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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 22 June 2016 42-70

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 22^nd June, 2016

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

PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  I would like to inform the House that Dr. Moses Chiwanza MBchB UZ, a medical doctor, would like to partner with Hon. Members to provide medical services to the less privileged in their constituencies, who cannot access medical services on time.  If at all – [HON. MEMBERS:  Ayehwa, zvakwana, zvakwana takaguta.] – Order. To those who cannot access medical services on time.  If at all, due to lack of financial resources or long distances they have to travel particularly, in rural areas.  Members are encouraged to meet with Dr. Chiwanza who has set up a desk at the Members’ dining room.  He will be here today, Wednesday 22^nd and Thursday, 23^rd June, 2016 – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Order, Hon. Members, you are not being forced but there might be members who may need to partner with him.  Why are you worried?  If you want to know where he comes from, go there and talk to him.

HON. GONESE:  Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege in terms of the provisions of Standing Order Number 68 paragraph (d) as read with the provisions of Standing Order Number 69, 32 and 33....

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, would you please approach the Chair – [HON. ZWIZWAI:  Mudhara Chokuda, wakuita zvaZvoma zviya, zvatakazoti Zvoma must go.] – [Laughter]

HON. MARIDADI:  I rise on a point of order Madam Speaker, as read in conjunction with Section 148, Privileges and Immunities of

Parliament.  This arises after the Portfolio Committee on ICT, chaired by

Hon. Chamisa invited the suspended Chief Executive Officer of NetOne,

Reward Kangai to give evidence.  He gave evidence to the Portfolio Committee and made some allegations against Minister Supa

Mandiwanzira.  In response, Minister Supa Mandiwanzira infers that Parliament is colluding with Mr. Kangai so that they can tarnish the name of the Minister.

Madam Speaker, Section 148 of the Constitution says that,

Standing Orders will define conduct which constitute contempt of Parliament, whether committed by Members of Parliament or other people.  Schedule 8 says, “molesting, assaulting or threatening a witness on account of evidence given by him or her before Parliament or a Committee.”  Madam Speaker, I think Hon. Mandiwanzira should be found in contempt of Parliament for the statements that he made in the Newspaper.  Thank you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  I hear you Hon. Maridadi.

We will look into the matter but I also advise that before you present, I think as the Chair, I would like to know what you want to present.

HON. GONESE:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  As I was saying earlier on, I rise in terms of the provisions of Standing Order Number 68 paragraph (d) as read with the provisions of Standing Order Number 69, 32, 33 and other Standing Orders which I am going to refer to in the course of my presentation.  In terms of the provisions of this Standing Order, it is a matter of privilege and such a matter, in terms of the provisions of Standing Order Number 69, takes precedence over other motions as well as Orders of the Day.

This matter is in terms of Standing Order Number 32, paragraph (4) in regard to the proceedings of the Parliamentary Legal Committee.

Madam Speaker, can I proceed?

Madam Speaker, the issues which I am raising are fundamental for the good order and proceedings of this august House.  The issues which I am raising are very fundamental.  They are very crucial.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Can you please proceed?

HON. GONESE:  Yes, I am proceeding, Madam Speaker.  In terms of Standing Order Number 32 and Standing Order Number 33, there are elaborate provisions which are laid out regarding the convening of meetings of the Parliamentary Legal Committee in particular.

Yesterday, Madam Speaker, when I came to the House, I was informed that a purported meeting of the Parliamentary Legal Committee had taken place.  When I spoke to the Chairperson, he indicated to me that they had already prepared or agreed on a nonadverse report.  That meeting, I was not aware of it. Hon. Majome is currently away participating in the public hearings which are being conducted by the Local Government Portfolio Committee and she was not even given notice of any meeting and there are five members.

The Parliamentary Legal Committee is a very important Committee of this august House.  It is the only Committee which is provided for specifically in terms of the Constitution.  Section 152 is very clear.  It sets out the establishment of the Parliamentary Legal Committee.  As I was pointing out, Madam Speaker, we actually had a group discussion on our WhatsApp group which comprises Counsel to Parliament and the Members of the Parliamentary Legal Committee where a suggestion had been made that the Parliamentary Legal

Committee meets at 12:30 p.m. yesterday.

