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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 01 DECEMBER 2020 VOL 47 NO 13
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 1st December, 2020
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day, numbers 1 to 10 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day number 11 has been disposed of.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF HON. MIRIAM MUSHAYI
HON. I NYONI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I move the motion standing in my name that this House expresses its profound sorrow on the untimely passing on after a short illness on Monday, 7 September, 2020 of the late Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana Constituency, Hon. Miriam Mushayi;
Places on record its appreciation for the services which the late Hon. Member rendered to Parliament and the nation at large;
Resolves that its profound sympathies be conveyed to the Mushayi family, relatives and the entire Kuwadzana Constituency.
HON. TOFFA: I second.
HON. I. NYONI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. It was unbelievable and saddening to learn of the untimely passing on of the Late Hon. Miriam Mushayi on 7th September, 2020 after a short illness. I recall two days earlier, I and other Hon. Members of Parliament had gone to check on Hon. Mushayi while admitted at a private hospital. Her condition appeared to be improving, only for the situation to worsen. Her passing on was a huge blow to her family, Parliament, Kuwadzana constituency and the nation at large.
Hon. Mushayi was a friendly and cheerful character who got on very well with most Members of Parliament across the political divide. In a nutshell, I can say she was a true embodiment of wisdom, hard work, honesty and reliability. This leads me to ask who Hon. Miriam Mushayi was. In brief, I can say she was the daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Mangwende of Buhera in Manicaland. She was the wife to Mr. Mushayi of Magunje in Hurungwe, Mashonaland West. She was a loving mother to two beautiful daughters. She was an aunt and she also played many other roles within the family with friends and communities.
She will also be clearly remembered as a principled woman and true patriot who worked hard to improve the lives of ordinary citizens out there. Indeed, she was a true Hon. Member of Parliament who had not taken this as a form of employment but to do service to the community. I recall clearly on 25th August, 2020, about two weeks before she passed on, Hon. Mushayi donated 1000 by 10kg bags of mealie-meal to her Kuwadzana constituency - to the elderly, that is, those over 65 years, people with disability, widows and orphans; to mention just a few of her programmes. There were other programmes that were also running at her constituency.
Hon. Mushayi was a good communicator who was physically active on the ground, on Facebook, Twitter and other forms of modern communication. The late Hon. Mushayi will also be remembered for her passion in articulating gender equality issues and the girl child. Her approach was tactical and non-confrontational, winning her many friends and volunteers along the way. I am positive most women MPs in this House worked tirelessly with the late Hon. Mushayi in that area and the gap she has left will be difficult to fill. One of the things I am sure Hon. Mushayi would appreciate is to have her former Kuwadzana constituency occupied by another woman Member of Parliament. However, this is going to depend on political parties that will contest at the by-elections.
In conclusion Mr. Speaker Sir, I again convey my sincere condolences to her husband Mr. Mushayi, her two daughters, the entire Mushayi family and the entire Mangwende family, friends and Kuwadzana Constituency. Hon. Miriam Mushayi will be greatly missed in Parliament and may her soul rest in peace. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TOFFA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for affording me this opportunity to contribute towards the motion on the late Hon. Miriam Mushayi. Hon. Speaker Sir, myself and many other Hon. Members in the House were totally shocked by the passing on of Hon. Mushayi as we had only heard of the illness a few days before she passed on. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was one of the privileged few who were able to visit her at the private hospital in which she was. When I visited her, she was in a comma and I did not get an opportunity to speak to her.
Hon. Mushayi was a friend to me, confidant and a very good advisor. Hon. Mushayi leaves behind her husband and two daughters as Hon. Nyoni said and I would like to thank him for raising the motion. I would like to pass my condolences to the family and I would like to thank them too for lending her to us because as a politician you give a lot of time to politics and your family seems to suffer. I would like to pass my condolences to the family, in particular her two daughters. I pray that they take solace in the Lord.
Hon. Speaker Sir, Hon. Mushayi was a believer in devolution. She really wanted to see devolution come to play. I say this not only because she spoke about devolution many times but Hon. Mushayi’s status or profile always had devolution, the new revolution for many years until the day she died. So, it would really please her and many others to see devolution being implemented to its fullest.
Hon. Mushayi was also a very good gender activist in particular for women, young girls and the youths. I should actually state that Hon. Mushayi was also the Secretary General in the MDC led by Prof. W. Ncube before we became the Alliance. Hon. Mushayi made sure that there was equal participation for women, youth and everyone. She always had her door open and we found it easy to always approach her. She was very approachable.
Mr. Speaker Sir, without saying too much, Hon Mushayi is a big loss. We will miss her dearly and her shoes will not be easy to replace. I thank you.
*HON. CHIKUKWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to support this motion on the death of Hon. Mushayi. I worked with Hon. Mushayi in the Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. She was a person who could work with anyone and was non-partisan. She would deal with the issue at hand. When it comes to the issue of devolution, she was someone who had a passion in devolution. It is sad that she passed away before the Bill on devolution came to Parliament. I know she was one of those who were going to contribute a lot on this Bill and I believe she was going to be one of those who was going to stand up strongly for devolution to pass.
I also learnt something from Hon. Mushayi. She was a reserved person, not that she was dull but she would talk where necessary. As a Committee on Local Government and National Housing we have lost a strong member especially that we are very few female Members. We hope that more women will be added to our Committee.
I also support the issue that we create a fund meant for condolences to our fellow Hon. Member. We should not start collecting money for condolences when one of us passes on. When one of us dies, we all want to go to the funeral but at times we fail to go because we feel we cannot go empty handed. Let us unite on this issue so that we at least leave something for the family after their parent dies. I thank you.
^^HON. MABOYI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am going back to airing my voice in chi Venda. I was saying my condolences to the Mushayi’s. I was saying most probably if I am to use English, I would say Hon. Mushayi was a fundi, someone very learned. In all her duties that she was taking care of, she would show that she is an educated somebody. In every motion or debate that she contributed, she would also portray some gender sensitivity especially when she contributed on issues relating to children or the girl child. Hon. Mushayi would indicate that a girl child should be accorded an opportunity in everything.
