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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 19 MAY 2021 VOL 47 NO 52

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 19^th May, 2021

The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.

PRAYERS

(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER

APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have got a list of Hon.

Ministers and Deputy Ministers who sought leave of absence:

Hon. Vice President C. G. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care;

Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Defence and War Veterans

Affairs;

Hon. F. M. Shava, Foreign Affairs and International Trade;

Hon. M. Mutsvangwa, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting

Services;

Hon. S. Nzenza, Industry and Commerce;

Hon. C. Mathema, Primary and Secondary Education;

Hon. Murwira, Higher and Tertiary Education;

Hon. J. M. Gumbo, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in

Charge of Implementation and Monitoring;

Hon. J. Moyo, Local Government and Public Works;

Hon. J Mangawiro, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care; and

Hon. D. Musabayana, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and

International Trade.

HON. MUSHORIWA: On a point of clarification Madam Speaker. I have heard the list of Hon. Ministers that have given their apologies. Some of these Ministers have not been coming to Parliament even the previous Wednesdays. We have not seen some of them for quite a long time. Madam Speaker, with the advent of technology, the fact that we are now able to use zoom – I am speaking to you on zoom. Does that mean that these Ministers, even if they cannot come physically in the House, they are unable to connect via zoom? Are they so busy that they cannot, while are they doing whatever they are dong, be connected to zoom in their offices? This creates a problem Madam Speakers, to then continuously, for four weeks or so, fail to get a

Minister of a particular Ministry.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Mushoriwa.

I consulted with the Clerk. It is possible for ministers to answer questions on Zoom but the fact that they have given an apology, it means they will be committed somewhere and cannot be with us.

HON. GONESE: I have heard the explanation but my point of clarification is with regards to the fact a person may be unable to attend physically, for example if someone is in Bulawayo, Mutare and so on. In this regard, I would suggest that it only takes two to three hours for question time. Whilst someone may not be able to travel wherever they are, I would request that it should be possible for the Hon. Ministers who are unable to attend physically to avail themselves for those two or three hours even from outside the country. That is why we have got this technology which is actually working because a lot of the back benchers are actually attending Parliament session even from outside Harare because where there is connectivity, one can actually attend. I will ask why it is not possible for the Hon. Ministers to do likewise so that even

if they maybe out of Harare, they may have sufficient time for those two to three hours where question time is provided for in terms of our Constitution, Section 107 and it is actually a must attend so that they can make those adjustments.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will convey the message to

them. If they can, they will connect and be able to answer the questions.

HON. NDEBELE: Good afternoon Madam Speaker.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Good afternoon Hon.

Ndebele.

HON. NDEBELE: I do not intend to tie this request to the perennial absence of ministers in this House but I have reason ostensibly to make a request. I remember in the previous Parliament, we requested that the then President comes to this House if it would please him; just to spend an hour fielding questions from Members of Parliament. I realise this is the Second Republic and I am raising that request again – if we could kindly request the Head of State, if it pleases him, to come to this

House to spend an afternoon fielding questions from Members of

Parliament now that ministers are too busy to attend to us. I thank you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sure the Leader of

Government Business has taken note of that and he will convey the message to the President.

HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, the Speaker himself is on record saying that he will ensure that he takes appropriate measures to the ministers who do not attend Parliament. I am sure the Clerk would agree to that. He would write letters but he also indicated that appropriate action must be taken. I think this issue is beyond us Members of Parliament now. I think the onus lies with the Speaker and yourself to take decisive action once and for all because we are really tired. It has become a song and the authority that Parliament must have is sub judice and the authority that Parliament must have at all is not there. What more can we do if you have a father and mother and you constantly tell them there is a problem and they keep quiet - we also pull back but this institution can only be respected when the Speaker and yourself take real action. It is my call that you remind the Speaker that he said he would ensure that it happens.

Members of Parliament appear before the Privileges Committee for anything that they do – even some of us when there were accusations of bribe with Goddard, there is the Privileges Committee but those who have a task for the country never come to this Parliament. In a way, it is an insult to this institution, the leader of the institution, yourself and

Zimbabweans at large. So really, may you and the Speaker sit down and take action – hold them in contempt. I used to be energised about bringing this issue up but I have really got retired. You try and point that this Minister is contempt for not coming – Parliament administration will come up with an answer and say no, they apologised after Parliament. We then came up with rules that, what is the cut off time? The Speaker said 12 o’clock. Right now, the members of Cabinet who are not here, Deputy Ministers; 12 o’clock has gone and when

Parliament ends, another rule comes up. They send their apologies late. There is inconsistency in terms of decision making and appropriate action by the leadership. I would like you to convey that to the Speaker, that we are getting disillusioned and they are no longer serious in their discharge of duties when the country is faced with numerous problems and at the end of the day, the Leader of Government business who is equally here must be able to tell the President on what is happening and so forth. My call once again, may you and the Speaker ensure that this institution is respected by coming up with a serious decision which is constant and consistent with how Parliament must be run.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

^(v)HON. MASENDA: My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. Is there a pricing policy on the prices paid for tobacco sold at the auction floors particularly the top price which has remained stagnant at US$4.99/kg for the last two decades whilst the prices of inputs and labour are Increasing?

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND

PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I did not get the

first part of the question but I got that the Hon. Member’s question pertains to the pricing of tobacco. My response is that the price of tobacco is not controlled by government. It is controlled by market forces, hence government does not set a minimum price for tobacco. I thank you.

HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker for

giving me this opportunity as you had promised yesterday. It is not many people that keep their word nowadays, and I must thank you for that. Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the statement which he made after the High Court ruling in the Malaba matter. When the matter was still going to approach superior courts as it has done, was it not subjudice, and as the Minister of Justice, would it not be proper for him to do good for the country and step down so that the justice prudence which is expected in this country is maintained?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Mliswa is that a question

or you are suggesting something else. Please ask your question.

HON. T. MLISWA: The question is the statement made by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs after the High Court ruling on the Malaba case was totally unacceptable in terms of the justice delivery system, and as such, what does he intend to do to instil justice in the system when that statement has totally destroyed the trust and the confidence of this country in the justice delivery system as the father of justice? I know the Minister might want to say the matter is subjudice, but it is not the matter or application before the courts but his statement which is not before the courts, in case he wants to come round that one.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND

PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you

Madam Speaker. There are those that wrote a letter indicating that they want that statement to be subjected to interrogation by the High Court. So it is subjudice.

HON. T. MLISWA: The issue the Minister is talking about that there are those who want to write for the matter to go before the courts is not the same as the matter before the courts.       When I say I want to hit you and I do not hit you, it does not mean I hit you. The matter is not before the courts. Can he respond because the intention to write and to take it to court is different from the matter before the courts. I do not have to teach him law. I am not a lawyer. The matter is not before the courts. Can he respond to his statement. When the matter is before the courts then it is subjudice. I am glad he said subjudice – hopefully next time he will not comment on other High Court judgements or any court judgements that come. The matter is not before the courts. The intention is to take it to the court but it is not there, so how does it become subjudice?

HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I respect my brother Hon. Temba Mliswa but he does not work in my office nor does he stay at my house to know that it is not in court. I would not come here and say something that is false. I have papers that were sent to the High Court with the same complaint about the statement and his insinuation is totally wrong. So I will not comment on it because they have started the process and I await direction from the court. I thank you.

HON. T. MLISWA: I am glad and I must be professional enough to say if the matter is indeed before the courts, then I withdraw my question. He had said they intend to bring it to the courts so I withdraw.

I am professional enough to follow the dictates of the law that if the matter is before the courts, I withdraw my question. May we allow the process to take over. I think I should be appointed the Minister of

Justice next time. I thank you.

HON. MUTAMBISI: My question is directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. What measures has the government put in place in terms of social protection on the informal sector since it is one of the key issues in the National Development

Strategy NDS1? I thank you

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHIDUWA): Thank you for the question

from the Hon. Member. The question is talking about social protection whilst at the same time talking about SMEs. I need some clarity as to whether we are talking about social protection or we are talking about funding for SMEs.

HON. MUTAMBISI: I have been asked to repeat the question.

What measures has government put in place in terms of social protection on the informal sector since it is one of the key issues in the NDS1? I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF FINANACE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. NCUBE): I thank the Hon. Member for the

question regarding social protection for those who are in the informal sectors. The informal sector cuts across various sectors. Some sell wares on the streets. Some are in farming and all manner of things. Let me try to map out the nature of the social protection that is in place. Let me start with those who maybe in farming or wish to go into farming.

The entire Pfumvudza Presidential Input Scheme Programme is a form of social protection. That is what we refer to as productive social protection where you give those who are vulnerable inputs or productive assets for them to be productive and look after themselves in farming. That is probably our largest social protection programme for the vulnerable in our country. Last year as you will recall, we spent well over $6bn on that programme alone. It has been very successful. We expect those farmers this season as we are harvesting to produce almost a million metric tonnes of maize and we are proceeding with that programme to target winter wheat programme as well. That is the first one on productive social protection programmes.

I will come to the unconditional cash transfer programmes. As you know, we have introduced in the urban and rural areas where we transfer $1500 that we are paying per month and we urge everyone who is vulnerable, whether in the informal sector or not doing anything and they are vulnerable and they feel they ought to be protected by

Government, to come forward and register with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare so that they can be supported. We intend to continue with that programme. There are some in the informal sector who are just food vulnerable and those should have been targeted during the time when we were running a robust food support deficit mitigation programme which of course we will slow down because we have such a wonderful bumper harvest but we will stand ready as

Government to support those who are vulnerable.

Those who are in the informal sector but are elderly or disadvantaged, they also have access to medical aid but also the children of those who are unemployed and vulnerable , their school fees is covered by the BEAM Programme which we have expanded. You can see that our social protection programme is quite robust and always stand ready to support citizens who are vulnerable. There is not more that I have not said but it is quite clear that the intention is one of supporting them through and through so that we leave no one behind and we leave no place behind. I thank you.

