonial Harare, there was Mai Musodzi Hall where we used to get musical instruments. That is where Thomas Mapfumo and Harare Mambo Band graduated from. It was the city council welfare programme which provided musical instruments free of charge and some instructors would teach these youths on how to play musical instruments.
We must also realise that some of the Vagrant Acts which have been mentioned by Hon. Muderedzwa, were designed by the colonial rulers not to allow many people to move into urban areas, lest they would hear about nationalism and spread it to the rural areas. We must get rid of these Acts because they are now archaic because it is something which was designed to oppress the black people. The issue with drugs is like a funeral, you only feel the loss of a loved one when it is in your house. In a normal situation, people will wake up and think all is well.
Even if you go to Holiday Inn, you will find some 20 youths seated, drinking and when they drink, the sort of songs that they will be singing - there is too much disorder. When they look at you they start laughing at you. To them, they have made their day by laughing at you. I asked one of them what they were laughing at. They kept quiet and looked at me and said, mudhara une musoro muhombe – [Laughter] – You can imagine how many people in Zimbabwe have the size of my head. They were so interested in me. It is a laughing matter but I am just expressing the sort of danger this nation is facing through our youths who are lost.
Reports show that about 65% of our Zimbabwean youths, one way or the other are trying these drugs. These addicts call these drugs the
“feel-good-drugs”. When I asked them what feels good, they said after you have taken one-and-half bottles of ‘bronco’, everything becomes green and you feel a lot of fresh air. After that, they start taking those lolly-pops. You see a 30 year old youth sucking a lolly-pop and I asked him why he was sucking a lolly-pop and he said, it reminded him of when he was in Grade 7 enjoying music from his teacher. Where is the relationship between music and a lolly-pop? It shows we are heading for a disaster and attention should be drawn to the relevant Ministry that there is a serious problem.
The major reason why these drugs are getting into Zimbabwe…
An Hon Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon
Member speaking.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Member, you
cannot pass through whilst the Member is on the floor.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you. I hope they are not victims of
‘bronco’ because some of them are – [Laughter] – quite senior Members of Parliament who know what is happening. The major reason why our youths are going towards ‘bronco’ is the cost - $3 for a rank marshal is nothing because most of the rank marshals earn between $20 and $30 a day.
One thing that we discovered is that most of the disc jockeys who are in these nightclubs also use….
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! I have asked you the
first time to sit properly and you continue. Hon. Mutseyami can you please go back to where you were so that I can give a ruling.
Order! Can I advise that you should take Parliament business seriously. You should sit well in Parliament and also talk softly. We want to hear the debate that is going on and we also want you to contribute and not only sit, watch and observe. You may continue Hon.
Mudarikwa.
HON. MUDARIKWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. When we
were doing my research, we visited some of the nightclubs and we discovered that some of the disc jockeys, use ‘bronco’. Normally when they start, they will be playing certain music and not participating and dancing. As time goes on towards midnight, you hear them say ‘feel good, feel good’ and everybody will be saying ‘good, good’. They will all be jumping in the air. The disc jockey turns to be a choirmaster of drug addicts. What we have also realised and discovered is that when they get ‘bronco’, sometimes they change the containers. They can put in any other container so that even if the law enforcement agents see them, it is not in the original container.
It is unfortunate that the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child
Care has not visited some of these places. If there was a place in every
Hansard, I would organise empty ‘bronco’ containers and make sure that every pigeon-hole has one. It will assist you when you go back to your constituencies to know that this is what we are talking about. ‘Bronco’ is different from mbanje because when somebody smokes mbanje, you can see the smoke and you can obviously smell it but you cannot smell Broncho. After eating a lollipop, it gives you a different flavour. So, it is an unfortunate situation that now needs our urgent attention.
We can also use churches. Churches in Zimbabwe have created all the tricks to have money. They now have anointed ballpoint pens, which if you buy and sit for examinations in November you are guaranteed that you are going to pass – [Laughter] - We now need to involve our churches to preach to our youths and convert them so that they know that the taking of these drugs is dangerous, is a criminal offence and they will never entre the kingdom of God as a way of trying to convince our youths to move away from this evil system.
Finally Madam Speaker, it is the responsibility of every parent to find out how their son or daughter spends their day. Try to engage them and have some discussion. I visited my sister and tried to talk to one of her sons, in five minutes he was asleep. I woke him and he said,
“sekuru, do not disturb me I am having a nice dream”. All this is a result of massive drug abuse which we must take very seriously. We must also look at a situation where school heads must also be involved to create awareness so that students in schools do not use this Broncho. The cost of alcohol in Zimbabwe to most of the youths is far above their reach. A pint of castle is a dollar and after five pints they do not get drunk but with broncho, with $3 you would have made your day. This is what we must look at.
At international level, the Government must approach the South
African company and ask them why they are manufacturing the drug.
The drug is purely for Botswana market and from Botswana to Zimbabwe. I want to thank Hon. Muderedzwa; he is a former police officer and has the experiences that he can share on individual basis with hon. members and emphasise to them the dangers of drug abuse. The dangers will obviously extend to Aids and HIV because when you are high, you do not discriminate. Also, when the other partner is high, the whole process becomes an event of the day – [Laughter] –
Madam Speaker, I want to thank you for allowing me and appeal to hon. members to go to their constituencies and try to identify, especially at ranks where you see rank marshals. Just look around or task some people to say anyone who brings 100 empty bottles of Broncho, I will give you $10, you will get thousands of them coming from the dumpsites. This thing is happening and we must deal with it once and for all. I want to thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. CHASI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I wish to start by thanking Hon. Muderedzwa for the motion and also to thank Hon. Mudarikwa for the detailed presentation that he has given on this matter to which I also want to add my voice by saying it is indeed a very serious matter. I just want to pick on an aspect which I have not heard from the previous speakers and I want to say that whilst there is a problem concerning importation of some of these drugs from our neighbouring countries, we also need very desperately to look at the controls in our own health institutions. It seems as if there are massive leakages of controlled medicines such as Pethidine. There is also abuse of medicines that are used when treating people that have developed mental problems.
If one goes to Mbare, you will actually see people who are said to have taken these tablets and they are referred to as ‘kabi’. They just take that tablet and the more water they drink, the more drunk they become. It is really a sorry sight and it turns youngsters into zombies. The effect of these drugs on youngsters is very much different from alcohol or even broncho. However, I also want to say that this broncho thing has become so serious. It is now being sold publicly and the effect is very immediate.
I want to congratulate the Executive for their actions to date which have resulted in the arrest of some of these people who are importing these drugs. I also want to urge the Minister of Health and Child Care and the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment to work in close collaboration and ensure that the public institutions that are responsible for these drugs actually tighten the controls. The laws are already in place which require that this be done, but it seems as if there has been a breakdown of administration in this respect. I thank you.
*HON. RUNGANI: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to make my contribution on Hon. Muderedzwa’s motion. I feel this is a very pertinent issue. We have observed street kids who are indulging in this substance. We should start with our children in our homes. If you ask these children where they are coming from, they will tell you they are coming from Epworth. They run away from school and start begging for money in the streets and the money they get is for buying these drugs.
In 2005, I saw some people who were in the middle of the street between First Street and Nelson Mandela, during that time they were young but they are now family people with children who were born in that place. I appeal to the police to collect these people from the streets and take them to some place. When you ask some of these people where they are coming from, most of them say they come from Epworth, especially on streets like First Street and Nelson Mandela.
These places have no toilets and therefore they use the sanitary lanes and these people smell. If you ask them why they are there, they say they come to fend for themselves; they want to get some money for their school fees. We have children who are on the streets, how do you fend for them? They are on the streets, we see them at the same place and there are games which they play. They will be playing cards and I remember some time these guys were playing these card games at the back of a truck which was parked. I am asking the law enforcement agents what their role is in curbing this menace because they are heading for disaster. I also want to talk about the shuttle taxis commonly known as ‘mushikashika’. The touts will be hanging precariously behind these cars, we seriously need to do something and rehabilitate these people.
In my constituency, I am hard-working and do a lot of farming to the point that I will never be a beggar. If you are living comfortably, you will not need to run away from home to come and beg on the streets. These street kids and beggars are lazy and do not want to fend for themselves hence they seek solace from bronco and mbanje.
I have seen people in Mbare selling tablets and other medication. They even have the audacity of boarding buses and start selling those tablets. I am asking the law enforcement agents why they are not controlling this menace. Tablets should only be distributed by authorized dispensers like pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. I appeal to the police to arrest these perpetrators because once they start selling these drugs they then proceed to sell bronco. This is why I stood to make my contribution that we control our offspring for a brighter future.
*HON. PHIRI: I would like to thank the Hon. Members who contributed to this motion and also make my humble contribution on the issue of drug and substance abuse; and prostitution that was mentioned by one of my predecessors.
When we talk of drugs, I represent an urban constituency called Kadoma Central. This is a very painful experience and I have noticed that most of the children who are partaking in the abuse of substance are of school going age; who should be in schools and not loitering in the streets. What is painful is that, no action is taken when you report this to the law enforcement agents to alert them as to where this is happening. I am relating to a typical case of what happened in my constituency.
I held a meeting in my constituency and was given the location of a particular house where drugs were being dispensed. The policemen who went to the place, raided it and arrested the perpetrators but did not find any substance or evidence that drugs were being sold. I am sure one of the people who attended the meeting that I held was a sell-out who went and informed these people that they were about to be raided by the police. I believe the police were responsible for tipping off these criminals. One of the women, at the meeting accused me of trying to get her arrested.
The most painful thing about drug abuse is the fact that these youngsters are our future leaders. These drugs that should be helping sick people are being smuggled from hospitals yet hospitals have security guards and security systems that are in place in order to curb the smuggling of drugs from hospitals. We know that records should be kept and security agents should be alert but still these drugs find their way onto the streets to pollute outsiders.
Why are these children partaking into drug abuse? We need to establish the reason why this is so and when we know then we may be able to curb the issue of drug and substance abuse. Most of the children who are abusing drugs in the streets are coming from split families and have nobody to take care of them. It is also fueled by unemployment.
Therefore, it is up to the Government to create more jobs so that these children are employed and can fend for their families. I reiterate, most of these drug abusers - the street kids, should be in school. What measures are we taking in order to return them to school? Some of them should be in secondary schools and others in tertiary education. I am urging the State to create a fund and pool resources and use the money to take the children back to school where they belong.
In past years, plans were put in place that in rural areas especially at growth points, these should develop but it seems the development plans have fizzled out. I know if we develop these growth points, our offspring will work in those areas and we will curb the rural to urban migration. I also noticed that these people in towns reside in shacks and the reason they came is because of the poverty in rural areas. Therefore, let us empower these rural areas so that we curb the rural to urban migration.
I also realised that some of the rules and regulations that we enact are adopted from foreigners. Let us be aware of the rules and regulations that we make. We are adopting foreign cultural rules and normative values and imposing them on our people. On our streets, we have seen some semi-naked if not naked women moving and this is a disgrace to the country. We are now baptizing bad activities like referring to prostitutes as sex commercial workers. Yes, prostitution was there even in biblical times but it was never given a good name. I know I am going to be a target for attack by prostitutes because they want to be referred to as sex commercial workers.
In the streets, we have individuals who have graduated into street fathers as they are no longer street kids. It is up to us as legislators to create employment for these street fathers so that they can fend for themselves and their families. I plead with the powers that be that we create Half Way Homes. These are places where people who have had challenges in their homes may temporarily reside whilst negotiations with the other partner are being held so that they reunite. We need to create homes that we can house orphans and other vulnerable groups so that they have shelter instead of these children staying in the streets.
I also plead with the Minister of Sport and Recreation that his Ministry harnesses these talents because some of these children can excel in sports and we will have created employment for them. We used to have stadia and sports fields for cricket, tennis and swimming pools that are now lying derelict due to poor maintenance. Our local authorities no longer take care of these places; they are letting them go to waste. When we were young, we used to utilise these facilities going for sports and entertainment. We need to revive them.
I discussed about schools that we need to put funds in these schools so that we pay fees for children who are coming from broken homes so that they do not go into the streets. I thank you.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to make my contribution on a motion raised by Hon. Muderedzva and supported by Hon. Mudarikwa. We have children who are in problems and this has made them to live in the streets. These children sleep in the streets and eat from the waste bins. They are now involved into drug abuse such as the one we are talking about and cocaine.
At times, some of these children, it is not their fault that they are into this situation. I put the problem squarely on the shoulder of Government because it has lacked necessary plans to develop these people. Let us not hide from the truth. Let us not hide our heads in the sand and shun from these problems. People need jobs but they cannot find the jobs. We also have graduates who are roaming the streets and cannot get employment and these people end up resorting to drug abuse such as bronco and cocaine, it is because they are seeking for solace because they have no jobs.
One may wonder, why is it that bronco is being abused in Zimbabwe when Zimbabwe has ports of entry which are manned by security agents. Why is it getting in? We do not manufacture cocaine, we do not have any in this country and how are these drugs imported into this country? I will say they are imported through corruption. We have people who should be stopping the importation of these substances but because they are corrupt, they let them come in. We have people who have been seeking employment for 37 years but cannot get it anywhere. These people then start saying maybe if we go to our neighbours, local Member of Parliament, local councillor and beg for money, we could get some assistance. I have a problem with the Government which has been in power for 35 years and it is not benefiting the citizens….
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker, the Hon. Member is speaking in
Ndawu. I do understand however, he talks to the issue of this Government having been in power for 35 years in a mismanagement position. Madam speaker Ma’am, I beg to differ, the Hon. Member should withdraw the issue of mismanagement. – [HON. MEMBER:
Inaudible interjection.] -
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Murayi you
are not the Speaker of Parliament.
HON. NDUNA: The issue of mismanagement of this country
Madam Speaker…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Nduna,
order, order. Please can you get straight to you point of order. What is your point of order?
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker Ma’am, the Hon. Member
should stick to the motion and stop digressing on issues to do with management of this country. This country has not been mismanaged. He should withdraw that notion in toto. The assumption, whichever way should be withdrawn not tomorrow but now.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: When we are in Parliament,
we come from different political parties and any views are acceptable depending on the motion. Hon. Nduna, you will be given an opportunity to debate in support of the motion or oppose what the motion is saying.
There is no point of order.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker for coming to
my rescue. Coming to another issue, if we look in our streets, you find that there a lot of children who are not supported. We need to have some regulation whereby we will support these children, protect them from the disturbances which they are facing because they will have a bleak future. I am saying, we are saying we have a lot of laws which are there for the protection of children. In the new Constitution, we also have provisions for children’s protection but the problem is the monitoring and lack of monies needed to protect these laws. We have a situation whereby we are told that if you have any problems, you have to go to the Department of Welfare and you are supported. If you are 75 years, you go to that same department and you will be put on a support programme but at the moment, there is no money set aside for this department to help people. That is why we have problems in supporting these people. I say, thank you very much to the mover of this motion. He was afraid of stating some things in his motion and I am there to be the voice of the voiceless.
Madam Speaker, I beg this august House not to be worried about the problems such as commercial sex workers which are there. These people have been there since the biblical times. It is not easy that we remove these commercial sex workers. I know we call them by different names, some say sex workers, some say commercial sex workers, some of these people are decent people. They are normal people and this is their work. They are taking their children to school and feeding their children. Some of us here are acting as if this is a new thing and have never heard of it.
What really worries me is that when we are campaigning for elections, we go to these sex workers and ask them to vote for us. Please my fellow members, these people are in this commercial sex work not because they want but they want to fend for their families. Some of them are divorcees, some were left by their husbands and have nothing to do yet they have to take care of these orphans. As a result, they take lonely men who want the company of women for different reasons.
Poverty is really at stake here and therefore I am pleading with the Government to work hard and support these people through founding of homes and ask other countries to come and assist us. Let us do away with our pride. Let us go to those countries and be open and tell them that we need assistance in supporting our people who are living in the streets as beggars so that they can live in decent homes. Let us not just have that empty pride and be foul mouthed. People are supporting us so that when we get that support, we will be building homes, feeding those people and also paying school fees and taking care of their health. If we do not do that, these street people will be bearing more children because they have nothing else to do. The only pastime they have is creating babies. I also plead with the law enforcement agents such as the police that they should arrest these drug addicts who are abusing zedi, broncho and cocaine. If people work hard, they can control these. I am saying this because these drugs are not found in shops but in the streets, townships, villages and in farms. We all know they are imported from other countries. So, we can only stop this by tightening our border entry points and patrols around them.
We have people who are suffering. Government should come out in the open and confess that they have failed to assist these people. I also advise Government to give up and surrender to say we have failed to rule the country by supporting these people. Therefore, they should give other people a chance. I know it is difficult for anybody to admit that they have failed but due to these circumstances, they should come up in the open and say they have failed. I thank you.
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, I urge all Hon.
Members, when you are making your contributions, please do not use language that denigrates other people. Just put your points across without provoking anyone.
+HON. MKANDLA: Thank you Madam Speaker Maám. I
would like to add my voice to this motion that was brought by Hon. Muderedzwa on the children, mothers and fathers who live on streets, begging. First of all, these children who live on streets, I would like to point out some of the causes I know of. Some children would have lost parents and their inheritance would have been taken by relatives. These children would not know how to assist themselves. They would not have money to go to school, buy food or clothing, then they go out in the streets to beg.
Secondly, as others have pointed out, there are children who run away from their proper homes because of peer pressure. The children are pushed to do things like that. They therefore, leave their homes and go and live in the streets. They also start indulging in drugs and alcohol. Thirdly, some of the children whom we see on the streets as young as below five years, will be having their parents who send them to beg.
The parents will be nearby watching. We realise that at times the child will be smart and you wonder where they would have bathed and eaten their food. After the day, they go back to the house and sleep.
The reason is that most mothers are lazy to fend for their children, hence they resort to begging. Every woman should work hard; have a garden, for tomatoes and vegetables. They should engage in different projects so that they fend for their children instead of begging. We are begging Government through the Ministry of Public Service and Social Services to note that children on the streets are exposed to early sexual intercourse and this increases again the number of children who live on streets.
These children should be taken to proper homes and should be trained in different projects so as to decrease the number of children on the streets. Yesteryear, as we grew up, most of us went to school through school fees raised from beer selling by our mothers, but we never ran away from our homes. The generation which is there now is suffering mostly from laziness and want simple life. Most of these children end up pretending to be drunk or would have taken marijuana. What we realise is that they are not taking good care of themselves. As parents, we need to make sure that we teach our children about these issues. We all need to look into the issue of how children run into the streets.
We plead with the Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care to make sure that when these children are taken to proper homes they are mentally stable because most of them would have been affected by the drugs that they take. It should be made sure that there are no children, fathers and mothers in the streets because this is a country which was so beautiful before the sanctions era. We used to live so beautifully. We never used to suffer from any kind of poverty. We had plenty for ourselves. These sanctions should go. I thank you.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Madam Speaker. There is
something in Corporate Strategy, which is called ‘root cause analysis’. What it means is that when you see a problem and you want to deal with the problem, you do what is called an analysis of the root cause of that problem. I think what we are discussing here; children on the streets, drug abuse, and prostitution are symptoms. Symptoms are as a result of an underlying problem. It is that problem that we must unpack for us to be able to understand the symptoms. If we do not unpack the problem then we will not be able to understand the symptoms. The symptoms will continue to haunt us forever.
In Zimbabwe, we have a population of about 15 million.
Unemployment is at 80%, industry is operating at below 25% capacity. There is unmitigated corruption. We have about 80 parastatals in the country; none of them are making profits. None of them have declared a dividend to Government ever since 1995. They are all making a loss.