In our Committee, we have lost an Hon. Member who knew what she was here for. Whenever Hon. Mushayi chaired meetings, you would see either a teacher or a lecturer in herself from the way she would chair, she was well versed in the aspect of leading meetings. Hon. Mushayi was a hard worker, therefore, we continue to send our condolences to the Mushayi family and there is no replacement for this lady.
I heard that Hon. Mushayi left behind her two daughters and a husband, may her soul rest in peace. Her family lost a mother who is very difficult to replace. She is one Member of Parliament who knew what her constituency needed. In most cases, she would indicate that if there are some things that are lacking within her constituency, she would make sure that she does her best to make sure that all the things are available.
The late Hon. Member showed much interest in children’s issues especially making sure that there is gender balance in educating our children. Therefore, I would like to say we have lost a hard worker in Hon. Mushayi. I failed to be part of the crew that went for her burial but all I can say is that we worked very well with her and had wished to be part of the team that went for her burial.
Because of financial challenges, at times we fail to go and bury one of our own which is what has been happening in most of the cases in this House. However, in a few words, I would like to say rest in peace to Hon. Mushayi. I thank you.
*HON. KANKUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to add my voice to the debate following the passing on of Hon. Mushayi. I knew her and have worked with her here in Parliament.
Hon. Mushayi was dedicated to her constituency. She loved her job. We served together in the Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and she contributed immensely in that Committee. She worked very well with others even though as women, we do not agree on a lot of issues but she was not of that calibre.
I want to support that Hon. Mushayi was always cheerful and worked well with others. She did not look down upon other people and was well educated. She would contribute in line with the nation and was spearheading national programmes. We were shocked when we learnt about her death because we never heard about her being indisposed. We are saddened by the fact that it is a woman who passed on. As a House, we are really saddened by her departure. My condolences go to the constituency, family and the National Assembly – we are not going to see her. So, I say Hon. Mushayi, may your soul rest in peace until we meet again. I thank you.
*HON. MAVETERA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Ma’am, for this opportunity. I thought I should also add my voice on Hon. Mushayi’s debate.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, we cannot afford not to talk about the women of this Parliament. Let me say that truly that in Hon. Mushayi, we lost a heroine because when we talk about women who contribute in Parliament, we would point at Hon. Mushayi. Without mincing my words, Hon. Mushayi was a woman who spoke on issues of magnitude. She was eloquent in English and was one of the women who we know would speak fluently in English. We really lost when it comes to Hon. Mushayi. Whenever we talk about women in Parliament, we talk of women who can stand up and debate eloquently and she was such a woman.
Madam Speaker, let me also say that truly her constituency and immediate family have lost a great person. Hon. Mushayi was a great woman. As you are aware that we have different parties but when we talk about Hon. Mushayi – she overlooked all that. She respected everyone and let me say that as women, I do not want to be partisan because I know that what brings us together is the fact that we are Zimbabweans. What brings us together when we talk about women and referring to men and women – what brings us together is the fact that we are either men or women.
Madam Speaker, let me say that I remember last year during this same time of 16 Days of Activism; she was one woman who would contribute against gender based violence. Truly, as women, we encounter gender based violence and it is causing women not to live well as women because gender based violence is upon us. Let me say that gender based violence is not only physical but even those who are married as well are being sexually abused. Gender based violence is when you find that women of men who are promiscuous are constantly being forced to sleep with their husbands without any protection. That is the type of violence that women encounter.
When we talk about gender based violence Madam Speaker, as women, we really uphold such issues because we know that when we are faced with such situations, there are women who would stand their ground like Hon. Mushayi. When we are talking about addressing women issues, we do not address them on partisan basis but we talk because we are women. Let me say Madam Speaker, I look forward that when we get a replacement for that constituency, we pray that it will be a woman. So, in her constituency, we are looking forward for another woman to replace her because if they choose a man, then it means we remain with fewer women in Parliament. Let me just say may her spirit rest in peace. Death is death slow, I wish her family well and may she be blessed wherever she is. Thank you.
HON. R. MPOFU: First and foremost I want to appreciate the motion which was moved by Hon. Nyoni, seconded by Hon. Toffa. Madam Speaker, my heart is pained a lot by the departure of Hon. Mushayi. She is one of the ladies who was full of motherly love. She loved everyone regardless of the party she was coming from. As I speak, I know in this House there is no one who hates me. Even if I am disabled, people normally refer to me as a disabled person but I know all of you love me.
Hon. Mushayi is one of the ladies who used to love me. If I had something that I wanted to share with her, she would ask what it was that was troubling me. She would ask out of love, regardless of the party where she was coming from. It really pains me a lot the way Hon. Members are passing on. We therefore need God’s intervention so that we can pass condolences to each other. We all have children and if I look at this, I realise that it is a lady who has left behind children.
When we pass on – to each and every woman in the world regardless of our parties, we should learn to have a separate pocket that we can use especially when it is a lady who has passed on. As a family, when you see a mother coming to pay condolences, it really gives hope and even to a husband, when you see another woman coming to console you it gives you hope. When a mother passes on in any family it leaves a very big gap that cannot be filled by anyone.
It is my prayer that God will intervene and it is my prayer that God will make her rest in peace. To the children that she left behind, I believe it is our responsibility and God will take care of them. I think those who have debated before me – it is my prayer whoever departs, we should all stand together and pass condolences. For example if it is a male MP who departed we should all speak with one voice and pass condolences.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, it is my wish that if only I could be able to see, I wish we could all go and pass condolences to the family. Let us not combine death and politics. Death will come, regardless of which party you are coming from. We will all go through the same process and when your time is up, you cannot escape it. The onus is with us who are left behind to be a team and pray together to conquer such things.
As I stand, I am not even sure when I am going to die. We should all take into consideration that anyone can pass on regardless of time. I therefore join everyone who has passed condolence messages. It is my prayer that all the children that she has left behind will hold on and God will take care of them. Thank you.