HON. MARKHAM: My supplementary question is on the issue of Pfumvudza Programme and yields. The Minister of Agriculture said the country has about 2.2 to 2.4 million tonnes of maize coming in. The farmers will benefit from this provided they get paid. Can the Minister guarantee that the payment will be done in 5 days as stated by the Minister and secondly on the social responsibility side, can he also guarantee that the money is in place to buy the whole crop that has been produced this year?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I thank Hon Markham for giving me

the opportunity to explain our grain procurement programme that we have put in place. This is the price of success, when we have been so successful in our agricultural programme; now we have to worry about to buying those crops. We have set up a Grain Procurement Committee which comprises Treasury, Ministry of Agriculture and a Technical

Committee. We have given that role to be co-chaired by my deputy Hon Chiduwa and also the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hon Haritatos. We have also included in the Grain Purchase Committee, the private sector, the millers, bankers and oil expressers because it cuts across different crops. We meet every week on a Monday at 9am without fail. If we fail, we move it to another day during that week but we try to meet every week. We are very organised about this.

The grain purchase programme has started and there are two sources of resources. One is Treasury resources in the normal way that we support GMB to purchase this grain and the money circulates like that. So far we have outlaid just over $2bn and it is going on well. The deliveries are going on well and we want to stay within the short and prescribed period in terms of payment. There is also another leg which is the private sector itself through this coordination committee that we have set up. They are able to then buy from GMB extending their resources through a prepayment arrangement for the grain. We have tried hard to make sure that GMB remains the sole buyer so as to avoid side marketing. Most of these farmers, especially those who have come through the commercial old Command Agriculture Programme, have loans with banks. So we want to make sure that they pay back their loans and the debt collection structure is set up around GMB. That is why GMB is being used as the conduits for purchases.

We have a structure in place and I can assure you that we are on our way to make sure that we can support the farmers paying on time. In the banking sector alone, in terms of private resources, we have liquidity of up to $60bn. Already we have supported AMA to the tune of $20bn within that kind of arrangement and then there is Treasury resources. We have adequate resources to see this through and make sure that everyone benefits from this bumper harvest of this year.

HON. T. MOYO: My supplementary question to the Hon Minister is that, what protection is given to farmers who are located far away from GMB? In rural areas, we have farmers who are farming 40 to 50 km away from GMB and those are being affected by agents who are doing side marketing. It is sad that some farmers are losing their grain for as little as US$2 per 20kg. What measures are being put in place by Government to make sure that those farmers are adequately protected? I thank you.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I urge all farmers not to sell their produce to makoronyera. Makoronyera vakawanda uye vakachenjera. They will offer you all manner of sweeteners and so forth and then they fleece you of the good returns that you have rightfully earned. Losing

US$2 is quite a lot. I really urge them not to be cheated by makoronyera. We will do a better job ourselves as Government to make sure that the farmers can access the depot points to deposit their grain and support them with transportation. We will work together with the Ministry of Agriculture to do this. At the end of the day, I think the best policeman or woman for a farmer when it is their produce that is at stake, it is for them to just refuse, that is policing enough and say no we will sell through the official structures/channels and it is up to us to really support them and make sure that they can deliver to GMB successfully and subsidise the cost of transportation.

I think the price is not bad – for maize, we are paying the same price as of last year, which is around $32 000.00 per metric tonne. It is a very good price in USD$ terms because we have kept the Zimbabwe dollar stable. So it is retaining value and there is value in it. So we think we are offering a good price and people should really shy away from makoronyera because they are very crafty at this game.

HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question is; Hon. Minister, you spoke about this finance structure with many players, i.e. maize and soya but did not talk about tobacco. Already, tobacco farmers are complaining of late disbursement of funds. They sell their tobacco today and their money comes out after two weeks. I heard on the State media that they were camping for two weeks to wait for their money and these are women who have responsibilities at home. You know that when a woman is away from home, there is havoc. Musha mukadzi, kana pasina mukadzi hapana musha. So why would we then say we are disbursing money? I did not hear you talking about tobacco players in that matrix in terms of disbursement of money. Can you tell us whether the tobacco players are involved in that structure and if not, can you please involve them so that they get their money early especially women farmers. Thank you.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I really thank Hon. Themba Mliswa

for that intervention, query and question in seeking clarification. You know tobacco farmers are some of our special farmers especially the small scale farmers and the women farmers that you referred to. They not only just produce tobacco, create jobs, income for themselves and feed their families but they also earn us foreign currency. So they play that extra role and are a special group of farmers in a way, if you can indulge me to use that word ‘special’.

In the payment process, I am also quite unhappy that payments are taking as long as two weeks as he indicated. It was brought to my attention and we are dealing with it. In terms of the payment process, frankly the truth is, we had not included tobacco farmers. Those are the facts because tobacco farmers, we always deal with them through another structure that is led by the Central Bank due to the foreign currency element. We really need the Central Bank. So I will engage the Central Bank to make sure that they work together with Treasury to resolve this delay in payment but also try to get to the bottom of it - is it the banks that are delaying, is it us the authorities; what is really going on? We will look into that to solve the problem but then just make it more efficient.

I also hasten to add that in terms of their foreign currency retention this year, it has improved to 60% and I think that is good progress. We have also said that for all exporters, their retention ratio is a lot more favourable with the order of 80% for those who are performing above a certain threshold. I am only on the tobacco issue Hon. Mliswa and in fact, I have not yet visited the tobacco floors this year because I have been occupied with other things that I am fine tuning but I can assure you that in the next two weeks, I am going to visit tobacco floors. You mentioned one issue but there may be more, so it is important for me to be hands-on, visit them and understand the issues and try to deal with them comprehensively. I thank you.

HON. NDEBELE: Madam Speaker, let me thank the Hon. Minister for coming up with a somewhat robust safety net to take care of the vulnerable. It would be unfortunate for us to ask the easy questions but there is a difficult side Madam Speaker, the weaponisation of food aid. I want to kindly request the Hon. Minister to appraise this House on what Government has done to ensure that there is no discrimination in the distribution of grain for instance.

I am asking this question on the background of information coming from Lupane’s Ward 10, that weaponisation of social aid is still ongoing. We have come to hate each other so much and look up to Government to provide safety nets to those who are discriminated. Thank you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: But that is a new question

Hon. Ndebele.

HON. NDEBELE: No, it is still riding on the back of safety nets. He has provided good programmes but down there, what waterproof measures has he handed out because the people are named elderly people? I am sure they exist. I have all reason to believe that the media has no reason to mislead the nation.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: That question was supposed

to be directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

HON. NDEBELE: May you as well allow me to redirect it

Madam Speaker?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Ndebele kula bantu abancitshwa ukudla? Baphi? Let me revert to the official channel but I will need to ask him one or two things first.

Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am and I thank Hon. Ndebele for the intervention and question. He referred to the issues where he thinks he perceives some kind of weaponisation of food aid. I doubt this because think about it, if you are trying to win over voters whom you believe do not support you, would it not make sense to actually give them food? I am just trying to understand the logic of weaponisation and I am thinking that it is most improbable.

This is a very fair process. In fact, we would like to see more people coming forward to register to receive social welfare. We believe that no one should be left behind and no place should be left behind. He mentioned Lupane as an area that I know - Ward 10. I will also sniff around using my own system to try to verify what he is saying but just thinking about logically, it would not make sense to have something like that in that place. We are not as a Government practicing that kind of approach. Everyone who is vulnerable has equitable access to assistance. We owe it to them as Government and will not do that, whether looking at food or cash transfers. There is equitable access regardless of who you are but we will sniff around in the area that he mentioned. I thank you.

*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. I was overjoyed by what the Hon. Minister said concerning money that was set aside to buy grains that were harvested by farmers this year including maize and tobacco. My question pertains to cotton. How much money did Government set aside towards buying cotton? As I speak, cotton is already on its way to the depots. How much has been set aside for the payment of cotton farmers who have already delivered cotton to the depots? Is the money already available? We are aware that last year cotton farmers did not get their money. Thank you.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I want to thank the Hon. Member for

asking that pertinent question. Last year, it is true that cotton farmers are still owed money which amounts to $1,5 billion. It has been brought to my attention and what we have decided to do to make it easy for payment to be made is to request the specific names of the farmers and Government or the system that is supposed to pay can then pay directly to the farmers so that we avoid any inefficiency. So the coming season agai, we have set aside adequate resources to pay the farmers. What the challenge really was just the payment system for the farmers. I think the price is at over a dollar for cotton this year which is a very good price, and I think farmers will be well supported. We are aware of the backlog in payment and we are dealing with it. We have requested the specific names of the farmers so that we can pay directly so that we can avoid the inefficient system that got us where we are. I thank you.

HON. NDUNA: The Hon. Minister has alluded to the price of cotton being a dollar something this season. Would he also want to attach the same amount to the amounts owed to the farmers so that they are able to go back into the land and make sure they produce? My point is the quantum that they are owed in terms of the deliveries to COTCO, versus the amount for this season. Would he prayerfully allow the cotton farmers of last season who had not been paid to also benefit from the price this season of a dollar something that he has alluded?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: That will be difficult. Look, there is a specific price that was declared last year to the farmer. The issue is really one of delayed payment for various reasons and we are correcting that now. So to restart applying this price in retrospect will create a lot of difficulties, first of all with the budget outlay that we have set aside, we would not have enough resources but then it will also set a bad precedence in terms of how we apply prices across years and yet a specific price applies to a specific season. It will create challenges for us; but I can understand he is speaking from the heart and he is trying to look after the farmers as a Member of Parliament, but finance-wise it will create difficulties for us. We just do not have the resource envelope but also we will set a bad precedent.

HON. NYAMUDEZA: My point of clarity is that we saw farmers being paid through barter trade last season. So this year you said the price is one dollar something. Are they going to get cash on delivery?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Yes, they will get cash. Thank you.

HON. MARKHAM: My question to the Minister of Finance is

what the Ministry’s policy with regards to guaranteeing private borrowings both from limited companies and people. I ask the question in view of three gazetted issues; one for Lucks Flower Roses where Government has guaranteed part of their debt, same with a boutique hotel in Victoria Fall, a very small amount but we are guaranteeing it and thirdly, sub-Sahara Tobacco. My question is why are we guaranteeing private companies and how are these people selected and is it a Government policy?

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I thank Hon.

Markham for the question and in fact, I am glad he noticed that we guaranteed some companies, guaranteeing their loans with specific banks. This is the implementation of the $18 billion COVID-19 response package that we put in place to support companies to come out of the COVID situation. Our approach within that programme is to provide guarantees so that we work together with banks to actually provide the loans, we as Government provide the guarantee and it is never 100%. We provide 50%. So the bank is not covered for the other half as we cover 50% and this has worked well in terms of these companies and we will be doing more going forward. The advantage of that is we do not have to outlay resources as Government, but we are able to leverage, unlock resources from the banks to support the private sector because without the guarantees, the banks would not do it and then we are stuck as an economy. We are trying to move forward and this is part of the $18 billion rescue package.

