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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 14 FEBRUARY 2023 VOL 49 NO 21
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 14th February, 2023
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, this is an important day. I want to wish you all Happy Valentine’s Day – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Order, when you celebrate, you look for champagne. Thank you. I have received requests for points of national interest.
HON. MPARIWA: On a point of national interest Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of national interest?
HON. MPARIWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker a very good afternoon to you. I want to appreciate and thank you for the compliment on Valentine’s Day to every one of us and we are waiting for the champagne and red flowers. Thank you very much papa. Hon. Speaker, today is the 14th of February and a day indeed where the world over is celebrating love and sharing. My point of privilege is based on the fact that on the 14th February 2018, we lost an icon, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. He, despite the problems in terms of having been in opposition politics, he shared and loved everyone. He had to actually accept to be in Cabinet and dollar for two is actually missed and celebrated in Zimbabwe because we saw things that were actually coming out as a result of the Government of National Unity.
So as we celebrate Valentine’s Day, I would want everyone else to remember Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as somebody who had love, somebody who reached out, somebody who actually accepted, somebody who apologised even to those who would have wronged him. So I hope and trust that as Zimbabweans, we will copy as well the level of acceptance and the level of tolerance for everyone in the country. I thank you Hon. Speaker. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
THE HON. SPEAKER: It goes without saying that the Late Former Prime Minister Tsvangirai played a very important role during the Government of National Unit and that is public knowledge and I think history has recorded that, we can only say may his soul rest in eternal peace.
HON. I. NYONI: On a point of national interest Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of national interest?
HON. I. NYONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of national interest is on the state of the maternity wings of most hospitals in Zimbabwe. I will zero in on the United Bulawayo Hospitals UBH. I have had the opportunity to visit that part of the hospital and the state it is in is very sad. The infrastructure has dilapidated; the floors have potholes; in a hospital. The buildings are crowded; you will find expecting women being asked to sleep on the floor because the beds will be full. They end up being asked to bring their own blankets from home.
We are also aware that during the process of labour, a lot of blood is lost and most of the time the blood is not there. If the doctors prescribe two pints of blood, what will be available is what is given and in most cases, they will end up getting less than half of the blood that will be needed. It is my prayer therefore that the Ministry of Health looks at this issue with seriousness to ensure that there is improvement in this area. Perhaps also consider utilisation of Ekusileni Medical Centre which is currently under-utilised although it is said to be open. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: On a point of national interest Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of national interest?
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Mr. Speaker, my point of national interest is that we have created a trust called Harare Wetlands Trust, I think this is a major movement for both stakeholders, Government and donors. We have noticed that the siege of wetlands is obviously not only in Harare but we are also looking for volunteers in various areas to represent the wetlands. On areas of focus, we are looking on to start with Victoria Falls, Chimanimani, Mutare, Penhalonga area and Mavuradonha. I thank you.
HON. WATSON: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My point of national interest revolves around the continuing scourge of theft of power cables. I feel that it is time that the Ministry of Power and Energy Development, in conjunction with its Loss Control Team, organise a meeting with the security sector plus residents in order to stop what is nightly event particularly in Bulawayo; four or five incidences per night occur of cable theft. Quite often now, it is a high voltage which the power corporation seems unable to replace. I think it is now a matter of urgent need for the Ministry of Power and Energy to address through the Loss Control Department. Thank you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I think we can also address the public in your constituencies. Encourage members to be on the look-out of such criminals and effect citizen’s arrest; that may also assist in ensuring that the general public is watching and is not amused by these thefts. I want to promise you that I will transmit your request to the Minister responsible so that he can coordinate with the security services Ministers and ensure that the problem is nipped in the bud.
MOTION
RESTORATION OF THE INSURANCE AND PENSIONS COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 6, 2021] ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): I move that this House resolves that the Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill [H.B. 6, 2021] which was superseded by the end of the Fourth Session of the 9th Parliament be restored on the Order Paper at the stage which the Bill had reached in terms of Standing Order No. 71 (1) (a).
Motion put and agreed to.
CONSIDERATION STAGE
JUDICIAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3A, 2022]
Amendments to Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and new Clause No. 12, Clauses 13, 14, 16 and schedule put and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, adopted.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
JUDICIAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 3A, 2022]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker, I now move that the Bill be read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Mr. Speaker, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers, 2, 3, and 4 be stood over until Order Number 5 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. WATSON: Thank you Hon. Speaker for this opportunity to debate the Address to Parliament by the President during SONA. In his speech, the President said foreign currency earnings amounted to USD7.7 billion for the eight months to the 31st August, 2022; an increase of 32.4% of the same period in the previous year. On checking, I found that this relates purely to mineral exports. Zimbabwe is a rich country with minerals yet poor and unable to provide free education for its children and to provide even the most basic medications in its healthcare facilities.
Zimbabwe reals under corruption and Zimbabwe’s wealth will never be shared with its population that benefited. There was nothing particularly in the SONA speech which spoke to dealing with issues around corruption.
The President spoke about universal health coverage. Our health system is totally underfunded to the extent that per capita spending on health has gone down from USD90 to USD48 per person, which is a huge drop in per capita spending and as a consequence, although clinics have been built, hospitals refurbished to an extent, there are no medicines and there is insufficient medical staff to cater for the needs of Zimbabweans.
In order for Zimbabwe to benefit from its wealth, it needs to have more than just rhetoric around the issues around corruption. The President urged all stakeholders to scale up programmes to end the menace and scourge of drugs and substance abuse, yet we have the laws and the security sector in Zimbabwe which are supposed to deal with those who sell and import drugs, not merely persons who are caught with them or peddling them on a small scale. This does not seem to be happening and one wonders if that is not also a facet of the deep-seated corruption.
The President also spoke of new network culture in State operated enterprises. Bulawayo would benefit hugely from the revival of the NRZ. Unfortunately yet again, there seems to be a lack of political will in order to see the revival of State operated enterprises such as the NRZ. The President spoke of the responsive social protection measures catering for the most vulnerable yet pensioners are left starving and without grants where they do not have a pension.
Orphanages and old age homes are still left without per capita grants to help them sustain themselves. When orphans turn 18 years in Zimbabwe, there is no help for them and there is nowhere for them to go.
Last year the Government failed to pay its obligations under BEAM so that this year most of those students on BEAM have been rejected because the schools have not been paid. The President said that the First Session must speedily consider legislation towards the alignment of devolution and decentralisation programmes. This has been spoken about in the last Parliament and this Parliament, why it is now incumbent and so urgent for the Fifth Session makes one wonder why we have waited thus far and long to honour that particular part of our Constitution.
It is my humble submission Hon. Speaker, that although my colleagues who have spoken before me from the other side of this House have praised the speech and have praised what they see as progress, I believe that we are sadly lacking still in terms of economy and development. I do not believe that what was in the SONA offers Zimbabweans or Zimbabwe the solution.