HON. B. DUBE: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate on the death of Hon. Mushayi. One thing that her death reminds us of is that this is the world of today because we are all going to die. The best that we can do in the remainder of our natural life is to try to do the best that we can. She fought for her life and all that is left for us is to pursue our dreams and pursue the things that we believe in honesty. Also what this tells us is that we as parliamentarians are just ordinary human beings who are also going to die one day.
So we should love each other and do everything with love and passion. I always see chaos and hatred exhibited in the House. It is done by those people who forget that they are not here to stay and they are just here for a while. My request and the lesson that I think we must take in the death of Hon. Mushayi is that we are all going to die and we must do our best and now change the way we see each other and the way we do business. We should try to do our best so that we can leave a legacy.
There are many of us MPs who when a motion of this kind comes think of what to say about it. So, it is also time that we interrogate ourselves and see what it is that we have done in our time, what is it that we have moved in that Parliament and what are people going to say about you. Hon. Mushayi was a balanced, sophisticated and loving MP. She was a very good sister, mother and good to all of us. She was the kind of person who would show us how things can be done. It is my prayer that we always remember to do well and this motion is starting at the right time Madam Speaker where we are also celebrating 16 Days of Activism, which is a reminder to us to deal with the issues of gender based violence. It is disheartening that in the day that we are remembering a female MP, who did so well, we are also doing it at a time where Zimbabwe as a country is experiencing an increase in cases of gender based violence. I just want this in commemoration of the likes of Hon. Mushayi to remind us that we need to do so much to end gender based violence, especially against women and girls.
For MPs, this must also remind us that we have to respect our mothers, female colleagues, our daughters and we have to do everything to give value to the other gender, which I believe is the best thing that can exhibit or reflect that we are a civilised community. Madam Speaker, I will end by just saying, there is a lot that we learn and need to continue to learn from death. The best lesson that we can ever have is a reminder that our day is also going to come and that we must never make it very difficult for those who will mourn us and those who will move motions for us by failing to actually find anything good to say about ourselves. I would say to Hon. Mushayi, rest in power. You are the true hero of Zimbabwe. You fought a good fight for democracy. You were inspired to finish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle, which is to transform, industrialized Zimbabwe and continue to unite Zimbabwe as a country. I will say, rest in power my sister. Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.
*HON. MAKONYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Nyoni for moving the motion in honour of Hon. Mushayi. I have known Hon. Mushayi for quite a long time in the political arena, but at first I did not know much about her. When she became a Member of this august House, I began to know her better. Hon. Mushayi was quiet, cheerful and approachable. Madam Speaker, most women are not approachable, even on social aspects of life. Hon. Mushayi would greet you always. There are some people who can never greet others because they think they are special. Hon. Mushayi would always greet me and give me a compliment for being smart. To all female MPs, I say let us be like the Late Hon. Mushayi. Let us be approachable and let us be reminded that one day we shall also die. No one knew that this day Hon. Mushayi would no longer be with us. Let us be united as Hon. Members in this august House. We should cherish every moment.
There was a time that we experienced some wrangles in our political party but Hon. Mushayi was never involved in the issues. I am saying to my colleague MPs, politics is for this world and we shall leave it one day. Madam Speaker, I would also want to speak about the Women’s Caucus. I know there are some MPs who attended the funeral, but my plea is that we should be united and stand by each other in difficult times. Currently, due to COVID regulations, we cannot gather in large numbers, but we should put our heads together and grieve with families of our departed MPs. Some of the MPs are dying, leaving families who are in need of assistance. There are MPs who died before receiving their vehicles. If possible, their families should be given the vehicles. That is the only thing that he or she would have worked for. Hon. Mushayi did not have a pension because it was her first term in Parliament. If Hon. Members depart from their families due to death or any other means, the families should not be seen struggling to survive. People out there do not understand the policies of Parliament and they would wonder why families of former Members of Parliament suddenly become poor after the Hon. Member ceases to be a Member of Parliament. I thank you.
HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Madam Speaker Maam. I also want to add my voice to the motion in the House. I was also deeply saddened by the passing on of Hon. M. Mushayi on 7th September, 2020. I was taken aback by her death but as I came to terms with it, I look back and see a woman who was confident, educated and motivated in whatever she was doing; a woman with a unique way of dressing - I was impressed by the way she dressed. Her flowing braids and clothes made her very African, which I really appreciate of African women.
I learnt something from her. She was humble, collected, intelligent and accommodating. She used to participate actively in debate here in the august House and where we met during workshops and meetings. Her death should teach us that life is short; life is a gift from God. Let us respect each other, work together in harmony and be just simple and not complicated. Hon. Mushayi was simple and humble until her death. I thank you.
HON. MOLOKELE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to add my voice in support of this motion and say that I was deeply saddened and felt a personal loss at the passing away of Hon. Mushayi. I worked closely with her, mostly in the Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education. She was a very committed member and a leader of that Committee. She was dedicated and we learnt a lot from her. She was an educated woman but was very humble and carried herself as an African. As Hon. Zhou has noted, she had her own unique way of dressing that emphasised the African identity.
Hon. Members might not be aware but she spent many years in Europe, I think she was in the UK. She is someone who had been exposed to other cultures but still remained true to African identity. I was very saddened when she passed on because a lot of progress has been made regarding the Portfolio on Higher and Tertiary Education and she was part of that commitment and effort that the Committee has put.
When we visited Verify Engineering in Mkwasine and in Mutare, I have some quotes that keep me reminded of the commitment and zeal. She is such a big loss to our Committee. I also worked closely with her in the political party that I belong to. She was in the national committee as the Deputy Secretary for Policy and Research. She also did well in her constituency and was down to earth; grassroots oriented. She worked with people on the ground. Even though she was a very educated person, she was able to freely mix with people in her constituency.
As we continue to fight for 50/50 representation for women in political positions such as Parliament, her death is a big loss in the fight to increase the representation of women. She is such a big loss that we will not be able to replace her. I would like to extend my condolences and sympathies to her family members especially her husband and two children. We will always remember her, love her, salute and honour her. She is so sadly missed already. I thank you Madam Speaker.