How are the companies selected? First of all, the entrepreneurs come forward and request. They go through their banks and the banks having processed the requirement for funding of the projects, if they think that it is a viable project, they will approve it. The bank and the project promoter then approach their Ministry and Treasury simultaneously. There is a Committee in Treasury, Debt Management Committee that looks through this and analyses. Some of them have been rejected by the way, and some have been accepted. So, what we mentioned is what we have accepted. They are processed, they go through various stages of signatories all the way up from the committee up to myself. I eventually sign off as the head of the Ministry after the Permanent Secretary has signed it and then we let the borrower know that they have been successful or rather their bank will tell them. After that we then gazette it.

The gazzetting process is something that Parliament has always looked forward to, to say ‘Minister, gazette the loans that you are contracting for the country and also guarantees to whomsoever, gazette those’. So, we have started gazetting those and that is a very good practice and a good practice in terms of transparency. I thank you.

HON. MARKHAM: Madam Speaker, could the Minister just clarify that we are assured that somebody’s companies are not over borrowing to the extent that needs a Government guarantee on the debt because they are waiting for the exchange rate to move. Are they not feeding the parallel market? I thank you.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you. These companies go

through a rigorous credit analysis process within the banks in the first place. They are clients of the bank that is in question. They would have been scrutinised, their financials would have been analysed and they would have been found to have been credit worthy and worthy of a loan from the bank.

However, for one reason or another, the bank would have felt that they need to enhance the credit standing of this specific account or borrower then they approach Treasury under the umbrella of the 18 billion dollar rescue package. We also do further analysis. These companies are analysed twice by the banks and by the Treasury, it is very rigorous. Chances of them doing shenanigans, parallel markets and so forth are very unlikely. Banks follow up on the usage of their loans; they do not just disburse and then do what we call ‘fire and forget’, no! They follow through with these loans to make sure that these are properly used and I doubt that the shenanigans that Hon. Markham referred to will then occur. Certainly, they are systems in place to minimise that kind of illicit action.

HON. GONESE: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Maam. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is in respect of transparency. If the Hon. Minister can clarify what steps are being taken to ensure that the generality of Zimbabweans who have various enterprises are made aware of the provisions that the Government can guarantee loans in circumstances where, if they did not have such guarantees, they will not be able to obtain the loans in question?

In respect of oversight, what measures are being put in place that this august institution, perhaps through the relevant portfolio committees on Budget and Finance can have some of the oversight in respect of the criteria being used to alert the beneficiaries to ensure that they have that transparency to show that this is above board and it is being done in a manner which is beneficial to those who are deserving this kind of support.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank Hon. Gonese for that follow up question. On the issue of publicity; I think I read that, it really needs questioning that maybe this is not well publicised. So, we should do more publicity. I take that point that we do more publicity. The publicity that we had carried out was to announce the package in the first place and the guarantee scheme but also the line ministries for instance, if you look at someone that we supported, of course, there are some who we supported on the tourism sector, and they are in touch with their line Ministry of Tourism. So, some of the clients come through their line ministries, some come directly through the banks. So we have had those channels of communication. However, I am hearing that perhaps we should publicise more and we will do so. I take your suggestion.

On the issue of oversight, there is completeness here because we are spending within our budget limits – we are living within our means. There is no risk of us overshooting on the budget performance and I stand willing to keep the Committee of Budget and Finance appraised and updated on how we are doing on this. I stand ready to even give a Ministerial Statement where it is necessary, so there is complete transparency and oversight. I can tell you that under my watch, there is no risk of over expenditure on budget, I only run balanced budget. I thank you.

HON. T. MLISWA: Has the Government not got a deliberate

policy to fund indigenous people after the protracted liberation struggle where they were oppressed by the Smith Regime and identify indigenous companies who want to grow their business so that there can be an economic balance after the oppression of the Smith Regime? Have you not also accommodated white companies in the new Zimbabwe unlike the time of Rhodesia when it was the white companies who benefited? Thank you.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Hon. Mliswa is right. We do have an empowerment policy which has been re-launched and refreshed - that exists. Through this policy, Government has been supporting indigenous business companies but also they have been creating special financial institutions to further sharpen that empowerment agenda. All they are looking at is the Women’s Bank or the Youths Bank and now we have the National Venture Fund. All those are pockets of resources that are meant to sharpen the empowerment agenda.

I think where we could do better is in the area of procurement where again we would want certain groups and SME’s to be supported by Government in the procurement process. Once someone has got a contract as an SME, it is easier for them to source them funding because they now have an order. The bank can discount the value of that order and give them a loan. So, our procurement processes need to speak to that empowerment as well. I think that is an area that we could improve but he is right that we have been targeting certain disadvantaged groups to make sure that they are supported as we grow our economy to make sure that no one is left behind. I thank you.

HON. MUTODI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question goes to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. What sort of criteria is Government using in allocating State land for urban expansion, particularly for residential land use? I thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. CHOMBO): On the

applications that are made for State lands, there is no set criteria per se but if a person applies, it goes through the screening process and if he or she qualifies, that is when he or she is awarded.

HON. DR. MUTODI: I asked this question because in the past we have heard ministers occupying that office ending up with 300 or 400 houses and this ended up pointing to a situation that there is endemic and individual corruption in the allocation of land for residential land use. Can the Minister bring a Ministerial Statement to this Parliament on people or companies that have been allocated land for residential land use? Since she has said there is no criteria as such, we would also need to be furnished with a list of those that have been allocated State land for urban expansion.

HON. CHOMBO: My Ministry is going across through the local authorities building up a land bank so that we know the State land that has been used and what is available. We are doing a data base of who we have leased out the State land to. As per your request, we will prepare a Ministerial Statement and present it to Parliament.

HON. T. MLISWA: This is a very important question on State land. There is the Uchena Report which clearly did an investigation on State land. This report has not been brought to Parliament by the

Minister to deliberate on it. Not only that, the Joshua Nkomo Aspindale

49 A and B land which was given to the people by the First Republic, the Second Republic is now going to repossess that land from them yet offer letters were given out by the First Republic. Is the Minister of

State for any province responsible for State land or it is the Minister of

Local Government because for example, Hon. Chidawu was in Kambuzuma telling people that this land belonged to Billy Rautenbach and Swane who are whites yet Government had taken this land as State land and given it to the people through the housing cooperatives which are well constituted and well regularised. Why is Government going back taking State land from people again when it has issued that state land and the Provincial Minister of State being in the forefront of that? Is he the custodian of Sate land, especially Hon. Chidawu who is now taking away land from the people and people are dying because of heart aches and blood pressure as a result of this Second Republic taking land which was allocated to them by the First Republic which remains the same Government? Is it Government policy to repossess State land from people who benefited from the First Republic?

HON. CHOMBO: You brought up a lot of follow up questions – you brought up the issue of the Uchena Report which was as a result of a Commission set up by the President. My Ministry does not have the mandate to release that report. My Ministry is studying that report and we are analysing the cases that should be forwarded to ZRP, those that should go to ZACC and those that we have to handle internally. Definitely, we have been doing that and I think you have seen some arrests emanating from that Uchena Report.

The Billy Rautenbach issue is too specific – you should bring it to my office and I will go through it. It is not my Ministry’s policy to repossess State land that was allocated in the previous republic.

HON. GONESE: On a point of order. My point of order relates to the response by the Hon. Minister. I am really grateful and appreciative of her undertaking to give this House a Ministerial Statement. Is the Minister in a position to give us a timeframe as to when we may expect that Ministerial Statement in view of the importance of the issue which is under debate on this question?

HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, may Members of

Parliament (MPs) desist from following ministers as if they are bodyguards. Hon. Minister Kazembe went outside and two MPs followed him. Is it their business of escorting ministers outside this Parliament? May you put order to that please Madam Speaker. We cannot have this continue in this House. Ministers have got offices where MPs can go and see them. Your office is here.

HON. CHOMBO: May I please have time when I can respond to give the timeframe. I will be able to give the timeframe tomorrow.

HON. MARKHAM: I just want to allude to the last question asked by Hon. Mliswa. Can the Minister press for the release of the Justice Uchena Report because it is all in there – whether it is Aspindale or any other. The reason is because this has been going on for ten or twenty years. The issue is that there are people on the ground who are still paying rentals or paying for their stands. They have no title, no ownership and do not know who owns the lands. Today...

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ask your question Hon.

Markham.

HON. MARKHAM: Can the Justice Uchena Report be released as a matter of urgency because people are spending US$30-50 a month paying off a stand that they do not know whether they will ever own.

HON. CHOMBO: As I said before, the Uchena Report did not emanate from my Ministry but from the President’s office. I am not in a position to be able to say I can release it or not.

HON. T. MLISWA: The Hon. Deputy Minister did allude to the fact that they were studying it and they were starting to arrest people. Already, Parliament has oversight and we are asking for our role of oversight. You cannot start arresting people before we exercise our role of oversight and before the report is tabled in Parliament. This is not the first time that Hon. Markham has asked for reports. We now believe that the Minister is involved in the corrupt dealings of some of these land issues because there are many reports which have been asked to come before this Parliament to be tabled and they are not coming. We would want to know what is it that is stopping you from taking this message to the President to say that we need these reports. The Uchena Report was released and the President read, then it goes to the appropriate Ministry which should then bring it here. So, do not bring the President’s name into disrepute by saying it is with the President. He got the report and set up the commission which did its own investigations so it must find itself in Parliament so that we exercise our role of oversight. You cannot be arresting people before you bring the report here. We have an oversight role to play and your Ministry is overwhelmed with these reports, but you do not bring them here and the Minister himself is never here. You are always here but he is always going around giving land but not to answer questions why he is giving

land.

HON. CHOMBO: Thank you Hon. Mliswa for that explosive follow up question. I am going to check who is supposed to release it and as I said it did not emanate from my office, but I was given as a

Ministry which is managing the state land to make sure that I look at issues that address the state land issues. So it is just a part of the Uchena Commission that we are dealing with. When we give the Ministerial statement, I will also give a statement towards that. I thank you.