If we look at Bulawayo yet again and we look at the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, although the dam is 70% complete, the pipeline which will take the most desperately needed water to Bulawayo plus the pump stations, is yet to even be commenced so that on the one hand we say that is development yet on the other hand, the lack is still there. So I personally feel, and on behalf of my constituency, that we are still lacking deeply in Zimbabwe. Thank you.
*HON. T. ZHOU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to highlight the achievements made by the Government which is tangible and can be seen or witnessed by anyone in this country. I will look at clusters which point to the achievements of the 2nd Republic. Mberengwa North, Mr. Speaker Sir, in the past, we did not have a Government district hospital. We did not have it in Mberengwa District. Construction only started after President Mnangagwa assumed office. Right now it is so beautiful. In the past, we used to rely on mission hospitals that were helping Mberengwa and providing health services. When the President took office, he said we should assist and complement by building Government hospitals. So we really would like to appreciate that. Like he said, the weight of this development can be felt by everyone in the rural areas with regards to the education cluster.
In the past, the whole of Mberengwa District only had one Government school which is Mbuya Nehanda. After President Mnangagwa assumed office, we also got a Government secondary school which has since been constructed and only awaiting commissioning. That will be the second high school in the district. Those are the achievements of the President, Dr. Mnangagwa.
With regards to the roads and infrastructure cluster in Mberengwa, after he spoke during the Independence celebration last year, the Mberengwa-West Nicholson Road has since been tarred for a 15km stretch. Those are developmental achievements meant to alleviate the people’s livelihoods. Everyone in this House, including those on the other side, know that in their constituencies, President Mnangagwa is doing some incredible work with his Government. While we sit here, they run around to talk to Ministers and ask them for developmental projects in their areas. President Mnangagwa does not select whether this one belongs to the opposition party or not. He is inclusive in his developmental projects. Some may not want to accept that, but I am surprised some of the Hon. Members travel to Mutare on the highway that was developed by President Mnangagwa.
Mr. Speaker Sir, most of the times people only want to praise somebody when they are late. Let us give due appreciation when the person is alive because President Mnangagwa is doing a sterling job. Hon. Speaker Sir, you know that there are some problems that are found everywhere in the world, so we cannot expect our President to solve all the problems in one day, but let us admit that we have seen huge developments in the past five years that affect everyone in the country. That is why he says this country is built by its rightful owners. So let us all unite and be patriotic in this country. With those few words I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15 February, 2023.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that we revert to Order Number 3 on today’s Order Paper.
Motion put and agreed to.
COMMITTEE STAGE
CHILD JUSTICE BILL [H. B. 11, 2021]
Third Order read: Committee Stage: Child Justice Bill [H. B. 11, 2021].
House in Committee
Clauses 1 to 94 put and agreed to.
Schedules 1 to 3 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
CHILD JUSTICE BILL, [H. B. 11, 2021]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move that the Bill be read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that Orders of the Day Nos. 6 to 12 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day No. 13 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
MEDICAL SERVICE AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 1, 2022]
Thirteenth Order read: Second Reading: Medical Service Amendment Bill [H. B. 1, 2022].
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Bill is about aligning the Medical Services Act with the Constitution of the Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with the International Taskforce on the alignment of laws with the constitutionally identified health related provisions in the Constitution which, for operation purposes, need to be incorporated in the Medical Services Act. The Declaration of Rights in the Constitution expanded that economic, social and cultural rights now also include health related rights. Some of the health related rights are directed at the preventative aspects of health and these were incorporated in the Public Health Act [Chapter 15:09] which was aligned in 2018.
While those rights that are directed to medical care are the subject of this Medical Services Amendment Bill, Mr. Speaker Sir, the right to health care is now a fundamental right of our people and is captured in Section 76 of the Constitution as follows:
“76. Right to Healthcare
(i) Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to have access to basic healthcare services including reproductive healthcare services.
(ii) Every person living with a chronic illness has the right to have access to basic healthcare services for the illness.
(iii) No person may be refused emergency medical treatment in any health care institution
(iv) The State must take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it to achieve realisation of the rights set out in this section.”
Mr. Speaker Sir, apart from it being a constitutional provision, the rights to healthcare captured in Section 76 of the Constitution is also observed in several international treaties of which Zimbabwe is a part to especially the following:
- Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 UDHR
- Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966 ICECSCR Article 3
- Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 CRC
- Article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities 2006 CRPD
- Article 5 of the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination 1965 ICERD and
- Article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination of Women 1979 CEDAW.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bill before the House recognises the right to healthcare and basic principles of Universal Access to Health, basic healthcare services are defined and the Hon. Minister is empowered to define the basic health service packages at every level of the services platforms vis-a-vis clinic, district, general, provincial, central, research and development hospital levels. This implies that there will be best packages for clinic, a basic package for district hospital, a basic package for general provincial hospitals and a basic package for specialist services at central and district hospitals.
The Bill further defines with what constitutes reproductive healthcare services and that should be part of the basic healthcare package. The Hon. Minister is empowered to list those chronic illnesses that should be part of the basic health packages and the various service platforms.
Mr. Speaker Sir, confidentiality is a cardinal principle of healthcare professional practice and the Bill is to clear as to circumstances that may require a limitation of the right to privacy in terms of Section 57 of the Constitution leading to a possible disclosure of a medical condition. Emergency medical treatment is clearly defined in the Bill and provides for prohibition against refusal to provide emergency medical treatment by any health institution whether public or private when the service is required. A lot of lives have been lost in the past while haggling over the recovery of costs of the treatment.
Mr. Speaker, the Bill defines what constitutes medical or scientific experiment, what constitutes extraction or use of bodily tissue and has elaborated on the concept of informed consent to protect the patient’s right to personal security in terms of Section 52 of the Constitution. The Bill further provides for the treatment and care of persons under arrest, defendant or imprisonment at the expense of the State or if the person so elects at his or her own expense. This is in line with the rights of arrested and detained person provided for in Section 50 of the Constitution. In addition, the Bill provides for the general standards and practice applicable in health care delivery which includes full disclosure of information to patients, informed consent to treatment procedures, patient participation in decisions for their treatment, discharge reports, protection of health records to prevent loss of/or unauthorised access and patient complains procedures.
Mr. Speaker Sir, patients’ rights also come with duties of patients. In that regard, the Bill directs that patients are to adhere to the rules of health institutions when receiving treatment, provide accurate information of health statutes, treat health care providers with respect and to sign discharge certificates when he or she refuses to accept recommended treatment.
The Bill also provides for rights of health care personnel. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of personnel protective equipment PPE to protect health care workers against injury and disease transmission. Health care workers are also entitled to refuse treating a patient who is physically, verbally abusive or sexually harasses him or her.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Bill provides basic health care services to special classes of people identified in the Constitution. For the health care services to children, the Bill protects children against parents or guardians who may want to prevent a child from receiving a health service which is in the best interest of the child concerned in contravention of Section 603 of the Constitution. The Minister responsible for health is empowered by this Bill to provide details through regulations for the health care services afforded to:
- Persons over the age of 70 years as provided for in Section 82 of the Constitution.