*HON. CHIKUNI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to add my voice to the motion that was raised by Hon. Nyoni on the passing on of Hon. Miriam Mushayi. We were in the same Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare with Hon. Mushayi. She was approachable and free when she had a point to make. Our Committee has lost a strong Member who would attend a meeting and come out without speaking. She encouraged us to also contribute because she would say, ‘I cannot come out of my Committee without contributing’.
She was an advisor. If you do not know what to say she would help you. She was friendly to everyone. When we are in Committee you would not notice which party she belonged to. We have some people who when they are in a Committee meeting, if you want advice you would not dare ask them but she would unite us all. We are deeply saddened by her death. May her soul rest in peace. I thank you.
*HON. CHITURA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to add my voice on the motion of the departure of Hon. Mushayi. She was a very good woman who did not look down upon anyone. I first met her when we were outside and asked her whether she came from Rusape but she said she came from Karoi. Hon. Mushayi was a very humble person. I am just encouraging that if a woman passes on we should be given a bus so that we go in our numbers to mourn our colleague and it will be known that one of us has left us.
It could be that during her time of departure she was looking after children or grandchildren and we do not know what is happening to the children that she left behind. May her spirit and all the spirits of the departed, in Christ, rest in peace. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for allowing me to add my voice over this somber motion. I deliberately chose this microphone because that is where Hon. Mushayi would stand as she debated in Parliament. First, let me express my profound sorrow to the family of Hon. Mushayi, the husband and children in particular, the people of Kuwadzana Constituency as the motion dictates. At the same time, let me express my gratitude to the Hon. Members of Parliament who managed to make their way to the funeral of Hon. Mushayi both in Harare, Ashdown Park and in Hurungwe. As I say that, I want to pay particular respect to the Chairperson of the Women’s Caucus, Hon. Kwaramba. I mentioned her in singular respect because I have seen her attending funerals of Members of Parliament across the political divide and I think such type of leadership that is blind to any political division must be applauded –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Madam Speaker, this motion as other Members have highlighted comes at a time when we are commemorating 16 days of activism against gender based violence. I know Hon. Mushayi was one of the key champions of that gender who wanted to see the emancipation, empowerment and freedom of women including their independence so that they can at least occupy spaces which predominately were occupied by men. However, women cannot achieve that occupation or that desire to equally be represented in those spaces if they are continuously being subjected to all forms of violence especially emotional violence.
Madam Speaker, Hon. Mushayi died a bitter woman and I think because we are Parliament and we are expected to be providing leadership, at times it is also proper to be candid amongst ourselves, to tell each other the truth. Hon. Mushayi fell sick as she was attending court of one of our Hon. Members of Parliament who is Hon. Sikhala here present facing persecution by prosecution. In my submissions, I think it is very unfair…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Chikwinya, I think if we are debating about motions to do with death of a Member of Parliament, we are supposed to debate in such a way that should unite us at the end of the day. We are supposed to talk in such a way that peace prevails in this House. I thank you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Violence – violence of the physic is emotional violence. It disturbs the flow of thinking of an individual. Therefore, I have said in my opening remarks that an Hon. Member of Parliament must concentrate upon serving their constituency but if they are continuously exposed to issues which we have advised must not be spoken, I do not think we will be telling each other the truth as leadership in Parliament. This Parliament is an assembly of people who are expected to provide leadership. Leadership entails at other times that you must be candid and frank to each other. How do I continuously and successfully be able to proffer service to my constituency if I am under persecution and prosecution like another Hon. Member? This is what was going through Hon. Mushayi’s mindset.
Before 2018 General Elections, seven political parties came to form what was known as the MDC Alliance. Hon. Mushayi was Secretary General of the then MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube. I was the Secretary General of a very small party called the People’s Democratic Party. So we would meet in meetings called the Secretary Generals meetings together with Hon. Sen. Mwonzora. We went to several countries trying to get exposure on how to manage our electoral processes.
Hon. Mushayi was keen to see a fair electoral field, an environment where the winner would be congratulated by the loser and the loser congratulating the winner. Hon. Mushayi gave us immense contributions as we were building up the reforms towards our electoral laws. Hon. Mushayi then became a member of a political party called the MDC Alliance. So she died, a bitter woman because earlier on she witnessed her fellow Members of Parliament elected on an MDC Alliance ticket being decimated by Section 129 (k) in this House. I do not think if we were going to wake her up today she would be happy with the provisions of Section 129 (k), a very unfair, draconian piece of legislation that rewards those who lost what they did not get and so I think she died a bitter woman.
Madam Speaker, I think when we gather here in Parliament, we must also be able to think and legislate in posterity. An Hon. Member rose here and said she was touched by the fact that Members of Parliament, some of them would pass away before they get their benefits. If we do not speak for ourselves; none but ourselves will speak for us. I thought Parliamentary rules and the chief whips are here present, we are in a budgeting time; Parliamentary rules must entail that and I will propose at a relevant time, that a Member of Parliament who passes away because it is not a choice to pass away, automatically benefits in terms of their children being taken care of by the pension scheme. A Member of Parliament who passes away before they receive their dues, they must be given to their family including their vehicle. We should have gotten these vehicles on the first day of attending Parliament but because of administrative delay which includes non-payment of funds, it is not our choice that other Members of Parliament still do not have their vehicles. So if one passes away by an act of God, why should their families be punished? Why should we all celebrate that we have saved money when this Member served for two years and serving Parliament without their vehicles coming on board? Madam Speaker, I think whilst you are seeing all these Hon. Members greeting you nicely and respecting you as you walk in this aisle, they will be actually saying in their hearts that these people are letting us down and if they could have powers, one day they are going to revenge. I am not very sure how.
As I windup Madam Speaker, I would want to say that I hope the women who are in this Parliament will take a cue from an individual like Hon. Mushayi who was free to express herself. In this Parliament, the space is not donated, so if you sit as a woman and say, ‘It is intimidatory in Parliament’, you are doing a disservice to your constituency. Rise up, pick yourself up, put your thinking process to the table and the leadership of Parliament and Government is going to hear your contributions. This is what was motivating Hon. Mushayi, she was saying her issues and putting them to the table. Her motto to say, ‘Devolution the only revolution’, is beginning to gain traction and we were pursuing court issues which we did and have won. We are still pursuing legislative processes that we are still doing and one day, we are going to see a Bill that is going to enable devolution to be fully realised in this country. With these words Madam Speaker, I will say that may the soul of Hon. Mushayi rest in peace. I thank you.