HON. CHASI: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister for Energy and Power Development. Is the Deputy Minister in a position to give assurances to this august House that with winter wheat activity commencing, the farmers can be guaranteed sufficient and uninterrupted power during this period? Whilst she is at it, is she in a position to indicate when we can expect the integrated energy resource plan for the country which has been awaited for a very long time. I thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER

DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): I would like to thank Hon.

Chasi for that very pertinent question, particularly now that we are in the winter cropping season. Yes, I can assure Zimbabweans that as a Ministry, we are going to make sure there is uninterrupted supply of electricity. Although we do have challenges with our aging equipment at Hwange, we have stepped up generation at Kariba where we are generating over a thousand megawatts. We are also augmenting our supply through imports from Cabora Bassa, EDM and Eskom of South Africa. Currently, here and there we do have shortfalls of electricity supply but it is insignificant. So be assured that we are going to meet the supply of electricity during this winter cropping season. Whatever challenges that we are coming across during our operations at our power generation stations, we are working flat out to ensure that all the units are back to service.

For your information, we are for this week, we have got four units that are operational. Once in a while we drop to two or three, but we have always had enough electricity to service the nation during this critical moment. Coming to the second question on the resource plan being worked out, I cannot give a date at the moment but let me assure the House that I will go back and be very sure of the stage where we are but it is being worked out. I will then bring the information to the House with the particular date.

HON. NDUNA: My question is directed to the Hon. Minister of

Transport and Infrastructure Development. It relates to the 821km Mutare/Plumtree highway. As it relates to the completion of the project, maintenance if it has been completed and the payment of the project from the US$206 million from DBSA of South Africa? How much have we used and how much is left?

HON. NDEBELE: Madam Speaker, it is not my intention to belittle Hon. Nduna but I want you to make a determination because this will come back to haunt maybe as early as next week. Is this question that has just been asked not a specific question. I need a determination from your chair.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are right Hon Ndebele it

is a specific question. I am not sure if the Minister is able to answer it since it needs some investigation. Hon. Minister are you able to answer

it.

HON. NDEBELE: I beg your pardon Madam Speaker. I have risen on a point of order and the rule is the gentleman must sit down.

We should learn not to say rules depends on how the Minister feels like because I will bring questions next week and a specific Minister may not feel like. So, it is always safe for a National Parliament to stick to its own rules. I am speaking from experience. It happened yesterday right here and I had to leave the House out of respect.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Can you also involve us on the virtual.

We cannot even hear what is happening in the House now.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon Ndebele, you are right, it is a specific question and it cannot be answered now. Hon Nduna, please may you go and put your question in writing.

HON. L. SIBANDA: Madam Speaker, you recognised me and

then someone interjected.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I recognised you Hon Sibanda

but we lost you. You did not ask your question because of connectivity problems. I called your name and you did not ask your question.

HON. L. SIBANDA: Can I go ahead now.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No.

^(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: Madam Speaker can you also recognise

us.

THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am following a list which I was given by your Chief Whip. You have to register your name with your Chief Whip – [AN HON MEMBER: We have no Chief Whip.]

^(v)HON. MUSHORIWA: In terms of the whipping system in Parliament, is it a question that even those that may not necessarily have a Chief Whip are not being given the platform to have their list there?

May you advise us on that one? How does Hon Mliswa get his name on the list if he is not on the list of Chief Whips – [AN HON MEMBER:

You are MDC-Alliance, may you sit down.] –

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sure you are answered

Hon Mushoriwa.

HON. N. MGUNI: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health. When we rolled the COVID vaccines, the second dose was after 28 to 30 days. I want to find out from the Minister what the new policy is as people are now getting the second dose after 14 days? Is it not going to increase the hesitancy syndrome and thwart our efforts of eradicating the pandemic?

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE

(HON. DR. MANGWIRO): The vaccines are two, Sinopharm is given a space of 28 days. The second one is Sinovac and is given a space of 14 days. There is nothing new. It remains that each specific vaccine has got it own spaces of time for second jabs. I thank you.

HON. NDIWENI: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Health. What measures are being taken at the border post to control the influx of returning residents because as it is, there are bus loads of people that are coming in with COVID certificates and they are not being tested at Beitbridge Border Post? I am afraid we might end up having the South African variant. What measures are being taken to control the influx?

HON. GONESE: In the same vein with the issue raised by Hon Ndebele, it was raised by the Presiding Officers in this august House that those who are on zoom should be on video because we are all supposed to dress like we are physically in the House. I note that Hon Ndiweni is not on video and this was a ruling by the Speaker and yourself. I believe in the same vein that we must have consistency; the Hon Member is out of order because he is not on video. He should be visible so that we are all properly dressed in line with the rules of this august institution that when we come to Parliament for men and women, there is a dress code and we have to ensure that we abide by the dress code.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon Gonese for

reminding me. Hon Ndiweni, may you switch on your video.

HON. NDIWENI: Madam Speaker, thank you very much I am not aware of those standing rules but I am having problems with my gadget.

^(v)HON. M. M. MPOFU: My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. What is the Ministry’s plan to ensure availability of usable vehicles to ensure effective discharge of duties by the ZETDC employees?

HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker! I think it is only proper that Hon. Ndiweni who is well educated withdraws his utterances that Hon. Ndebele is drunk. Hon. Ndebele does not even take alcohol, so I only think that it is proper that he does that. He is well schooled and an Englishman par excellence and such language certainly does not go with his social standing. May he withdraw those utterances?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Ndiweni! Hon. Ndiweni! I think he has switched off – [HON. T. MLISWA: You must ask him to withdraw next time!] – Yes, I will request him to withdraw next time. – [HON. NDEBELE: That is an insult to myself, my family and my church as well!] –

^(V)HON. M. M. MPOFU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My

question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development –

[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Order Hon. Members

please! Ask your question Hon. Mpofu.

^(V)HON. M. M. MPOFU: Thank you Madam Speaker, my

question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. What is the Ministry’s plan or position to ensure availability of usable vehicles on the effective discharge of duties by the ZETDC employees? Currently, do they have vehicles available to attend to faults? Thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): I am having challenges with my gadget, I want to unmute. Thank you Madam Speaker but unfortunately, I did not get the question. May the Hon. Member kindly repeat?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mudyiwa, you are not

connected!

HON. MUDYIWA: Yes, I have a challenge with my gadget, something is wrong. It is not unmuting. Thank you Madam Speaker, I was saying that unfortunately I did not get the question from the Hon.

Member. Can the question be repeated please?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mpofu, please may you

repeat your question?

^(v)HON. M. M. MPOFU: Thank you Madam Speaker. My

question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. What is the Ministry’s plan or position to ensure availability of usable vehicles for the effective discharge of duties by the ZETDC employees?

Currently, they are relying on private vehicles to attend to faults.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Did you hear the question this time around Hon. Deputy Minister? – [HON. T. MLISWA: It is on plans to ensure that there is adequate transportation for ZETDC to carry out their mandate effectively.] –

HON. MUDYIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to believe that Hon. Themba Mliswa has helped me enough to respond to the question.

ZETDC is having serious transport challenges. All these are arising from the fact that they are going through serious financial problems. Firstly, our tariffs are very low and need to be reviewed. They were last reviewed I think last year and all the operational costs have gone up, i.e. fuel has gone up and even buying the foreign currency that is needed, ZETDC is failing to do that. We are working flat-out to help ZETDC so that they buy the much needed vehicles but it has to be a concerted effort from all of us.

Those who are using electricity should make sure that they pay their electricity bills well on time, i.e. if you are not all on smart meters where everybody pays for the electricity that he/she is going to use before using it because in the past we have had challenges in collecting debts from our debtors. Those who will have used electricity already, most of them are failing to pay. So that is why ZETDC is having serious problems in acquiring new vehicles for operations. We are looking at reviewing the tariffs and if that review is granted, then ZETDC can have funds to purchase the much needed vehicles for their operations. I thank you.

^(v)HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Last week I

raised a similar concern about unattendance to faults due to lack of vehicles by ZETDC. A life was lost because of the live cables that are …

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Gabbuza, please may

you switch on your video?

^(v)HON. GABBUZA: Come again?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Switch on your video?

^(v)HON. GABBUZA: Madam Speaker, I was saying what recourse does the community have now that they …

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I said switch on your video! ^(v)HON. GABBUZA: Ah okay, the video seems to be failing.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Alright, so you will ask your

question next time.

^(v)HON. GABBUZA: Come again?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You will pose your question

next time.

^(v)HON. GABBUZA: Oh Madam Speaker please!

HON. MAYIHLOME: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Ma’am. My supplementary question to the Hon. Deputy Minister is; she mentioned reviewing tariffs because of bad debts that are uncollected. Why would the Government want to penalise citizens because of a few individuals who are failing to pay for their debts? If ZETDC is incapacitated by the fact that what is owed cannot be collected, why would they then go for the easy targets of honest and innocent citizens and want to review tariffs upwards instead of dealing with those who are failing to pay their debts? I thank you.

HON. MUDYIWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. The debtors who owe huge amounts to ZETDC are mostly local authorities which we cannot switch off to enforce payment, some Government departments and some few domestic users but we cannot increase the tariffs. Look at the operational costs since last year, how much it is has gone up. Fuel has gone up how many times? To get the USD on the auction floor, how many times has it gone up? The tariffs were last reviewed early 2020 and since then, there has not been any review up to now. This is another way to increase our revenue collection for ZETDC. If we can have some people who can pay the new tariffs or if they are approved, the better for ZETDC because it will get an extra dollar for their operations. While we are working on how we can collect our revenue from our usual debtors, being local authorities, we cannot switch off local authorities for humanitarian purposes. We are not penalising those citizens but the operational costs have gone up, economics tells us that everything has gone up since last year.

HON. G. BANDA: My supplementary to the Ministry of Energy

is, I hear the Minister is talking about financial constraints within the ZESA department. ZESA is getting a serious loss in removing copper cables and selling for less value and replacing them with aluminium. I hear the Minister talking about not having enough resources but they are not looking at the leakages when they are removing the copper cables and replacing them with aluminium. There is a serious leakage in terms of collection there. In answering that, I also want to find out why transformers are being sold at a less rate than the going market rates for the copper?