- Persons with disabilities in terms of Section 83 of the Constitution.
- Veterans of the War of Liberation in terms of Section 84 of the Constitution.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me conclude by urging Hon. Members to pass this law to provide our nation with high quality health care delivery system of international standards and raise another milestone in the development of our country into a Middle Income Economy by 2030.
I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th February, 2023.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: Mr. Speaker, I move that all Orders of the Day be stood over until Order of the Day, No. 20 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DELEGATION REPORT OF THE 52ND PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HELD IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
HON. NDIWENI: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Delegation Report of the 52nd Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC-Parliamentary Forum held in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the 3rd to 11th December, 2022.
HON. MPARIWA: I second
HON. NDIWENI:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The 52nd Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum was hosted by the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from the 3rd to 11th December, 2022 under the theme: ‘The Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Legislative Frameworks for Peace and Security in the SADC Region’.
1.2 The Zimbabwe delegation comprised the following Members of Parliament: -
- Dought Ndiweni, Executive Committee Member, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights and Head of Delegation;
- Goodlucky Kwaramba, Member of the Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement and Youth Development and Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC);
- Anele Ndebele, Member of the Standing Committee on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment; and,
- Paurina Mpariwa, Member of the Standing Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes.
OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY
2.1 In her welcome remarks, the Secretary General of the SADC PF, Ms. Boemo Segkoma, lauded the Plenary Assembly as a gathering for representative democracy through universal suffrage aimed at providing efficient checks and balances by sovereign Parliaments over the Executive within the clear context of the doctrine of separation of powers.
2.1.1 Furthermore, Ms. Sekgoma implored Member States to continue advocating for the protection of human rights, including the implementation of measures that mitigate against Gender Based Violence (GBV). In this regard, the SADC PF will continue to champion the need for the Regional Parliaments to domesticate the Model Law on Gender-based Violence, among other Model Laws.
2.1.2 The Secretary General concluded by tendering credentials of the delegates to the Plenary Assembly and invited the Hon. President of SADC PF to address the Assembly.
2.2 Hon. Christophe Mboso N’kodia Pwanga, the Speaker of the Parliament of DRC and President of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, expressed gratitude to H.E Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic of DRC for taking time to grace the official opening programme of the SADC PF Plenary Assembly Meetings.
2.3 The Speaker of the National Assembly of the DRC reiterated the need of the international community to condemn in strongest terms the unwarranted aggression being perpetrated on the eastern border of the DRC by the M23 rebels. He further underscored the need for a peaceful environment as a pre-requisite for rapid economic growth and development.
2.4 Hon. Christophe Mboso Pwanga concluded by paying tribute to those who had died due to complications occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2.5 Hon. Regina Esparon, Chairperson of the Regional Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (RWPC) urged the region to move the women’s empowerment conversation beyond increasing female representation to the attainment of meaningful participation of women in all peace and security processes at all levels. This involves representation in peace missions, at international peace negotiations, in national governance structures and in local-level peace initiatives.
2.6 She stressed that one of the key strategies in achieving this was to promote women in leadership positions in order to influence the decision-making trajectory in all sectors of governance matrix.
2.7 In delivering the keynote address, the Guest of Honour, H.E. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo noted that the meeting came at the backdrop of an unwarranted aggression towards a Member of SADC, namely the DRC by the M23 rebels in the eastern part of the DRC.
2.7.1 H.E. Tshisekedi, President of the Republic of DRC, added that the chosen theme of the 52nd Plenary Assembly Session was timely, being held at a critical moment when the region continued to face continued insecurity, particularly in the eastern part of DRC. In this region, armed groups are engaged in massacres and other atrocious acts amounting to war crimes being perpetrated against innocent civilians.
2.7.2 He thus implored the international community to condemn this unfair aggressive interference on the sovereignty of the DRC by the armed rebels which have the unfair and unfortunate consequences of retarding socio–economic development of the region.
2.7.3 H.E. President Tschisekedi lauded the support being received from SADC Member countries in defending the cause and territorial integrity of the DRC.
2.7.4 Finally, President Tshisekedi pledged his support and assistance for the Transformation of SADC-PF into a Regional Parliament. President Tshisekedi concluded his address by wishing the 52nd SADC PF Assembly constructive deliberations.
- ZIMBABWE’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE THEME AND THE KEY DELIVERABLES DURING THE SYMPOSIUM
3.1 Hon. Anele Ndebele presented a paper on the theme on behalf of the Hon. Speaker and the Zimbabwe delegation. He noted that peace and security are pre-requisites for socio-economic development of any nation or region.
3.2 Zimbabwe acknowledges that peace and security are necessary pre-conditions for socio-economic development of any country in the region. Equally, the 1992 SADC Declaration and Treaty highlights that “war and insecurity are the enemy of economic progress and social welfare”. In the same vein, Aspiration 4 of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 calls for “a peaceful and secure Africa”. Accordingly, peace and security are a sine qua non for the total fulfilment of all the Seven Aspirations of Agenda 2063, which anchor Africa’s desire of achieving its vision 2063.
3.3 SADC should be extolled for putting in place institutions, policies and strategic plans which aim at creating the necessary pre-condition for peace and security in their respective countries. Some of the institutions tasked with the responsibility of maintaining peace and security in the region include the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Co-operation and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organization as well as the SADC Regional Peace Keeping Training Centre.
3.4 All security efforts should be made to enable SADC countries to fight terrorist and banditry within the SADC region. It is common cause that the region must put in place security mechanisms that will enable SADC to effectively deal with the M23 terrorist group marauding in the eastern part of the DRC. It is trite to observe that the disturbances have compromised peace and security resulting in economic meltdown of the SADC region.
3.5 In the same vein, Zimbabwe observed that concerted measures must be put in place to fight banditry in the Cabo Delgado Region, in Northern Mozambique where the mining of gas in that region was being disturbed by terrorist groups.
3.6 It was imperative to point out that SADC security efforts as supported by the Legislative Frameworks in the SADC Parliament must focus their search for peace and security beyond the borders of SADC. This is so because there is need for SADC to assist fellow African Union countries which are experiencing terrorist attacks by the Al-Shabab in the Horn of Africa and the Boko Haram in Nigeria.
3.7 The approach is instructive to the extent that if Africa is to faithfully and successfully implement Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa must act in unison in fighting the terrorism scourge if it is to achieve accelerated socio-economic development.
4.0 STATEMENT BY HON. ADVOCATE JACOB FRANCIS NZWIDAMILIMO MUDENDA ON DECISIONS OF THE 145th ASSEMBLY OF THE IPU AND RELATED MEETINGS HELD IN KIGALI, RWANDA FROM 11 TO 15 OCTOBER 2022
4.1 Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, on behalf of Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, presented a statement on decisions by the 145th Assembly of the IPU and related Meetings held from 11th to 15th October 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda, pursuant to Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure.