Every Minister of Finance, ever since Dr. Simba Makoni, has complained that parastatals are a drain on the fiscus. What it means is the fiscus is continuously bailing out parastatals. Yet before 1980, parastatals contributed 40% of this country’s GDP.
Cold Storage Company (CSC), at its peak slaughtered 750 000 head of cattle every year. Last year, the CSC slaughtered less than 2 000 head of cattle. At its peak CSC used to make $740 million in profit.
Today the CSC is more than US$100 million in deficit. The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), one of the key parastatals in the country, at its peak, moved more than 28 million tonnes. Last year, NRZ reported in their annual report, a copy which I have here, reported that they moved less than 3.5 million tonnes.
HON. J. TSHUMA: On a point of order. Madam Speaker, the motion and what the Hon. Member is talking about right now are two different things. Can he stick to the motion that was raised by Hon. Muderedzwa about the street kids and the drug abuse. That has nothing to do with CSC and how many cattle were actually slaughtered. So, he is out of order. Please, can you reign him to order so that we talk about the children that are busy smoking mbanje and drinking ‘bronco’.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order, the motion is
centralised. Also people can debate on the causes or on things that affect the people on the streets. So, here the Hon. Member is debating around the motion; there is no point of order – [HON. MEMBERS:
Hear, hear.]-
HON. MARIDADI: The Cold Storage Company at its peak used to employ 5 000 people and today, they employ less than 1 200 and of those 1 200, 400 have been given letters of termination. Those 400 that have been given letters of termination and the difference between 5 000 people that were employed by CSC and those that are remaining in the CSC employed today, that difference is what matters. Those are the parents who have children that are on the streets of Harare.
Hon. Madam Speaker, I was driving from Bulawayo one day, and I stopped by Lake Chivero. I was approached by a young man who was selling fish; these are fish poachers, they go to Lake Chivero and they catch fish and sell them on the streets. He sold me the fish and he said to me, mudhara can you find me a job and I said but you know there is a problem of unemployment in Zimbabwe. He said, here is my curriculum vita (CV). He gave me a paper which he called a CV and put it in my car and I drove away. Over the weekend when I was cleaning my car, I took that paper and I went through it. I have never seen anybody with such a beautiful CV. The boy has seven As at ‘O’ Level and 15 points at ‘A’ Level. He went to University of Zimbabwe to study biochemistry and he has a First Class. He also has a Masters in Food Science but he is a fish poacher. In a country like South Africa, just across the border, that young man would be employed and he will be earning a starting salary of 35 000 Rands but in Zimbabwe he is a fish poacher. He is not even able to get a job as a teacher because he is not a trained teacher but here is a person who is able to teach chemistry up to undergraduate level. Here is a young man who is able to teach physics up to Masters but he is not able to get a job, even as a temporary teacher at a high school although he is able to teach physics, mathematics, biology up to degree level.
Madam Speaker, the problem that we have in Zimbabwe is a problem of the economy. Our economy is not performing, that is why you see children on the streets of Harare. We have people that have parents that work in Government, those children are not able to go to school because their parents cannot afford to pay for their schooling and they drop out of school. In Mabvuku alone, Tsindirano Primary School, the primary school where I did my Grade One to Grade Seven, they have not been able to get money for BEAM for the past two years because Government is not able to pay. What it means is that that school is not able to function and children will be thrown out to the streets.
Madam Speaker, in 2005 ….
Hon. Murai having been making noise.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Murai.
Hon. Murai, there is only one Speaker in the House - [HON
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - May the Hon. Member be heard
in silence.
HON. MARIDADI: In 2005, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe issued a statement and in that statement they said, 75% of the problem that we have in this economy are as a result of corruption and not anything else – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - 75%, that is on record. Those that have brains to understand and those that have eyes and are able to read can go and google and see that statement that was issued by Dr. Gideon Gono, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Madam Speaker, we have a problem of electricity. The problem of electricity has nothing to do with anybody. It has everything to do with mismanagement and failure by Government to put money into the electricity supply industry. Our industry is operating at 25% of capacity ….
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. My point of order is that the motion raised by Hon. Muderedzwa has nothing to do with the economy. He was talking about the street kids and how Government can remove these kids from the streets. The Hon.
Member is talking about the economy. If the motion has changed, we may need to recall that video so that we view it, this will show us the reason why the country is in its current economic state. Therefore, I beg you Madam Speaker, that we debate on the motion.
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Chinotimba
for the point of order which you raised. But, may I also explain that the motion which has been raised regarding the street kids and the street adults; these are people who are not able to get enough support from their homes. When we are debating this issue, you also have to talk about the economy of the country because we want to get the solution to these problems. Hence, we need conducive laws to correct this anomaly. We look for ways and means of showing the problems which have caused these people to leave their homes. This may include debate on sanctions and the economy. Therefore, Hon. Members can debate in any way. So, the Hon. Member is not out of order. Hon. Maridadi, talk about street kids, street adults and beggars. Do not deviate a lot. I know you may have to include the economy but please stick to the motion.
HON. MARIDADI: The number of beggars Madam Speaker,
beggars on the streets of Harare, I have had calls to talk to some beggars. There is an old man that lives in Mabvuku, who lives off the streets and people have always believed that he is of unsound mind. I am actually working on a case where his house was unprocedurally taken away from him. His name is Sipalo Munyama, he is of Malawian descent and is 78 years old. As we speak now, he is living out on the streets. I engaged him some two months ago and discovered that he was of sound mind. The reason he is living out on the streets is because he has nothing to give his family; he has no food in his house and he has not paid rentals for the past five years. That is why he is living on the streets. He is a man of sound mind, he could actually be taken and given a job and he could work and live like anybody else.
The number of street children on the streets of Harare; if we do what you want to call ‘random sampling’ and you talk to the number of street kids in the streets of Harare – because I happen to have done a research some 10 to 15 years ago on the street kids in Harare, some of them that you talk to, came from Masvingo. The reason the boy came from Masvingo is that his mother died and his father who was not employed got married to another woman. That woman is the bread winner and that boy at 16 must move in, stay with his father and the step mother who is the bread winner. But we know the way people live; there are some people who are not able to look after children who are not their own flesh and blood. That boy, because of ill treatment leaves home where there is food, breakfast, lunch, supper, a roof above his head, leaves home and prefers to sleep on the streets. It is because we have no social safety nets to protect the vulnerable. All those children and beggars that we see on the streets are the vulnerable. Our country should put in place social safety nets to protect the vulnerable but there are no social safety nets to protect them, that is the reason why we see them on the streets.
If we sit in this Parliament, thinking that if we come up with laws which are going to move beggars, vagrants and street kids from the streets of Harare, then we are a big joke. Laws will not remove street kids from the streets of Harare. Street kids will be removed from the streets by money. Government must be able to construct places, drop- in centres for street kids. Government must be able to construct drop-in centres for those that are of unsound mind, that do not have relatives, those that are old that are put into old people’s homes. That is what a Government is supposed to do. That is what people pay taxes for and that is why companies pay corporate tax for.
That is why in Zimbabwe we say companies that are in mining, I will give you an example of Marange. There is not a dime, Hon.
Chinamasa has said it, Hon. Biti said it, the Ministers of Finance and Economic Development before them said it, that no money is coming from Chiadzwa. Imagine, if US$1 billion had come from Chiadzwa,
Government would have allocated US$200 million to Social Security.
I will give you another example. What would have happened in this country, if Zimbabweans behaved like Germans or Swiss people where there is no extended family network? It was because of the extended family network that Zimbabwe was able to deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS. Between 1994 and 2004, there is not a single person who is seated in this House who did not lose a brother, sister, wife or husband to HIV/AIDS. The reason we were able to continue as a country was not because the Government had anything in place to look after the orphans of HIV/AIDS but it was because of the extended family network. You would have a brother in the family who dies, leaves six children, a brother who is in Chegutu takes two of them…
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Maridadi, you are
left with three minutes.
HON. MARIDADI: Thank you. A sister in Marondera takes
another child; it is because of the extended family network. Imagine if the problem of AIDS had come between 2007 and 2013, the devastation that it would have done to this country - this country would have ceased to exist as a country because there is nothing the Government has put in place to look after the vulnerable and the under privileged in our society.
The problem that we must talk about here is not the problem of the law; we have laws. The laws are there, it is not the problem of anything but it is the problem of how the economy is being mismanaged. If we get a good economic manager of this country, I tell you the following day, street kids will be out of the streets of Harare. If we continue at this rate, even Members of Parliament who are seated in this House today, who have no skills and are benefiting from corruption, if the state of the economy persists like this, when those people are out of this House as Parliamentarians, they will become street beggars like Hon. Chinotimba here….
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Maridadi. I
think when you are debating, you have to confine yourself to facts. You cannot debate issues that raise emotions and you are not allowed to name Hon. Members here and accuse them of being part of any corrupt activities especially if you do not have evidence. Whatever you want to communicate, may you please give written evidence to Hansard department so that we know that your facts are supported by evidence.
I want you at this point, to withdraw what you said to Hon.
Members in this Parliament that are involved in corruption and Hon.
Chinotimba as well.
HON. MARIDADI: I did not say Hon. Chinotimba was corrupt. I said a person without any known skills like Hon Chinotimba – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Maridadi, I
said withdraw the two statements right now.
HON. MARIDADI: I said before he came to Parliament, he was a security guard with the City Council… – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections]-
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Maridadi, I
will not hesitate to take action against you. May you please withdraw the two statements?
HON. MARIDADI: I withdraw the statement that he has no skills and I withdraw the statement that Hon. Members are corrupt.
HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order! Kana tikatarisa mafambiro atanga tichiita muhupenyu sezvaanditaurira inini, iye akanyenga mukadzi wemunhu akatiza achienda ku America … – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] - saka hupenyu hwangu hurinani.
I was a security guard but he was….… – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections] - achinyenga vakadzi vevanhu. Today, he is talking nonsense here.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. I have
advised before that Hon. Members are not allowed to abuse their priviledge on Point of Orders and you are not allowed to use such language in Parliament. I will not hesitate to take action against Hon. Maridadi and Hon. Chinotimba in this Parliament because this is a honourable House that needs its respect and we should stand guided by the Standing Rules and Orders of this Parliament.
Hon. Maridadi, you have withdrawn, I have heard you. I also want
Hon. Chinotimba to withdraw the social aspect of Hon. Maridadi in this
Parliament. You can talk about that outside this Parliament.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Ndirikubvisa shoko kuna Hon. Maridadi rekuti anonyenga vakadzi vevanhu.
HON. RUNGANI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. CHINOTIMBA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 28th October, 2015.
On the motion of HON. RUNGANI, seconded by HON.
MATSUNGA, the House adjourned at Twenty Six Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 22nd October, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MATUKE: I move that Orders of the Day Numbers 1, 2 and 3 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. RUNGANI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. G. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. It is with great sense of humility that I rise today to present my maiden speech as the ZANU PF representative for Pumula Constituency in the National Assembly.
Madam Speaker, I am poignantly aware of the historic significance of this moment both at personal and political level. I would like, therefore, to register my indebtedness and gratitude to my revolutionary party ZANU PF for giving me the honour to hoist its colours during the by-elections that I recently won resoundingly, thus debunking – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – the myth that urban constituencies in general and Bulawayo in particular, are no go areas for ZANU PF. This victory was not the outcome of individual brilliance, but a culmination of multifaceted collective efforts within our beloved party ZANU PF, led by the visionary, His Excellency President R. G.
Mugabe.
Madam Speaker, it is in this regard that I salute His Excellency the
President, Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for his eloquent articulation...- [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Can we have
order please?
HON. G. M. NCUBE:…of our legislative agenda as encapsulated in our nation building trajectory during the opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament. His incisive rendition drawing from the ZIM
ASSET Economic Blueprint as recently buttressed by the Ten Point
Economic Plan explicitly underlined the sustainability of our
Government’s pro-poor development thrust. He signposted the road to national economic recovery by pinpointing those key areas that require expedient attention – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members. I am
appealing to Hon. Members that those at the back of the House need to hear what the Hon. Member is debating. I thought you would lower your whispers, but you are calling across the table. Please, behave yourselves.
HON. G. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. The raft of measures outlined by His Excellency the President will yield tangible results if all Zimbabweans realise that nobody owes us a living. Indeed, it is an open secret that in our political expediency, some of our compatriots in the recent past, actively agitated for the imposition of economic sanctions – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – That have played havoc with our national economy and the pauperised majority of our citizens. It is the vulnerable within our society that have witnessed untold suffering and further marginalisation. It is my sincere hope that these countervailing forces within our body politic have removed the cobwebs from their eyes to be able to prioritise and promote the national interest instead of pursuing narrow parochial partisan considerations. Madam Speaker, Pumula Constituency consists of urban and periurban areas – [HON. MUTSEYAMI: Vanozviziva] - The urban part of the constituency comprises of Pumula Old, Pumula North, Pumula East and the sprawling suburb of Pumula South. It is in Pumula South where the new suburb called Emthunzini is located and up to date, it has not been provided with running water and electricity. I call upon the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to expeditiously look at these issues burdening Emthunzini in order to ameliorate the living conditions of the people of this new suburb. Pumula Old is one of the oldest suburbs of Bulawayo whose population has a large number of aged people. I appeal to
Government to introduce an inclusive old people’s assistance fund as the current support programme seems discriminatory and inadequate. Hon. Madam Speaker, there are also a number of orphans and child headed families due to the HIV scourge who are crying out for urgent assistance through Government together with Non-Governmental Sector…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon. Members
from Masvingo, you cannot hold a meeting here. Can the Hon. Member please proceed?
HON. G. M. NCUBE: Hon. Madam Speaker, in Pumula North,
East and South, people are facing perennial water cuts and hence I am appealing to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to assist by sinking more boreholes so as to alleviate the water crises bedeviling these communities. I applaud Government for declaring Bulawayo as a Special Economic Zone. It is hoped therefore that this progressive move will help in creating employment in the City of Kings and Queens.
The peri-urban part of Pumula Constituency was established more than 50 years ago. I thank the authorities there for their continued recognition of the peri-urban communities as the areas now have school facilities through Government support. However, Hon. Madam Speaker, I would like to appeal to Government to further assist these communities by making sure that those in need of electricity access it through the intervention of the Rural Electrification Programme. The water infrastructure of these peri-urban areas is now dilapidated as traces of rusts can be seen in the water that they drink. This requires urgent attention through the relevant authorities so as to prevent an imminent outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Hon. Madam Speaker, it is encouraging to note that the provision of quality education still remains a key priority to the President as enunciated in the country’s National Development Agenda. I applaud Government for the work that it is undertaking in the context of the
Education Amendment Bill that intends to align the Education Act of 2006 with the Constitution. It is hoped that the review of the entire primary and secondary school curriculum will render the country’s education system appropriate for current and future development needs in our country.
Hon. Madam Speaker, the introduction of the Local Authorities
Bill will help to consolidate the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Councils Act. Hopefully, this will also establish a tribunal to deal with disciplinary issues pertaining to councillors, mayors and chairpersons of councils. It is my considered view, that some councils of late have been plagued by managerial incompetence and corrupt tendencies.
Hon. Madam Speaker, it is pleasing to note that the President is staunchly seized with issues of gender related constitutional provisions, effective health care provisions, eradication of corruption in our society, ICT based applications and other Government programmes that seek to improve the lives of our people in general.
The introduction of the Bill to combine the War Veterans Act and the Ex Political Prisoners Detainees and Restrictees into one Act, now to also incorporate the War Collaborators, will go a long way to address the anomalies hitherto that existed in the current Act. Thousands of ZIPRA cadres who were in Botswana and Zambia camps were inadvertently excluded during the 1997 vetting exercise, and it is my hope Hon. Madam Speaker, that the Bill under consideration will encompass everybody who participated in the liberation struggle.
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, may I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Dr. Sikhanyiso Ndlovu whose untimely death has robbed us of a political mentor, a father and a leader. I remember when we came to Parliament, he hand-handled us and made sure we were properly chaperoned and ushered into the august House. Even though we were a bundle of nerves and apprehensive, Dr. Ndlovu made sure that we took up our responsibilities in the House with due decorum. I salute the party, ZANU PF and the Government for recognising his outstanding national contribution by according him a well deserved National Hero status. We will surely miss him. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace!
I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER
ECONOMIC LITERACY WORKSHOP
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to remind Hon.
Members that the bus to the workshop on Economic Literacy for Chairpersons and Members of Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC) will leave Parliament at 0745 hours for Pandhari Lodge on Monday, 26th October, 2015.
Order, order. I also want to remind the Hon. Members that I will send out Hon. Members who are attending to their cellphones. This is a reminder, I do not want to send out anyone at the moment but I am just reminding you.
*HON. CHIKUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker, I also want to
add my voice to the Presidential Speech. I want to talk about the issue that he mentioned on land, when he said that there will be a land commission and this commission will take the place of the board. This commission will also assist in ending challenges and conflicts in terms of land. It will also enhance the land audit, it will also be assisted by the Gender Commission that will also ensure that men, women, boys and girls are also allocated land. In my area in Chimanimani, there is little land and each person ends up acquiring land in any province that he gets the land. The commission will assist to end such conflicts which are evident in the rural communities. The community will also assist in ensuring that utilisation of the land is done adequately by those who have the land. Those who are not using the land will also lose some or part of their land to those who are able to engage in farming.
The President, Cde. Robert Mugabe also mentioned the issue of education. He said that there should be adequate education. When ZIM ASSET came into being, it emphasised on people in various ministries which led to the building of houses, schools and other blocks. In other schools, there were no administration blocks but today in secondary schools that were opened after independence, administration blocks were built. For example in my area, we have 26 primary schools and 19 of them were opened and are adequate.
We are therefore saying that infrastructure development in schools should continue. In farming areas where there were no settlements in the past, there are now settlements and schools have been built to accommodate them. We are happy that the Government set aside some money to build the schools especially where rainfall is in abundance such that rivers become flooded and children fail to go to school on time.
The President also mentioned about an issue which really touched me, dissemination of information especially through Information Communication Technology (ICT). Today, there are some areas where one cannot access radio stations and telephone network is also not accessible.
There are also areas where post offices were built. The post offices used to assist a lot in terms of information dissemination, but in terms of their services, they have since deteriorated. When the President took it upon himself to give computers to schools, we were pleased and there are so many schools which were able to get these computers.
However, some schools in Chimanimani such as Chimanimani Secondary School were not able to get the computers. Post offices assisted the community a lot because people could access their pensions from there. The war veterans and those who travelled to collect their cash from National Social Security Authority (NSSA) also used to benefit from the services of the post office. However, the cash is no longer available and that needs to be looked into to ensure that the people from our communities are able to access their monies closer to their homes than to travel all the way to Mutare. Sometimes they travel to collect US$60 and they come back with US$40 after the rest of the money would have been gobbled by transport expenses.
There are people who have vehicles and would want to pay for their licences whilst others would want to pay for their electricity expenses. These people also have to travel all the way to Mutare to make their payments. My plea is that if only the Government could ensure that the functions of the post office are resuscitated within our rural communities. There is also need to avail computers to them to ensure that the post office can effectively render their services.
*HON. JOSHUA MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker. Firstly, I
would like to thank the President of this nation who gave the speech that was also heard by those who speak Karanga in Masvingo. When the people heard that the parliamentary seat was vacant, they sent me. It is also important for this House to know the meaning of Mwenezi. Mwene – (muridzi) owner, zi – Zimbabwe, meaning the owners of Zimbabwe – [Laughter] – The electorate has faith in the leadership that was pointed God himself.