HON. MUDYIWA: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. The issue of copper cables, ZETDC is on an exercise to replace those copper cables with aluminium cables, the reason being vandalism has is making a toll on ZETDC. All those copper cables are being targeted by the vandals and that is one set back that ZETDC is going through. They are failing to replace the copper cables that have been stolen. It is an exercise that is going on to try and replace those cables with the aluminium cables. I did not get the second part of the question.

HON. G. BANDA: It is about the transformers that are been sold at less than the market value. You find that ZESA is auctioning transformers to local people without licenses at very much lower value to what the people who would have bought them will sell the transformers for. Also, the Minister did not answer my question rightly because I was putting to her on why they are not getting the true value for the copper pipes when they are selling them in replacement with the aluminium ones.

HON. MUDYIWA: Coming to the sale of the transformers, may I ask the Hon. Member if he has got the details. What we know is that ZETDC has a serious shortage of transformers. If they are selling those transformers, I think we need that information, because they desperately need the transformers to replace the vandalised ones throughout the country since they have a serious shortage. I think it is information that we might need to verify if anything like that is going on, where transformers are been sold below the normal price.

On the first question why they are selling the copper cables below the cost of replacing the aluminium cables, I think we need to verify that information again. What we are aware of is that they are removing the copper cables to replace them with aluminium cables to do away with vandalism because the copper cables are being targeted by the vandals. I think we need to go and verify the information as well.

HON. G. BANDA: How are the copper cables being disposed?

HON. MUDYIWA: The copper cables are under the custody of ZESA Holdings and ZETDC. These are operational and administrative matters which at times do not come to our attention unless we get the information about what is going to happen. I want to thank the Hon. Member for giving us that information. We will go and verify on what is actually happening. We will bring the information to this House once we get the details.

HON. GABBUZA: My supplementary about failure to provide transport by ZESA when cables have fallen down, last week and this afternoon a life has been lost because of unattended cables lying on the ground at some school called Malaria. In an event where lives have been lost because ZESA has not attended to lying cables, what recourse does the community have?

HON. MUDYIWA: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for that question and may I pass my deepest condolences concerning the lives that have been lost because of the cable that fall and was left unattended. The issue of failing to attend is because of operational problems that ZETDC is going through, maybe the lack of transport and all sorts of things, but if there is a life lost because ZESA failed to attend in time, we can say that it is negligence on the part of ZETDC and that victim should be compensated if investigations are done. If ZESA is found to be at fault, then action can be taken against ZETDC. Thank you.

Questions Without Notice were interrupted by the TEMPORARY

SPEAKER in terms of Standing 64.

HON. MLISWA: On a point of Order! I just want to appreciate the Deputy Ministers, Hon. Chombo and Hon. Mudyiwa for well articulating the questions asked by Hon. Members. You are doing well

– [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -

DELAY IN TOLLING OF URBAN ROADS AND GOVERNMENT

INVESTMENT IN URBAN MASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

2. HON. GEN (RTD) MAYIHLOME asked the Minister of

Transport and infrastructural Development to explain to the House what

is delaying the tolling of urban roads and Government Investment in urban mass transportation.

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):

Government has tried to introduce the tolling of urban roads and the initial attempt faced some hurdles. On the legal side, urban tolling is not included in the existing Tolling Act. My Ministry is currently working on a draft amendment of the Act in order to accommodate the issue.

Urban tolling was also met with public resistance during the initial attempt. Ruwa, Hwange and currently Skyline Tollgate are examples. The first two tollgates have since been moved out of the urban setup while the process for relocation of Skyline Tollgate is in progress.

The Cabinet is looking at reconsidering the process of introducing urban tolling. Consultative processes are to be initiated with stakeholders who include the motoring public.

The programme for investment in urban mass transportation is spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

Government is in the process of capacitating ZUPCO and partnering other bus operators to buttress efforts of Government for mass transportation. To that end, Government, through CMED, is procuring buses some of which have been provided to ZUPCO on a hire basis as

part of their participation in the intra-city transportation system. I thank you.

UPGRADING AND SURFACING OF MAWABENI-

ESIBOMVU-MBIZINGWE-BULAWAYO ROAD IN

UMZINGWANE/MATOBO CONSTITUENCY

3. HON. GEN (RTD) MAYIHLOME asked the Minister of

Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to the House when the Mawabeni-Esibomvu-Mbizingwe-Bulawayo Road will be upgraded and surfaced.

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Mr.

Speaker Sir, the current status of the Mawabeni-Esibomvu-Mbizingwe-

Bulawayo Road is 10 km of gravel; and 14 km of earth road both of which are in poor state. In the short term, the Esibomvu Road has been included in the ERRP II works scope. In the current phase, the road will have spot re-gravelling, grading, and bush clearing and wash away repairs done.

In the third phase of the programme which is programmed for 2022, the road will have a structure constructed across the Nsezi River which will provide an all weather crossing.

Plans to surface the road are in the long term and the implementation is dependent upon the project priority lists approved by the provincial development coordinator and the funding availed. I thank you.

REHABILITATION OF THE BULAWAYO-VICTORIA FALLS

ROAD

4. HON. MOLOKELE asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development when the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road will be rehabilitated.

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Mr.

Speaker, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, through the Department of Roads, invited investors to participate in a competitive bid by submitting expressions of interests in March 2018. The Ministry then went on to shortlist investors who proved financing capacity and they subsequently submitted their proposals in October 2018.

After adjudication, the above mentioned road was awarded to a consortium on 14^th February 2019. The projects were then presented to Cabinet and in April 2019, Cabinet gave the resolutions to approve the signing of the memorandum of agreement with the investors which was done on 4^th April 2019. The memorandum of agreement paved way for the conducting of the feasibility study which would advise what would be the structure of the concession agreement with each investor funding the feasibility study using own resources.

The investor then proceeded to commence working on the feasibility study whilst also working on securing a financier for part of the feasibility study and also construction. In March 2021, the investor agreed with a partner to be the financier for the full project to completion. Even though delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the investor is working on completing the feasibility study. I thank you.

HON. MOLOKELE: I think the Minister has helped to give a comprehensive background but what he did not give is clear direction in terms of the time lines for the way forward. Where are we at and how long should we look forward to seeing something happening on that road? A lot of lives are being lost and a lot of vehicles are being damaged by the very terrible road. It is a major road covering the entire province of Matabeleland North and the tourism industry. So, I want him to be more specific on the next step.

HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Let me also thank Hon. Molokele for that follow up question and to say as indicated in the submission, the feasibility study is ongoing and I hope that since we have just 2 months away from the resumption of that feasibility study, it will also be prudent for us then to continue monitoring that. I do not want to lie to the Hon. Member to say we will start working next week or next month. So, with your indulgence Hon. Speaker Sir, what I can assure the august House is that I will continue for the result of the feasibility study which will then guide us on when the works will commence.

HON. NDEBELE: I would like to check with the Minister if mending of potholes along that road has anything to do with the feasibility study because filling in potholes is just but filling in potholes. That road is not traversable and it is killing tourism.

HON. MHONA: Like we indicated through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, we then have to attend so that the road is trafficable and passable. That is what we are doing – I have also used the same road recently and works are ongoing but that does not entail the one that I am referring to. The one that I am referring to is rehabilitation of the road. For now, we have just facilitated; we used to have dangerous potholes along that road such that those plying the same road will be in a position to travel without such dangers.

RESUMPTION OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE KWEKWE-NKAYI-

LUPANE ROAD

5. HON. MPOFU M. M. asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House when the Government will resume the construction of the Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Road which started in 1984.

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Mr.

Speaker Sir, the upgrading of the Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Road started in 1994 but was suspended in 2004 due to lack of funding. Progress achieved then was 47.4 km of surfacing and two high level bridges at Shangani and Gweru rivers. Work resumed in 2018 with the coming in of the new dispensation under the Road Development Programme. Given the importance of the road, it was to be tackled from two ends, that is Midlands and Matabeleland North in Midlands. The total targeted scope was 50 kilometres with the intention to work on 10 km starting in 2018. Earth works was done for 5 km but only 3 km proceeded until work was suspended in 2019 due to the non-availability of funding to procure some surfacing materials. Funding was then availed for the completion of the 3 kilometres during the third quarter of

2020 and was opened to traffic under the Road Development Programme.

Currently, work on the road is under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 after the declaration of the state of disaster for the national road network. Work underway includes restoration of connectivity by repairing washaways and grading in Matabeleland North.

Currently, there is spot re-gravelling and washaaway repairs for 100 kilometres. In Midlands, the scope is washaway repairs, bush clearing, grading and spot regravelling.

Road upgrading is targeted to resume during the second phase of ERRP 2 which is targeted for the year 2022. It should be noted that the priorities for road upgrading are supposed to be done by the respective Provincial Development Coordinator’s (PDC) and it is our hope that the project will be given the priority it deserves so that the upgrading will continue. I thank you.

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES AT MURONGWE AND MABORI

RIVERS IN MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY

6. HON RAIDZA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to the House when proper bridges will be constructed at Murongwe and Mabori Rivers in Wards 3 and 7 in Mberengwa East Constituency

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Mr

Speaker Sir, Murongwe and Mabori River bridges in Ward 3 and 7 in

Mberengwa East Constituency are under District Development Fund (DDF). The Ministry and DDF are cooperating to ensure that the connectivity is assured for all communities under ERRP 2. This cooperation is a bottom up approach where district level road authorities submit their priorities under the programme for funding.

The river crossings in question is on Ngezi-Vutsanana Road. The scope of work on the road in 2021 includes grading, patch gravelling, structure repairs (Murongwe and Mabori Rivers), bush clearing, culverts cleaning, gully reclamation as well as signs and drains maintenance for

30 kilometres.

RECTIFICATION OF LOAD SHEDDING CHALLENGES

12. HON. M. M. MPOFU asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to inform the House when the load shedding challenges being currently experienced will be rectified.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER

DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): Unfortunately, I do not have the written answer but I can answer it from my head. During the month of April we had serious challenges with our units at Hwange Power

Station. Our electricity generation dropped down to very low levels. We were operating with two units at most. That is when we experienced load shedding here and there though it was not as pronounced. As for load shedding, it is something that we cannot give a deadline when it should end because of the challenges we are experiencing with our aged equipment. The three IPPs are not generating electricity (one at Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare) – we operate at most with one unit at a time. We still have shortages of electricity. We cannot give a deadline when the load shedding will end. We are working flat out to make sure that we operate with at least four units at Hwange power station. We stepped up generation of electricity at Kariba since the level of live water has gone up to above 50%. So, load shedding can only be minimised at most but we cannot give a deadline as to when load shedding will come to an end. I thank you.