I indicated that this was a very important Bill and I suggested that we could not proceed that way in the absence of one of our members who was away, not on a frolic of her own, but on Parliamentary duties as part of the Parliamentary Legal Committee.  Having expressed those sentiments, my assumption was that, like all rational beings and one of our members, whom I will mention, even concurred to the suggestion that we meet on Monday to deal with the issue of the report of the

Parliamentary Legal Committee regarding the Local Government

Amendment Bill.

What I am saying, Madam Speaker, is fundamental because I think we need it for posterity.  Thereafter, Madam Speaker, I was informed by the Chairperson that we have already finished.  You were not here in

Parliament.   Nicodemously and stealthily, I was present.  I was here in Harare.  I had gone to the bank.  I could not access money from the bank. I was told to wait for two hours.  I went back after two hours and I was still at the bank up to 2:30 p.m.  Then the Chairperson said to me, you were not in the House and this is the way we proceeded.

But the long and short of it, Madam Speaker is that, I want to… -

[HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

HON. CHINOTIMBA:  On a point of order, Madam Speaker -

[HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

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

[HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Order Hon. Members.

HON. GONESE:  The provisions of Standing Order 32 are very clear, that the Committee must form its opinion through the collective knowledge and experience of the members.  The reason why I am referring to these provisions is because they are very important and critical.

In terms of paragraph 5, the periods within which the Committee must report to the House, the Vice President, Minister or authority referred to in Subsection 4, in the case of a Bill described in terms of Section 152 paragraph 3(a) of the Constitution, the period of 26 business days.

This particular Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee on 7^th June, 2016 and from my calculations, business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays and from my calculations, only 11 days have elapsed.  In other words, we still have got 13 days within which to examine the Bill.  I believe that those days were put in for a reason.  To allow us to consult, to seek other advice because as lawyers, it does not mean that we know everything.  We are legally qualified, but we also seek the opinions of others.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker, I am not going to read the Standing Orders to save time.  They are very clear that all members are entitled to prepare their own reports.  If the Chairperson prepares a report and any of the members of the Committee feels differently, that member of the Committee is entitled, in terms of our Standing Orders, to prepare a draft report which is different to the one prepared by the majority of the members and the Committee is obliged and required to go over the two reports paragraph by paragraph.

We were not given that opportunity, myself and Hon. Majome, who have a different opinion to that which has been expressed by some of the other members of the Committee.  We must do things properly.

The other reason I am raising this, Madam Speaker, today on the Order Paper, Hon. Kasukuwere has given notice that he intends to move a motion to suspend the provisions of Standing Order No. 32, as well as the provisions of Standing Order No. 139.  I am concerned with both Standing Orders.   In terms of the provisions of Standing Order No. 32, it refers to the issues which I have already adumbrated.  In terms of the provisions of Section 139 that relate to the stages of Bills and here we are, we have got a Committee which is still out covering some areas which had been left out, which is Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South and the Minister wants to come here today to suspend the provisions of those two Standing Orders so that the Bill can be fast tracked.

I am actually proposing that that, motion should be expunged from the Order Paper. It is in bad test, it is undemocratic and we cannot allow it.  Having said that Madam Speaker, we need confirmation that the purported meeting, from what the Clerk was now expressing, that the purported meeting which was nicodemously held yesterday is a nullity.  We need that pronouncement to be made in this august House and that any further meetings, Madam Speaker, you are aware that from tomorrow we have got a workshop ..

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Gonese, please!

HON. GONESE:  We have got a workshop on Sustainable Goals in Mutare where some members of the Committee including myself and Hon. Majome are going to be in attendance.  We can only meet as a Parliamentary Legal Committee next week.  We do not want a situation where the Chairperson of the Committee who purports to be an independent Member of Parliament is more ZANU PF than ZANU PF itself, can then just come up with a meeting....

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Gonese, I think you

have made your point.

HON. GONESE:  Yes, if I have made my point, I was going to go

to town but if I had made my point, if it is agreed - yes, I was going to read all the provisions which I am justified and entitled to do so that we really make the point that what was purported to have happened is not in accordance with principles of natural justice, not in accordance with the Constitution and is not in accordance with our Standing Orders.  That is my case Madam Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Gonese, we are going to

look into that matter and also get the help of administration, I thank you.