4.2 It was reported that the IPU 145th Assembly and Related Meetings was officially opened by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, on 11th October 2022. In his welcome address, His Excellency Kagame applauded the Assembly’s theme which espoused the need for gender equality in all socio-economic sectors, more-so when the women folk form 52% of the world’s population. It was, therefore, incumbent upon Parliaments to enact laws that effectively promote gender parity. H.E. President Kagame, however cautioned that there was “no size fits all” in tackling gender equality deficiencies. To him, what was critical is the application of the political will to achieve the goal.
4.3 In their interventions on the theme of the Assembly entitled “Gender Equality and Gender Sensitive Parliaments as Drivers of Change for a more Resilient and Peaceful World”, Parliamentarians took stock of the positive steps towards achieving gender equality. Speakers unanimously concurred that it had become an imperative to include women leadership in addressing global challenges such as conflicts, pandemics and climate change. Through their legislative and oversight roles, Parliaments can play a critical role in enacting robust legislation, including quotas for women in politics and ensuring gender responsive budgeting.
4.4 Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU, called for the acceleration of progress to achieve shared goals on gender equality and gender sensitive Parliaments with zero tolerance to gender violence and sexism. In addressing instability as experienced in some parts of Africa and the Russia/Ukraine conflict, among others, the Secretary General underscored the value of dialogue as articulated by the founding fathers of the IPU. He called upon Parliaments to strive for peace, equity and opportunities for all in fulfilment of their constitutional mandates of legislation, representation and oversight on the Executive.
4.4 The Plenary Assembly adopted the Kigali Declaration on “Gender Equality and Gender Sensitive Parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world”. The Declaration represents a milestone in progress towards gender equality and gender-sensitive Parliaments. It encourages IPU Members to step up their efforts to promote gender equality in both the public and private sectors.
4.5 Member States were reminded that in line with the IPU Statues and Rules as well as the IPU Strategy which places emphasis on implementation of resolutions of the IPU, Parliaments will be called upon to report on action taken towards implementation of the adopted IPU resolutions. Accordingly, SADC Parliaments have been encouraged to implement resolutions and provide timely feedback to the IPU Secretary General.
5.0 ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE TREASURER’S REPORT
5.1 The Executive Committee (EXCO) tabled its report for consideration and adoption by the 52nd Plenary Assembly meeting. The EXCO of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) had met virtually via the zoom video conferencing platform on 18th and 19th November, 2022.
5.2 The report sought to place on record its sincere thanks to the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, led by Hon Speaker Christophe MBOSO N’kodia Pwanga for graciously accepting to host the 52nd Plenary Assembly Session, at a short notice.
5.3 The Host Speaker, Hon Christophe Mboso N’kodia Pwanga, was further requested to convey the Plenary Assembly’s gratitude to His Excellency, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for officially opening the 52nd Plenary Assembly session and to the Government and people of DRC for the warm hospitality enjoyed by all delegates.
5.4 The Plenary Assembly adopted the report on the national elections which took place in the Republic of Angola on the 24th August, 2022. On this occasion, a SADC PF Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Angola was deployed under the able leadership of Hon. Speaker Adv. Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda from 17th to 27th August, 2022.
5.4 The report also noted that Parliamentary elections also took place in the Kingdom of Lesotho in October 2022, and regrettably, the SADC PF EOM which was scheduled by the forum to participate from the 13th September to 10th October, 2022 could not take place due to lack of the requisite number of countries willing to take up the mission.
5.5 Given the foregoing, EXCO invited Plenary Assembly to note that the sporadic and inconsistent participation in EOMs by the forum may lead to an unwarranted differential treatment of countries since there are Member Parliaments which have diligently fielded delegates and contributed to nearly all EOMs. Such countries will be disadvantaged when the forum fails to deploy an EOM in their home country when elections are to take place. EXCO, therefore, invited the Plenary to encourage that all Member Parliaments participate actively in future EOMs in line with the 36th Plenary Assembly Resolution.
5.6 On the maintenance of peace and security, the Plenary Assembly noted that the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Governments endorsed the Assessment Report on the risks, threats, implications and opportunities of the ongoing conflict in Europe for the SADC region. The report urged Member States to monitor the movement of mercenaries from conflict zones and introduce legal instruments that would enable them to take measures to counter mercenary activities in line with AU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa of 1997, among other issues.
5.7 On the Transformation of the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament, EXCO informed Plenary Assembly that while a few SADC Member States have already signed the Agreement, the requisite number of 12 signatures out of 16 is yet to be attained for Amendment to take legal effect in accordance with Article 36 (1) of the treaty.
5.7.1 Given that the Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty has not yet been signed by the majority of Member States, EXCO recommended to the Plenary Assembly that this should remain the cardinal priority of lobby initiatives by the forum and its Member Parliaments in order to ensure that Member States that have not yet signed the Amendment do so as soon as possible so that the figure of 12 out of 16 signatures is promptly attained.
5.7.2 EXCO, therefore, recommended to the Plenary Assembly that lobby efforts be heightened through the engagement of Heads of State and Government of SADC Member States who had not yet signed the Agreement Amending the treaty to forthwith append their signatures.
5.7.3 Zimbabwe firmly remains focused on the need for the Transformation of the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament, and is satisfied with the developments at Summitry level towards this just cause. The 42nd SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Kinshasa, DRC, on 17 August 2022 approved the Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty on the Transformation of the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament during the 42nd SADC Summit. Accordingly, Hon. Ambassador F.M.M Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade signed the Agreement as delegated by His Excellency Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa at the Summit.
5.8 It was noted that part-time staff secondment arrangement had proved to be unfruitful due to competing priorities of staff at national level, the absence of an adequate accountability framework, and the lack of prioritisation of SADC-PF duties which lead to considerable pressure on the SADC-PF management to perform committee related tasks. Consequently, it was not possible to renew the secondment contracts as per policy.
5.8.1 EXCO, therefore, recommended that the Plenary Assembly refers this matter to the Committee of Clerks to guide and align the secondment policy to existing functions of Programme managers and Committee Secretaries.
5.9 EXCO reported to the Plenary Assembly that due to the good ongoing work of the forum under the SRHR Project, Sweden is in the process of approving a project proposal made by the forum for the next phase which is to run from 2023-2026, a development which augurs well to assist the forum in consolidating the democratic drive in the SADC region in the years to come.
5.10 EXCO invited the Plenary Assembly to note that the forum adopted the SADC Model Law on Gender-Based Violence at its 50th Plenary Assembly Session hosted by the Kingdom of Lesotho in December 2021 and that the SADC Model Law on GBV was the first ever model law of its nature to deal with gender-related violence in all its forms, including physical, verbal, economic, psychological and even cyber violence, and thus paving the way to end GBV in Southern Africa by 2030.
5.11 EXCO noted that since there was only one candidate on the ballot, Hon. Roger Mancienne, Speaker of the Parliament of Seychelles, the Presiding Officer was, therefore, de facto designated and inaugurated as the President of the SADC PF.