REPLACEMENT OF TRANSFORMER IN RIMUKA,

KADOMA

13. HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to inform the House as to when the Ministry will either replace or repair the transformers in Rimuka Ward 2 Kadoma.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER

DEVELOPMENT: Thank you Hon. Member for the question. Zesa

has procured 320 transformers sized 315kv meant for residential areas.

The clearance process is in progress and the expected delivery time is 68 weeks. After receiving the transformers, we will then be distributing to needy customers.

HON. CHINYANGANYA: I want to thank the Hon. Minister for the response and the Ministry for procuring the transformers. What criteria will be used to allocate those transformers because these residents in Ward 2 have gone for three months without electricity because of the vandalisation of their transformer.

HON. MUDYIWA: The criteria is that we prioritise critical areas like hospitals, schools and those who have been without transformers for a long time. There are some areas which have gone for over a year or more without transformers due to the challenges that the ZETDC is going through. At the moment we are prioritising farmers. We are making sure they have transformers so that the electricity is restored for them to be able to irrigate the wheat.

REPAIR OF SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE IN MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY

14. HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Energy and Power

Development when the broken down solar infrastructure in Mberengwa

East constituency which was installed by REA will be repaired at Svita

Clinic and Chief Matarutse homestead.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): At Svita clinic in Ward 3 all

our solar systems are guided by the country’s Rural Energy Master Plan REMP. When the solar systems were initially installed, they were very small, about 0.84kw and some of them had challenges on charge control systems. In this regard we are to upgrade them to 5kw which is the standard size required by clinics. In this particular enquiry, Svita clinic is being considered for grid electrification and we are targeting 2021 to electrify the clinic. Then on the electrification of Chief Mataruse’s homestead, this programme is to be put on the national grid this 2021 but I cannot give the exact date. I thank you.

ELECTRIFICATION OF BUSINESS CENTRES IN MBERENGWA

EAST CONSTITUENCY

15. RAIDZA asked The Minister of Energy and Power Development when Ingezi Busines centre and Madozvo business centre will be electrified in Mberengwa East Constituency.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER

DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): At Ingezi business centre in

Ward 3, it is in our REMP under consideration to be electrified by REA.

Funds permitting it will be considered for electrification by next year 2022. On Madozvo business centre ward 6, it could not be located on our electrification programmes. I think the Hon. Member can assist us with the proper name. I thank you.

REPAIR OF TRANSFORMERS AT HOFISI AND CHIKOMO

VILLAGES IN MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY

16. RAIDZA asked The Minister of Energy and Power Development when the transformers at Hofisi village and chikomo village in Ward 8 will be repaired.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER

DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): ZESA has a consignment container procured from China for the repairs and maintenance of all accessories, transformers included and expected delivery will be in 6-8 weeks time. ZENT Enterprises is ready to receive and start repairing transformers. This is a general response but on this particular enquiry, we have not yet received any report with respect to the faulty transformer. I thank you.

RECRUITMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY INTO THE

POLICE SERVICE

20. HON. E. NCUBE asked the Minister of Home Affairs and

Cultural Heritage to inform the House on:

1. government policy on the recruitment of persons with disability into the Police Service who have professional qualifications but cannot perform other physical tests such as running; and
2. disaggregated data on the number of persons with disability currently employed in the Police Service by province, gender and job position

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (HON.

MABHOYI): Thank you Hon. Ncube for your question. The Ministry does not recruit people with disability because of the nature of training under the Ministry. There is a lot of vigorous training which includes running and exercises. What usually happens is that those who are disabled within the Ministry, that is those who were injured when they were training or injured by way of accidents, they remain with the Ministry and they can be given other duties like administration and so forth. We do not recruit disabled persons.

On the second part of the question, we are talking of those who have been injured during service and we have the numbers as follows:

PROVINCE	MALE	FEMALE	TOTAL
Matabeleland South	2	1	3
Matabeleland North	4		4
Bulawayo	Nil	Nil	nil
Midlands	11	4	15
Masvingo	21	8	29
Harare	23	9	32
Mashonaland East	nil	nil	nil
Mashonaland Central	1	nil	1
Support Unit	4	2	6
PGHQ	nil	6	6
PPU	7	nil	7
Manicaland	nil	2	2
Mashonaland West	4	1	5
CID	2	nil	2

All in all we have 87 males and 25 females which bring a total of 112 and all of them are doing administrative work. Those members have been injured either during combat or through accidents.

HON. T. MOYO: My supplementary to what she said that the Ministry of Home Affairs does not recruit people who are disabled, is it not retrogressive and discriminatory? In my opinion, it is archaic and retrogressive to discriminate people who are disabled because the nature of crime these days is highly sophisticated. There is cyber crime which needs people who are ICT literate who can detect crime related to finances. We can have financial intelligent officers who can be recruited when they are disabled. I request the Hon Minister to react.

If they were going to recruit 5% who are disabled who may not be given the training which is labour intensive where people are forced to run and so on; we want training which targets the mind or brain, that is my response. Is it not discriminatory because people just think of physical when they arrest people? Someone can use a computer and should be able to detect crime and people are arrested.

HON. MABOYI: Thank you Hon Moyo for bringing this issue. I want to reiterate that we have people who are drivers and work in logistics who usually take deliveries to different stations. You will find that those people have been trained and we are not saying we are segregating by not taking the disabled. The first thing which we should consider is that when you become a driver, you have to go for training and we are talking of vigorous training where one can run up to 40km and that disabled person cannot do that. We are saying for those whom you think could work in the offices, are the ones whom we are saying they were injured. Those are the people who take this responsibility. The policy says you should be a person who is physically fit. I am sure you have heard about the young boys being returned home because they failed to meet the criteria of being a policewoman or man.       I thank you.

PROCEDURE FOLLOWED BY RAPE VICTIMS AT POLICE

STATIONS

21. HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Home

Affairs and Cultural Heritage to explain to the House the procedure that must be followed by rape victims at Police Stations when reporting rape

cases.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. MAVHUNGA-MABOYI): Thank

you Hon. Chinyanganya for your good question really. You wanted us to explain to the House the procedure that must be followed by victims at police stations when reporting rape cases.

What happens here is that Mr. Speaker Sir, may I firstly tell this august House that the Victim Friendly Unit process involves various stakeholders thato include the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Judiciary, the

Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Department of Social Welfare.

Coming to the reporting of rape cases at police stations, a complainant or informant can report at any nearest or local police station.

Every police station has a trained Victim Friendly Unit Officer who then records the statement, interviews the victims, completes all the necessary documentation and takes the victim to the local hospital. Through this facility, we have rape clinics where victims receive counseling before being medically examined.

Mr. Speaker Sir, in cases of minors, the victim’s statement is recorded in the presence of either a parent, guardian or a Social Welfare officer. Where a report is made at a station that is not the place of occurrence, the police normally transfers the docket to the relevant station after completion of all the necessary initial documentation.

Mr. Speaker Sir, at all police stations, victims are interviewed in an environment that is conducive. What do we mean by conducive? We are saying they are not just interviewed in a Charge Office, there is an office where they will go, sit and be interviewed.

Mr. Speaker Sir, in conclusion, may I urge the public, especially close relatives and traditional leaders not to sweep rape cases under the carpet or intimidate victims with a view of influencing them not to report. Once cases are reported, action will be taken. I thank you.

HON. CHINYANGANYA: I want to thank the Hon. Deputy

Minister for her response explaining the procedure…

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Please proceed Honourable. – [HON. MAVHUNGA-MABOYI: Sorry, I missed the question!] -

HON. CHINYANGANYA: Sorry I was waiting for you to finish with him so that you can have my full attention. The reason why I asked the question Mr. Speaker is; I happened to be at Harare Police Central Station a few weeks ago and witnessed a sad story where there was a rape victim who was in the Charge Office. Police officers came in sequence asking her what had happened, and trying to explain to the police officers one after another that she had been raped was inhuman in my opinion.

So is the police aware of those procedures? Had they been aware that there is a Victim Friendly Unit at the police station, I am sure that they would have referred her rather than leaving her to be embarrassed in front of everyone. I thank you.

HON. MAVHUNGA-MABOYI: Thank you Hon. Chinyanganya. I am very sorry about what happened but it is not supposed to be like that. We are saying probably when these officers are out there, at times they may behave otherwise but that is not the issue here. So if you have details of that particular case, please can you bring it so that we can investigate more. We do not want such situations because they will lead to people not reporting. When you are embarrassing a person who has already been embarrassed because when you are raped, you have been embarrassed, hence we are saying if you know definitely where it happened and the person who was affected, you can report the matter to us so that we conduct investigations. I thank you.

PROVISION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR

HEALTH WORKERS AT KADOMA GENERAL HOSPITAL

24. HON. CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to inform the House when Government is going to provide proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers at

Kadoma General Hospital.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE

(HON. DR. MANGWIRO): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and thank you Hon. Chinyanganya for the good question.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is readily available at the

National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), Mashonaland West

Provincial Warehouse which is in Chinhoyi. When Kadoma General Hospital needs supplies of PPE, they can easily place orders from the provincial stores in Chinhoyi and the required PPE will be delivered to their hospital. NatPharm Chinhoyi will supply as per request from health facilities. I thank you and have attached a whole list of what is available at NatPharm stores and will deposit it with the Clerk. Thank you.