TABLING OF NARRATIVE REPOTS

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Madam I rise to lay three

narrative reports on

• Appropriation Accounts, Finance Accounts, Revenue Statements and Fund Accounts.
• Narrative Report on State Enterprises and Parastatals and;
• Narrative Report on Local Authorities.

I am laying these reports in terms of Section 12, subsection 1 of the

Audit Office Act Chapter [22:18].  So I do lay the reports on the table.

HON. NDUNA:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I think it must have  been last week or this week where a motion of public interest and national interest was moved by Hon. Maridadi, which I seconded on medical aid societies and doctors.  If it pleases you Madam Speaker, indulge me in asking the Minister of Health and Child Care, seeing he is here, to appraise the House on where we were on that issue, what is obtaining at the moment, nationally and what is going to obtain in the future, pertaining to that issue which was and still is of national importance?  I thank you. [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think your motion because

of lack of quorum fell off because of lack of quorum but if the Minister is prepared to answer to whatever was debated on, he might answer you when he is ready.

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to

thank Hon. Nduna for that insight into what should be said.  I will be giving a full ministerial statement on that issue tomorrow.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

*HON. MUKUPE:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  My question is

from the children of Highlands Primary School in my constituency and it is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development

– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Because of that, I will allow

him to ask.

HON. MUKUPE:  Madam Speaker, I ask for your protection from

this hooliganist behaviour.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Mukupe, I cannot hear

what you are saying. Can you please come closer?

*HON. MUKUPE:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  My question

originates from the children of Highlands Primary School in my constituency and is directed to the Minister of Transport and

Infrastructural Development.  When we were growing up, the Zimbabwe Traffic Council used to visit schools conscientising pupils on traffic rules, regulations and how to cross the roads. Minister, has the policy changed with regard to the mandate of the Zimbabwe Traffic Council in conscientising pupils on how to maneuver their way on the roads?

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO): I

want to thank the Hon. Member for that question. Government policy has not changed pertaining to the mandate of the Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe. Currently, the council is going out to various schools conscientising pupils on what he raised as well as distributing literature and enlightening them on the new SADC traffic signs that are now being used in the region. The challenge the council is facing limited traffic manpower. I think the council team had not reached Highlands Primary School at the time of his visit to that school but they are going to all schools to conscientise the children on road traffic signs.

*HON. MUCHENJE:  Minister, as you are teaching these pupils, what are you doing to conscientise the general public even those that are licenced?

* HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you for the question Hon. Muchenje. The position is that your observations are quite correct. There are new signs that those of us who are old licence holdrs will need to revisit and acquaint ourselves with those new signs. Those that mostly drive on the roads have observed the new signs that we have erected are the new standard signs. Most of those signs have not changed. The majority of us will even want to know why the signs are now on wooden poles instead of steel poles, it is because this is in line with the SADC Protocol. I also said that in other areas, people are removing the signs and throw them away because they do not know their meaning. The position is that the Traffic Safety Council will be embarking on public education outreach programme to inform the people of the new signs. Already, we have gone to Rural District Councils to inform those that are in various councils so that they acquaint themselves with these new signs. We are even giving Highway Code books to schools. This is a good suggestion that we should spread to the majority of the people that are already licenced. I thank you.

*HON. MATIENGA: My question is directed to the Minister of Education who is not in the House. May I proceed? Okay, they are all in the House. Minister, may you please clarify if it is Government policy that funds that were being paid towards SDAs are now being deposited into the Government account instead of the SDA account?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry, the Minister is not in. I had seen the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education.

HON. MUNENGAMI: My point of order Madam Speaker, is that you can see today that what we have always said day in, day out in this august House, that if it were possible, could the Executive give us a person who is capable to answer these questions. If possible we can direct our questions to the Leader of the House. Oh, one other Minister has just walked into the House.

HON. CHIMANIKIRE: I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Industry and Commerce and in his absence, I am redirecting the question to the Leader of the House, assuming it is the Minister of Finance and Economic Development - since the question has something to do with finance. Madam Speaker, last year during the workshop on the 2016 budget, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Dr. Mangudya, referred to the new normal. The new normal that he referred

to was ....