6.0 MOTIONS ADOPTED DURING THE 52nd PLENARY ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
6.1 Motion on the Adoption of the Report of the Standing Committee on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment
6.1.1 Plenary Assembly adopted the submission that cross border traders, the majority of them whom are women, continued to face numerous challenges which included sexual harassment, lack of adequate information on customs procedures and information on new developments, including the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, and many other non-tariff barriers. This is despite the existence of policy frameworks at regional level.
6.1.2 Plenary Assembly adopted the need to encourage Member States to intensify the flow and exchange of information among traders in order to eliminate unnecessary delays at border posts.
6.2 Motion for the Adoption of the Report of the Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources
6.2.1 The Committee noted that Africa, and the SADC region in particular, was endowed with arable land and water. The Committee acknowledged that the quality and quantity of water was a precursor to a thriving agriculture sector.
6.2.2 It is, therefore, imperative for the SADC Region to adopt sustainable agricultural practices that should be prioritised among other measures that are meant to boost agriculture in the region.
6.3 Motion for the Adoption of the Report of the Standing Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes
6.3.1 The Plenary Assembly noted the lack of funding to public health care in the SADC Region. Over-reliance on donor support towards health services, coupled with low capital health expenditure contributes to low and unsustainable health financing in the SADC region.
6.3.2 The Plenary Assembly adopted the need to facilitate revision and effective execution of resource allocation frameworks including public finance management systems across the healthcare and education delivery systems. At least 20% of national budgets should be channelled to education in order to keep more girls in school.
6.4 Report of the Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights
6.4.1 The Plenary Assembly adopted a motion, which noted with deep concern that the voices of the youth and children are not particularly taken into consideration, worsened by inefficient implementation of related policies, legislation, laws and structures.
6.4.2 In this regard, Plenary Assembly implored SADC Member States to adopt legislated youth quotas in institutions of governance including Parliament in order to increase youth political participation and representation in governance processes.
7.0 RESOLUTIONS AND WAY FORWARD
7.1 There is need for Member Parliaments to take stock of the legislative frameworks that promote peace and security, both at inter-State and intra-State level. In this regard, the legislative sector needs to deliberate on the role and contributions of parliamentary engagement to the peace and security discourse in the SADC region bearing in mind the complementary efforts already made by the relevant SADC organs.
7.2 There is need for Parliaments to continuously carry out in-depth research in order to build capacity in understanding the dynamics that lead to disturbances and conflict in the region. This can be done through Member States working closely with non-State actors which are responsible for capacity building initiatives within the region. Governments should stretch their tentacles to every avenue that can be used to achieve durable peace as a necessary precondition for sustainable development.
7.3 The Plenary Assembly resolved to make Parliaments centres of peace initiatives by crafting and advocating for policies that favour the inclusion of women in peace processes (peace-making/ peace-keeping and peace-building) initiatives. Parliamentarians should take peculiar initiatives that promote peace in Member States.
7.4 The Plenary Assembly resolved to formulate and sustain policies that improve all tenets of good governance and the promotion of the rule of law. The Plenary observed that the underlying causes of conflict and insecurity emanate from non-adherence to Constitutionalism, infraction of fundamental rights and freedoms, irregular holding of elections, corruption and the marginalization of ethnic groups.
7.5 There is need for the region to come up with proactive policies that promote the involvement of the youth in all programmes and actions aimed at sustainable socio-economic development of the region.
7.6 Taking note that Zimbabwe remains solidly resolute in its commitment towards establishment of the SADC Regional Parliament; and also recalling that Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament has worked tirelessly on the matter as the Chairperson of the Strategic Lobby Team on the Transformation of the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament, the Plenary Assembly pledged to redouble its efforts in engaging the outstanding countries to sign for the amendment of the treaty laying the foundation in transforming the forum into a Regional Parliament.
7.7 The 52nd Plenary Assembly Session unanimously endorsed the Angolan elections as a true reflection of the will of the people of Angola. In the same vein, the Plenary Assembly resolved to ensure that going forward, Election Observation Missions to Member States become a budgeted for mandatory activity to ensure that the region tells its own story on elections. EXCO noted that the low participation in EOMs by Member Parliaments runs counter to the spirit and the letter of the 36th Plenary Assembly Resolution that the logistics for EOMs are to be funded by participating countries which fielded their members accordingly.
7.8 Following the adoption of the SADC Model Law on Gender-Based Violence during the 50th Plenary Assembly Session hosted by the Kingdom of Lesotho in December 2021, the decision making body has proposed the post adoption strategies of the Model Law, in close collaboration with regional partners, including Civil Society Organisations. The Plenary Assembly pronounced itself strongly on the need to domesticate the Model Laws adopted by Plenary Assembly this far, in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.
7.9 The Plenary Assembly stressed the need for Parliaments across the region to continue raising concern on the negative effects of destabilizing forces such as the conflict in the Eastern DRC as well as the banditry in Northern Mozambique.
7.10 The full dossier of the Plenary Assembly resolutions will be availed by the SADC Parliamentary Forum in due course for consideration by Portfolio and Thematic Committees of the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
8.0 CONCLUSION
8.1 The Plenary Assembly concluded by calling on Member Parliaments to continue intensifying collaborative efforts that ensure that peace and security finds home in the SADC Region and beyond.
8.2 Parliament of Zimbabwe continues to play a highly effective leading role in the Transformation Agenda of the SADC PF. The return of Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament as a substantive Member of the Executive Committee and Member of the Legal Sub- Committee, will enhance his role as the Chairperson of the Strategic Lobby Team of Hon. Speakers on the Transformation of the forum into a SADC Regional Parliament.
8.3 Parliament of Zimbabwe commits itself to the full implementation of the resolutions of the Plenary Assembly which shall be shared among all Members of Parliament to facilitate action by different Portfolio and Thematic Committees.
8.4 The 53rd Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF will be hosted by the Republic of Tanzania which has pledged to choreograph a memorable hosting arrangement in Arusha. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.
(v)HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to commend the entire Zimbabwe delegation for a well written report for the 52nd SADC Plenary. Mr. Speaker Sir, to that end, I fully associate with the contents of the report in its entirety and I would like to urge this august House to endorse and adopt this report.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in line with the theme of the 52nd Plenary Assembly, it was concluded that Member Parliaments must continue intensifying collaborative efforts that ensure that peace and security prevails in the SADC region. On that score Mr. Speaker Sir, let me thank Hon. Adv. Mudenda for condemning in the strongest terms, the continued terrorist attacks in the eastern parts of the DRC.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I will be reminisced in my secondment of the report if I did not, for the benefit of the august House, indicate that for our DRC cousins, the M23 is a creation of the Rwandan Government. The record is there and it speaks for itself. Mr. Speaker Sir, His Excellency, Tshisekedi Tshlombo said it in his opening address, similarly the Hon. Speaker in his address Christophe Mboso said the same in his opening address to the 52nd Plenary Assembly.