*HON. KWARAMBA: Thank you Madam Speaker I stand to add my voice on the motion that was tabled by Hon. Nyoni and seconded by Hon. Toffa. I want to talk about Hon. Mushayi.
I first met Miriam Mushayi in Bulawayo during a meeting of the Liaison Committee when she was talking representing her party. She was dark in complexion and loved her African authenticity and bore beautiful dreadlocks. She always said that she would never bleach her skin or apply makeup. She would were bangles. I remember one day when we were in Kadoma and I was asking her that, what is with the bangles that you wear on both arms? She told me that whenever she travelled, those were the things that she first bought and she used to dress well. She was a free woman who was approachable and interacted well with all people. She was not partisan and would speak to everyone. She was forever cheerful.
I also remember the other day whilst in Kadoma when I was sitting next to her. She would always be our representative during group work. She was someone whom we could send and she would comply. She always gave all her attention during meetings and would contribute accordingly. I was really pained by her death. When we were travelling from Kadoma was when I learnt of her passing on. The person that I thought about was Hon. Toffa and I called her. We never learnt about her sickness but we just accepted it because it was God’s will. She would advocate for women because she was for women’s empowerment and was well educated. Even when she was contributing, it was coming from a well-informed person.
When I attended her burial ceremony in Magunje, I learnt that she had started a Trust in her Kuwadzana Constituency. I pray that the Trust would move forward. When I first met her, I just assumed that she was single and later learnt that she was married. I met her husband and two beautiful girls. What really pained me was the fact that the girls arrived after their mother’s burial.
The issue that has been raised here is good that if one of us passes on, we should be availed a bus by Parliament. I went to Magunje and was the only Member of Parliament in attendance and did not know why others had abstained but it was due to transport issues. So, I think that it is good that we go as a family and mourn one of us. Another issue that was raised is that there are benefits that we get from Parliament and I think that the benefits should be awarded to the families so that they know that their mother worked for Parliament and that Parliament has remembered them, even if our mother did not get her full entitlement, at least we got something and they would be consoled. In short I say, may her soul rest in peace.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker. I stand to add my voice to this motion that was tabled by Hon. Nyoni concerning the late Hon. Mushayi. We all knew her and she was a free person who would debate freely. She would speak with expertise so it was painful to hear that she was no longer with us.
Some of us never got to learn about her sickness since she looked well and full of life but the Lord knew when he wanted to take her. All the Hon. Members here, I think the death of all the Hon. Members who have passed on should be a lesson to all of us on how best to prepare for that day. What will we have set aside? What has Parliament put aside so that our families that we are all working for are well looked after when we are no longer there? Let me talk about what happens when a bread winner passes on. How can we prepare as Members of Parliament?
I think our pension as it is today, we have a good opportunity that we are discussing the budget. I think as Hon. Members, we should raise these issues during this period so that when one is elected into Parliament, they should be put on pension after their first term – not only pension. With the little knowledge that I have, we should also be given a Group Life Scheme. I think here in Parliament, it is us who make laws even the Insurance Act. We should also look at our side as well because we need all those services as well. We will need them when death knocks on our doors. It is important that as Members of Parliament, we should not just look up to Parliament but Parliament does what we would have come up with because we are the ones who pass the budget and we are the ones who decides what goes into the budget.
The Speaker cannot do that for us. We should spearhead that because this time will come to anyone. We should be prepared for times like that. I have heard a lot about Hon. Mushayi that she worked well with other Members. In Shona, we say that vakanaka havararame. The good do not live long and those people who do good things are patriotic and they die when we still need them for the good of our country.
I interacted with her and I could see a person who was well behaved. She did not hate anyone and would seek information and use it well. All Hon. Members should emulate her and we should learn from what she did. If we look at all the people who have departed, you will see that they were good people and they wanted to unite others. It is very good as citizens of Zimbabwe and as legislators here in Parliament, that we should know that we were send to represent the people and we work for them so that in the days that I will be in Parliament for the five years, I have done something that makes our country move forward.
Hon. Mushayi is gone but we have testimony that she worked well for her country to go forward. As Hon. Members, what are you here for? Are you serious as Member of Parliament? When you come here, are you spearheading the policies of this country? That thing should be engrained in our minds as Members of Parliament. We should unite on everything that we do so that our country moves forward and our country will only go forward if we debate with the aim of building it and not to outdo one another. What you bring in this Parliament should be well informed.
The people that have sent us want us to work for our country. It is only 350 of us who got the chance but there are 14/15 million people out there who could have been here as Members of Parliament, but we have been given a chance by people, God and by our ancestors. What have you done so that the 14 million out there should benefit? I am urging the Members of Parliament that this time, referring to the cars that Members should get, it is an issue that we have taken up to the Speaker through the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.
The two chief whips raised that issue and they are looking into it that if a Member of Parliament dies, whatever was due to them should be given to them because not having them is because of the process which is taking long. So, no one should be punished for that. I think if we approach our Government, I do not think they will refuse because it is in black and white that when we join Parliament, it is one of the benefits that we are supposed to be given, but before we see the bad about it, have we taken it up?
The ball is in our court as legislators. When we are looking at the welfare of Hon. Members, we should also look at the context of the economy of the country. So, Hon. Nyoni, the motion that you have brought in this House is very important. Looking back at what used to happen, there was a document which used to be signed. It was a document on the motion and the document should be taken to the family of the departed. We are saying Parliament should retain that, that after debating, we should take that document to the family so that the family would hang it in their house, and that they will remember that their mother once worked for Parliament.
We are starting from Hon. Mushayi and others who have departed. I think we will come up with that document which should be taken to their families to show that we worked with the departed well. In closing, I say we should unite and continue to work united as a family. When we face any challenges like this, we should go together as a family and pay our condolences.