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order!

HON. CHIMANIKIRE: The new normal that he referred to was

the advent into our economy of informal workers that are engaging in trade within the various sectors and trading in various goods. Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, now bans the importation of the goods that are used by those that are in the formal sector, realising that it includes small items like ...

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, where are you

reading from? Would you please ask a straight question?

HON. CHIMANIKIRE: My question is, what is Government

policy as regards the new normal of ensuring that we are providing jobs for those that are in the informal sector who rely on importation of the goods that have been included under Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, which now prohibits the importation of those goods for trade within the informal sector?

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): The Statutory Instrument

referred to by the Hon. Member does not ban importation of commodities. If you read it carefully, it merely removes those items from the open general licence and for you to import those goods, you need to apply for a licence. That is what that instrument is about. Government remains committed to supporting the informal sector, more particularly to help it to access credit, skills development and infrastructure for it to be formal.

Currently, our challenges with revenue collection arise from the fact that the economy is highly informalised and it presents problems in terms of revenue collection. So, our interest as Government is to recognise that there are those SMEs and to help them establish themselves into formal businesses so that we facilitate the collection of revenue. I thank you Madam Speaker.

*HON. ZVIDZAI: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is

with regards to the suspension of licences, or the need for requirements for licences. What licences are being talked about is a hardship on our women. Our women are being abused so that they can be issued with these licences. Why do we require these licences? The country is facing difficulties. Why do we have that and why were the people not consulted?

          HON. CHINAMASA: The supplementary question is that the

Hon. Member does not understand the need to address the Import Bill. Part of our challenges as an economy is the current account deficit. We are importing more than we export and a lot of the hard earned foreign currency that we make is going to buy trinkets, because we were operating in an over liberalised foreign exchange market. That has to stop so that we limit the usage of our hard earned foreign currency to importing only those goods which are critical to the development of the economy.

So, some of the measures that have been taken are to address the Import Bill, more particularly with respect to goods which are locally produced. A lot of those items which have been removed from the open general licence are locally produced. The goods locally produced are of a higher quality and it is for this august House to support our local industry, manufacturers and our local economy. Please support the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign. I thank you.

*HON. D. SIBANDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. We have a SADC Protocol that entitles us to buy goods from SADC. Why are you now suggesting that we can no longer import goods into this country?

*HON. CHINAMASA: Hon. Sibanda did not listen to what I was

saying. We did not say that we are banning the importation of these goods. We respect the SADC Protocol that we are talking about.

Everything that we are doing is above board. It is in line with SADC Protocols. We are not barring anyone. We are saying we require one to be licenced to import such goods. It is no longer on the general open licence. That is what we are saying.

HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Thank you Madam Speaker...

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is the last supplementary question. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -

HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Thank you Madam Speaker. My own

interpretation of licencing is as good as banning. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Let us take note Madam Speaker that these people are using their own money, not Government money to cross the border. Therefore, while they were willy-nilly crossing the border and having their passports stamped, they would come back after having used their own money. If I am going to need approval where I have got my own money in my pocket, then it is equivalent to being banned.

On the issue of the manufacturing sector in this country, the CZI President Busisa Moyo, just a few days ago said the manufacturing sector had sluggish performance in the first half of this year, which is up to June. He says he does not have accurate statistics of what is going on but however, he says performance is down to 20%. This was at the CZI Conference. Against that background, how are we going to supplement the needs of Zimbabweans in terms of supply, that we were being supplied by those who were cross border traders using their own money to import?

HON. CHINAMASA: Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and Government has accurate figures and statistics on production of goods which are produced in Zimbabwe. We are aware of the national demand for those specific products and we are also aware of the gap between the level of production and national demand. The measures which are being taken are targeting only those goods which are locally produced, and for which we know the local production is meeting national demand.

If there are any queries, I am sure those affected will engage the Ministry of Industry and Commerce so that if there is any mistake, it can be corrected. Overally, we have the statistics to know what is now locally produced because we have been supporting a lot of local firms in order to produce those goods and services. – [HON. MEMEBR:

Inaudible interjections.] -

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, there is no need for a point of Order Hon. Member. That is the answer from the Minister. Can we proceed with questions without notice?