KADOMA HOSPITAL/SANYATI DISTRICT

COVID-19 ESSENTIAL COMMODITY WEEKLY BULLETIN

DATE: 17^TH MAY, 2021

ITEMDESCRIPTION	UNIT	STOCK ON HAND	COMMENTS
PPE Suit	Each	200	COVID-19 FUNDS
Facemask N95	Each	800	PROCUREMENT IN PROGRESS
Facemask Surgical	Each	83 523	NATPHARM
Face shield	Each	4 085	MOHCC/NATPHARM
Goggles	Pair	839	MOHCC/NATPHARM
Theatre Cap	Each	9 890	NATPHARM
Surgical Gown Disposable	Each	1 898	NATPHARM/CESHHAR
Apron Plastic Disposable	Each	15 177	MOHCC/NATPHARM
Apron Heavy Duty (Waterproof)	Each	16	NATPHARM
Glove Plastic Elbow length	P/100	11	PMU
Gloves Latex Exam S	P/100	11	NATPHARM
Gloves Latex Exam Med	P/100	618	NATPHARM
Gloves Latex L	P/100	8	NATPHARM
Gloves Nitrile Med	P/100	190	NATPHARM

 

Gloves Nitrile Large	P/100	109	NATPHARM
Hand Sanitiser	Bt/100 ml	263	NATPHARM/CESHHAR
Hand Sanitiser	Bt/500ml	830	NATPHARM/CESHHAR
Hand Sanitiser	Litre	0
Infra-red Thermometer	Each	108	NATPHARM
Overshoes	Pair	0
Facemask Cloth	Each	80	MOHCC/NATPHARM
Bag Refuse Disposal Large (Black)	Each		PROCUREMENT IN PROGRESS
Wheelie Bin	Each	1	NATPHARM
Bag Refuse Disposal for Wheelie Bin (Red)	Each	106	NATPHARM
Bag Refuse Disposal Small	Each	3	NATPHARM
Bag Refuse Disposal (Biohazard) Red/Yellow	Each		PROCUREMENT IN PROGRESS
Bag Refuse Disposal (Green)	Each		PROCUREMENT IN PROGRESS
Sharps Container	Each	3	NATPHARM
Scrubs (Top & Bottom)	Each	3	NATPHARM
Calcium Hypochlorite	Kg	57	MOHCC/NATPHARM
Gloves Heavy Duty	Pair	128	MOHCC/NATPHARM
Gloves Surgical Cuff Sixe 8	Pair	187	NATPHARM
Gloves Long Cuff	Pair	2	NATPHARM
Detergent/Disinfectant	B/IL	6	NATPHARM
Sodium Hypochlorite 5%	B/5L	37	NATPHARM/CESHHAR
Chlorine Tablet	T/100	6	NATPHARM

 

Hand Wash Soap		B/5L	2		NATPHARM
Laundry Soap		Bar/kg	146		MOHCC
Dish Washer		Bt/750ml	271		NATPHARM
Knapsack Sprayer		Each	4		MOHCC
Water Bucket with Tap	B/20L			31		NATPHARM
Water Bucket with Tap	B/50L			15		NATPHARM
Empty Container	C/25L			36		MOHCC
Empty Container	C/5L			25		MOHCC
Gumboot White Size 6	Pair			0
Gumboot White Size 7	Pair			15		NATPHARM
Gumboot White Size 8	Pair			14		NATPHARM
Gumboot White Size 9	Pair			7		NATPHARM
Gumboot White Size 10	Pair			0
Oxygen Nasal Prongs (Cannula) Adult	Set			14		MOHCC
Oxygen Nasal Prongs (Cannula) Paeds	Set			31		MOHCC
Oxygen Oral/Nasal Prongs Infant (Neonat)	Set			7		MOHCC
Oxygen Mask Adult	Set			10		MOHCC
Oxygen Mask Child	Set			10		MOHCC
Oxygen Supply Tubing	Unit			23		NATPHARM
Oxygen Gauge	Unit			6		HOSPITAL STOCK
Oxygen Gauge Pin	Unit			1		MOHCC

 

Type
Oxygen Gauge Ball Nose Type	Unit	1	MOHCC
Oxygen Cylinder	1.8kg	0	GAS ROOM
Oxygen Cylinder	4.6kg	0	GAS ROOM
Oxygen Cylinder	9.2kg	2	GAS ROOM
Nitrous Oxide	31.2kg	0	GAS ROOM
Oxygen Ventilator	Unit	0	NATPHARM
Oxygen Concentrator	Each	2	HOSPITAL STOCK
Humidifying Bottles	Each	7	NATPHARM/MOHCC
Pulse Oximetere, Fingertip	Each	21	MOHCC
Body Bag Adult	Each	59	GOLDEN VALLEY
Body Bag Child	Each	6	HOSPITAL STOC K
Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C) 100mg	B/1000	11	EX-MDA STOCK
Azithromycin 200mg/5ml	B/15ml	185	NATPHARM
Azithromycin 500mg	B/500	6	ORDER NATPHARM
Ceftriaxone 250mg	Vial	250	NATPHARM
Cetriaxone 500mg	Vial	0	HOSPITAL STOCK
Cetriaxone 1g	Vial	20	NATPHARM
Dexamethasone	Amp/2ml	264	HOSPITAL STOCK
Doxycycline 100mg	Bt/100	31	HOSPITAL STOCK
Paracetamol 120mg/5ml	Bt/60ml	448	HOSPITAL STOCK
Paracetamol 500mg	Bt/1000ml	314	MOVED TO M/PHARMACY
Paracetamol 1g IV	Bt/100ml	0	HOSPITAL STOCK
Prednisolene 5mg	B/100	194
Sodium Chloride (N/Saline) 0.9%40	Bg/1L	0
Zinc Sulphate 20mg (Co-Pack)	Str/10 & ORS	1258	UNICEF KITS
Ringer Lactate	Bg/500ml	1280	UNICEF KITS
Cryotubes 2ml	P/1000	40	NATPHARM
Ziplock Bag	P/100	31	NATPHARM

MEASURES TO IMPROVE NETWORK CHALLENGES IN SOME

PARTS OF MBERENGWA EAST CONSTITUENCY

30. HON. RAIDZA asked the Minister of Information

Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services to inform the House measures being put in place to improve the network challenges in some parts of Mberengwa East Constituency, e.g. Mbuya Nehanda High

School, Chiwara Primary School in Ward 6, Ngungumbane Business

Centre in Ward 20 and ZRP Buchwa Police Station in Ward 4.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER

SERVICES (HON. PHUTI): Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Let me begin by honestly indicating that a similar question was asked and a response was given. It is unfortunate that nothing was done on the ground. In my last response, I had indicated that a site was surveyed and acquired at Mbuya Nehanda and that a network tower was to be constructed by Telecel under the Build

Operate and Transfer (BOT) model arrangement.

The operator Telecel later submitted that they were having challenges of sourcing foreign currency to kick-start the project. The Ministry realising the same challenge was being faced by other operators had to go back to the drawing board. Working with the Telecomms Regulator, POTRAZ we ventured into a pilot project which we hope will be completed by the end of the fourth quarter. The project is to do with redeployment of network towers to underserved or unserved areas of the country. Where they are two or three towers, we de-rig, that means removing one or two and redeploying them elsewhere.

The project will save us from the challenge of foreign currency because most of the material that is used to construct network towers is imported. It is our hope that after the successful redeployment of these towers, the project will be extended to various other areas. Mbuya

Nehanda in Mberengwa East Constituency is expected to benefit from this project and once done, it will cover most of the mentioned areas in the wards. I thank you.

PROVISION OF FUNDING TO KADOMA CITY COUNCIL

31. HON CHINYANGANYA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House when government will provide funding to the Kadoma City Council for rehabilitation of the sewer reticulation system and the Rimuka Sewer Treatment Plant.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Works started last year

on the rehabilitation of the sewer treatment plant. Last year the local authority received $3 million under the devolution fund, from which amount $1, 400 000 was used for the rehabilitation of the sewerage works reticulation. The balance of $1,600 000 which was paid this year has been used for the procurement of the pump.

This year, the Local Authority has budgeted $15 000 000 for sewerage works and reticulation. Unfortunately, council has not yet completed the procurement process which will enable the devolution funds to be released for the project.

HON. CHINYANGANYA: I want to thank the Minister for her

response and also for availing the funds. Actually, I submitted the question last year but it was not put on the Order Paper.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE COURTS BUILDING AT

MUTAWATAWA GROWTH POINT

32. HON. KARUMAZONDO asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House when the Ministry is going to construct the Courts Building at Mtawatawa Growth Point.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. CHOMBO): Mr. Speaker, I would

like to inform this august House that the Ministry provided the designs for the Courts to the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) and is waiting for further instructions from them. Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to take note that the construction of courts is under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The Ministry of Local

Government is merely a contractor to such projects. I thank you.

*HON. KARIMAZONDO: I want to thank the Minister for that explanation. My request is that Minister, as and when possible can you please consider Mtawatawa as the current building they are using is very small because where people sit before they enter the court is not conducive. That is the Government complex there. So some workers who want to access their offices have difficulties because the corridors will be full of people waiting to enter the courts.

HON. CHOMBO: I hope I heard him right. I think he was just making a comment which is noted if I heard right.

WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO QUESTION WITH NOTICE

23. HON. J. SITHOLE asked the Minister of Health and Child

Care to inform the House why people from Ward 3 in Bikita South

Constituency continue to overcrowd at a make-shift structure at Odzi

Clinic while a new standard clinic which was constructed and completed long back at the site using the utilisation of devolution funds still lies

idle.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE

(HON. DR. MANGWIRO): The new clinic in Odzi is now operational after sourcing some equipment from NatPharm. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is currently working on additional room loading.

Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY

SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.

TABLING OF TREASURY MINUTES

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. MTHULI): I rise to table some

Treasury minutes. Treasury has responded to some of the issues raised by the Public Account Committee and I had sent these Treasury minutes to Parliament through the Clerk’s Office and to the Speaker. However, there is a requirement that Treasury minutes be physically tabled by myself before this august House and I have them ready.

I seek leave of the House to table Treasury minutes which are the

Government’s response to issues raised by the Public Accounts

Committee on the following entities;

1. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development; ii. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and

Technology Development; iii. The Bulawayo City Council; and iv. The Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Section 7 (2) (c) of the Public Finance Management Act mandates that the control of the National Assembly over such public resources is maintained and that transparency systems are established and maintained, which provide a full account to the National Assembly for the use of public resources and to ensure the exercise of regularity and propriety in the handling and expenditure of public resources and Government to respond to Committee reports.

The National Assembly Standing Rules and Orders No. 26 (1) as required by section 107 (2) of the Constitution, every Vice President and Minister must attend Parliament and parliamentary committees in order to answer questions concerning matters for which he or she is collectively or individually responsible.