After being given a powerful and resilient leader who gives us courage such that when we come across obstacles, we are encouraged to persevere to Canaan. For that reason, I stand here and applaud the
President of the nation on behalf of the people of my constituency in Mwenezi East. I also want to thank the President because 87% of our land was in possession of the white men and only 13% was what was allocated to us the blacks. God then allowed us to reclaim our land and we were able to be resettled.
The President of the nation is going to mourn the death of a lot of people. This is because all those who do not listen are like those 42 sons who failed to listen to the prophet of God. They were eaten by two female hyenas. This means that the hyenas shared 22 each. The President also mentioned about education and when I looked into this, I realised that we have also done well in terms of education.
When we reclaimed our land, there were satellite schools which were built totaling 46; eight secondary schools and 38 primary schools. Since the President encourages education, the challenge is on accessibility because most children cannot attend school during the rainy season and there is need to revisit this issue. Money has to be made available to ensure that these schools are built in time. If three months go by whilst it is raining, no education will take place.
In terms of infrastructure development, the President wants us to have adequate accommodation and to travel on good roads. Going back to Masvingo, we travel along Beitbridge road which is quite dangerous. The President highlighted the need for roads to be resurfaced and be improved. I also want to add that in terms of infrastructure, it will also assist our area in that once dams are built, there will be irrigation schemes. What makes me happy is that we did what God wanted us to do….
An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the Hon. Member speaking.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Matambanadzo,
you may not cross the line between the Chair and the Hon. Member speaking.
*HON. JOSHUA MOYO: Thank you. In my constituency, we
support our President and since 1980 up to date, there is no Opposition that has managed to penetrate our constituencies because they know that they are the owners of Zimbabwe. Furthermore, even though dams are not available, they also applaud what the President said. They grow rapoko and sorghum which are drought resistant. The Government once came up with a programme whereby they had competition for those who produced a lot of maize. So, we want to thank the work that has been done by God.
Lastly, I want to thank the Government for the Tokwe/Mukorsi dam. It is very helpful in our areas in Chingwizi. It will assist our children who go to South Africa looking for jobs. We look forward for the production of ethanol; even the small to medium businesses will also get businesses there. I want to thank and applaud our President that he will continue to bury the young whilst he is still alive through the guidance of the Almighty. –HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members.
A white Mazda Twin Cab No. ADL4091 is blocking others and this is the last time we announce this. Next time, the vehicles which will be blocking other vehicles will be toured away.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing me to
contribute to the Presidential Speech. I want to touch on few issues which are key in the Presidential Speech. One such issue is the resuscitation of our industry and the optimum usage of the same. I want to touch on a very key issue, in particular in Chegutu, Kadoma and
Gweru. That issue is David Whitehead Textiles. Why do I talk of David Whitehead Textiles? I do so as it headed employees to the tune of 4 000 during its peak, I remember during 1988 there were swarms of people who left Kadoma/Rimuka location heading towards David Whitehead Textiles. At that time, you would wonder where the multitudes of people were going to at 12 midnight. I asked and I was told that they were all going to David Whitehead and they were working on a shift system.
I want to dwell on the house and workforce and why David
Whitehead in its present state, cannot be resuscitated under the Judiciary
Management System that it is currently under. Madam Speaker, David Whitehead has gone through three Judiciary Management systems and what it is under now…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members.
HON. NDUNA: What it is under now is called the final judiciary management. It boggles one’s mind that if somebody does something for fifteen or more years and the same thing to the same entity like David Whitehead without changing any modus operandi and hope for it to be resuscitated and rehabilitated, it will boggle one’s mind why that person would think like that.
I need to touch on the legacy issues that bedevil David Whitehead
Textiles. David Whitehead changed hands from Lonrho or AngloAmerican to the management that was headed at the time by Chimanye. At the peak of listing on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, the management was told to liquidate their shareholding or to reduce it from 80% to 50% so that it could be listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, whereupon shares were supposed to change hands. One Toindepi who purported to want to buy shares from David Whitehead said he was going to inject US$5.4 million into that entity at that time. Toendepi did not even have a shoe, let alone anything which was automobile. So, it boggles one’s mind why he was given the authority to buy shares from David Whitehead in a fraudulent manner. He misrepresented that he had injected US$5.4 million which he did not.
If at all, he did not even inject a million US dollars, this is why today David Whitehead is in a derelict state because of connivance and fraudulent activities between Chimanye and Toindepi. As we speak, Toendepi is on the run in London, one of the countries that called for sanctions against our beleaguered State. One wonders why England is a safe haven for people that have plundered the resources that have fraudulently taken our resources in terms of shares from our companies and have left them derelict. One wonders why they cannot release those criminals to face the music here in Zimbabwe and why issues to do with fraudulent activities at David Whitehead have not been dealt with to their conclusive end.
At the moment, there is property that has been attached is under investigation and is still with the serious fraud squad at Southerton Police Station from ten years ago including automobile for cases that have not been concluded, and we expect that David Whitehead can be resuscitated. No amounts of DiMAF can resuscitate David Whitehead in its present state. What does David Whitehead owe in terms of creditors? David Whitehead as we speak today, because of these legacy issues, owes to creditors US$20 million and we come here and are made to believe that if we inject $1.8 million DIMAF into David Whitehead, it will be resuscitated. I say no that cannot happen. I say so because I am the Constituency leader of Chegutu which has been since historic time the headquarters of David Whitehead. My friend Hon. Chibaya from Gweru will attest to the same fact that the workers of David Whitehead in Gweru also face – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Member
Mutseyami, it is the Chair who directs the Hon. Member who is debating and not another Hon. Member.
HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you for the protection Madam Speaker Ma’am.
HON. MARIDADI: Hon. Nduna is giving reference to Hon.
Chibaya who is in Europe right now and he cannot respond to that.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member. Hon.
Nduna is referring to a member of this House. I do not think that there is anything wrong with that and you are not supposed to answer on behalf of another Hon. Member.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you for the protection Madam Speaker
Ma’am. Just for point of clarity, I am talking about Hon. Chibaya in good light. He and I share the same sentiments when it comes to the resuscitation of David Whitehead. These were the election promises and we are a Government by the people, for the people, with the people and we want to see the resuscitation of David Whitehead.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, in his absence I speak on his behalf and he shares the same passion. I say today we need to bring to conclusion the issue to do with the investigation of the cases of David Whitehead that are seated and rotting at serious fraud squad at Southerton today. We need to bring to conclusion the issues to do with investigations that are seated in the Attorney-General’s Office today that have not been concluded. I need to ask why we should hold at ransom more than 4 000 families each with five kids or dependants. We are talking of more than 20 000 households and why should we hold them at ransomed – because we do not want to do our duties diligently?
I touched on issues to do with the DIMAF and no amount of it can resuscitate David Whitehead. What David Whitehead needs to do now for the record, it needs to change its credit into equity. The majority of that credit is owed to the former workers. If you retrench a worker and you do not pay them, it means in essence they are still working. They are still active workers and to this end they are owed more than US $10 million as workers and former workers. So that credit of $20 million, 50% of it is owed to workers.
So all I am praying needs to be done at David Whitehead, is you need to change that credit into equity and make the workers the majority shareholders by turning over that company to the rightful owners who are the workers, 20 000 households. I will give you a brief rundown on who is owed at David Whitehead – it is the workers $10 million;
Parogate $5 million, utilities $2 million, that is the urban councils and ZESA $2 million. That will roughly bring it to about $20 million and we come here and make believe. We believe that David Whitehead can be resuscitated by $1.8 million - it will not.
I will tell you what a judicial manager is. A judicial manager is like a doctor, he can proffer a solution and medication - whether you resuscitate or not; that is no ndaba of his. He will still get paid for his services. This is what one Hofisi would have us believe. David Whitehead has gone through three judicial managers, Cecil Madondo,
Militara and now the final judicial manager who is Hofisi.
Hofisi is not a good enough judicial manager for David Whitehead because he is conflicted. He started as an accountant at David Whitehead, went on to be a partner as a judicial manager in the first judicial management and today he is the third and final judicial manager. We should open our eyes and see that this person is in it for self and selfish gains as opposed to the resuscitation of the community factory.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, we are losing the future of this nation in general and the future of Chegutu, Gweru, and the future of Kadoma in particular. When they started liquidating the shares of David
Whitehead, purportedly to one Toendepi who is on the run, one Chimanye started selling hosiery machines. As we speak, there are 15 hosiery machines that are being utilised by his wife behind Borrowdale today at the expense of the workers at David Whitehead.
We need to reverse this situation by making sure that the wheels of justice turn and are oiled by this Parliament, because we are here to make laws for the good governance and order of society. So today I make a clarion call to us in this House to make sure that we resuscitate industry by nipping grand corruption in its bud. Here is grand corruption and it is glaring and it is time that we dealt with it in total. This $1.8 million that we are made to believe is going to resuscitate David Whitehead is in actual fact going to be the payment for the judicial manager’s services.
As we speak, David Whitehead workers and former workers are being chased out of the real estate that David Whitehead owns so that the judicial manager can sell the houses, more than 120 employees so that he can get what he can, cans what he gets and moves off. Is this the type of industry that we want? How many investors are going to come in a situation which is riddled with such inconsistencies?
HON. MARIDADI: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on a matter of procedure. I agree with the Hon. Member’s debate but he is talking about a judicial manager who is in place, who has been appointed, who is working and is not able to come and respond to his allegations.
Secondly, he once posed a question to the Minister of Industry and Commerce and the response that was given by the Minister was that on this particular issue, the Hon. Member is conflicted. I think as a House we should be guided accordingly. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can you come again.
HON. MARIDADI: There are two issues. Firstly, he is talking about David Whitehead and the judicial manager who is currently in place and according to Standing Rules and Orders, you cannot talk about somebody who is unable to come to this House and defend himself. Secondly, he once asked a question which he directed to the
Minister of Industry and Commerce on the same issue of the Judicial
Manager and the response that was given by the Minister was that the Hon. Member is an interested part. As such, I think this House should be guided accordingly. Thank you.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think the Hon. Member is
responding to the Presidential Speech – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – When he is responding to the Presidential Speech – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, let us have order.
HON. MARIDADI: With respect Madam Speaker, the President gave the State of the Nation Address and to imply that the Hon. Member is responding to that Address might not be correct because the President did not address the issue of David Whitehead.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What happens Hon. Member,
when you are responding to the Presidential Speech, you end up referring to some issues which are happening in your constituency. You cannot go on talking about the speech of the President only, but you can also refer to your constituency or some other issues. Can the Hon.
Member wind up his presentation.
HON. NDUNA: As I wind up, I want to talk of ‘Housing for All’,
in particular, in the old location of Chegutu 2 District in Ward 5. That is one of the oldest locations, but as we speak today, the councillor of Chegutu will have us believe those 25 years on, those people still owe council more than $4 000 each in order to get title deeds to those houses.
If we do not nip corruption at that level in its bud, we are doing ourselves a disservice.
On issues to deal with farm downsizing, I agree in total that there is going to be downsizing to the required 400 hectares. However, there is a lot of corruption that goes on behind the scenes in the lands offices. What happens is, they will give you 300 hectares, but he who knows how much land there is, is only the lands officer, and he who is doing the planning. So, what happens is that they will give you the 300 hectares, but behind the 300 hectares, there is 3 000 hectares that are not written on paper. As they downsize, they will downsize from the 300 to 150 hectares, but they will still go smiling all the way to the corrupt bank.
On issues to do with education, I need to touch on education as enshrined in our Constitution, for this Parliament to uphold the supreme law of the land which is the Constitution, to provide free basic education for our kids so that we do not mortgage our future by not providing free basic education.
As we deal with health issues, we need to follow where our population has gone to, that is, to the rural areas. We need to provide free health service, not only to establish free health institutions in the rural areas, but also to provide free health service for our institutions, elderly or the population in the rural areas until we are able to provide optimally for our villagers or rural people from the land that we have been given through the Land Reform Programme. I thank you.
HON. MATUKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. RUNGANI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 27th October, 2015.
MOTION
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE
PRESIDENT
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. MATUKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. RUNGANI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 27th October, 2015.
MOTION
REPEAL OF SECTION 3 OF THE GOLD TRADE ACT
HON. NDUNA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House:
COGNISANT of the prevailing economic challenges that the country is facing due, in part, to the debilitating economic sanctions and the lack of balance of payment support;
CONCERNED with the crippling de-industrilisation and the prevailing low capacity utlisation in the industrial sector which has severely dwindled Government revenue from taxes; ACKNOWLEDGING the informalisation of the economy which has led to an astronomical growth of the informal sector;
CONVINCED that the pursuit of an upward trajectory of economic revival as envisaged in the ZIM ASSET economic blueprint will include, in part, the formulation of strategies to tap into the informal sector;
RECOGNISING that artisanal mining, which involves over 500
000 people, is a significant generator of both rural and urban livelihoods which has the potential to alleviate poverty and a tool for sustainable development thus, contributing to ZIM ASSET;
AWARE that despite its obvious benefits, the formalization of artisanal mining is hindered by the absence of an enabling legislative framework, prohibitive levies charged by the Ministry of Mines, Rural District Councils, the Environmental Management Agency as well as inordinate delays in the issuance of licenses and inspections by surveyors.
ALSO AWARE that the formalization of the sector will enable artisanal miners to contribute towards the fiscus and will reduce incidences of diversion and smuggling of our precious mineral resources to neighbouring countries;
NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon the Executive to:
- Repeal Section 3 of the Gold Trade Act which criminalises possession of gold and also imposes stiff penalties for possession and also repeal Sections 365 to 368 of the Mines and Minerals Act which criminalises prospecting by artisanal miners;
- Adapt to the ‘new normal’ and review the Mines and
Minerals Act to include artisanal and small scale mining;
- Decriminalise artisanal mining by creating objective, transparent and non-discriminatory regulatory mechanisms which offer easy access to mining titles and legal production channels;
- Create an enabling legislative framework which integrates the artisanal mining sector into the local community and encourages the investment of profits in other forms of economic activity and services.
HON. MAPIKI: I second.
HON. NDUNA: I want to preface my motion by congratulating the three Hon. Members that were recently sworn in and giving ZANU PF in this House an unassailable majority.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I stand here before you today and I am calling for the decriminalisation of artisanal mining. I say this with a heavy heart, cognisant of the fact that the laws that are enshrined in our Acts are still more moribund, archaic, and historic and still border on colonial breakdown that does not speak to the present day situation of our economic development in this nation. They do not speak to the resource mobilisation, exploitation, exploration and usage as we see it in this present day, Zimbabwe and the global community.
Hon. Speaker Sir, I say small scale mining and artisanal mining and chikorokoza has an effect of removing or treating the issue of deindustrialization. Artisanal mining and chikorokoza is an empowerment tool which borders on affirmative action in terms of resource exploitation and empowerment of our people using the resources that we have got. Artisanal mining is currently being carried out; chikorokoza is currently being carried out. We are exploiting our minerals as we speak but because the artisanal miners, 100% or 99% of them are not licensed, they cannot freely go and sell their gold to Fidelity.
Hon. Speaker Sir, there are a lot of sections in the Gold Act, one such section is Gold Act Section 3, that criminalizes possession of gold. That makes sure that the artisanal miners cannot see the light of day if they do possess, if they do hold gold in their hands. I want to read what Section 3 of the Gold Act says and after I have read it, I will call for the repeal of this Act, for the removal of this Act or to make sure that we move with the time. We do not criminalize possession of gold so that our people can freely go and sell their gold to Fidelity or to Government as opposed to doing what is called engage in basic elicit outflows where they sell their gold to licenced buyers whose buyers have an open ended licence and I am free to sell anywhere else except Fidelity under the cover of darkness.
I will read verbatim, I will quote the Gold Act Chapter 2103, it is said here, it is revised, and it is a 1996 edition. Verbatim part 2 says
‘Dealing in and possession of gold, prohibition of dealing in or possession of gold’ that is Section 3 (1), ‘No person shall either as principal agent deal in or possess gold unless:-
- He is a holder of a licence or permit;
- He is a holder of a tributor;
- He is a holder of an authority, grant or permit issued under the Mines and Minerals Act 215, authorizing him to work an alluvial gold deposit; and
- He is an employee or agent of any persons mentioned in paragraph a, b, c and is authorized by his employer or principal to deal and possess gold in a lawful possession of such an employer or principal and deals or possesses gold in accordance with the Act and licence permit, authority or grant if any held by him”.
Hon. Speaker Sir, I will not go on with the rest of that section but the point is well ventilated, the point is, as long as we do not reverse and as long as we do not repeal this Act, as long as we do not change what is enshrined in this section and in this Gold Act, we are criminalising our artisanal miners who have got the antidote, who have got the potential, who have got the answer to de-industrialisation, who have got the answer to optimum usage and exploitation of our God given finite mineral resources.
Hon. Speaker Sir, in the same vein, I am calling for the repealing of Section 368 of the Mines and Minerals Act, Chapter 2105 which speaks to criminalization of – I want to read it verbatim Hon. Speaker, so that I am guided accordingly. Hon. Speaker, Section 368 deals with prospecting, criminalizes issues to do with prospecting. I am calling for the repealing of this Act; I am not calling for alignment of these laws. I am calling for the repealing of this Act so that we can optimally utilise our God given resources. The Constitution speaks to the right to land, we have addressed that scenario by the Land Act of 2000. Now we have empowered our people but we are reversing those gains by criminalizing amai, mwana, baba and sekuru whilst they dig in the backyard of their land of their heart if they are caught by Minerals Department or the police or our Securico Department and are said to have been prospecting as long as they go a metre down on the same sport. They are no longer allowed to freely till their land because of fear of this draconian law that is hidden in Section 365 of the Mines and Minerals Act.
Hon. Speaker Sir, I am calling for the repealing of that Act, because as long as we do not operationalise the issue to do with decriminalizing artisanal mining and chikorokoza, we will never stamp out corruption and elicit outflows. We will always have people that are caught at our boarders as they try to circumvent the law and sell the gold outside our boarders, after having gotten it for a pittance from our artisanal miners who are the majority miners in this nation.
As we speak Hon. Speaker Sir, in his Mid-Term Monetary Review
Statement, Hon. Chinamasa, Minister of Finance and Economic Development alluded to the fact that there are more than 500 000 artisanal miners out there and his contribution from the small scale miners has risen from one tonne to three tonnes. So, why do we criminalize the hand that feeds us?
Hon. Speaker Sir, we are receiving from the artisanal miners with the other hand and we are incarcerating them with the other hand because all we are failing to do is to repeal these laws. We are a Government by the people, for the people and with the people and we are here to make laws for the good governance and the order of the people. That is enshrined betweens Sections 117 to 119 of the Constitution. So, we are supposed to be here to make...
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members.
Please lower your voices, if you cannot control your voices you go outside and have your discussion outside. You may continue hon. member.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, by making sure
that we decriminalize artisanal mining, we are tapping into our resource which is finite as we speak, that resource is being exploited but the money is not accruing to Government in terms of royalties and in terms of benefits to the fiscus because the person that we are criminalising is the person that is exploiting the resources.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in Chegutu, I have 6 000 artisanal minors, makorokoza, who have generated more than 100kg in two months. What that translates to is US$3.2 million and what it translates to in terms of 5% royalty is about US$40 000. Forty of us in this House can easily be paid from those royalties in one month.