Mr. Speaker Sir, let me indicate to the House that in a non-precedent move, we had three full Cabinet Ministers at the 52nd Plenary. They all bemoaned the fact that the DRC, while spending most in insurgency in the east, still carries an international arms embargo. We as delegates ,Mr. Speaker Sir - Can I proceed Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, please you may proceed.
HON. NDEBELE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I was just indicating to the House that as your delegates, we were put in an invidious position; we were literally hamstrung and could not, for diplomatic purposes, name Rwanda as the aggressor as well. It is important for us to put this matter before our Parliament so that an urgent recommendation for the Executive action to guarantee peace and economic prosperity in the Eastern DRC is done.
Madam Speaker the House must know the DRC Government bemoans the arms embargo and silence from their SADC brothers. They were feeling that swift action was taken regarding the disturbances in - [technical fault] - before the outbreak of disturbances in the DRC. It is also notable that – [technical fault] SADC was decisive when it comes to the Lesotho question but it seems to be in its feet when it comes to the issue of the Eastern DRC.
Madam Speaker on the theme of the 52nd SADC PF plenary on strengthening legislative, peace and security; Madam Speaker, as your delegate, I strongly feel there is need for SADC member States to come up with frameworks that clarify the manner in which member States relate with SADC and the AU regarding intervention in times of conflict. The Parliament’s role will be to ensure oversight on this and ironically this is spelt out in President Kagame’s report of 2017 on the African Union. There is also a dire need to craft laws that compel member States to work closely with infrastructures for peace. There is a lot of work happening in the community that the Government can utilise to achieve durable peace.
There is also need to formulate policies that are aimed at compelling member States to improve on matters of good governance. Most of the underlying causes of conflict and insecurity emanate from this. Issues of adherence, fundamental rights and freedom, free, fair and credible elections, corruption, marginalisation of minorities et cetera. It is also imperative to formulate laws that compel member State Governments to invest more in futuristic, pre-emptive, early war in approaches to conflict including natural disasters, the easy of violence extremism in Mozambique is a good example. This should also include investing in infrastructures that assist in lessoning election related conflict. Is it too soon for Parliament to legislate for election monitoring in member States as opposed to election observation? It is also very important to mobilise resources for prevention initiative in member States and to formulate policies that align with the SADC mediation, conflict prevention and preventative diplomacy architecture and how member States should work with them for peace of coordination and clarity of roles and responsibilities.
Finally, Madam Speaker, it is very important for our Government to enact laws that address matters that affect the youth. Parliamentarians can take their peculiar initiative that promotes peace in member States. Remember we once had the Zimbabwe parliamentarians network against all forms of violence. It is important to buy such initiative. Madam Speaker, with these few words, I second and commend the report of the 52nd SADC Plenary for adoption by this august House, I thank you.
HON. TOFFA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to debate on the report of the 52nd Plenary of the SADC Parliamentary Forum presented by Hon. Ndiweni which was held in DRC. I stand to contribute to this debate because I feel very concerned. The SADC PF was formed 26 years ago on 8th September 1997. Madam Speaker, SADC PF is the only regional body that is still operating as a forum.
Madam Speaker, all the other regions have regional parliaments and we heard in the report that this issue was discussed again at the summit. There are some technicalities on the report by Hon. Ndiweni that need to be looked into. My concern arises from the fact that all resolutions made at the SADC Parliamentary Forum by member States are not binding to any of the SADC member countries. That is why it is so important that SADC actually forms a regional parliament. My feeling and also from being a member of SADC PF as a representative of Zimbabwe Parliament in the last parliament, I am of the opinion that SADC countries do not want to form a regional parliament because they do not want to be answerable to anyone. As I listened to Hon. Ndiweni’s speech about 50:50 gender equality and also talking about peace in the region; the only way this can bear fruition or get anything tangible is for SADC to form a regional Parliament. I would like to challenge all SADC member States to take this very seriously. For SADC to actually make sure that the objective of forming SADC PF comes to fruition, otherwise Madam Speaker Ma’am, all the funding that is used by Parliamentarians to go to SADC is just a waste of resources.
I have actually stood up to zero in only on this particular point because if you look at the model on the eradication of child marriages, we cherry-picked what we wanted, whereas if we had adopted or if we were bound by the resolution that was made by SADC, we could have domesticated the model law. By doing that, the young girls would not be suffering the way they are now suffering. As I said, we cherry-picked parts of the model whereas as a country we would have benefitted from the holistic model law that is provided for young girls. That way, we would not be getting these perpetrators getting away with murder, impregnating young girls and still walking scot-free. Thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I just want to add my voice on the report by Hon. Ndiweni from the SADC-Parliamentary Forum which was seconded by Hon. Toffa.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, it was seconded by Hon. Ndebele.
HON. NDUNA: I am sorry, seconded by Hon. Ndebele and also supported vociferously, effectively by Hon. Toffa. What men can do, women can do better. As I sat and listened, I was wondering why with such verbose…
(v)HON. NDEBELE: On a point of order Madam Speaker. It will be misleading for Hon. Nduna to say that Hon. Toffa was in support of our report - she literally threw everything out of the window and the Hon. Member suggests that we should pull out of the SADC-Parliamentary Forum.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are not correct Hon. Ndebele, Hon. Toffa was supporting your report. Hon. Nduna, please may you proceed.
HON. NDUNA: Madam Speaker Ma’am, thank you for the protection. I reiterate - the report was supported eloquently, effectively and efficiently by Hon. Toffa. I am going to ride on that report and those submissions. In so doing, I will just bring to the House that this Parliamentary Forum that we speak to and about represents more than 3 500 Parliamentarians in the SADC region. It is only fair, just and right for such an august House gathering to have legislative powers to be formulated into a SADC Parliament that has fully fledged legislative powers. Madam Speaker, not only because it is humongous but also because the numbers that it represents, if you look in Zimbabwe, our numbers in terms of census and population, it is 15 million minimum. What it means if you divide that by 210 legislators, one presides over 73.4 000 people in their constituencies both voting and non-voting.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, where I come from, it is 31 004 voter population and the other 40 000 are non-registered voter population. It is not only because of the numbers in the regional board that the number of Parliamentarians that are represented there is 3 500 but it is also because of the numbers that are represented by individual SADC member countries. It is my thinking that, that number is quite huge for Members to just go on a jay walk and go and sit, eat good food and live a lavish lifestyle whilst they are debating issues of their important nations. Let this board be given legislative powers. This is the first issue that I want to put across and I have given you the reasons Madam Speaker why it is important to have legislative powers.
It can actually enhance the expeditious response to the SADC agenda of 2015 that speaks to industrialisation of our region and also to enhance the agenda 2063 of the Africa agenda. It is a 50-year agenda that speaks to beneficiation, value addition and also intra-trade, Africa trading with itself. This is only if we give powers to the SADC PF, only if we do that, we can eradicate as Hon. Toffa has adhered to. The issues of child marriages, abuse of children also give Parliamentarians, especially women their rightful place in Parliament.