HON. KACHEPA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is

directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. This country had people fighting for the liberation struggle in its entirety ...

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your question Hon.

Member?

*HON. KACHEPA: My question is directed to the Minister of

Health and Child Care.  Minister this country was fought for, with all the provinces taking part and their border areas where the brunt of the liberation struggle was felt and others lost limbs. What does the Government have in store to ensure that these people get wheel chairs and artificial limbs so that the lives of these people get better?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members! Let us

give each other a chance to ensure that the Minister to whom the question is intended answers the question. Hon. Kachepa, to whom is your question directed to?

HON. KACHEPA: To Hon. Mupfumira.

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND

SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. MUPFUMIRA): In the Ministry we

have a department which is responsible for occupational health. Even those that were injured during the liberation war, but the point is at the moment - those who are ill can approach the department of Social Welfare. We have Ruwa rehabilitation centre where such people get attention and they are given wheel chairs and other appliances. We urge such people to go to the Department of Social Welfare in their nearest places in their district offices. If they are not assisted they can move to the provinces until they see a doctor. The patients are examined and out of the doctors’ recommendations the person is assisted. I thank you.

HON. KACHEPA: I have posed the question because when

people come to your offices, they are asked to pay. Are they not entitled to free treatment? I am talking about the landmines that are still in the border area and these people are vulnerable. Does Government have measures in place to ensure that such people are treated free of charge?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister please respond

if I were to respond it would not be proper.

HON. MUPFUMIRA: I would like to thank Hon. Kachepa. As I

said, there is a Department of Social Welfare which is in your districts they are even found at district level. We have Community Welfare Assistants to whom you should make your concerns heard in your constituencies, they are there to assist you. The people are even assisted with bus fare and there is money to ensure that they see a doctor. Go and see a Social Welfare Officer in your district and you may go down as far as ward level, there are such people. It is your duty as a Member of Parliament to also assist your Constituents.

HON. MACHINGAUTA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. First and

foremost, let me thank the person who asked this question. It is painful that that persons who were injured in the process of liberating this country are not getting treatment. In Zimbabwe - which is 36 old after the advent of our liberation. There are those people whose limbs were severed in June 2008, may I be protected Madam Speaker?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members!

HON. MACHINGAUTA: My question to the Hon. Minister is

does Government have anything in place to ensure that  those whose limbs were severed in 2008 with the acronym ‘SHORT SLEEVE’ that were hurt by other Members who are in this august House, what are you going to do about them? I thank you.

HON. MUPFUMIRA: As I said earlier on Madam Speaker, we

have departments in our Ministry that attend to such issues. I urge Hon.

Members as people’s representatives to assist them by referring them to the various departments of Social Welfare. We have a bigger centre in Ruwa and another one in Bulawayo where the victims are attended to and the type of assistance needed is assessed. As Government we do not require party cards upfront and the Government is for everyone, and I represent all the people of Zimbabwe. I thank you.

HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question

is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. People are having problems because of the medical expenses that are charged in hosptitals. I want to find out what measures do you have in place as a Ministry …           HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order! It is a serious issue and people are suffering …

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

HON. CHAMISA: My point of order Madam Speaker is that that Hon. Mudarikwa - may he please sit down because I am raising a point of order that pertains to him – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

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

silence; we want to hear what the Hon. Member on the floor wants to

say.

HON. CHAMISA: It is important that Hon. Mudarikwa, once we give a ruling or determination, whenever he comes, he should withdraw his statement.  He has uttered some unparliamentarily words that when it was being mentioned that people require medical assistance, he called out that people go ku n’anga.  It is bad for people to go to traditional healers, the other time others went to Chinhoyi Curves to look for diesel because they had believed in such n’angas. I am saying he should withdraw his statement because that is a problem to Government.  The Government should not believe in traditional healers, it is unparliamentarily.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is a n’anga not a traditional

healer?

HON. CHAMISA: I would not know because I do not go there.  I

know not of traditional healers.  It is not there in the President’s ZIM

ASSET.