Lastly, I would want to say that if you do not behave well in this House, we will have problems on debating about you when you have gone because we will not know what to say. I wanted to mention someone to say what will we say the day that we debate about him. I think I am the only one who will debate because I come from the same village with him. So, I am saying we should build one another. Our desire is that when we come in Parliament to represent people, we should respect them and they should also respect themselves. Thank you.
*HON. MUTOMBA: Firstly, I want to thank you Madam Speaker for according me this opportunity so that I add my voice on this painful motion on the death of Hon. Mushayi. I have a question to this House because I have heard each and every speaker who contributed was talking about the good works which were being done by Hon. Mushayi. Let me say to you all, what did we learn when we were with the late? What have we learnt on this debate? Let me quote Mathew 23:12. It says, ‘whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted’. These words were said by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Looking at the works that Hon. Mushayi was doing, if we want to be truthful Hon. Members, let us be people who learn. If you are lagging behind and you did not know about this Hon. Member, I think you should learn from what other MPs are saying who worked with her. Let me say, when I am sitting in that Chair, you stand up so that I can recognise you. I would contemplate on whether to recognise some of you because we do not want to disturb the flow of the debate. You find that in some cases, some Hon. MPs would come and disturb the flow of the debate. What I am saying is, when Hon. Mushayi would stand up, I would not hesitate to recognise her because I knew what she would debate. She was a straightforward woman; she was not partisan and she would debate on policy.
When we come here, it is not about political parties but it is about government. So, that is the lesson that we got from Hon. Mushayi. Hon. Members from both sides should learn from what has been debated that it should be a culture that we will start doing from henceforth.
I would also say I am happy with what is happening in this House with the coming in of Hon. Khupe. When she stands to debate, I do not hesitate to recognise her because when she wants to debate, she debates on policy. Hon. Khupe has come to unite this House. We should look at each other as Zimbabwean MPs. Out there, there may be violence but let us look at what is coming from this House when we are debating. The wars that emanate, at times you do not know what will happen. That is the culture we will be teaching people out there. You do not want people out there to be violent but here you find that there is a lot of fighting.
Let us move together as one House and speak with one voice. This is our country, we do not have an alternative. We will die here and we will be buried here in Zimbabwe. Let us learn from Hon. Mushayi. We really lost as a House - if you are lagging behind I think you have learnt something. So let us start working together emulating what Hon. Khupe has brought that we can solve the challenges that we are facing today. We should come together as the ruling party, together with the opposition parties and say that these sanctions are killing us. We should unite and go out there and speak with one voice.
I want to speak on a point which really touched me. I also want to talk about the benefits that we get from Parliament and I would like to thank Hon. Togarepi for bringing that issue. The clothes that we wear can deceive people. We dress very well but what we are hiding behind these clothes is hard. MPs are not well. Look at how people are dying. We just hear that they have died. I think we should look at our medical aid. Is it really helping us as Members of Parliament? The work that we do is so stressful. We have stress from home because things are not working out well. We have stress coming from the constituency and stress here because people are fighting each other. You are not well and you visit the doctor and you are told that there is a shortfall. You are given a prescription and there is a shortfall. The work that we are doing is not commensurate with the medical aid that we have. The Chief Whip talked about the group insurance and said there is no one who can stand for us. It is us who should speak for ourselves. We should thank our President, Hon. Mnangagwa because he is a very good listener. What happens is that we talk out there but we have not approached him. So we should talk about the medical scheme for Members of Parliament, we know that our job is difficult and stressful. We do not have enough money to go for medical examination unless we are sick, yet we are supposed to go regularly for medical check-ups. We are not doing this because we are supposed to pay shortfalls, which we do not have. The point raised by the Chief Whip should supported by everyone and it should be in black and white. If we do not write it down, we will not go anywhere, but the fact is we are dying Hon. Members. Right now we are not aware who is next among ourselves.
Therefore, let us unite for a purpose so that we lobby for benefits we are supposed to get while we are still Members of Parliament, because our job is stressful, that is why people die suddenly. The former Deputy Chief Whip left this House going to the clinic and was referred to Westend, where he did not even spend two hours. He was no more. It means we are all sick here but I will be with you while inside me I am not well. I cannot go to the hospital because I am required to pay shortfall. If we are honest on what we say about Hon. Mushayi that she was a unifier of this House, let us unite and lobby for our medical benefits. Our President says he is a listening President and he is going to listen to us.
In conclusion, let me say, Hon. Mushayi, we appreciate how you worked. Our Lord Jesus Christ you said it yourself that we give testimonies for our loved ones – you have heard the testimonies for Hon. Mushayi, you have taken her from us. It is also the way of life. My friends and relatives, let us not spoil this motion and let us unite in moving forward her works so that when we pass on we can also get testimonies. Go well Hon. Mushayi. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, may Hon. Mushayi’s soul rest in eternal peace.
AANONCEMENT BY THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER
NON ADVERSE REPORT FROM PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have received a non-adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Manpower Development and Planning Amendment Bill [H. B. 2, 2020].
*HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker for affording me the opportunity to add my voice on the motion under discussion. I would like to thank Hon. Nyoni who raised this motion, seconded by Hon. Toffa, who gave us an opportunity to speak in memory of Hon. Mushayi from Kuwadzana Constituency who passed on in September, 2020. I would also like to thank all the speakers who debated before me. I feel deeply pained when people talk about the good personality of Hon. Mushayi. We are being taught to learn from the fig tree so that people will not fall short of words when you are no more. Hon. Mutomba also alluded to the same that one should think of what people will say when you pass on, what they will say about you. It is a lesson we are getting from the life of the late Hon. Mushayi.
I did not meet Hon. Mushayi on the road nor did we meet in the party, I knew Hon. Mushayi while we were in Chinhoyi. We were still in college and we were both from Mashonaland West. When we heard of the formation of the MDC political party; we were together, that is how I came to know Hon. Mushayi. I did not meet her here or when she became a Member of Parliament. When the party was formed, Hon. Mushayi was in the province in Chinhoyi and she was finally in the National Executive. She was once a Secretary for Welfare before she was Secretary for Policy. I have never seen anyone so dedicated to work for people. I was not ashamed to campaign for her because I knew she would not let me down. It was within her that she felt compelled to visit sick people in hospital or in prison. If you do not meet her at court, she will be somewhere on duty. If there is a funeral and you do not find her at the funeral; she will be somewhere again, on duty. If you do not meet her for two or three days - when you meet her, she will greet you with respect. She had a low tone but sweet voice and she would smile and say ‘how are you my sister’. I used to call her ever smiling but I told her that the day you will become angry, you will be the most difficult to calm down. I am saying all this because I knew her before we met in Parliament.