Madam Speaker Ma’am, as I speak about the women, applauding that the women’s quota has further been extended by another 10 years, Zimbabwe as a country, we were always on 30% representation whereas in the SADC region, it is 20% average women representation. What men can do women can do better. It is only prudent and just that we use this pedestal and platform to seek the continental powers to give legislative powers to this SADC body so that women can take a cue from Zimbabwe in terms of 60 women proportional representation numbering 30% to grow the SADC average from 20% to go to Zimbabwe’s 30%. These would be the reasons why I think there should be legislative powers.
I now want to go to the reason why SADC PF was formulated in the first place. The aim of this forum Madam Speaker Ma’am, I would like to go point by point so that I do not lose anything. The SADC PF is a regional inter-parliamentary body composed of Members of Parliament from the SADC States that I spoke to that number 3500 and the aim of this forum is to provide a platform to support and improve regional integration through parliamentary involvement and promote best practices in the role of Parliaments in the region, integration and also in the cooperation of these nations.
The first issue is promotion of human rights and gender. I am alive to the fact that Hon. Ndiweni chairs one of these Committees that I am pointing to;
(a) The promotion of human rights, gender equality, good governance, democracy and transparency.
(b) The promotion of peace, security and stability.
(c) Hastening the pace on economic cooperation, development and integration on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.
(d) Facilitation and networking with other inter-parliamentary organisations, for instance the ACP-EU Africa Caribbean and the European Union cooperation with the same.
(e) The familiarisation with the people of SADC with the aims and objectives of SADC and;
(f) Informing SADC of the popular views on development and issues affecting the region.
So it is ripe and the time is right for that body to be given legislative powers if it can carry out its mandate effectively and efficiently.
Whilst I am still on the SADC PF, it is only fair for me to take this opportunity to appreciate the role being played by PAP and also send my hearty congratulatory messages to Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira who has landed the post of the presidency of PAP. Whilst I call for legislative powers to be conferred on SADC PF, I in the same vein, calling for legislative powers to be conferred on the PAP so that we are not here every day talking about issues that are not being taken as resolutions.
As long as these bodies get legislative powers to legislate laws for the good order and governance of the people that they represent, we are certainly going to have a robust, resilient Africa that is going to see us being self-sufficient in terms of potable drinking water that is going to see Africa having this intra-trade in Africa that is going to also see the issue of the Yamousssoukro Declaration, the Open Skies policy taking route and also, we are more than one billion population economy as Africa.
I have already spoken about the 3500 legislators that number the sum of the members of the SADC PF. If we put our heads together in these regional bodies in Africa, we can only make sure that Africa becomes a giant instead of being plundered in the manner that it is currently being plundered by the first world countries who have become first world because of the abuse of the resources and beneficiating and value adding the resources of Africa and indeed SADC region. So my point that I stood on and stood for on this platform and pedestal was the legislative powers.
I have digressed and gone to Pan African Parliament in terms of legislative powers, but the whole import and the whole purpose is to make sure that we have energy sufficiency, potable drinking water and we also shy away from these diseases that are medieval, archaic, moribund and rudimentary and those would be typhoid and cholera to say the least because we have legislative powers and we are adhering to the ethos and values of Articles both in the AU agenda and also in the United Nations Articles, only if we are a body, one as a continent together and as a SADC region together, and also speaking of energy sufficiency, we can speak with one voice if we have that legislative power.
Inga Dam can produce more than 100 000 megawatts of power only if we can give these bodies enough legislative power in order that we get the right funding. Gone are the days where we continue to use fossil fuels depleting the ozone layer and raising the temperature by more than 0.5 degrees at the expense of our posterity. We owe it to posterity and we need to leave this planet in the right position and in the right quality for our children and our children’s children. So when it comes to Inga Dam and energy self-sufficiency, my heart is on the right side.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to vociferously, effectively and efficiently debate on the SADC PF Report presented by Hon. Ndiweni in the manner that the people of Chegutu West would have wanted me to debate – that is Chairman, Lameck Nyamarango, Sarah Chikukwa, Patricia Nyamadzawo, Marjory Ruzha and a lot of other Chairpersons that I have not mentioned here, including Charles Makoni. Thank you.
(v)HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Zimbabwean delegation that attended the SADC Parliamentary Forum. I would like to add a few points with regards to the report that I feel needs to be emphasised in this National Assembly. The first one is the SADC PF transitioning into a Parliament. This issue has been on the agenda for many years and it is important to note that during this recent meeting that SADC PF had, there does not seem to be any clear or direct effort to instill - [Technical fault] - there is clear minds that Southern Africa is now the only region in the whole of Africa that does not seem to have made progress in this regard. When you go to West Africa and East Africa you will find that those regions are well ahead of Southern Africa in terms of institutionalisation of Parliaments for the respective regions.
The SADC PF is anachronistic and it is something that desperately needs to be phased out in favour of a statutory body that is able to govern the Southern African region. This is very important when you consider that Africa operates as a continent. Parliamentary speaking, we have the Pan-African Parliament and for the Pan-African Parliament to grow in stature, we need to have a Southern Africa Parliament. So I urge the Parliament of Zimbabwe to increase its efforts to ensure that there is a given time line in terms of the transition of the SADC PF into the SADC Parliament. We should make sure that the rest of the content is assured that a united Parliament in Africa is strong and practical - [Technical fault]-
Secondly, I also noticed that there was a discussion and some resolution around youth representation from a democratic governance point of view. Africa is a continent and we need to acknowledge that most of the people in Africa are very youthful and we need to make sure that we include young people in terms of decision making processes, in terms of policy making processes and to that end, it is important that SADC PF and indeed all Southern African Parliaments take specific measures to ensure that there is increased youth participation in all forms of Governments.
We have to see specific strategies when we set specific time limits. We need to see constitution amendments that seek to promote young people to actively participate in governance and leadership in Southern Africa and indeed in the rest of Africa. Our young people are the future of the continent. We must not wait for tomorrow for them to get positions of responsibility in shaping the future of Africa. We must make sure that our policy framework, our legislative framework, our constitutional framework takes such serious matters that ensure that it does not end in rhetoric but we have specific deliverables when it comes to youth in proceedings. Africa is young. It is time to recognise the young people of African in terms of leadership.
I also wanted to repeat the same part with regards to gender equality. As Southern Africa, we have the charter on gender equality and the SADC PF would have - [Technical fault]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Molokela, we cannot hear you. I think it is because of your network which is bad.
(v)HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: I still believe that the number of elected women in Zimbabwe especially at council level and parliamentary level is still very low bearing in mind that our national constitutional aspiration is talking about 50% gender inclusivity or its gender representation. We still have a long way to go. So I would like to encourage our SADC PF representatives to push to ensure that there are clear guidelines and timelines and also clear strategic deliverables to ensure that in Southern Africa, we have a clear increase in terms of the percentages of women who are especially in positions of political leadership.