*HON. TARUSENGA: My question to the Minister of Health is

that people are suffering because of the exorbitant fees that hospitals are charging.  What measures does the Minister have in place to ensure that people access affordable health care?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I thank the Hon. Member for the question. As the Ministry of Health and Child Care; it is our hope that all people access affordable health care.  We have policies that entitle children who are below five years to free medical aid, women that are pregnant during ante and post natal care, up until they get to six weeks, should not pay for such services.  Senior citizens who are older than 65 years old should not pay.

However, I have observed that in some of the hospitals and clinics, they have what we call a card fee which is illegal.  Our policy is that these groups of people that I have mentioned are entitled to free medical aid.  At times, this cannot be done because they require money for drugs.  We also assist through the Ministry of Public Service and Social Services they have an assistance scheme where the vulnerable persons can be given a voucher which they can use to access medical care.  Payment is difficult; we would want to ensure that the Ministry of Health receives a large chunk of the budget so as to enable us to meet our running costs.  I thank you.

HON. TARUSENGA: Thank you Hon. Minister, I have

understood, you have talked about children that are below five years and those who are above 65 years that they are entitled to free medical care.  The issue is in line with the age groups that you have left out.  This is the working class and our unemployment rate is above 80%.  So, my question is that the unemployed people have no money to access medical care. As a Government, what are we doing to ensure that they have reasonable medical care?

HON. DR. PARIRENYATWA: Those that are unemployed are

the ones who should be helped by the Department of Social Welfare if they are in dire-straits.  It is housed in the Ministry of Hon. Mupfumira; you can be referred at each and every Hospital to the department of

Social Welfare. I thank you.

HON. MATSUNGA:   Thank you Madam Speaker.  Three hours

ago, I was at a hospital with a baby who is three months and 48 hours old.  There has been no medication at that hospital, I had to pay US$6 to ensure that I buy drugs yet that child is entitled to free health care.

Furthermore, were you given your allocation from the budget by the Government and how much.  If so, are you using it because I have had to pay out of my pocket – [HON. MEMBER: Nyarara.] – handinyarare.        HON. DR. PARIRENYATWA: I am sorry that you had to pay

US$6 for your child’s medication.  This is the topical issue that in our hospitals, we need further funding to ensure that we have drugs in stock so that once we visit a hospital, some basic medication should be readily available once a prescription has been made by a doctor.  We are having challenges in that regard. It is our plea that this august House should be constantly clamoring for ensuring that the Ministry of Health and Child

Care’s budget has a bigger chunk.  However, we have challenges with sanctions that are constantly being referred to – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection.] - you have been told by Hon. Chinamasa that the majority of our people are now in the informal sector and that helps us.  I thank you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Supplementary questions are

over; you may come up with another question.

HON. HOLDER: On a point of order!

THE HON.  DEPUTY SPEAKER: I did not recognise you Hon.

Holder.  No, no! I do not want a point of order – [HON. MEMBER:

Akadhakwa.]- Order, order! Let there be order at the entrance – [HON. MEMBER: Inaudible interjections.]-please do not assist me in executing my duties.  It is not proper.

HON. MADONDO: My question is directed to the Minister of

Finance and Economic Development.  Hon. Minister, what is Government policy regarding the resuscitation of the fertilizer industry.  We are realising here, like Omnia Fertilizer, is importing its products against your policy.  I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA):  I would respectfully ask

the Hon. Member to direct his question to the appropriate Minister who is the Minister of Industry and Commerce.

HON. MADONDO:  I redirect my question to the Minister of

Industry and Commerce.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. MABUWA):  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I

recognise the very important question about resuscitation of the fertilizer industry.  I am happy to inform the House that we are in the process of resuscitating the industry firstly, by looking at the resuscitation of producing Compound D through the resuscitation of Dorowa.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has already advanced some grant to Dorowa Mine for its resuscitation and in turn, the rehabilitation of the Msasa plant that will make sure that the capacity utilisation and production of the compound D will equate to the demand of the country.

I thank you.

HON. HOLDER:  On a point of order, Madam Speaker.  I need your protection from this group on this side here.  Madam Speaker, we are two thirds on this side of Parliament and this side, they are getting more advantage.  I am looking at Hon. Mnangagwa standing up, sitting down and standing up again and not being recognised and only this side is being recognised.  Thank you.