In 2018, we went to Sweden together with Miriam. When we disembarked the aeroplane, we boarded a train and when we disembarked the train, it started raining. I am allergic to wetness, so when we reached the hotel, I was already feeling unwell and I was taken to hospital in an ambulance. I have never witnessed such love, she was always at my bedside, she was with me through out and she would ask why my temperature had gone up. I would tell her that whenever I feel cold, I will be in that state. I am saying this so that you understand that she was someone that I travelled with along the way. In 2019, we went to the political parties’ dialogue for the three parties that are represented in Parliament; she was part and parcel of that delegation.
Whatever type of java material that I would want to buy, she would ensure that I would first do my shopping and thereafter we choose her own clothes. Others would be busy going their way and doing their own businesses and we would meet on tax issues but she was so loving and caring. She would even offer to carry my hand luggage even though she was holding hers.
In Kuwadzana Constituency, she had developed the constituency to the extent that the entire groups of women that she worked with were also united. Hon. Mushayi had women whom she was working with. I call her Miriam because that is how I used to refer to her. She loved the people who worked with her. It was a constituency that had exchanged hands such that all people who worked in that constituency became united, even those who campaigned for other political parties.
I remember six months after a councillor in her constituency died, Hon. Mushayi worked hard to ensure that a new councillor was elected. She would campaign; one day sitting at a borehole she asked me if it was going to work. She would ask me to go out with her for lunch after having gone to help her with campaigns. Hon. Mushayi was so loving and uniting. I am based in Harare and maybe I would have had my meals but she would still invite me for lunch.
Hon. Speaker, I believe that a lot of things have been said in terms of motor vehicles and benefits. The week Hon. Mushayi passed on is the same week our vehicles came. I would recommend that the vehicle be given to her family. Sometimes when we do not have enough resources to use we end up having high blood pressure or getting strokes due to the meager salaries that we earn. We would want to be treated with respect even after we have departed.
Hon. Speaker, I am seeing a lot of men seeking for election in Hon. Mushayi’s constituency. We have heard about it and I feel that ZEC should assist us, that if a constituency once belonged to a woman it should be contested for by women so that a woman replaces another woman. I am referring this to both sides of the House. Hon. Sikhala, I want you to bear this in mind, that a constituency that belonged to the late Mushayi should be taken over by a woman so that women who worked with her continue to work with a woman. Failure to do so will be regarded as gender based violence. Why are you moving around with your CVs in that constituency? What do you want?
The other issue of diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and high blood pressure – can we be quickly attended to. We have a clinic here. We were tested for COVID-19 and we should constantly be checked in terms of our health to find out if there are any ailments because our medical aid does not cover much. We must have specialist doctors who look into issues of breast cancer and other diseases. October was a breast cancer month. Breast cancer affects even men, so everyone should be screened for breast cancer. The former leader of the opposition, Hon. G. Sibanda died from breast cancer. There is also prostate cancer that affects men; they say early detection serves life. So it is my plea that we should be attended to earlier. A few days ago, the clinic did not have medication to treat Hon. Members and what if someone has high blood pressure. I suffer from low blood pressure and I am worse off.
The other day I left my purse in a Committee room; Hon. Mushayi found it and gave it to me. I want you to see the type of love that Mushayi had. I had never met such a kind person in my life, she loved everyone. I also had never seen the unity of purpose that has been exhibited in this House over the death of the late Hon. Mushayi. Everyone contributed towards her funeral. If all us could behave in an exemplary manner that has been set by the late Mushayi; she was not very old that we may fail to emulate her. Let us emulate the good things that she did and throw away the bad that she did. As a people, let us learn to copy good things. You lose nothing by just smiling and speaking softly. She was always smiling. It takes a few muscles to smile and you live longer as opposed to frowning.
Lastly, I first came to Parliament in 2000. However, this Ninth Parliament has broken a record on the number of Members of Parliament who have passed on. I wish there could be a roll of honour for those who have passed away in the Ninth Parliament, whether it would be in the form of a book or what-a-view but there should be a record of who they are and what exactly it was about them. We have heroes and heroines but we also have champions like Mushayi who fought for gender based violence awareness campaigns. If a medal was to be awarded; she was going to receive one. In life Hon. Speaker, let us appreciate that when one is a champion in whatever discipline, honour that person whilst they are alive rather than to give these medals post humously and this is on a lighter note.
Lastly, let me say that blessed are those who can live harmoniously with others both at work and at home. The husband of the late Hon. Mushayi was based in the United Kingdom and he declared that she was not going to be buried before his arrival. If the marriage had challenges, he would have advised people to bury her body in his absence. She remained a Mrs. Mushayi and died a Mrs. Mushayi. To the Mushayi family, Kuwadzana Constituency, Zimbabwe at large, the Parliament of Zimbabwe, relatives and friends, remember that it is God’s will that people die. I believe that the Lord’s grace will be with her as she was prayerful, a christian who loved people and there is no way that one who loves people can fail to love the people that she stayed with. When you love God whom you do not see then you cannot fail to love those whom you see. I thank you for this opportunity that you have given me and to those who have already contributed. May her spirit rest in eternal peace. We will meet as we also pass on. I thank you.
*HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I am not going to say much because what I wanted to say has already been said. I stand to say one or two words that Hon. Mushayi was a good woman. She is someone who I used to move around with in political circles. May her spirit rest in peace.
The issue of pension that was mentioned here is an important one which Hon. Members of Parliament should continue talking about and take action. When need to act upon this issue and reach a conclusion on it. Once you have worked for five years, you should be given a pension and your children should be able to sustain a living.