Government is being propped up by these same people that are being criminalised. We should see light and sense in decriminalising them because as long as we do not decriminalise artisanal mining, I will tell you what will befall this country. It is corruption and some more corruption because we are trying to oil the hands of the police in order to make sure that we are not incarcerated as artisanal miners. We are
trying to oil the hands of the millers where we go to so that we get our ore milled. We are trying to oil the hands of the buyers at Fidelity so that they can buy our gold without a licence because all we are doing is we are not repealing the sections that are draconian, that are enshrined in these Acts. I call to this House to stand with one voice and decriminalise artisanal mining.
Mr. Speaker Sir, my heart goes to the people of Chegutu. There are people who are being incarcerated; ten a day, including women and children because of artisanal mining. There is no industrialisation as we speak in Chegutu. Why do we not take from our resources in order to capitalise our industry using artisanal miners? Why do we want to remove them from the main stream economy? Why do we say as long as it is not money we are sidelining them. I am saying to you today, they are giving you money in terms and in the form of gold. Those 500 000 that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development has alluded to, ndivo vane zvivindi, who have gone and sold, but otherwise there are five times more out there that have not found the liver in them to go and face the police and maybe circumvent the police to go and sell their God given gold to Fidelity.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the issue to do with speculative holding of claims and mines can be addressed by making sure that we regulate the artisanal miners as they go and exploit our God given minerals. When they come to sell to Fidelity or to Government, at that point, let us register them. Let us formalise the informal sector and bring home the gold and prop up our economy. Given that this is not an infinite resource, as we tap into it, it is not getting any less; it is getting to extinction.
Let us pioneer laws for the good governance of our people. I call upon this House to make a law to pioneer this issue, not only in the SADC region, but in the whole global community that is going to empower our korokozas or artisanal miners and small scale miners. It will be a first not only in Africa and SADC but in the whole global community. So, I call upon this House to be pioneers, to be inventors of this noble cause. It is common knowledge that our economy is skewed towards the informal sector because of the de-industrialisation that has been caused partly by the sanctions. In the same vein, I want to call for the criminalisation of those that call for sanctions.
We came in here the other day and we applied and changed a labour law and we applied it in retrospect. In the same vein, I ask for this law to be applied in retrospect and make sure that all those that were arrested for artisanal mining and chikorokoza be released from prison, forthwith. If we release these people that we have been incarcerating, knowingly or unknowingly, they were propping up our economy. We are sending a clear signal that now, we are formalising our economy in a non-skewed way so that our korokozas, being bankable so that now we can start realising our benefit from our God given resources. The system that licences gold buyers, I am quite sure can also licence makorokoza.
The system can also licence artisanal miners in the same vein.
Mr. Speaker Sir, you ask yourself where the gold that has been captured at the borders go to. If it is well documented, you will find that there is more gold that has been captured at the borders than is going to Government and that gold should be attributed to the artisanal miners over and above that which has gone to Fidelity. If we can produce using 6 000 manpower, 100kg in two months, how many and how much can 500 000 and five times that can produce in a month. We are talking of more than 6 million tones. If these people are given their operating space, and if they are given the knowledge, we will have an issue that we can clearly address, of exploration.
These are the best people in terms of exploration. They know where gold is. Vanotora dombo vorinanzva vokuudza kuti rinegoridhe iri. However, instead of paying for exploration, we can use our artisanal miners to close that vacuum and that gap. Why should we pay for services that can come free? There is what is called ‘brown bird exploration’. These are the people that can do exploration at no expense. The holders of claims in Zimbabwe…
THE HON. TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon.
Mutseyami, can you go back to your seat?
HON. NDUNA: I was saying the holders of claims in Zimbabwe, nine times out of ten are listed on the London Stock Exchange and in other exchanges outside this country. They are the former colonisers of this nation and they are the former holders of the majority of our mines in this nation. We have changed nothing since independence. Whoever is there is playing a front of those that were always there, the original players. The original players are not in this country and they do not care about this country, about us, our future and our artisanal miners. They do not care if we arrest each other and they do not care if we are incarcerating our women, wives, fathers and our uncles. Mr. Speaker Sir, let us care about our own.
Mr. Speaker Sir, as I wind up, I want to say the ‘use it’ or lose it concept Mr. Speaker Sir, is now being brought to its fruition by these artisanal miners. No amount of pressure from offices in Harare can pressure a miner in Kadoma to lose it or use it. Let us use the local players to go on the ground and identify those claims that are being held for speculative purposes; bring out the gold, come and sell it to Fidelity and get licenced for those claims.
Mr. Speaker Sir, we are fuelling corruption by being inept in terms of passing good laws for the good governance of our people. I have a list of people that have formulated themselves into mining co-operatives numbering 10 in Chegutu. Mines that are held for speculative purposes are not only in Chegutu; they are in Murehwa, Mazowe, Lupane,
Gwanda, they are everywhere and the only place they are not found is Borrowdale. Hon. Speaker Sir, we would have done service to our population.
Hon. Speaker, as I sit, I want to thank you for affording me this opportunity that is now going to remove the shackles of bondage and self servitudeness from our people and from our community in Zimbabwe in general and in Chegutu in particular because in a 40 kilometre radius place, we have more that 49 gold mines Mr. Speaker Sir. As I know it, towns were formed around mines [AN. HON.
MEMBER: Yes!] – Why do we not have 49 mines around Chegutu?
You can see, it is because we are criminalising our artisanal mines, we are biting the finger that feeds us. I thank you.
*HON. MAPIKI: Thank you Hon. Speaker, for affording me this
opportunity to speak on the issue of artisanal miners. They use hard labour and equipment such as pick and shovels because they do not have sophisticated machinery. They are the people who are accused of polluting water, causing prostitution. They are painted in bad light and as a result, that has caused the country to lose some wealth.
Artisanal miners in Zimbabwe are about 500 000 and also composed of 150 000 women and youth. From January to March, they managed to produce one tonne of gold and they now have three tonnes. It is envisaged that our economy is going to improve through artisanal mining. I was envisaging a situation where 500 000 artisanal miners were going to produce a gramme per week and then multiply it by 500 000. We get 500 000 grammes per week and then multiply that output by a month and per year, this will lessen our burden economically.
The problem that we have is the use of the term formal or informal.
The whites were tricky and they used the term informal or non-formal. Companies are closing down because they use heavy machinery. Day-in and day-out, they are doing planning. The artisanal miners are courageous; they are unable to unlock the value in mining.
I would want to support this motion that has been raised by Hon. Nduna and urge other members to support it. If you were to look at the leakage in terms of several types of gold being recovered, it is worrisome. They are people who are getting arrested but others are not being arrested. Gold production and working in gold should be decriminalised. One should not be treated in the same manner as if they have murdered someone if they are found in possession of gold.
Hon. Speaker Sir, on our part, we are busy looking for heavy machinery to be able to do exploration but as has been said by Hon. Nduna, by merely picking up a stone and looking at it they are able to know the quantities of gold that are contained. We may not want to do area mapping for gold and spend a lot of years before we are able to mine that gold. I urge that artisanal miners be formalised or recognised as soon as possible. What remains is that we should give them a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. It is not only gold that artisanal miners are involved in.
In Hwange, there is coal that can be easily mined. They can have smart partnership with Hwange Colliery and supply Hwange Colliery with that coal. At the moment, we are facing challenges with electricity, we are asking why such stations are not being built or why coal is not being mined but they give excuses.
Hon. Speaker Sir, with the minimal tools, rudimental tools such as picks and shovels, coal can be mined and used for tapping in electricity. They can also mine diamond. In Chiadzwa, artisanal miners were renowned for diamond mining. Some mistook members of the Apostolic sect as using the stones for purposes of healing people spiritually. But then, it was known that there was diamond in Chiadzwa. Upon the discovery of the diamond and the moving on to site by big companies; we are informed that the diamond has run out. The big
lesson is that we should formalise our artisanal miners; we should licence them so that they are able to do this work and we should not arrest them.
Hon. Speaker, if we do not give them licences, we can give them permits. The same applies with the hawkers licences. That will strengthen our economy. We are mourning day-in and day-out but we have the resources. We should be able to put in place the regulations or legislation that formalise artisanal miners.
Gold detectors should be allowed into the country duty free. The gold detectors assist the artisanal miners to do their work well. In theory, they say they are allowed to have duty free machines; when you go there, in practice, they are asked to pay duty. There is need for a rethink on that issue so that we set the record straight.
Hon. Speaker, we have compressors that they need to use, they should also be entitled to duty free. There should be a One-Stop-Shop for the artisanal miners because of the current manner in which various
Ministries and Government including environmental agencies carry out different functions. I heard that there will be de-siltation and contracts were awarded to large companies. If you go to Mazowe, they are removing several kilogrammes of gold, but they would have obtained a licence from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to say these are the big companies which intend to remove sand from the rivers. The output in terms of cash that is realised from those rivers will be a lot of kilogrammes which are never remitted to Fidelity.
If artisanal miners were to do this, they will be arrested and sent to jail for a long time. We should really look into this issue and decriminalise artisanal miners. The laws governing miners should not differ from that which governs the disenfranchised artisanal miners. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) should work hand in glove with artisanal miners so that there will be proper rehabilitation of the land in terms of restoration of sand and gravel and planting of trees where necessary. The gold that is realised should benefit the poor artisanal miners. We complain a lot during budgets due to lack of funds but we have diamond, platinum and coal which can even be accessed with bare hands in Hwange yet we keep complaining about shortage of revenue.
If artisanal miners try to access these minerals, they are sent to jail, that is where I am saying this law must be amended so that these miners can be accommodated. We have a lot of large companies in Zimbabwe that are into gold mining and other business ventures. These companies are sitting on claims for speculation on the London Stock Exchange whilst making a lot of cash out of this. Meanwhile, Zimbabweans will be suffering. These companies should go into partnership with the artisanal miners and give them tributaries so that there is mine and they sell to Fidelity. In this regard, we will be able to monitor the amount of gold that is being produced by these large scale miners.
If you go to Metallon Gold Mine in Shamva, they record that they produce 89 kgs per month, but they remit 47 kgs to Fidelity. Where are they taking the other gold? If you were to ask about the 51% Indigenisation policy, some of them are non-indigenous. Does that mean that people will be working for nothing? These countries are bleeding us dry. We went to ZIMPLATS mine and asked them about the share-ownership, they said 90% belongs to the British, 5% to the Australians and 4% to another country outside Zimbabwe but we are getting 1% as Zimbabweans. We have such minerals but what is on the ground in terms of the ownership of that country is that, as indigenous people, we have nothing. We have a lot of wealth in platinum, gold and other minerals but we are reaping nothing because of this skewed share ownership in the companies. This means that we may end up dying in poverty.
There is corruption when an artisanal miner is arrested by a police constable. The police officer gets part of the gold and remits 700 grammes to the police station. From the police station, 200 grammes is lost and then at the magistrate’s court, 200 grammes is also taken. On the trial date, when evidence is called forth on the quantity of gold confiscated, there will be 2 grammes. You then would want to find out what would have happened to the 1kg of gold that was initially taken from the artisanal miner. These leakages can be stopped if everyone is allowed to trade in gold in as much as people trade in maize. The word precious metal should be removed and anyone should be able to sell gold. It should not be an anathema for one to be involved in gold mining or to be in possession of gold. When one wants to export gold, they should be taxed. We want the law to be revisited and I reiterate that artisanal miners should be formalised as soon as possible.
Gold is abundant in Shamva and a lot of artisanal miners are being arrested, but the amount of gold that is confiscated deteriorates along the system due to corruption. If artisanal miners are allowed to mine gold and sell it directly to Fidelity, then all this corruption and leakages will be avoided. Government should set the price for gold in a transparent manner. We consult amongst ourselves on a Wednesday about gold buyers, but in Shamva there are individuals who openly market themselves in their homes to say ‘we buy gold’. They do not have a buyer’s licence and do not know where the gold is taken but we just watch without taking any action.
On the contrary, if one is caught with a small portion of marijuana, they are severely punished yet there are people who are extorting gold and put up banners written ‘gold buyer’ with no licence. Police officers and other law authorities get to witness such illicit activities as they pass through those places, but they receive bribes and pretend that they have not seen anything. The gold is not benefitting the Treasury and yet we push the Hon. Chinamasa to avail funds for the nation.
That is the reason why I am saying the artisanal miners should be supported through giving them operating licences. Let us build them with the necessary mining equipment and infrastructure like the ones being used by Metallon Gold Mine so that they produce – [HON.
MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Shamva Gold mine has 160 claims, but only 10 are in operation. Why are they keeping all the remaining gold claims? If we fought in the liberation struggle so that the distribution of wealth becomes equitable, is it fair that someone has 160 claims and I have none? If I then decide to mine on a claim I happen to discover, I am arrested, the law becomes even difficult to accept. If we talk about equitable distribution of wealth, let it not remain on paper, it should be practical. I therefore plead with the authorities that artisanal miners should be formalised.
The most difficult issue to deal with is within the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. If we really want our wealth to be realised, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development should be given a wake-up call or heads must roll. If you visit Shamva, you will realize that 80% of mines are not in use, citing the issue of disputes. These disputes are awkward as one will be having the necessary documentation from EMA and other authorities to show, but the ownership would be said to be in dispute simply because gold would have been discovered. There will be some people coming from the Ministry of Mines, digging into the claims and production is abruptly stopped – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – In such a scenario, we cannot expect Zimbabwe to grow; there will not be any growth.
If the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is tasked to solve such disputes, they will take two to four years and yet the ownership documentation will be very clear in as far as who owns the claim is concerned. During the night, some people from the Ministry would come and mine the gold which is never sold to Fidelity.
The process of pegging gold claims is taking a very long time to complete. The Ministers are taking long to process documents on these claims. You will find that if there are 200 claims coming in, only one will be processed in two months. Are people working in such a scenario? Can a country be able to progress under such circumstances? I am of the view that Government leaders who are in this august House should also exercise what is called Result Based Management on Ministers. We should be able to know the work done by a Minister through the results of each Ministry. If they are not performing, they should be send packing. Members of Parliament are going through a difficult time over these issues.
A mining claim is discovered but the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will take years to ensure that the claim is put to use. Some of them even want to be asked for a totem in order to do their work. What is the use when the procedures are there to follow? – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – We are saying, that issue should be rectified. The corrupt Ministry of Mines and Mining Development officials are causing us sleepless nights. They are not working in a transparent and accountable manner. They suffer from conflict of interest in terms of their operations and they conduct nocturnal activities of mining. That Ministry should be set straight so that things become good for us.
[Time limit]
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your time is up Hon.
Member.
HON. MARIDADI: I move that the Hon. Member’s time be
extended.
HON. MANDIPAKA: I object Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We have an objection and so
the Hon. Member cannot continue.
*MR. MAPIKI: Thank you Madam Speaker, you have allowed me to finish …
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you cannot
continue because there is an objection. Thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Madam Speaker, I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 27th October, 2015.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Madam Speaker, I move that Order of the day
Number 6, be stood over until the First Order of the day is disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
COMMITTEE STAGE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE AMENDMENT
BILL [H.B.2, 2015]
First order read: Committee: Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill [H. B. 2, 2015].
House in Committee.
On Clause 14:
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Ms. Majome left and she
has asked me to move the amendments on her behalf.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: It has to be in writing Hon.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: But she is here.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Yes, that is fine, she can
proceed or she can put it in writing.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I move the amendment
standing in Hon. Majome’s name. The amendment was to deal with the issues to do with the language. We were asking that there be an amendment that does not require that the person is presumed to have understood what they are being accused for. Alternatively, we had said if we cannot remove that Clause, perhaps we could have a signed statement by the accused saying whether or not they indeed had been informed in the language of their choice.
I say so Hon. Chair because many of us would know that it has been common that when you are at road blocks, and you are in places where your language is not spoken, for example if you are to go to Tsholotsho right now, you may meet somebody who is speaking to you in Shona, because the police cannot speak to you in Ndebele and it is quite common. We are therefore, asking to put that Clause because as it stands right now, it will not deal with the issues that are prevalent in this country.
I think many of the people may stand up to attest to that particular issue, that issues of language, particularly as they relate to the police are problematic. All we are asking is for that clause to be amended.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Thank you Mr. Chairman. In relation to the issues raised by Hon. Majome on Clause 14, Section 41 A, it must be understood that not all arrested persons understand the officially recognised languages of Zimbabwe. There are suspects who speak languages that are not officially recognized languages of Zimbabwe but we still arrest them.
Are the police supposed to have a Korean or Slovak interpreter wherever they are to read them their rights? It will remain unclear as to how to handle cases of accused people who do not understand any one of the officially recognised languages of Zimbabwe. The police will have the same objection as speakers of the official languages, even if their language is not mentioned in the Constitution. They might even allege that their right to equality and non discrimination under Section
56 of the Constitution is being violated. That presumption in favour of English is a rebuttable presumption. It is open to any speaker of an official language who was read his or her rights in English to allege in court that he or she truly did not comprehend what was being said to him or her by the police. This presumption is essential for the efficient administration of justice. Without it, law enforcement may become impossible in some cases.
In some cases it might happen that an accused is known to speak
English but afterwards pretends not to understand it when it suits him. Obviously, if an interpreter in the required recognised language is at hand, the police will use him/her. Just as the law cannot require anyone to do the impossible, we should not require law enforcement agencies to do the impossible - to have somebody who speaks the languages at the point of arrest.
The Tenth Schedule – Statement of Rights upon arrest shall be translated in all official languages of this country and the police will endeavour to have an interpreter available wherever it is possible.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I did not get the
response from the Hon. Vice President where we have said as one of the suggestions that perhaps let there be a statement that is signed at the point of arrest or of being charged where this person actually does indicate that they did receive the information in a language that they understood, instead of asking them to prove the negative. Could that not be possible just as we do the warned and cautioned statements? I thank you.
HON. MNANGAGWA: Obviously, where the police satisfy themselves that the accused person does not understand the language or cannot follow, will be detained until an interpreter is found to facilitate the interpretation.
Amendment proposed by the Minister of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs put and agreed to.
Amendment proposed by Hon. Majome put and negatived.
Amendments to Clause 14 put and agreed to.
Clause 14, as amended, put agreed to.
Clauses 15 to 17 put and agreed to.
On Clause 18:
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I move the amendment
standing in Hon. Majome’s name that “Section 50 (1) (a) and 33 (1) to require the issuer of a warrant of arrest and/or search to personally entertain reasonable suspicion of offence”.
HON. MNANGAGWA: In relation to Clause 18, amendment of Section 50 (1) (a) and 33 (1) which is requirement for an adversarial legal system. The court only evaluates the evidence placed before it and comes up with a determination. The applicant is the one who is supposed to prove that there is a reasonable suspicion warranting the court to issue the warrant so requested. So, I cannot take on board the amendment.
Amendment by Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga, put and negatived.
Amendment by Hon. Mnangagwa, put and agreed to.
Clause 18, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 19, put and agreed to.
On Clause 20:
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: - [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] – I hope the Minister can hear what Members of Parliament are saying, that there is no point in debating and I do not think that is your idea. If there is no point in debating, then let us all just sit down. I thought there was a point in debating.
On Clause 20, I did raise during the time that we were doing the second reading Hon. Vice President. Basically, the argument that I put then was that I believe it is just so wide and arbitrary that if we define –
HON. MNANGAGWA: On a point of order. We are dealing with the amendments that were proposed and submitted, and are on the Order Paper. We have no amendment to Clause 20 at all. We have an amendment to clauses 24 and 30 – [HON. MISIHAIRABWIMUSHONGA: Hon. Vice President, you said to us we can raise issues from the floor.] – That is the procedure of the House so that we cannot entertainment an amendment which was not submitted.
HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Hon. Chair, the last
time when we had this discussion, we actually agreed that there will be amendments that would have been submitted and amendments that will be brought from the floor. If we have changed that particular agreement, it is okay, I do not have a problem, but there was a standing agreement –
[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
Order! – [HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: If that agreement is no longer there, there is no problem.] – Order, Hon. Member. You might have made that but it is not appearing on the Order Paper and therefore, we cannot take it. – [HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: Inaudible
interjections.] – It is not on the Order Paper, therefore there is nothing that we can do.
HON. CHIDAVAENZI: On a point of order. I would request the Hon. Member to withdraw a statement because the fact that she stood up to present to the House means there is a right to presentation and issues are considered on merit – [HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: I am not going to withdraw.] – [HON. MEMEBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON (HON. MARUMAHOKO):
Order! Hon. Member, I had already made a ruling.
Clause 20, put and agreed to.
Clauses 21 to 23, put and agreed to.
On Clause 24:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move the amendment in my name that on page 22,
in line 37, delete the word “its” and substitute with “it”.
Amendment to Clause 24, put and agreed to.
Clause 24, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 25 to 29, put and agreed to.
On New Clause 30: Amendment of Section 121 of Chapter 9:07:
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I move the amendment in my name that on page 27
of the Bill, after line 23 and after Clause 29, insert the following new clause and renumber the succeeding clauses accordingly:-
“30 Amendment of Section 121 of Cap. 9:07
Section 121 (“Appeals against decisions regarding bail”) of the principal Act is amended –
- by the repeal of subsection (1) and the substitution of –
“(1) Subject to this section, where a judge or magistrate has admitted or refused to admit a person to bail –
(a) the Prosecutor-General or the public prosecutor, within forty-eight hours of the decision; or (b) the person concerned, at any time; may appeal against the admission to or refusal to bail or the amount fixed as bail or any conditions imposed in connection with bail.”;
- by the repeal of subsection (3) and the substitution of –
“(3) Where a judge or magistrate has admitted a person to bail and the judge or magistrate is notified immediately after the decision that the Prosecutor-General or a public prosecutor wishes to appeal against the decision, the judge or magistrate shall order the person to remain in custody until the appeal is determined:
Provided that the person shall not remain in custody under such an Order for longer than forty-eight hours unless, within that period, the Prosecutor-General or public prosecutor lodges the appeal.”;
- in subsection (6) by the deletion of “subsections (2) to (6) of section one hundred and sixteen” and the substitution of “subsections 117 (2) to
(6)”.
Amendment to New Clause 30, put and agreed to.
New Clause 30, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clauses 31 to 49, put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported with amendments.
Bill referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee
On the motion of THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER
OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA), the House adjourned at Twenty Eight Minutes to
Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 27th October, 2015.
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 21st October, 2015
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PRE-BUDGET BRIEFING
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to remind the House that all Members of Parliament are invited to a Pre-Budget Briefing to be held tomorrow, Thursday, 22nd October, 2015 from 08.00 a.m. to 13.00 p.m. at Pandhari Lodge in Harare. The bus leaves Parliament building at 7.45a.m. All members are advised to be extremely punctual.
SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS
THE HON. SPEAKER: On 6th October, 2015, Parliament received communication from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on the election of the following members of ZANU PF party as Members of the National Assembly with effect from 20th September, 2015 and these are Hon. Karoro Douglas representing Mbire Constituency, Hon. Katsiru Laurence Lavious representing Marondera Central Constituency and Hon. Makari Zalerah Hazvinei representing Epworth Constituency.
Section 128 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the member must take the Oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the 3rd Schedule. Section 128(2) states that the oath must be taken before the Clerk of Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -. Hon. Chamisa, please take your seat. This is an important occasion – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -
Order, order! Hon. Member in the red tie can you please stand up.
Can you please leave the House?
The Hon. Member walked out of the House.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN
HON. KARORO DOUGLAS, HON. KATSIRU LAURENCE LAVIOUS and HON. MAKARI ZALERAH HAZVINEI subscribed
to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the Law and took their seats –
[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Hon. Vice President Emmerson, Dambudzo Mnangagwa. I would like to find out whether the Executive is committed to the establishment of the National Peace and Reconciliation
Commission, as provided for in Section 251 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe?
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders conducted interviews and forwarded names to the appointing authority but up to now, there is deafening silence as to when the Commissioners are going to be appointed.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): I am happy that the Hon. Member has asked this question because it is a question that bothers many more people than those in the House. The first part of the question is whether Government is committed. Let me assure the Hon. Member and the House that we
are extremely committed to creating and making the National Healing Commission function. However, the constraint that Government has is that of resources and that also applies to the Provincial Authority Council. As far as commitment is concerned, we are committed to obeying the Constitution of our Republic, which we granted unto ourselves without compulsion from anybody. So, we are committed.
HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir, my supplementary question is; why has the Executive not taken steps to put in place the enabling legislation? I think we heard the President’s Speech- the corrected version, which was presented and laid on the table by the Hon. Vice President. It appears that there is no mention of the bringing in of a Bill to set up that Commission. I believe that the question of resources, when it comes to the issue of the Bill, would not arise. I wonder why the Executive has not set in motion the appropriate steps for the legislation, which will enable the Commission, when the
Commissioners are appointed, to be able to operate.
HON. MNANGAGWA: I think the Hon. Member may be
reminded that not all Bills that come to the Legislature appear in the Presidential Speech. Secondly, we have already established five
Commissions and none of those appeared in the statement of the President. It is well known that there is provision in the Constitution that this should be done and there is no need to remind anybody in the House that it should be done, because it is already in the Constitution. It is the duty of the Executive to do so and so far we have established five.
HON. ENG. MUDZURI: Hon. Vice President, you have just indicated that you cannot institute certain areas of the Constitution because of lack of resources. Are you not going to be accused by the whole nation for picking and choosing areas where you choose to defy the Constitution and where you think the resources are not necessary? Is it not important that the Executive looks at all requirements of the Constitution and tries to distribute the cake to ensure that all Institutions of Government are working?
HON. MNANGAGWA: It is simple mathematics and the Hon.
Member knows how Government works. If there are seven Commissions and we have resources to facilitate the creation of five, obviously two will remain. Whichever way you put it, you will have to use the resources for five and the other two will remain. That is what has happened.
HON. KWARAMBA: I would like to find out from the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education what Government policy is regarding post Grade 7 examinations, as we are seeing these pupils roaming the streets.
THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DR. DOKORA): I want to thank the Hon.
Member for posing that question. It is a historical fact that at the end of the Grade 7 examinations or tests, various schools ensure that those pupils are usefully engaged in activities of one kind or another. If the Hon. Member has seen pupils roaming the streets in her particular constituency, in that area there should be an appropriate agent of the Ministry at the District Education Office to which they can draw attention. Thank you.
*HON. MANGWENDE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question
is directed to the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, Hon Nyoni about the Glen View Furniture Complex which was burnt down three months ago. A lot of people were making a livelihood out of that but three months down the line, nothing has been done. Among the people that were making livelihood are the disabled, youth, men and women. What is the position with regards to the resuscitation of that project? I thank you Hon. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF SMALL AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES AND CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT (HON.
NYONI): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for asking such a very pertinent question. Glen View Furniture Complex was and still is the largest SME furniture complex in the country.
Hon. Minister having answered the question facing the Hon.
Member.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Minister, please address the
Chair.
HON. NYONI: Hon. Speaker, it was and still is the largest furniture complex in the country. It was accommodating 5 000 people; 2 000 were actual carpenters and 3 000 were providing services. When this complex burnt down, the Ministry together with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing found that the problem really, apart from the criminal activity that took place was that people were very crowded. It is supposed to be accommodating 450 people only, but now it is accommodating 5 000 people.
So, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is availing land so that we can expand and accommodate these people. My Ministry has found a private sector that is going to assist in constructing an alternative work place. We are going to choose one hundred best carpenters and move them away from this complex so that they start a new complex altogether to avoid congestion.
The Hon. Member is very correct that urgency is needed. So, we are inviting private sector to come and work with us to provide infrastructure. Having said that, I want to thank the people in Glen View, they are doing something themselves and some of them have started putting up shades for themselves. So, work is already going on but the plan to upgrade it and to move some of the carpenters is underway Hon. Speaker.
HON. MUNENGAMI: Thank Hon. Speaker and I also want to
thank the Hon. Minister for answering that question. I am also a Member of Parliament for that area. I remember asking the same question to the Vice President regarding the Glen View complex. The Hon. Minister said they have some plans of building another alternative complex whereby they are going to accommodate…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Munengami, you are
repeating what the Hon. Minister has just said. What is your supplementary question?
HON. MUNENGAMI: Yes, that is what I am trying to do.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Try harder! Try harder!
HON. MUNENGAMI: Thank you. The Hon. Minister has got some plans to build an alternative complex. My question to the Hon. Minister is, what is going to happen to those people who are going to be left behind? Yes, at the moment they are going to build an alternative, what about those who are going to be left behind. As we speak right now, there is no complex to talk about.
HON. NYONI: I said that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, which is responsible for providing land for infrastructure to SMEs and the local authority or the private sector can provide the actual infrastructure. Provision of infrastructure is not the responsibility of the Ministry of SMEs. The Ministry of SMEs has the responsibility to work with various stakeholders to see that infrastructure is provided. Having said that, the SMEs themselves; if you go there, they are already putting up their own structures, which is correct and proper because we are encouraging self reliance but the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has to help them to make sure that the structures are within the local government standards.
HON. MUNENGAMI: On a point of Order Hon. Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – This is a serious matter because we come from Glen View, there is no structure at all at the Glen View Complex which was burnt down. I wish the Hon. Minister could go there, I can even accompany her. There is no structure at all, I was there this morning, let us not mislead the House here – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
THE HON. SPEAKER: The supplementary question Hon. Minister is; what is going to happen to those who are going to be left behind in terms of the construction of a new structure?
HON. NYONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The truth of the matter is that the SMEs there are already putting their own structures – [AN. HON. MEMBER: Munoitireiko nharo.] – Aiwa handisi kuita
nharo, it is a fact – [Laughter] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, may I suggest to Hon.
Minister Nyoni to please go and check the facts on the ground – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – Order, I have not finished, garai pasi. I suggest that the Hon. Minister should go to the ground and when you find what is there, come and make a Ministerial Statement.
+HON. MISIHAIRABWI–MUSHONGA: I am directing my
question to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Dr. Dokora. How far true is the circulating rumour that students will only be allowed to sit for their ‘O’ Level examinations after they have acquired their motor vehicle driving licences? This information was released by his Deputy Minister.
+THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DR. DOKORA): Thank you Hon. Speaker for giving me the opportunity to respond to this question. My response to the question is that this is false, there is nothing like that. I thank you.
HON. ZINDI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My attention has been drawn because – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – THE HON. SPEAKER: Ask your question please.
HON. ZINDI: Thank you Hon. Speaker for recognising me. My question is directed to the Vice President, Hon. Mnangagwa, who is the Leader of the House. With regards to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), what is the Government thinking along those lines, taking cognisance of the fact that we are already almost three years into the Eighth Parliament?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I wish to clarify the issue of the CDF. When it was introduced, there was no legislation to govern or regulate its implementation. During the First Session of the
Eighth Parliament, there was no allocation for that purpose. However, Hon. Members of Parliament insisted in the consultations, that they view the CDF as very important for purposes of assisting Members of
Parliament to develop their constituencies. As the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, we then made principles for that Bill, which went to Cabinet and were approved. We drafted the Bill which went to the Cabinet Committee on legislation and has been approved.
The process now is for the Bill to be tabled here in Parliament for Hon. Members to debate it and if agreed, it will be passed into law. So, we are seized with the process of bringing the Bill to Parliament after the processes which I have mentioned. I thank you.
Hon. Misihairabwi Mushonga having stood up to ask a supplementary question.
THE HON. SPEAKER: There is no need for supplementary – [HON. MISIHAIRABWI – MUSHONGA: kukhona] – buzani.
+HON. MISIHAIRABWI – MUSHONGA: Mr. Speaker Sir,
thank you for giving me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Hon. Vice President regarding the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Will this fund be extended to the 60 women Parliamentarians who were elected on a proportional representation basis or it will only be for elected Members of Parliament with constituencies? I feel that we are also entitled to access the CDF as Members of Parliament.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, Order, just as well, the CDF
refers to constituencies, so I do not know whether the Hon. Vice President has a different view.
+THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for the initial response you gave to this question, which is very appropriate. As the name implies, Constituency Development Fund is a fund targeted at developing constituency programmes and hence, it will only be directed to Hon. Members with constituencies and not non-constituency Members. Since this is a Bill, maybe there could be a change of heart regarding this matter. However, as it stands, it is only for constituencybased Members of Parliament.
HON. SANSOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate. I would like the Hon. Minister to inform the House on whether the ban on the safari hunting of lions, elephants and leopards has been lifted following the death of Cecil the lion – [Laughter] – if so, can you inform the House whether the ban has an impact on revenue inflows from the safari hunting industry, given that the industry generates about US$40 million per annum. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I
would like to thank the Hon. Member for that very important question, suffice to mention that we had to resort to the ban of sport hunting after we realised that there were a lot of illegal spot hunting activities along the Gwayi area, and we were worried that those that have conservancies and border with Hwange National Parks were not following the laid down procedures as dictated by the Parks and Wildlife Act. Mr. Speaker Sir, can I be protected from those making noise – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjection.] –
HON. SPEAKER: You have my protection.
HON. MUCHINGURI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. As a result
of those illegal activities that were happening in the area as reported by newspapers and the various media entities two farmers in the area, Mr. Ndlovu and Mr. Sibanda, who own conservancies, were used to carry out the illegal hunts when they did not have the relevant papers. As a result of the killing of Cecil the lion, there was so much outcry, not only here in Zimbabwe but Internationally of a lion that we had taken care of for thirteen years, only to be lost from a hunt from bow and an arrow. We therefore, decided as a Ministry to carry out investigations to establish the activities that were taking place in that area. We also looked at the involvement of the communities in the area, in poaching and also illegal activities that were taking place.
The Ministry also looked at the porous border which covers
Zambezi river which at the moment is almost 20% full and many poachers that are crossing the river into Hwange National Park. As a Ministry, we were having problems of conservation and preservation and we embarked on investigations to establish what was happening in the Gwayi area. As a stop gap measure, we imposed a temporary ban which was subsequently followed by an imposed ban on trophy exportation from Zimbabwe. For that reason, we realised that it would affect our standing at CITES which is taking place next year because most of the hunters are from the United States and we were forced to link up with some Wildlife Association in order to promote our position as Zimbabwe. Putting our case that spot hunting was legal in Zimbabwe. The United States ban of the exportation of trophies was also promoting a lot of poaching within the Gwayi area and also within Hwange National Park. In spot hunting, one elephant would cost $120 000.00, it means therefore that resources mobilised would be ploughed into developing infrastructure, and also to assist communities in paying school fees and also buying food. Surrounding communities lose their crops to these wild animals. The ban is depriving communities with the much needed resources and starved our conservation and preservation of programmes. Thank you.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question
is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Dokora. If you go to China, the people in China learn Chinese until they attain their degrees. The same applies to Yugoslavia and Cuba. My question is when are we going to respect our local languages such as Shona and Ndebele so that we are able to work mathematical problems either in Ndebele or in Shona? When are we ever going to reach that stage because our people are failing examinations because they are using a language that is foreign to them? Those that are from the east come here and they will be speaking Chinese. They are building structures here yet they are good at it. When are we going to change our mindset so that our education is administered in our local language for our children?
I thank you.
*HON. MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION (HON. DOKORA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I thank Hon. Chinotimba for the pertinent question. In his question I get the chance to explain to this august House that we now have the position that has been agreed to by the Cabinet Committee in terms of how four year olds up to Grade 2 are to be instructed at school. They will be instructed in the languages that have been accepted in our Constitution. That is the focus that we are now going to take and those are the steps that we are going to implement. We now have teachers that are advancing themselves in those languages such as Nambya, Tonga, Shangani, Venda and other languages.
The second part of his question is when will we have languages that are going to be used for mathematical problems? The advancement in languages is also part of development. It is a process and not an event. Even the English language that we speak in this country proficiently did not start as the English language that we have known. It is dynamic and it borrows from other languages and it was perfected. My Ministry is not alone in doing that. We work hand in glove with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development so that there is development in our languages. I thank you.
*HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, I do not think that you understood the question properly. Is there a policy which says our indigenous languages are used up to university level? Is there a policy in that regard?
*HON. DR. DOKORA: Hon. Speaker, as a Ministry, we have
started the process by accepting the languages that are stated in our Constitution so that they can now be used as official languages, but it is not our duty alone to ensure that these languages are promoted. There is a Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education which has experts that look into language development so that these languages can be further developed. I can give another example and say that, in our Ministry, we have others that are learned in other languages with a view that they can be able to know about computers so that we can have Shona, Ndebele and Namibia and you have an equal opportunity to explain the issue of computers without you having problems with the language that you are using. So, we say that we have started the process but it is not for a single Ministry alone. I thank you.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Hon. Speaker for recognising me.
I have a question for the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. What is Government policy with regards to transparency in the extraction of natural resources for the benefit of all citizens? Why are mining deals shrouded in so much secrecy? The last I heard of mega Russian deals was in the Herald. Why are they not coming here for scrutiny? Thank you Hon. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING
DEVELOPMENT (HON. W. CHIDHAKWA): Thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir, and I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. I think that we are all aware of the fact that, the President and Government have taken a position against corruption, to ensure that things are done transparently. It is important to know that the process by which projects are approved is a process that is contained in the Mines and Minerals Act. Therefore, when you want to understand how a project is approved from the beginning to its approval, you only need to look at the Mines and Minerals Act which is up for sale at the Government Printers.
What happens is that, a project is submitted to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry. The Permanent Secretary takes it to what we call the Mining Affairs Board. The Mining Affairs Board is a board that is represented by the private sector and the government officials who constitute this board. So, the private sector is actually sitting on this Board. They make recommendations on any major project to the
Minister. The Minister then takes that project for approval by His Excellency the President, who may take it to Cabinet depending on whether that project does have competition. Here I am referring to the allocation of a concession. So, if you apply for a concession for platinum, your application comes and it is considered in this process.
When you say why are these projects not being brought here for scrutiny? I think that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development makes a report to the Auditor-General. So, all issues in relation to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development are reflected in the
Auditor-General’s documents. So, there is nothing that you would call shrouded because the process is clear. Projects come and when they are approved, we make it very clear that projects are approved. If they are rejected, we also advise that the projects are rejected. Thank you Mr.
Speaker.
HON. DR. LABODE: Hon. Minister, you have just described a beautiful process which should generate money for Zimbabwe. We have 25% of the world’s diamonds.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please address the Chair.
HON. DR. LABODE: Sorry. Mr. Speaker Sir, the Minister has just described a very transparent process. Zimbabwe has 25% of the world’s diamonds. We have more diamonds than Botswana, yet Botswana gets $8.4 billion per annum and we get less that $100 million.
Can you tell us what is happening to our diamonds?
HON. W. CHIDHAKWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. When you talk about minerals, you talk about minerals as minerals embedded in the soil. Somebody must explore for those minerals and must be able to demonstrate that there is a presence of a mineral in this concession which justifies a business entity to be established on the back of that mineralisation. We were able to establish the presence of a mineral in Marange and we took a decision or made decisions to allocate concessions to a number of companies in partnership with ZMDC. Now, the country is estimated depending on the figures that you are looking at, having between 105 and 159 kimberlites. These are pedantic until and unless you spend time exploring each and every one of those kimberlite, because not all …
HON. MARIDADI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. The
Minister is giving us a lecture on the diamonds which is not necessary.