I think the fact that you as Madam Speaker, are our Deputy Speaker of Parliament, but how many women in Southern Africa are in such a position? How many women are recognised in business or in the judiciary? How many of them are chief justices or deputy chief justices, mayors of cities and CEOs of companies? So as Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa, we are not doing enough in terms of ensuring that women are given opportunities to lead and there is need for a clear strategy and a clear framework.
If it is necessary, SADC PF representatives must push for a clear adoption in terms of a protocol including women in positions of leadership. It is enough to talk about the need to include women but now we want to go beyond that. We want to see women being promoted. We want to see women getting more opportunities. We want to see Zimbabwe and we want to see other countries achieving 50% gender equality and inclusivity.
I also wanted to talk about funding for health care. It was also mentioned in the report that the participants spoke about the need to move beyond depending on international development partners on donor agencies to fund our healthcare. We do have a commitment in place, not just as Southern Africa but we do have a commitment as Africa. We have the Abuja Declaration of 2001 where as African heads of Governments and African Heads of State, we committed ourselves to fund at least 15% of our national budgets towards public health care.
Unfortunately, 21 years later, we have not lived up to the expectations of the Abuja Declaration and it could have been the starting point for our delegates, our representatives at the SADC PF to say that why is Southern African failing to keep the promise, why are Southern African Governments not fulfilling the expectations of the Abuja Declaration that clearly says and recommends that we should allocate 15% and that 15% comes through the budget process that comes through Parliaments in Southern Africa.
Our Parliaments across Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, stand accused of failing to ensure that our Ministers of Finance meet the obligations that are expected under the Abuja Declaration. We must not forget that the Abuja Declaration is actually a policy document that is fully recognised and accredited under the African Union. It is not an enclosed document. It is a document that African Member States signed willingly and voluntarily in Abuja including the then Head of State for Zimbabwe, the late Cde. Robert Mugabe. So we need to see to it that all Parliaments in Southern Africa, including the Parliament of Zimbabwe, do not just talk but they must start walking the talk.
We need clear guidelines and clear frameworks. We need ways to enforce that health be funded, that at least 15% be allocated towards healthcare. Our people are suffering. A lot of our people in Southern Africa are failing to access quality healthcare because of lack of funding for healthcare. Zimbabwe, together with most other African countries and Southern African counties, have millions of people who are dying needlessly because of lack of funding for healthcare. We must stop relying on any other funding mechanism that is not African. We must start ensuring that we respect the Abuja Declaration and to that end, I encourage our SADC Parliamentary Forum representatives to make sure that clear timeframes and guidelines, clear obligations are set out to ensure that African Parliamentarians and African Parliaments approve budgets that ensure that there is at least 50% funding towards healthcare. I so move Madam Speaker. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
(v)HON. NDIWENI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th February, 2023.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the rest of the remaining Orders of the Day be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 25 has been disposed of.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
DELEGATION REPORT OF THE BILATERAL VISIT TO INDIA BY A PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION LED BY HON. ADV. JACOB FRANCIS NZWIDAMILIMO MUDENDA SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
Twenty-Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Bilateral Visit to India led by Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament from 5th to 12th December, 2022.
Question again proposed.
HON. GEN. RTD. GWANETSA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I rise to add my voice to the report so tabled by Hon. Webster Shamu on the visit to India, led by the Speaker, Hon. Jacob Mudenda. The visit to India is of paramount importance in terms of our posture as Zimbabwe. I am going to look in terms of three, if not four issues of critical importance in relation to Zimbabwe and India.
First of all, I am going to look in terms of the historical synergies between the two countries. Secondly, I will look in terms of the international flare of India, where-from we can also take a leaf and probably implement. Thirdly, look in terms of the Indian industrialisation, which becomes a trajectory and which as Zimbabwe we can as well follow.
Historically, if you remember in the 15th if not 16th Century, the British-East India Company via the Cape of Good Hope went to India. So India is one of the British colonies. Therefore, in that respect, India is one of the prominent countries of the Commonwealth. The Second Republic under His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, is so profound with the mantra ‘engagement and re-engagement’. Zimbabwe is in the process of finding itself back to the Commonwealth. India being one of those prominent countries, I think we get a leaf from the Indians. So the visit becomes quite important.
India is renowned for having one of the longest serving Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Dr. Hussein Shitter Ramfer. With that at the back of India, I think we can find ourselves back to the Commonwealth and therefore, fulfilling His Excellency in terms of engagement and re-engagement. It is therefore very important that we have friendship; we have communication; we have cooperation with countries of that nature.
Let me look at it in terms of international flare, India is a developing country. It is within the reams of countries within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Relationship with those developing countries, Zimbabwe is bound to get technological advancement in terms of development. Therefore, the visit at that level led by the Speaker, put bridges that we can emulate from the Indian perspective.
India is one of those countries that have had good relationships or good pronunciations with the United Nations in all peace keeping missions worldwide; India was faring quite well. It became a member of the DPKO (Department of Peace Keeping Operations), deploying its forces in the 11 countries in the Mediterranean, all over the world India has deployed. Therefore, it is a peace loving country - so the relationship between India and Zimbabwe becomes of paramount importance. We learn quite a lot from that and we should take a leaf out of what is taking place in India.
Industrialisation, India is quite a developing country. It is well known, it is an open secret that a lot of our patients, including very high profile people have sought medication in India. Even if you check within our pharmacies, a lot of medicinal brands are also from India. Therefore, that synergic approach; that industrialisation, if it gets back to our place, if we can tap from the Indian source, it becomes of importance to us.
Another very important mantra by His Excellency is ‘ease of making business’. India is one country that has got a population of over a billion. By so doing, we are saying there is a readily available market and all this comes through industrialization. There is a lot of good agricultural practice in India. So, we find ourselves benefiting from that relationship with India. These are some of the visits which Parliament of Zimbabwe has to make do because there are so many derivatives that we get out of such visits, unlike other visits that can be taken, probably as tourism. Here, I am saying we derive a lot in terms of our trajectory, industrialisation, engagement, what we perceive and what we take in terms of our developmental prospects.
We are also saying with a billion people, it is a readily available market where we can actually have our produce, articles and whatever it is. It becomes a good trading partner. The visit was an eye opener. Visits of that nature should bear fruits where we engage with their industries and probably tap out of them the technology, opening up pharmacies, agricultural industry, et cetera. Therefore, this visit led by the Hon. Speaker was very important.
In conclusion, the delegation expresses its gratitude to the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Government for affording the opportunity to undertake this high level bi-lateral exchange visit. In order to give credence to this visit, the delegation calls for the Parliament of Zimbabwe, through the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to ensure the implementation of recommendations, particularly in regards to the sustained mutually beneficial relations between India and Zimbabwe. I thank you.
HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. TEKESHE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 15th February, 2023.
On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI, seconded by HON. TEKESHE, the House adjourned at Nine Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.