Secondly Hon. Speaker, the issue of by-elections after someone has passed on for whatever reason does not help this country – it is money that is being spent for nothing. The party that has had a Member passing on should replace its dead Member because nothing will change apart from just wasting resources through by-elections. We should come up with a law, fast track it so that the party can just nominate a member to take over the vacant position because by-elections by their nature take us back, cause friction and quarrelsome amongst us, they change nothing. We should concentrate on general elections. With those words Hon. Speaker, I thank you.
HON. MAPHOSA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise to add my voice to the motion that was tabled by Hon. Nyoni seconded by Hon. Toffa on the passing on of Hon. Mushayi.
When I received the news, we were coming from home and were seated for dinner with Hon. Toffa and Hon. Mahlangu. It was such a shock to me Mr. Speaker Sir because we had not heard of her sickness or hospitalisation. It was a shock to me that Hon. Mushayi was gone. In fact, it hit me so hard that I fell sick on that day and even thought that I had been attacked by the Coronavirus because those days it was on the peak.
Mr. Speaker Sir, what pained me most was the knowledge that I would not be able to attend Hon. Mushayi’s funeral. Hon. Mushayi was a sister to me. She would advise me on a lot of things because when I first came to Parliament, I was coming straight from the youth assembly in our party and being a youth is being radical. So there were some things that I did not understand, that being an activist is very different from being an Hon. Member of Parliament. The responsibility that comes with being an Hon. Member of Parliament, I did not understand and could not differentiate between the two. So she took herself to be the sister that I looked for in this House and would tell me, ‘Ayiwa hawudaro’. She had this tone that she would say, ‘Hon. Maphosa, stop doing that!’, and you would know what she was talking about.
Even when we were travelling across the country on public hearings or whatever business that we had in the Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, she was a sister and friend that I would sit and talk to all through. I want to assure Hon. Members that Hon. Mushayi was very close to her daughters. She would talk to them on daily basis and would even tell you, ‘this evening I will not be having chit-chats from this time to that time because I would be having long distance calls with my children and husband’. That was the person she was. She valued family time with her husband and daughters. We saw the love that she gave to us in Parliament but did not know about the love that she shared with her family. I had the privilege of knowing that because she would always tell me, ‘I am going to make those calls’. She would not miss the time and I think they had agreed at a particular time that they would call each other at the set time.
The other thing that I raised Mr. Speaker Sir was that I knew that I would not be able to attend Hon. Mushayi’s funeral. I think that it is an eye opener and has to come into our minds that funerals are not a political field. Even if we differ politically but kana pafiwa, pafiwa. Kana tasvika parufu tinoita zverufu –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Funerals are not places for settling political scores and if we adapt to that as Zimbabweans and as politicians, tinosvika kwakawanda. It is very painful to know that because I have chosen the party that I want then I am deprived to go and mourn my sibling because unonzi watengesa. Chii chinotengeswa ko nhai? It is my choice because it is voluntary for me to join a political party – hapana pano potewa nema cards kunzi huyai, huyai muzojoina tinokupai mari! I joined voluntarily. If I decide to leave, I leave voluntarily and it must be respected – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - So I want to stress that in this House, I do not know how we can fix our mindset as Zimbabweans that funerals are for families to mourn their beloved ones. Haisiri nhandare for settling scores that we may have. So in future, I urge all political parties to work together. What surprises me is that if a ZANU PF member dies, the party that we are opposing in this House, I can freely go to that funeral because no one boos me, no one hits me and no one calls me names, but when a fellow opposition leader, someone that I have a relationship with that dates back maybe to 10 years, I cannot go to their funeral because once you get there, you are either beaten up or shouted at. That must stop.
Having said that, I was so saddened on that day because a sister that I was always with in this Parliament - she would see me seated back there. During the first days because I was new, I would sit on those seats there and this House at times is so cold. She always had a scarf with her and she would say Lindiwe, come here, take this scarf, I do not want you to die of cold in this House. So every day I would use Hon. Mushayi’s scarf to warm myself, but when she died, I could not attend her funeral.
So it is one thing that hit me hard and up to today, I have not forgiven myself and I have not forgiven those that made me not to attend her funeral. I concur with all of you who said that we should look at the welfare of Members of Parliament even after their death and it has to be looked into Hon. Speaker Sir. With those few words, I say Hon. Mushayi, may your soul rest in peace and may God console her husband and children on their loss.
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to contribute for just a second. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.
HON. TSUNGA: I am here Hon. Speaker. Can I be given an opportunity.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Tsunga, the attire that you are wearing does not allow me to recognise you. I think that you are very much aware that you are supposed to come prepared in the House as an Hon. Member, not the way you are dressed.
Hon. Tsunga having wanted to participate virtually.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Tsunga, the attire that you are putting on is not appropriate for me to recognise you. I think you are very much aware that you are supposed to come prepared in the House as an Hon. Member not the way you are dressed.
HON. TSUNGA: May I proceed Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: No, I have given the floor to somebody already.
HON. SIKHALA: Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you very much. I just would like to give a very brief condolence message to Hon. Mushayi who passed on during the period when I was in prison.
Mr. Speaker Sir, it is with a heavy heart that I pass this condolence message to the late Hon. Member of Parliament for she became extremely sick during the period when she was attending my court session at Rotten Row Magistrate Court and it was unfortunate that I was given the message after five days that Hon. Mushayi is no more. She has never missed one court attendance of myself when I was going through the proceedings of bail application at Rotten Row and it was very unfortunate that I was not able to mourn her and also attend her funeral on the basis of my absence not through willful absenteeism, but through what we call a vis majeure et lieu, where you are not able to attend because of unforeseen circumstances.
I would like to say that on behalf of my family, the Zengeza West Constituency and myself, we say rest in peace Hon. Mushayi and may your soul rest in peace. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the mover of the motion wanted to wind up the motion so that no one with debate it tomorrow. Would there be a problem?
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Sorry it would appear that we have got other Hon. Members who would like to debate. This is the reason why he is actually adjourning the debate.
HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. MPARIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Tuesday, 8th December, 2020.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Eight Minutes to Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 8th December, 2020.