The question is where is the diamond money given that Zimbabwe owns
25% of the world’s diamonds? That is simple. Where is the money Minister? That is what we want to know. If you want to give a lecture, can you please prepare a ministerial statement?
Thank you Mr. Speaker. The Hon. Member is refusing to accept a rationale that is very straightforward and allowing his emotions to get the better of him. The truth of the matter is that we are mining diamonds right now and the money is going into Government depending on how much it is -[HON. MEMBERS: Where is the money, where, where?]- well ask the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
HON. SPEAKER: Order! Order!
HON. MARIDADI: Hon. Speaker, the Auditor General’s report – HON. SPEAKER: Order, please can we be heard.
HON. MARIDADI: The Auditor General’s report from last year indicated that Government did not receive a dime from the diamond companies last year. The Minister comes here and says money is getting into Government, which Government is he talking about? If it is the Government of Zimbabwe, it is not true, there is no money coming.
The Finance Act talks of money going
into Government as a royalty, 2% depletion fee and 0.85% going into MMCZ. This money has been going to Government. The question is, how much as a percentage. That is the question but the fact of the money going to Government through royalties is unquestionable and not debatable – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. MUTSEYAMI: The Minister, when he did his
presentation, spoke to the dictates of an Act to justify transparency with reference to an auditor having done an auditing system. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is, what are you doing as a
Ministry to make sure that today’s world moves with current developments that are taking place within the mining companies with reference to the Mines and Minerals Act, in order for us as a country to achieve equity in terms of the money which comes from diamonds. When we refer to an Act which was done by colonialists with an agenda for them to achieve something, what is it that you are doing today for these minerals to help us as a country regardless of the Act?
I cannot work outside the Act. I work
within the confines of the Act, but having said that, even as you have an Act that is outdated, that Act of 1961 has been amended on many occasions to date. The issue about equity and benefitting Zimbabwe is not only an issue of the Act, it is an issue of our Indigenisation Programme and how you negotiate a deal, what you put in the deal. The deals in the diamond sector are all 50( between the Government of Zimbabwe and the foreign partners – [HON. MEMBERS: That is not
true.] – Well, I state a fact and it is up to individuals to check the facts. The Government of Zimbabwe has 50%. Now, that is what should enable us to get 50% of the proceeds after paying royalty, depletion fee and what goes to MMCZ. We are then supposed to have a profit sharing arrangement and a dividend declaration policy.
I want to take this and link it to our desire to consolidate. Our desire to consolidate comes out of the fact that we do not believe that the companies invested insufficient money to drive a profitable business, which is sufficiently explored by way of exploration. Therefore, we
know that the structure that is in place will give us the results but we need to implement that structure on the companies and push them to deliver the results.
On the Mines and Minerals Act, if I may take this opportunity, the Cabinet Committee on Legislation approved amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act and recommended to Cabinet. Cabinet is now in the process of looking at the amendments so that they can recommend those amendments to Parliament. So in the next two or three weeks, we will start the process of debating that here in this Parliament.
HON. MHONA: My question to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services is, what is the Government policy regarding the availability of accessible transport facilities and amenities for the people living with physical or mental disabilities in order to enhance their rights to be treated with dignity as buttressed under Section 22 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR
AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Yes, the Government currently has several programmes that are targeting the vulnerable in our society. The biggest challenge we have at this point in time is the allocation of resources targeting those particular requirements that we have. Right now, the priority area that we are focusing on is the food mitigation programmes viz-a-viz the transportation and facility aspects that the Hon. Member has alluded to. So, yes the Government is seized with that but currently, because of financial limitations, issues are restricted to food mitigation and helping out the vulnerable.
*HON. CHAMISA: I had lost hope but I want to thank you. My question is directed to the Hon. Vice President of Zimbabwe. Hon. Vice President, we have realised that in the past weeks or few months, there are challenges in this country where the Government Ministers are not in agreement on how the nation should proceed in terms of policies. We realise the issue of Minister Zhuwao and Minister Chinamasa, and if you look at the Government meetings that are taking place, there is confusion in terms of who should do what. My question Hon. Vice
President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is that; is the Government still stable enough to ensure that investment comes into the country because you know that foreign direct investment cannot be attracted when the Government is in shambles like this. Can we attract foreign direct investment? I thank you.
*THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Mr. Speaker Sir, the challenges that he has highlighted are not evident in our Government. There are challenges that he mentioned about that are not worthy for us to have sleepless nights. This country is enjoying peace and tranquility and it is well known for being peaceful. We want to thank the Zimbabweans, all of them that we live peacefully. If there are others who think otherwise, that should not bring this country into disrepute.
When meetings are done, I do not know whether these are Cabinet meetings or party meetings. The Government is not worried about what happens at party meetings but if he is interested in finding out what is happening at different party fora, he is allowed to go and find out what will be happening in those party meetings. I thank you.
- MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My
supplementary question is directed to the Vice President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. You spoke very well that there are others who get affected by the spirit of violence. We observed last week, the President’s wife, in Rushinga saying that if members of the MDC were to go to Mashonaland Central, they should be assaulted; that is violence. Is that the Government policy? I thank you.
- MNANGAGWA: Hon. Maridadi, I did not hear that. If
he can ask me a question on the things that I did not hear, how am I supposed to respond?
HON. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, my question is
directed to the Vice, President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Mnangagwa. It is based on recent reports that the Secretary for the Women’s League in ZANU PF has been engaging in philanthropic activities in which she was actually donating agricultural inputs to various places within the country. I would want the Hon. Vice President to assure the nation and confirm to us that these agricultural inputs have no direct relationship with the loan that we got from Brazil, the US$98billion.
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.
MNANGAGWA): Hon. Speaker, I would want to explain the misunderstanding the Hon. Member has. We have equipment which we have acquired from Brazil in three phases. Part of phase 1 equipment arrived, but not all of it under phase 1 has arrived but the equipment that arrived has been allocated to the provinces. Each province has been allocated eight minimum irrigation schemes. So, each province will receive equipment for irrigation, tractors and other accessory equipment. What is happening is that the First Lady is not donating but handing over [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] – equipment which has been delivered to particular people so that this equipment is going to be identified irrigation equipment by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. It does not matter, the tractor will plough, whether it has been handed over by him or by her – [HON. MEMBERS:
Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. SITHOLE: Thank you. My supplementary question is; I would want the Hon. Vice President to actually explain to the House and the nation at large that in which capacity does the Secretary for
Women’s League donates Government inputs, since she is not a Government official.
HON. MNANGAGWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I do not want to be impolite because if I become impolite, I would ask the Hon. Member to collect his school fees but because I do not like to be impolite, I would say that I have corrected the word donation – it is different from handing over. The equipment was handed over by the First Lady – [HON.
MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
HON. CHAMISA: My point of order to the Hon. Vice President
is to do with the clarification. It is a point of clarification. Is he insinuating that Government....
HON. SPEAKER: Is it a point of order or point of clarification?
HON. CHAMISA: It is a point of order to give a genesis. The
Standing Rules and Orders provides for this.
HON. SPEAKER: Yes, but not clarification.
HON. CHAMISA: But through a point of order, I am then seeking a clarification.
HON. SPEAKER: Point of order, can you please proceed with the point of order.
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you very much. Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, can you elucidate and clarify to the nation and to us...
HON. SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
HON. CHAMISA: That is what I am getting at.
HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. We agreed and reminded each other that the point of order must refer to Standing Rules and Orders. So, can the hon. member be so directed?
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. In terms of our Standing Rules and Orders that speak to issues of accountability of Vice Presidents and Ministers, I want to hear from the
Hon. Vice President how a Secretary for Women’s Affairs adorned in party regalia is handing over Government resources at a party meeting?
When is the Secretary for Women’s Affairs visiting the MDC to do the
same?
HON. E. MNANGAGWA: It is very clear. We had the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and the First Lady. After the First Lady had done her political work, she did
Government work and handed over… – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible
interjections.]… this irrigation equipment as allocated by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe which is a ZANU PF Government.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I think discipline requires that if a question has been asked, get the answer and if you do not agree with the answer, you can ask another supplementary question. So, if you are going to behave like this I will not entertain another supplementary question.
HON. MACKENZIE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement. Minister, the 99 year lease is not bankable to enable farmers to use it as collateral. We have now approached the 2015/2016 agricultural season and farmers cannot use this as collateral. What is Government doing to assist A2 farmers? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF LANDS AND RURAL
RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): I would like to
thank the Hon. Member for asking that question which is very important to our newly resettled farmers. I think the 99 year lease was launched in 2006 and from 2013, we have been working with the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe who have raised concerns with some sections in the 99 year lease which they think does not make it favourable to be used as collateral. Several meetings have been held and several sections have been revised and I think I would want to say it is work in progress. Probably in the next two or three months we, would want to see the whole amendments done and acceptable to both parties.
You should understand that there are also issues where we feel that the farmer must be protected by that document and it is not open to abuse by some financial institutions because in some countries we have seen that happening and we are taking all precautions to ensure that the document becomes bankable. So, it is work in progress. Unfortunately, since these are negotiations, I cannot give a date to say we will be through by such a date.
HON. A. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
question is directed to the Minister of Sport and Recreation. The Mighty
Warriors have done us proud as a country. Now I am asking the Minister, what is the Government going to do in order to finance them to participate in Rio de Janeiro in 2016?
THE MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION (HON.
HLONGWANE): Thank you Hon. Speaker and let me also thank Hon.
- Mnangagwa for the question in respect of the performance of the Warriors. First and foremost, let me congratulate again from this podium, the mighty warriors for having defeated Cameroon to become the very first football team in Zimbabwe to qualify for the Olympics.
As you may be aware Hon. Member, Government takes sport very seriously and this shows in the way the new Ministry of Sport and Recreation has been streamlined in order to zoom in and focus specifically on the aspect of sport and recreation without clutter.
Government is certainly going to be intervening to assist the Mighty Warriors as well as the entire delegation of the Olympics team, not only in terms of preparations but also in terms of making sure that they are funded enough to proceed to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
HON. MACHINGAUTA: My supplementary to the Hon.
Minister is that surely he said that the Government is doing something, but we still have to pay Valinhos. What guarantee do we have that we are now going to be able to send our Mighty Warriors to Rio de Janeiro when we have actually failed to pay Valinhos.
THE HON. SPEAKER: That supplementary has nothing to do with the preparations for the Olympics.
HON. P. D. SIBANDA: My question goes to the Hon. Minister of Environment, Water and Climate. I will prelude my question by giving an example, Mr. Speaker…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Why do you not go to the question?
Time is not on your side.
HON. P. D SIBANDA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The fishing industry in some countries contributes about 11% of GDP and about 7% of total employment in a nation. What policies is your Ministry putting in place to ensure that the fishing industry in this country is improved so that it empowers not only the fishermen but also the communities that surround areas where the fishing industry is taking place? Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My
Ministry recognises the importance of promoting the fishing industry in order for us to contribute meaningfully to the economic development of this country. In all our dams, the Department of Parks and Wildlife is responsible for overseeing all the 10 000 small dams and also the 200 large dams. Within my Ministry, we do have a whole unit which is charged with the responsibility to make sure that we produce enough seed which we make certain that every dam has a capacity of a fish family. I also want to say that we have been extending fishing permits to almost 300 co-operatives within Kariba itself. I understand that they are making a living and also contributing immensely to the economy of this country. We will continue to make sure that we promote this industry and even extend it to all the dams that I have highlighted.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
REHABILITATION OF ROADS IN HIGH DENSITY SUBURBS
- HON. MACHINGAUTA asked the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing to state when the maintenance and rehabilitation of main roads in the high density suburbs of Harare, specifically Wards 33 and 34 of Budiriro Constituency will be carried out.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON.
CHINGOSHO): The Ministry, through the City of Harare is committed to improving the condition of roads in Harare. Maintenance and rehabilitation of main roads in the high density suburbs is on-going. Currently resealing works are underway along High Glen road. Pothole patching is in progress on Marimba road and in Budiriro - Ward 43, Bishop road in Sunningdale– Ward 10 and Crowborough Way in Mufakose – Ward 36.
The City of Harare was allocated US$1.3 million by ZIMRA for the year 2015. Out of that amount disbursements of US$357 949.46 and US$162 948.30 were received on 22nd September, 2015 and 1st October, 2015 respectively. However, the allocation is too little to make any significant impact on the cities roads. Council has also spent
US$3.9 million of rates income on roads. This was used mainly in the
Central Business District. Councils have made submission to Government to review the collection of vehicle licence fees to ensure adequate funding of road maintenance. I thank you.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: Thank you Hon. Speaker, I am happy
with the Minister’s response but I want the Hon. Minister to know that the ones that he is making reference to as High Glen Road, there is no road that is being constructed in Budiriro. It is good for them to do thorough research when they get these questions. Furthermore the Hon. Minister has talked about funds disbursements, can the Hon. Minister clarify Section 301 of the Constitution; it stipulates that five percent should be allocated by the Government, are such funds that were disbursed reaching their intended targets because there are no good roads in Wards 33 and 43. I specifically said that there are no roads in Wards 33 and 43. Motorists are paying for their licences for vehicles in Harare. The money is supposed to be used for that. Thank you.
*HON. ENG. CHINGOSHO: I want to thank the Hon. Member
for the supplementary question. As I have earlier on elucidated, I did say that in the first place we have inadequate funding. I further stressed that at the moment the Ministry is in the process of looking at these roads. The road that you have mentioned, it is one of the roads that are on the Ministry’s programme of roads which require attention. Five percent that he has mentioned is an amount that is being given to that specific Fund but the amount is very little. It falls short of our requirements. We can only envisage that when we have adequate funding, we then get to Ward 43. Thank you.
HON. CHAMISA: My question to the Deputy Minister is to do with the when aspect of the programme in Harare. Do you have a stand alone programme to say from this time to that time we are going to have a rehabilitation and revitalisation of the road? I think that is the import of the question, when, for Harare without being specific about the roads point?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Honourable Minister,
this question is specifically for Wards 33 and 43 – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – the question is for Wards 33 and 43, it is not for Harare.
ENG. CHINGOSHO: Hon. Speaker, as the Hon. Member has
indicated that we need to come up with specific timetable or programme, I would like to ask the Hon. Member to put the question in writing. I indicated that we are in the process of doing this programme but to know exactly when we are going to do the work in Ward 33, if you can put it in writing – [HON. MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA: It is already in
writing.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order, Hon
Misihairabwi-Mushonga, I am calling for order. Hon. Deputy Minister, you do not need to ask him to put it in writing when it is already in writing – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – if you do not have an answer as for now, can you say let me go and do my research and then come and answer here.
SUPPLY OF WATER IN BUDIRIRO CONSTITUENCY 4. HON. MACHINGAUTA asked the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing to state when are the residents of Budiriro Constituency (Harare) going to have a normal and stable supply of clean water.
*HON. MACHINGAUTA: On a point of Order Hon. Speaker,
there is a ruling that you gave in terms of question number three. You did say that if he is not knowledgeable, he can go and research and bring the answer, he has not responded before we go to question number four.
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I believe the
Hon. Minister has heard what I have said. Hon. Deputy Minister do you have the answer to question number four – [Laughter] – [HON. CHAMISA: Sekuru] – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – You may proceed Hon. Deputy Minister.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING
(HON. ENG. CHINGOSHO): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Machingauta for this important question on water. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking this question which hinges on service delivery. However, Budiriro is currently being supplied with clean water except for high level areas such as Budiriro Five Shops at Ok and other isolated areas. This is mainly due to low levels at
Marimba reservoir due to pumps installations taking place at Morton Jaffray Water Works. We expect the situation to be resolved once installation of the clean water pumps at the plant is completed.
According to the revised programmes, pumps are expected to be in place by end of November, 2015. I thank you.
HON. J. TSHUMA: On a point of order.
HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order Hon. Member.
HON. J. TSHUMA: My point of order Hon. Speaker is that Hon. Chamisa was not respectful to the Hon. Minister. I think he must withdraw his statement because he stood up and said, iwe sekuru stand up. He must address the Minister accordingly. He must withdraw that statement Hon. Speaker because this is an august House. We need to be respectful of each other and that must be shown as an example that one cannot just stand up and say sekuru in the august House.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order please. Hon. Chamisa,
did you say sekuru to the Hon. Minister? If you did, may you please withdraw, it is unparliamentary to say that.
HON. CHAMISA: No, Minister haasi sekuru vangu, sekuru vangu ndiChinotimba.
*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Chamisa, when
we are in this august House, whether there is your brother or your uncle, when they are in here, they are addressed as honourable. If you said uncle Chinotimba, can you withdraw because you cannot address him as your uncle in here, he is Hon. Chinotimba.
HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, ndinomedza mashoko iwayo.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Itai withdraw zvamambenge
mataura.
*HON. CHAMISA: I withdraw my statement.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Mr. Speaker Sir, the reality is that I am not related to Hon. Chamisa – [Laughter] – my point of order is that I was sitting next to Hon. Chamisa, that is why I stood up on a point of order. He was not referring to me, but to the Hon. Minister as sekuru. Therefore, he should withdraw his statement on the Minister by saying he made an error. He will withdraw his statement concerning me outside this august House.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Chinotimba, I think that
is water under the bridge.
GROWTH OF BUSINESSES IN MASVINGO
- HON. CHIGUDU asked the Minister of Small and Medium
Enterprises and Cooperative Development to state steps taken by the
Ministry to assist small businesses in Mushawasha District, in Ngomahuru area, Masvingo to grow.
THE MINISTER OF SMALL AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES AND COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT (HON.
NYONI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon.
Chigudu for her pertinent question. You will be aware that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Masvingo have done a sterling job despite the fact that SMEs countrywide are facing challenges. Among the challenges being faced by SMEs are access to finance, work space, skills and markets, especially those that are in the rural areas. These challenges are also common in areas such as the ones that the question is referring to in Masvingo.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this area is between Tokwe Mukorsi and
Musarangazhi rivers. There is therefore a lot of potential given the fact that these areas are near the Tokwe Mukorsi Dam. For a long time, these communal farmers have been doing subsistence farming, growing the common crops that rural people grow such as maize, groundnuts and small grain. It is the Ministry’s hope that because they are near these large rivers, they could embark on irrigation.
However, the Ministry has facilitated the formation of piggery projects in partnership with Batanai HIV and AIDS Service Organisation (BHASO), which is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), formed by the late Auxilia Chimusoro. I am sure you are all aware of this lady who was the first one to open up about her HIV status. This organisation is teaching this community some social skills.
Under the economic empowerment, the Ministry is actively involved in teaching these groups, business and other necessary entrepreneurship skills. The piggery project which was formed in partnership with this NGO has ten members; there are seven women and three men. They sell their products in Masvingo Town. There are also poultry projects which are run by individuals. The Ministry is in touch with most of these projects and is encouraging the poultry farmers to organise themselves into marketing groups or cooperatives so that they can have access to bigger markets for sustainability.
Mr. Speaker Sir, there is one farmer whom I can single out as an example, who trained in bee keeping and is practicing this trade very well. His farm is in Mushawasha and he has popularised bee keeping. The Ministry has used his apiary to train other communal members around his farm and bee keeping has become very popular.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to let the Hon. Member know that the Ministry is ready to assist her in this area. If they have identified other areas that need the Ministry’s intervention, they should get in touch with our office in Masvingo. The office is situated at the Government Complex in Masvingo town.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the other thing that could assist this community is the fact that on the 17th of October, the Ministry, in partnership with CBZ Bank, launched a US$10 million SME facility in Bulawayo, which would be accessed by any SME countrywide, including these communities. These loans will be for both working capital and capital development needs for SMEs. Any SME anywhere in the country can access these facilities. I encourage the Hon. Member to direct their members likewise.