At the conclusion of debate on a report of a Select Committee, a Vice President or Minister must in all cases provide a comprehensive response to matters raised in the report within ten (10) sitting days. Mr. Speaker Sir, in line with the aforementioned provisions of our laws, I now lay the Treasury Minutes of the following entitles:

1. Ministry of Finance and Economic Development;
2. Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology

Development;

3. Bulawayo City Council; and
4. The Ministry of Health and Child Care.

I thank you.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. MUTAMBISI: I move that Orders of the Day Number 1 to 22 on Today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order Number 23 on

Today’s Order Paper has been disposed off.

Motion put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT

AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE STATE OF

CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE (CAAZ)

AIRPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE

Twenty-Third Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion of the

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development on the State of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe

(CAAZ).

Question again proposed.

HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just want to add my voice on the report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Infrastructural Development that was presented by Hon. Gorerino on the state of Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to introduce my debate in the following manner to show how important this report of this Committee is. I want to premise it on the contribution of the aviation sector to the global economic development. I will bring it down to the national economic development and ultimately to the Civil Aviation Authority of

Zimbabwe, why it should be robust, resilient, effective and efficient.

As I introduce my debate, the air transport is an innovative industry that drives economies. The civil aviation authority’s mandate is to licence the aviation sector as a regulator and as an operator to make sure that there is enhancement of the air transport system or industry that drives economy and social progress. It connects people, countries and cultures, provide access to global markets and generates tourism.

Aviation provides the only rapid worldwide transportation network which makes it essential for global business and tourism, thus facilitating economic growth as I have alluded to, particularly in developing countries such as Zimbabwe in the Second Republic.

Some 2000 airlines around the world operate a total of 23 000 aircrafts and are supposed to land at airports that are managed and run by authorities in the civil aviation department of those nations. They serve some 3750 airports and a good number of these airlines are Alliances; one Alliance which includes the Qatars of our time, this alliance that has the South African Airlines and various other alliances.

I have already said these are dotted around 3750 airports through a route network of several millions of kilometers managed by around 160 air navigation service providers which include the air traffic controllers, the civil aviation authorities of the global communities.

This is how I want to introduce my debate. Air carriers transport over 2, 2 billion passengers annually.     This was before the advent of the COVID- 19 pandemic. However, the airports serve around 4 billion passengers annually which include departing, arriving and transporting passengers. The total value of goods transported by air represents 35% of all international trade.     Over 40% of international tourists now travel by air. This is how key aviation industry is and should be treated. It should be viewed in this manner and this is how we can grow the economy.

Our report centres on the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe. I have given you the global perspective of how we are supposed to view our aviation industry. It is unfortunate and very sad that I am no longer part of that Committee. However, after this debated, Mr. Speaker, please, have a re-think of maybe positioning me again in that Portfolio Committee because I think I add value as an aviator and as a combat controller of repute, having gone to school for such an occurrence.

Mr. Speaker Sir, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is also part of global initiative to grow the economy towards the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 of them of 2030. This is how I want you to understand how this is all about. There are 17 Sustainable Development

Goals.

I now want to narrow this down to how aviation, which is regulated and also licenced by civil aviation authorities of different countries including Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, which has about 8 airports that it presides over. In the 8^th Parliament, we debated the issue of amending or presenting a Bill that was going to disintegrate the one civil aviation authority into one, a regulator and one, an operator which has seen the Civil Aviation Authority being able to licence and both disappoint airports that have a delinquent way of dealing with the aviation industry. The airports that do not meet international standards, now the Civil Aviation Authority is able to de-register them. Previously, it could not because it was just one mass and it had no power to do that. How does it do that Mr. Speaker Sir? It is informed by technocrats who are supposed to reside in those boards.       The board that the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe currently has, has a debt in terms of depth in the aviation sector and knowledge. It does not have technocrats and people who it can lean on and give expert advice in the aviation industry. It is somehow taking the same route that Parliament has taken in the Portfolio Committee on Transport but this should not be like that. It is my hope that boards should have people that have the knowledge and expertise in order that they can then give or cascade the knowledge of that industry down to management.

Mr. Speaker Sir, the United Nations Goal on Zero Hunger, how does the aviation industry deal with this one? If you knew Mr. Speaker Sir, you would know that 35 000 tonnes of food and commodities are delivered by air. In 2019 Mr. Speaker Sir, this is what happened; 35 000 tonnes of food aid was delivered by air. This is where we saw the advent of the Covid pandemic, to relieve victims of the pandemic, flood victims and the health crisis that was caused by the Covid pandemic Mr. Speaker Sir. This had to be so in the absence of the aviation industry, we certainly would be at sea Mr. Speaker Sir.

Mr. Speaker Sir, you would also want to know on the United

Nations goal that talks to good health and well-being. Out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 15 speak to and about the involvement and inclusion of the economic development and alignment of those goals to the aviation industry. Without the aviation industry regulated by the Civil Aviation Authorities of those nations, certainly there would not be any fulfilling or fulfillment of the SDGs of 2030, which coincide with Vision 2030 of His Excellency, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa in the Second Republic. On the goal to good health and well-being, 99% of Brazil’s urgent medical shipments Mr. Speaker Sir and those of advanced nations, including organs and blood are sent by air free of charge through the project supported by among other nations, 15 Brazilian airlines. We have benefitted from the Brazilian project of more food for Africa. I want to make you see how aviation has made this goal benefit Mr. Speaker Sir. Ninety nine per cent (99%) of organs, blood and other health related issues have been transported by air through 15 airlines, which airlines have been licenced by Civil Aviation Authorities including Zimbabwe. You cannot touch your wheels or you cannot land and depart on Zimbabwe’s soil except if you have been licenced by the Civil Aviation Authority if you have a licence both to land and to take off.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I am going to touch on the fees; the wide boarded and the general airlines right at the tail end of my debate or at the conclusion. However, I also want to say on the goal of quality education, four million students travel abroad to study each year by air. This is how crucial it is for us to have a robust and resilient Civil Aviation Authority. So it is with a heavy heart that I stand here to even note that the boards comprise of people who have no knowledge in the sector. It takes us to medieval times. We do not want to be like “born before computers” (BBC), to be archaic, moribund, rudimental and antiquated. We need to move with the times so that we can impart the knowledge using those people that have the knowledge to impart it to generations to come, including the management of the Civil Aviation Authority.

On gender equality, how does Civil Aviation Authority take care of that United Nations goal Mr. Speaker Sir? Forty one per cent (41%) of aviation employees both in Europe and Africa, although as much a lower percentage in the technical roles, the industry is working hard to encourage greater workforce diversity. This is how well-regulated and operated a civil aviation authority can actually get us Mr. Speaker Sir, to gender equality.

I want to go to the United Nations goal on clear water and sanitation as to how our aviation industry championed, regulated, licenced and operated by the Civil Aviation Authority can enhance the clean water and sanitation. It says here Mr. Speaker Sir, 95% new dry wash techniques for aircraft can reduce the use of our water when we are cleaning our aircraft and that dry wash techniques can only be licenced and regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Nduna, there is a

point of order.

HON. S. BANDA: Thank you so much Hon. Speaker. Hon. Nduna is doing a good job and he is being very technical about it but if you look into the debate, it is discussing the report of the Portfolio

Committee on Transport on the state of the Civil Aviation Authority in

Zimbabwe on the airports that were visited by Members of that Committee. I was hoping that Hon. Nduna would come up with suggestions in Chegutu West where he comes from. We should be having a new international airport or a domestic airport. I think that is what he is about to report. So I am hoping Hon. Nduna would swerve and come back …

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Member. He

is going to come back. Hon. Nduna, may you proceed.

HON. NDUNA: Thank you for your protection Mr. Speaker Sir. I did not want to talk of the shallow path of this report. This report I breathe life into it but if he maintains that I speak to the shallow path of visiting the airport …

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Nduna, you are left with

five minutes, can you proceed.

HON. NDUNA: Thank you Hon. Speaker, I have touched on the universal sustainable development goals. I now want to then say the

Civil Aviation Authority constructed airport Victoria Falls where the Committee went to in the 8^th Parliament. We actually applauded the manner that that airport has been constructed. Alas Mr. Speaker Sir, the visit by the Committee on Transport in the 9^th Parliament is just repeating what we did, it is like ukudla amahlanzo, what we would have digested, it is not right, it is wrong, it is not just. We speak to our reports and they should actually be responded to, so that we do not repeat what has been done - otherwise the tax payers money is going for nothing whilst people are going on a visiting spree. There is need to see that what has happened to Victoria Falls is applauded by the number of passengers that it is now receiving. In 2019, they received about 250 000 visitors through that airport, in 2020 they received about 450 000 visitors, that is applaudable. The amount that they can handle at that airport is about 1.5 million. We are still working towards that.

Mr. Speaker, it is my view, clarion call and hope that this Committee can actually play its robust and effective oversight role by interrogating the Executive on how and what it is that they are doing. They should make sure that they lure passengers because of the expanded nature of the airport. As we speak, we have the R. G. Mugabe Airport along the same line of 150 million Chinese Exim financed project. It is applaudable that what we had in Victoria Falls, the lock, stock and barrel or the ten key projects, we now have our local consultants and contractors who are headed by the Chinese constructing the R. G. Mugabe Airport, this is what should come out of the report to applaud what is happening in the Second Republic.

However, I have seen a death of that. Now the resuscitation of all the other aerodromes and airports should also be key in that the Civil Aviation Authority only has eight airports, whereas we have Grand Reef in Mutare and DDF is using its cessna aircraft on that aerodrome in Mutare. It is my hope that Civil Aviation Authority can go into partnership with the soldiers at Grand Reef Airport because it is in the Army base with J. Z. Nkomo Airbase in Chegutu in order that we have communication systems that are similar in all these airports. This will enable us to land both our wide and narrow bodied aircrafts in all these airports which are not under Civil Aviation Authority. All the local authorities have at least one aerodrome. I speak for Kadoma, I know at Cam and Motor Mine, they have got one and Gweru has got a Gweru aerodrome which is not under the Civil Aviation Authority. It is my hope that these aerodromes can be resuscitated, this is the opportunity so that we do not continue to be gallivanting and that we are profession ….

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Nduna, your time has

expired.

HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to represent the 15 Wards of Chegutu Constituency on the issue of the CARS report which is pregnant with a lot of consistency issues, 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: Thursday, 20^th May, 2021.

On the motion of HON. MUTAMBISI seconded by HON.

NDUNA, the House adjourned at Sixteen Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.