Mr. Speaker Sir, FBC Bank Ltd, has also availed a similar facility with both working capital loans and developmental capital. This facility is not limited, but it is as per business needs of SMEs. I thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
Hon. Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises having told Hon.
Zvidzai that he does not reside in Masvingo.
HON. ZVIDZAI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I do not know how the Minister knows that I do not come from Masvingo but my question is with respect to Mushawasha. This is an agro-based area and one would think that the Minister should talk about what inventions there are in terms of enhancing the raw material side of things. What is the Ministry doing to make sure that people involved in piggery can rear more pigs so that the small grain farmers can produce more? From there, how is she helping the value chain to make sure that the value addition, particularly with respect to these inputs is aided. Normally, the vehicle for that is SEDCO and I am aware that SEDCO in that area is completely not funded. What is the Minister doing to assist with enhancing the capability of SEDCO to help these SMEs? Thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. NYONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am aware that this is an agro-based area and I think the question said what are we doing to assist the SMEs. So, I stated what we are doing. I said, if there are any areas identified by the community where the Ministry can make an invention, they should be free to approach us. We stand available but the Hon. Members should go back to their communities and assist the communities to be in touch with us on whatever they have started. In my experience, if the Ministry goes to a community and starts projects for the people, it will never be sustainable. If people start their own businesses, the Ministry can support them with training, giving them access to markets as well as leading them to where they can get finance.
Regarding SEDCO, the Hon. Member is correct that SEDCO is under-funded and it is our hope that this new budget will see SEDCO better funded. The Hon. Member is making a very important point about value chains. We are encouraging farmers to grow whatever crop they want and that they should be in touch with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (AGRITEX), in their areas so that they grow quality and big quantities. The Ministry will come into the value chain. I will bring a paper in terms of what the value chains that the Ministry is involved in. So, if the people are in small grain or in horticulture, my Ministry will be happy to come and work with them on value chains. Thank you.
HON. CHAMISA: Hon. Speaker, just a point of procedure in terms of our Standing Order Number 56(1) which reads, pursuant to the provision of Section 137 of the Constitution, the quorum of the House must be 70 members, meaning to say at any particular point in time, we are supposed to have 70 members. I am saying this advisedly because it is very important for us to honour our commitment as Members of Parliament. We live very important work individually and collectively to come to the House to transact the business of the people. If you look at our numbers here present, we are less than the quorum that is required.
This is not the first time because last week we adjourned Parliament, and the Hon. Vice President Mnangagwa had to leave midstream the work of the General Laws Amendment Bill because we did not constitute a quorum. I am just appealing to the Chief Whips and also to say if we are to proceed doing whatever we are doing, we are not constituted legitimately and in terms of the Standing Orders and rules and also the Constitution. –[HON. CHINOTIMBA: Inaudible interjection]- No, we must follow the laws. We are a composition of laws. You have a problem with counting Hon. Chinotimba, count properly. Mamboramba ukama hwangu, count properly. Hamusi hama yangu.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Are you just making a statement
or you are calling for a quorum?
HON. CHAMISA: I am calling for a quorum because doing otherwise is inconsequential and is hot air.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I am sure we are more than a quorum.
HON. CHAMISA: If there is a quorum Hon. Speaker Sir, I have no problems, I stand guided but I have counted. You may have been advised by Hon. Chinotimba, but I do not think you should trust his counting.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I hear what you are saying. May
the bells be rung please?
Bells rung.
Quorum formed.
ELECTRIFICATION OF CHIEF MANYEZWA GUMEDE’S
HOMESTEAD
- HON. MAIL NKOMO asked the Minister of Energy and
Power Development to inform the House when the Ministry will complete the electrification of Chief Manyezwa Gumede’s homestead in Lupane West Constituency.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER
DEVELOPMENT (MS. MUZENDA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. Chief
Manyezwa’s homestead was electrified in March 2013. However, the Chief passed away last year 2014. Chief Gumede Manyezwa is not the substantive, but Acting Chief. According to our policy, we do not provide electricity for Acting Chiefs. Once there is a substantive Chief in Lupane West, his/her homestead will be electrified. I thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
REPLACEMENT OF TRANSFORMERS AT MZOLA 27 BUSINESS
CENTRE
*7. HON. MAIL. NKOMO asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to state whether the Ministry will replace transformers at Mzola 27 Business Centre in Lupane West
Constituency?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POSER
DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUZENDA): The transformer at Mzola
27 Business Centre, which had been faulty for sometime was replaced in July, 2015. However, the replaced transformer was recently reported faulty again. Transformers are in short supply countrywide as
ZENT has not been able to meet the huge demand of transformers.
ZETDC is planning to replace the faulty transformer at Mzola 27 Business Centre next month November 2015, once it receives some supplies which are being expected from ZENT early in November 2015. Thank you Madam Speaker.
STATE OF SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY
*9. HON. MASIYA asked the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate
- to state whether Save Valley Conservancy farms in the South
East Lowveld is still under Government’s ambit and if so, state farms that form this conservancy at present;
- to state the Save Valley Conservancy that fall under BIPA and those that do not; and further state Government’s protection of such investors in the country;
- to explain the Ministry’s plans to stop fresh farm occupation in the conservancies;
- to inform the House whether Chiredzi River Conservancy still exists in the Ministry’s records; and if so, which farms form this conservancy.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): Thank you Madam Speaker. I
want to thank the Hon. Member for the question to my Ministry.
Madam Speaker, the Save Valley Conservancy was made up of 27 farms. Some farms that make up the conservancy are under Government management through the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate. The following properties are being managed by Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority, Bedford Ranch, Humani, Mapari, Senuko2,
Senuko 3 and Impala. These properties are being run as hunting concessions where the proceeds are shared between Parks and communities.
The following properties are under the management of indigenous owners; Savuli and Msaise are individual owners. Mkwasine Central Extension is under ARDA while Umkondo is under Bikita Rural District Council.
On the second part of the question, Madam Speaker, a total of 10 properties in the Save Valley Conservancy are protected under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) and these are as follows; Chanurwe, Sabi, Chapungu and Musawezi are under a
BIPPA with German. Chishakwe and Masapasi are under a BIPPA with South Africa, Gunungwe is under a BIPPA with Denmark. Mokore is under a BIPPA with the Netherlands; Hammond is under a BIPPA with America while Matendere is under a BIPPA with Italy. Government is protecting investments by returning BIPPA covered properties to their former owners to continue running them.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order hon. members. The Minister is giving an answer which we asked and we are debating on our own calling one another from the other desk there. If you want to whisper to someone, you should go closer to him. Hon. Minister, would you please resume your debate?
HON. MUCHINGURI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Only 20
farms out of 27 are under wildlife management in the Save Valley Conservancy. Seven farms were resettled with A1 farmers and are being utilised as agricultural land and these are as follows; Angus, Chigwete,
Levanga, Lot 2 of Angus, Mokore (Angus), Mukazi River (Lot 1 of Angus) and Mukwazi. Some of these were illegally resettled. Government, through the Ministry of Land Reform is working towards regularising these programmes.
Madam Speaker, in response to the third question, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate has no mandate to allocate land to anyone. My Ministry’s mandate is to conserve or to have an oversight role on the management of wildlife in conservancies. It therefore means that my Ministry works hand in hand with the other Government structures such as Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, Ministry of
Agricultural, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the new Ministry of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage. Through collaborative efforts, we hope that no resettlements will occur in conservancies. It is dangerous and destroys our environment because these areas are not suitable for any economic activities.
Madam Speaker, in relation to the forum part of the question; the
Ministry of Lands and Resettlements handed over the administration of
Chiredzi River Conservancy to the Ministry of Environment, Water and
Climate in 2007. The Conservancy was settled by people during the
Land Reform Programme such that out of 20 farms, only two properties,
Ruware Extension and Oscro (Lot 1 Chiredzi Ranch North) owned by an
Italian were left with meaningful wildlife. The Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority is currently negotiating with the local
community in order to establish a CAMPFIRE Model in the Conservancy. All 25-year leases were withdrawn from the new beneficiaries. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: My supplementary question Hon.
Minister is that, you go to the stage where you say that there are some indigenous players whose leases were withdrawn and that leases have been put together with the whites and the whites had said they were into joint ventures with the community. Ever since you have joined these communities and these whites, have you ever seen a single white person who sunk a borehole to show that they have given shares to the blacks in the form of the communities? Was there anything tangible that was brought to give to the blacks?
Secondly, when these lease agreements were scrapped, there were some disagreements. I do not know as a new Minister; have you made a follow up or made investigations to get to the bottom of this case so as to establish the authenticity of these claims and that these people were not doing what they were supposed to do? I thank you.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your supplementary
question has been heard honourable.
*HON. MUCHINGURI: I want to thank Hon. Chinotimba for his question on people who were left in the conservancies that had been given to the indigenous black people so that they could use, but they were later dispossessed of these conservancies. What has been done by the whites that remained in those conservancies to assist the communities?
I would want to say that Hon. Chinotimba will need to understand that we have different functions. There are some conservancies which are privately owned and what they do as they conserve the animals, they work hand-in glove with us but these are private operators. The community that is near the conservancy, the position is that the conservancies are often not affected by the communities. So, we use what we get from the conservancies for the preservation of animals in our various national parks.
We also have the CAMPFIRE project which benefits the communities that are within the neighbourhood of these wild animals because they suffer in that their crops are damaged and lives are even affected by wild animals. Because of the fact that they live within the communities that are affected by the activities of wild animals, they are given 50% which they can use to sink boreholes, contract roads, pay for children’s school fees and are also involved in food for work projects.
So, there are differences between private owned conservancies and CAMPFIRE projects. CAMPFIRE projects assist the communities, which are in line with his question, but the same cannot be done with privately owned conservancies. The privately owned conservancies are given hunting quarters and such other duties. So, there should be a distinction about the duties. We provide water as a Ministry to communities that are near conservancies.
*HON. MUTSEYAMI: My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is on the issue that you discussed regarding Chiredzi conservancies, which extend from Birchenough to Malipati in Mozambique. There are people that have gone to live in these conservancies and have cut the fences so that wild animals like elephants and lions attack our people in Chigumira and other areas. These are the white people with conservancies and are no longer putting up the fences such that there are people who are now living with animals. What measures are you going to take to ensure that you remove the people out of these conservancies so that animals can be confined to these areas, and people or livestock are not lost?
*HON. MUCHINGURI: I would want to thank the Hon. Member
for his question. It is true that there are some people that have gone into the conservancies. Our challenge at the moment is that there is no water and the land is not arable. It is a challenge that we are facing and attending to in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement so that these people can be removed from that area. At the moment, the Government cannot put up a fence. The owner of the conservancy is having problems. The fence which was in place was stolen such that people can continuously enter the conservancy. We are wondering as to how the people are making a living because there is no water. We have held a meeting with the owners of the conservancy and they assured us that the fence will be put up. So this is work-in progress I thank you.
ACTION ON FIXING LEAKING VALVE AT OSBORNE DAM
- HON. SARUWAKA asked the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate to appraise the House on steps the Ministry is taking to plug the leaking valve at Osborne Dam which has reduced the volume of water to less than 30% of the capacity and has the potential to further reduce the dam to a river if no immediate action is taken.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): The Ministry of Environment,
Water and Climate engaged a contractor, Marmford Engineers (Pvt)
Limited, to repair the leaking outlet pipes or valves at Osborne Dam. Works on the project had stalled due to financial constraints. Due to the severity of the situation, the Ministry through the Hon. Minister approached the Minister of Finance and Economic Development in July 2015, who kindly availed close to a million dollars in August 2015. The local contractor then engaged a sub-contractor from South Africa who are diving specialists in order to speed up the repair works.
The South African sub-contractor arrived on site on 19th September, 2015 and started work on 21st September, 2015. To date, they have set up the working platform in the dam at the intake tower where the water is leaking from. They removed the old gate which was failing to close the water on 11th October, 2015.
The contractors are now fabricating a special gate which they will use to close the current flow, and we expect this to be complete by Sunday, 18th October, 2015. Thus, we expect the uncontrolled flow to be stopped on this date. Other works which will allow the increased and controlled release of water include the installation of an additional two special gates on the outlet pipes or valves which are currently not functional. We expect them to have completed the works on these
outlets by 10th December, 2015 to ensure that water can be stored at the peak of the rainy season.
The Ministry wishes to advise that the water which was being released through the leaking pipes was not being wasted. The discharge from the leakage is actually less than the water required by the downstream users. Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi Schemes for ethanol production require an average of 29 cubic metres per second, while Marange Diamond fields require one cubic metre per second and other users in the Save system downstream of Osborne Dam require four cubic metres per second. The total volume of water by the users downstream of Osborne Dam is 30 cubic metres per second. Ideally, Osborne Dam is supposed to release 16 cubic metres per second, but this is not possible because the other two dam outlets are also not functional and need to be repaired. The other dams in the system, mainly Ruti, Siya, Mpudzi and Rusape dams, contribute the remaining 14 cubic metres per second so as to satisfy the total required volume of water.
The leaking outlet was releasing 9.5 cubic metres per second whereas the maximum expected release from Osborne Dam is 16 cubic metres per second. This means that the deficit from Osborne Dam after the leaking was 6.5 cubic metres per second. The drop in the water levels in Osborne Dam is mainly due to increased consumption of water by users as well as the high evaporation levels caused by the above normal hot temperatures that are being experienced.
The repair of the outlets will allow the storage of more water during the rainy season when the demand from the dam is at its minimum. Ideally, all outlets should be in the closed position during the rainy season, which is currently not possible and thus, the need to urgently repair the outlet works at Osborne Dam. The stored water will then be used during the dry season when the demand from the dam increases. The Hon. Member should appreciate that the works are being dune under water and hence, the speed of execution is also a challenge.
HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I wanted to
find out from the Minister, in her report she indicated that there were works that were supposed to have been completed as of Sunday, 18th. In her supervision, would she be able to confirm whether that deadline of the 18th October has been met.
HON. MUCHINGURI: Hon. Speaker, I can confirm that the job
will indeed be completed. The difficulties that the contractor was facing was particularly with diving underground because there was so much air underground and was pulling and enabling those that were doing the job
to do it on record time. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE
PROVISION OF WATER TO RESIDENTS IN VICTORIA FALLS
- 2. BUDHA asked the Minister of Local Government,
Public Works and National Housing to explain the measures that the
Ministry has put in place to ensure provision of water to residents in Victoria falls.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON.
CHINGOSHO): Mr. Speaker Sir, the Municipality of Victoria Falls began its water and sanitation rehabilitation and upgrading in 2012. The project began with rehabilitating the existing infrastructure to enable it to function efficiently. However, due to the increase in population, the current revamped infrastructure still cannot meet demand. The Municipality has been granted borrowing powers by the Ministry to the tune of US$14 million, to enable it to upgrade the water and sanitation infrastructure. The project has been tendered out and a consultant has been engaged to carry out an assessment and design of the infrastructure.
The scope of the project is as follows:
Raw Water Pump Station
The challenge still remains where another authority, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is in charge of pumping raw water and selling it to the Municipality. However, the Municipality has included this component in its project as it is vital to plan from the source to the end user. There is need to construct a new raw water pump station and equip it with new pumps. The Ministry’s assistance in the transfer of pumping of raw water from ZINWA to the Municipality is desirable, as any delay in this regard will further delay the project.
Water Treatment Plant and Main Distribution Pump Station
The project involves construction of a backwash tank, revamping of the treatment plant to incorporate modern technology and assessment for possible expansion in future. Construction of additional distribution tanks at the pump station as well as storage tanks for Mkhosana High Density Suburb is also part of the project.
Replacement of Old Pipelines and Installation of Valves
Most of the pipelines have outlived their life and require replacement. A total of 6km of distribution pipeline is set to be replaced. Isolation valves will be installed enabling areas to be isolated in case of breakdowns.
Installation of Prepaid Meters
The Council proposes installation of prepaid meters as a measure to ensure that the Council minimizes bad debts and maximizes revenue collection.
Upgrading of Sewerage System
The project will also ensure that all areas are connected to the sewer system which is conveyed to the treatment plant with improved treatment efficiency. This will be achieved by constructing an additional sewer pump station to cater for low lying areas, thus eliminating the use of septic tanks and installing an outfall sewer line. The sewer treatment plant will be dislodged, repaired and expanded if need be, after proper assessments have been done.
The tender for the project design and project management has been done and awarded. The next stage will be to float a tender for the contractor after the consultant has completed the project design. This is expected to be done by the end of the year and the whole project is expected to be finished between 18 months and 24 months.
The estimated cost of the project is US$12 million. US$2 million has already been secured from the sale of land and a further US$3 million will be raised in the 2016, financial year, bringing the total to US$5 million. The difference of US$7 million will be borrowed from the open market against borrowing powers authorised by the Ministry.
On the successful completion of this Water and Sanitation project (WASH project), the problems of water shortages and inefficient treatment of sewerage will be a thing of the past. The project at design stage, will incorporate a water and sewerage master plan which will proffer solutions in the short, medium and long term. This project is expected to be complete by the end of 2017.
AWARDING OF FREE ELECTRICITY UNITS TO EMGANWINI
RESIDENTS
- HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Energy and Power
Development when the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution and
Transmission Company is going to award 160 units of free electricity to residents of Emganwini in Nketa Constituency which was awarded to other residents.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (MS. MUZENDA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. Debt
relief was given to domestic customers who were active in the ZETDC billing system as at 30 June, 2013. The $160.00 was to be applied to the outstanding customer debt in the post-paid billing system first and any credit balance would then be used to offset current month charges. Customers who were on prepaid meters and had no post-paid accounts were given electricity units worth the $160.00.
A total of 2,613 Nketa customers in Bulawayo benefitted from the
$160.00 debt relief and were credited as follows:
Credit directly to the prepaid meters 840
Credited on accounts in the post-paid billing system 1 773
Customers who feel they could have been inadvertently missed in the debt relief exercise can still approach their respective ZETDC offices for verification.
BENEFITS OF THE PUNGWE WATER PIPE LINE
- HON. SARUWAKA asked the Minister of Environment,
Water and Climate to state when the people of Mutasa specifically those from Mutasa District Service Centre, Tsonzo small scale farmers, Watsomba business centre, schools and communities along the Pungwe pipeline are going to benefit from the pipeline.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): The Pungwe pipeline has six
specific take-off points which were provided for by the City of Mutare during the construction phase of the pipeline. These are meant to serve communities and institutions along the pipeline. Each take-off point has an estimated discharge of five cubic metres per hour which allows for community irrigation development. The Ministry of Environment,
Water and Climate through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has engaged the local communities along the pipeline route with a view to setting up community gardens and irrigation schemes. Consultative meetings have already been held during the week from 12th to 16th October 2015 with the following communities and groups;
- Headman Sakupwanya and his community;
- Headman Sanyamandwe and his community;
- Chitova/Matsaire Irrigation project;
- Nyakatsapa Mission; and
- Shamu shopping centre and the surrounding community.
The Ministry is working closely with City of Mutare and ZINWA on the final strategies on resource mobilisation to establish these gardens, irrigation and water supply schemes to ensure that communities benefit from the Pungwe water as promised by
Government at the beginning. Soon after enough resources have been mobilized, setting up of the gardens, irrigation and water supply schemes will commence. It is my hope that come January 2016, actual implementation of this project will commence. I thank you.
Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE HON.
SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
DELEGATION TO THE 9TH STOP CERVICAL, BREAST AND PROSTATE CANCER IN AFRICA CONFERENCE
HON. DR. LABODE: Hon. Speaker, I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the report of the Parliament of
Zimbabwe delegation to the 9th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate
Cancer in Africa Conference, held from 19th to 21st July, 2015, in Nairobi, Kenya.
HON. DR. CHIMEDZA: I second.
HON. DR. LABODE:
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The 9th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa
Conference (SCCA) was convened at Kenyatta Convention Centre, Nairobi in Kenya from the 19th to the 21st of July 2015. The conference endeavoured to achieve advocacy among high profile individuals and general populace whilst creating a platform to share lessons learned among the participants and mobilising both corporate and political will and resources towards the campaign against cancer. The 9th SCCA focused on strengthening the role of Public-Private-Partnerships to alleviate the burden and high mortality rate from Breast, Cervical and Prostate cancers, notably the biggest killers in Africa today.
Accordingly, the conference was held under the theme “Investing to
Save Lives: The Role of Public and Private Sector Partnerships”. The conference was convened by Her Excellency Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, the Ministry of Health and the Princess Nikky from the Breast Cancer Foundation. The guest of honour at the conference was His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya.
2.0 PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE DELEGATION
2.1 The Parliament of Zimbabwe delegation comprised:
- Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda -Speaker of the National
Assembly and Head of the Delegation
- Dr. Ruth Labode – Chairperson of the Portfolio
Committee on Health and Child Care
- Dr. Paul Chimedza – Member of the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care.
- Edna Mafuruse – Secretary to the delegation
2.2 OTHER DELEGATES
The conference was graced by 12 African First Ladies and Princess
Nikky Onyeri, the Co-Founder and Director General of the Forum of
African First Ladies/Spouses against Cervical, Breast and Prostate
Cancer and Co-Founder of the World Forum of First Ladies and Women
Leaders. Four thousand (4000) delegates converged at the conference and these included: the Speakers of Parliaments, Parliamentarians, Ministers of Health, Health Professionals, Scientists, Advocates against cancer, corporate entities and other relevant stakeholders. Zimbabwe was also represented by delegates from the Ministry of Health and from the Civil Society led by Hon. Thokozani Khupe, the leader of the
Opposition in Parliament and a cancer survivor herself.
3.0 OVERVIEW OF THE CANCER BURDEN IN AFRICA
3.1 Dr. Khama Rogo, the Leading Health Sector Specialist at World
Bank Group’s Health in African Initiative gave an overview of the cancer burden in Africa. Referencing to GLOBOCAN 2012, Dr. Rogo stated that globally, there are 14 million new cancer cases accounting for
8.2 million deaths, constituting close to 13% of the total deaths worldwide. Seventy per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries, majority of which are in Africa. However, the incidence and mortality patterns vary remarkably across regions most likely because of substantial regional differences in the prevalence and distribution of social, cultural, and other environmental factors, including many of the major known risk factors for cancers, contrasting levels of economic development, and differences in access to health care and infrastructure.
Dr. Rogo said that it was saddening to note that despite the growing cancer burden, cancer continues to receive a relatively low public health priority in Africa, largely because of limited resources and other pressing public health problems, including communicable diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, malaria, and tuberculosis. He added that it may also be in part, because of a general lack of awareness among policy makers, the general public, and international private or public health agencies concerning the magnitude of the current and future cancer burden and its economic impact. He went further to say that in Africa, the image of cancer is characterised by fear, curse, hopelessness and death. Dr. Rogo hastened to allay all fear buy underscoring that there is hope for cancer prevention and treatment in Africa if it is put on political agenda and supported by Public-Private partnerships.
4.3 CAUSES OF CANCER
- Tobacco use;
- Alcohol consumption;
- Poor diet
- Overweight and Obesity;
- Physical inactivity;
- Infections: Human Papillomavirus (cervical carcinoma), Hepatitis B and C viruses (hepatocellular carcinoma) and HIV
(Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hogkin lymphoma and cervical cancer).
- Ionizing Radiation;
- environmental pollutants; and
- Vaginal insertion of traditional herbs.
4.4 CERVICAL CANCER
Cervical cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in African women. Rates vary substantially across regions, with the incidence and death rates in East Africa and West Africa as high as the rates in North Africa. Notably, some countries in East Africa, including Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania have among the highest cervical cancer rates (50 cases per 100,000) worldwide. This is likely the result of lack of screening services for the prevention and early detection of the disease. It is noteworthy that before the introduction and wide dissemination of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing in the 1960s in the United States, the rates of cervical cancer incidence (per 100,000 females) in 10 select metropolitan areas in 1947-1948 (40.1 in whites and 73.1 in nonwhites) were the same order of magnitude as the highest rates found in Eastern
Africa today.
4.5 BREAST CANCER
Breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in 2008 in Africa (92,600 cases, 50,000 deaths). Southern African women have the highest breast cancer incidence rates of all African regions, in part because of a higher prevalence of reproductive risk factors for breast cancer, including early menarche and late childbearing among the more affluent predominantly white population. For example, the female breast cancer incidence rate in Harare (Zimbabwe) in 1990-1992 was higher in whites (129.0) than in blacks (20.0). Notably, breast cancer has now become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women) in several Sub-Saharan African countries, a shift from previous decades in which cervical cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in many of these countries. In the Ugandan (Kampala) and Algerian (Setif) cancer registries, breast cancer incidence rates have nearly doubled over the past 20 years, although the rates still remain much lower than those in black women in the United States and several Western countries.
4.6 PROSTATE CANCER
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Southern Africa and Western Africa, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Cameroon. However, the incidence rate in Southern Africa is twice as high as the second highest regional rate in Western Africa and nearly higher than the lowest regional rate in Northern Africa. The high incidence rate in Southern Africa may reflect increased diagnosis, rather than disease occurrence. However, high prostate cancer rates have been reported among Western and Southern African descendants in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, where prostate-specific antigen testing is not commonly conducted, suggesting a role for genetic susceptibility.
4.7 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL
- Lack of data on cancer;
- Lack of knowledge and of awareness of cancer prevention and screening recommendations;
- Myths and misconceptions ;
- Late diagnosis/Late presentation by patients;
- Inadequate infrastructure/Lack of surgical equipment, and radiation facilities;
- Inadequate access to, and unavailability of health care services;
- Competing survival priorities;
- Lack of skilled manpower;
- Stigma; and
- Prohibitive costs for cancer treatment.
4.7.2 PREVENTION
Prevention of exposure to cancer-causing agents or risk factors, including infections, tobacco use, and obesity, is by far the most feasible and cost-effective approach to cancer control in Africa. Increased access to vaccination was also mentioned as key to the prevention of cancers in
Africa.
4.7.3 EARLY DETECTION
Earlier diagnosis is essential to providing effective cancer control. It was further stated that there is an urgent need to determine the most cost-effective approach to screening, because this remains the only viable option for reducing the high cervical cancer burden in SubSaharan Africa in the next 20 to 30 years, as the current HPV vaccines are being given to adolescent girls only. He also mentioned that the use of mobile clinics was critical in providing facilities for early detection and health services in general.
4.7.4 CURATIVE TREATMENT
It was stated that every effort must be made to expand the capacity of health care delivery systems to provide timely and effective treatment to patients diagnosed with early stage disease for increased awareness initiatives to result in improved patient outcomes. Surgery and/or radiation are the most important methods of treating early stage (local) cancers, including cancers of the breast, colorectum, cervix, head and neck, esophagus, stomach, and prostate.
4.7.5 PALLIATIVE CARE
Lack of access to basic pain relief continues to make living and dying with cancer in Africa a very different experience from that in developed countries. It has been estimated that 50% of HIV deaths and 80% of cancer deaths require pain treatment lasting an average of 3 months; the amount of morphine needed for these deaths alone is approximately 6413 kg. However, in 2008, the actual procurement of morphine and equivalent opioids (pethidine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone) reported by SubSaharan African governments to the International Narcotics Control Board was just 639 kg, about 10% of the quantity needed just for the terminal months of cancer and HIV patients, and not considering the need for pain treatment among those living with cancer, HIV, traumatic injury, or chronic pain. These data clearly indicate that for the vast majority of those in severe pain in SubSaharan Africa, treatment is simply not available.
Although it is the responsibility of each African government to take the lead in making pain relief accessible to its citizens who need it, the activities of palliative care organizations and other civil society groups are critical to supporting government efforts. In several countries, these groups have been instrumental in getting pain relief on the agenda of governments, articulating technical solutions, and leading efforts to work across disease areas, particularly cancer and HIV, to address this issue jointly.
5.0 SPEECH BY THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
5.1 In her speech, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, thanked her fellow African First Ladies for the honour they bestowed upon her to host the 9th SCCA and chair the
Forum of African First Ladies/Spouses Against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer for the year 2015-2016. Mrs. Kenyatta informed the delegates that the conference was an opportunity to reflect on the achievements made so far in the fight against cancer in Africa. She stated that the success so far has been on raising awareness on cervical, breast and prostate cancer among the African population.
5.2 She called upon all African First Ladies, governments, private sectors and all concerned stakeholders, to build on the success stories to increase efforts in expanding access to early screening, prevention, treatment and palliative care services for the affected across the African continent.
5.3 Of interest to note here, is the initiative by Mrs. Kenyatta in championing access to health through the provision of thirty-one (31)
“Beyond Zero Mobile Health Clinics” in 31 of 47 counties in Kenya.
This was achievable through the collaboration of Kenya’s First Lady Office with sponsors and strategic partners.
5.4 With this support, the initiative has also been able to equip the mobile and community clinics with equipment rivalling level 4 hospitals in Kenya. This enables the clinics to offer a wide variety of medical services ranging from laboratory services to light surgeries. The mobile clinics have become a lifeline for rural mothers who previously, could not access health services. The mobile clinics also provide children’s immunisation and serve as health awareness platforms including testing of various cancers
6.0 OFFICIAL OPENING BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
6.1 In his address to the delegates on the 20thof July 2015, His
Excellence, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, reiterated that cancer has become a public health issue that could no longer be ignored. He called for greater commitment to cancer prevention strategies, saying few countries could meet the strategy costs of cancer research and treatment. He further stated that key to saving people’s lives is prevention and early diagnosis to stop them from dying needlessly.
6.2 President Kenyatta stated that if people gave up smoking, ate healthy food, drank less alcohol and exercised regularly, Africa could prevent 40% of cancers. In addition, he also stressed the need for people to be vaccinated against Hepatitis and Human Papillomavirus, which cause infection that contribute disproportionately to the number of cancer incidences in Africa.
6.3 President Kenyatta underscored the role of media to dispel myths and misconception about cancer as well as to raise public awareness of the importance of screening and early detection, to increase the prospects of successful treatment. Having said these remarks, the President declared the conference officially opened.
6.4 Immediately after his address, the President of the Republic of Kenya was decorated as the 2015-2016 African Goodwill Ambassador for Women and Children’s Health by the Forum of the African First Ladies/Spouses against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers.
7.2 THE ROLE OF SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENTS,
PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MINISTERS IN CANCER
PREVENTION
7.2.1 This session was moderated by Princess Nikky Onyeri who has been introduced at the beginning of this report and Dr. Matshaidiso
Moeti the Afro Regional Director at World Health Organisation. The
Panellists composed of the following Parliaments Speakers among others: Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda—Speaker of the
National Assembly of Zimbabwe, Hon. Justin Muturi—Speaker of the
National Assembly of Kenya, Senator Ekwee Ethuro—Speaker of the Senate of Kenya and Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga—Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
7.2.2 Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda outlined the Zimbabwe situation and stated that in Zimbabwe, cervical cancer was most common among black women at 33, 5% and contributes to 13% as cause of death. Breast cancer is ranked number two among cancer affecting women in Zimbabwe and is also on the increase among men.
7.2.3 Hon. Advocate Mudenda briefed the conference on the strategies Zimbabwe is using to control the cancer calamity being guided by the National Cancer Strategy, the Reproductive Health Policy and the Non-Communicable Disease Policy. He added that the country has piloted the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in two districts namely, Marondera and Beitbridge and awaits the results of the valuation.
7.2.4 On the role of Parliaments in cancer control, Hon. Advocate Mudenda stated that Parliamentarians have a responsibility of creating awareness of the burden of cancer and the benefits of early diagnosis in their constituencies, they actively lobby for funding for the control of cancer and help put cancer on political agenda through parliamentary portfolio committees that exercises oversight function over the executive.
7.2.5 In concluding his presentation, Hon. Advocate Mudenda stressed the need for research on indigenous knowledge in order to tap into indigenous medicines that can cure cancer.
8.0 INVESTING TO SAVE LIVES: PROGRESS
AND CHALLENGES—PERSPECTIVES OF THE FIRST
LADIES/SPOUSES
8.1 The panel discussion was followed by presentations from the African First Ladies represented at the conference whereby they shared their country experiences on cancer in terms of progress and challenges.
Most First Ladies who addressed the conference identified limited resources, misconception and lack of infrastructure as hindrance to the fight against cancer.
9.0 ANNOUNCEMENT OF HOST COUNTRY OF 2016
10TH SCCA CONFERENCE
9.1 Princess Nikky Onyeri announced Her Excellence, Mrs. Roman Tesfaye the First lady of the Republic of Ethiopia, as the next host of SCCA conference. To this end, the 10th SCCA conference will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 2016.
9.2 In her acceptance speech, the First Lady promised to build on to what her predecessor has already achieved and promised to work harder to achieve more on the fight against cancer in Africa.
10.0 CLOSING REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY OF THE
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
10.1 Her Excellency, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta thanked all the delegates for showing their commitment to the fight against all forms of cancer in Africa by converging at the conference. The First Lady stressed the need to build stronger private-partnerships among African and global institutions to improve access and the quality of preventive, treatment and palliative care services.
10.3 In conclusion, the First lady reminded the delegates that only in unity of purpose can Africa gather the collective strength of mind and will that the continent needs to wage a formidable fight against this scourge. Thereafter, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya together with her fellow African First Ladies signed the Nairobi Declaration of
African First ladies/Spouses on Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers.
11.0 DECLARATION
The African First Ladies/Spouse on Cervical, Breast and Prostate
Cancers committed themselves to:
- REAFFIRM individually and collectively, their previous commitments aimed at halting and reducing the burden of cervical, breast and prostate cancers;
- PROMOTE the development, strengthening and implementation of evidence based health policies and programmes through an integrated health systems approach that is focused on assuring adequate human, technical and financial resources to achieve universal health coverage to prevent and control cervical, breast and prostate cancers, reduce suffering and premature death;
- ADVOCATE for innovative public private partnerships in ensuring accelerated access to quality health services for the promotion of healthy lifestyles, prevention, early detection, treatment, care and palliative care for cervical, breast and prostate cancers in Africa;
- ADVOCATE for initiatives on price reduction to support affordability and availability of essential medicines, vaccines and technologies while maintaining a high quality for prevention and management of cervical, breast and prostate cancer;
- PROMOTE cancer prevention and control awareness in partnerships with community, religious and academic institutions, patients support groups, civil society organizations and the media;
- MOBILIZE political and community support to strengthen linkages between cancer and HIV programs to achieve zero AIDS deaths, zero transmission of HIV from mother to child and zero new HIV infections among adolescents and young women;
- SUPPORT the efforts of our Governments to enhance the participation of African research institutes, universities, civil society, private sector, bilateral and multilateral partners to support cancer prevention and management programmes in Africa;
- PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP as First Ladies/Spouses, Parliamentarians and Ministers to intensify awareness and efforts towards halting and reducing the burden of cancer by 2030.
12.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
12.1 The delegation implores the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to spearhead the fight against cancer as this demonstrates high level commitment as is the case with other African First Ladies at the conference.
12.2 The Ministry of Health and Child Care to increase access to early cancer screening to the people through:
- Provision of mobile clinics.
- Ensuring that District Hospital Clinical staffs are trained in basic methods of screening and treatment of cancer cases.
- Health Education, especially for rural communities on the benefits of early cancer diagnosis, treatment and demystifying traditional beliefs about cancer treatment.
- The Ministry of Health and Child Care to decentralise all oncology therapy methods from Pararenyatwa Hospitals to other central and provincial hospitals. This should include cancer treatment equipment which should be accompanied by qualified personnel to use the equipment e.g. Histo-Pathologists and Oncologists.
- Government to galvanize Public Private Partnerships venture, so as to improve access for preventive and treatment for cancer.
- Parliament to lobby bilateral and international partners like the Global Fund Model to include cancer control and treatment in the next funding model which commences in 2016.
- Government to accelerate the training of more Oncologists, Histo-Pathologists and other support Health Care personnel.
- Research Institutions to prioritize funding for research into indigenous medicine plants that have anti-cancer medicinal properties.
- The Ministry of Health and Child Care must, by the end of September 2015, distribute the 3 mobile clinics, purchased through a
100million loan from China, to the provinces.
- Parliamentarians take special interest in lobbying the Government and international partners to give more focus on cancer control and treatment by forming a Parliamentary lobby group.
- That a fact-finding Parliamentary mission be sent to Zambia to learn how their mobile cancer clinics work with the view to replicate the
same in Zimbabwe.
*HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to start by
thanking Hon. Dr Labode for the report. I know people are tired and want to go but let me assure you that I am a woman of very few words. I was deeply touched by the fact that cancer is a disease that has affected a lot of people. If this House was full and you were to ask each and every member here, everyone would give evidence that they have lost relatives through cancer.
I stood up because the issue Hon. Dr Labode has raised is very important. We have vast experience as a nation, of people dying of cancer. As Parliament and as a Women’s Caucus, we underwent cervical cancer screening. This is very important because once you realise you have cancer you can get treatment. If it is money that is needed, it gives you an opportunity to raise the money. The challenge that we have in this country is that people think HIV is more important than cancer. People need to know that it is the same as taking temperature when one is ill. I am saying this because I have a number of people in my family who have died due to cancer and some are still suffering. So, for us to brush it aside and think that we can deal with it tomorrow really pains me. I have a relative who was discharged from hospital yesterday. So, I think this is an issue that we need to join hands, work together and do something about. We need to encourage our relatives and friends to go and get screened.
In this House, we have areas where people can go and get screened. We also have radiotherapy which destroys the cancer cells.
So, we were thinking that if only Government could source funding to get more of these radio therapy machines, especially for those in rural areas where people are dying of cancer after giving birth to so many children by losing a lot of blood. We raised a motion in this House where we were told that people use different things as sanitary-wear, which is not right and causes cancer. We therefore, need to have a Government fund that ensures women go and get checked as well as men to be checked on prostate cancer. We are all parents and we need to push for this. What we want is information to be disseminated so that people can get assistance once detected with cancer.
I think that the recommendations that were given are good but there is nothing as yet. We need information on what a person should eat in order not to get cancer. Some say that red meat is not good as well as meat with too much fat and also that it is not good to sit in the sun for long. People need that information. If a person goes to the rural areas, it is exercise that they will have embarked on. Those are some of the things that have caused prostate cancer. Long back we knew that prostate cancer and breast cancer, when Parirenyatwa was still Andrew Flemming, cancer was common to the white people, but now it has become a disease that affects everyone irrespective of race.
My request is that, all of us should get the recommendations so that we can take them to our constituencies. We want the information that has been received by the delegation to be cascaded down to us and we in turn cascade it to our Constituencies. I want to thank you Mr.
Speaker Sir.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND
CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI): I move that the debate do now
adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 22nd October, 2015.
On the Motion of THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND CLIMATE (HON. MUCHINGURI), the House
adjourned at Fourteen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.