*HON. MUNENGAMI:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  My

question to the Deputy Minister is that she has said that they would want to resuscitate the industry’s manufacturing companies through the Reserve Bank programme.  My question is, because of the shortage of cash and the statement that was given by the President of the Fertilizer Association that the reason why they are not manufacturing sufficient fertilizer is because they have no money for the procurement of raw materials and resuscitating such industries.

You are now saying that the Reserve Bank has given a cash injection.  He said this yesterday and we are all aware that we do not have cash in this country.  How are you going to go about this?  I thank you, Madam Speaker.

*HON. MABUWA:  Thank you for the follow up question as

regards to the resuscitation of the fertilizer industry.  The point is that we look at our priorities as a country and fertilizer production is one of our top priorities since Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy.  The point I make is that we found it proper that, in terms of prioritising the allocation of the little cash that we have, the fertilizer industry should be resuscitated initially, through the production of Compound D, that if we produce lime, it will then produce Compound D.  That is why we are resuscitating Dorowa, so that we go up with the value chain of fertilizer production to the point that we get to ammonium nitrate.  Our approach is a value chain one and we started from the onset.  I thank you.

HON. MAONDERA:  On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, seriously, I think we need a breathalyzer in this House.

Why I am saying so, I suspect…

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  You are out of order.  Can

you take your seat please?  That is not your duty.

*HON. A. MNANGAGWA:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  My

question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development.  We observe that the number of people that are being murdered is now on the rise which is now putting pressure on our police force.  What are you doing to ensure that we have street lights on our roads?  The poles are there, but there is no light.  May you look in that direction?  I thank you.

*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. T. MUZENDA):  Madam Speaker, I did not

understand the question.

*HON. A. MNANGAGWA:  Even if the question is not in your ambit, I have observed that the number of murders is on the rise because of the darkness, there are no street lights.  May we have street lights so that we can have light?  The poles are there.  Whether you put solar powered light or whatever is the question I am asking.  What are you going to do about it?  I thank you.

*HON. T. MUZENDA:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I would

like to thank Hon. Mnangagwa for the question.  If it is anything to do with street lights, they are under the purview of the municipality.  I thank you.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: If it is your own

supplementary you want it to be done, if it is someone’s you do not want, what is wrong with you Hon. Members.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA: My supplementary is that maybe she

may not have been straight to the point.  Mine is in regards to the original question.  We have a company that has a contract called Solar Heat which has been given a contract..

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, the question is not

originating from the first question.

*HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Madam Speaker, my question is

directed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Chinamasa.  We have observed that Dr. Mangudya made a pronouncement that the country will introduce a currency that had been turned down some time ago. After this statement, we started experiencing cash crisis in the banks.  Minister, you are aware of the hardships that our people are facing in this country, what are you doing to alleviate this problem as Government?  The RBZ Governor said they would want to give import incentives from the US$200m. Which industries do you expect to be exporting because a lot of mines have closed and the same applies to manufacturing, clothing, horticulture, beef industry and retail?  What are you going to be exporting and who are your beneficiaries so that our economy can be revived?  I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA):  Madam Speaker, it is

always my rare privilege to educate the Hon. Member on – [HON.

MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – before I come to specifically answer the question raised by the Hon. Member, let me explain in brief the background.  The background is that we are a unique country on the continent and in the world, one of only three countries which has no currency of its own.  The other two countries are Panama and Ecuador.

Now, what that means is that we have lost the power of seigniorage, we cannot print money.  We have again in a very unique way been using the US dollar not just for imports but also to finance domestic transactions. Like I have said on other occasions, tinoshandisa maUS dollar, foreign currency reserve, kutenga mazhanje, madora, mbeva, ipwa ne matomato.   Other countries build vaults to keep the foreign currency reserves in US dollars because a US dollar currency is a global currency.  If you have US dollars now, you can drop anywhere in the world and you will be able to use the US dollars, it will be acceptable.  No other currencies match that quality.

Now in our case, we went into challenges to do with appreciation of the US dollar and precipitous fall of the South African Rand, our major trading partner.  What that meant was that we became an expensive tourist destination, an expensive producer and this was exacerbated by the fact that when we migrated from the ZIM dollar, we migrated with hyper-inflationary figures into the US dollar domain.

Now, in order to address all those challenges, we decided that we should incentivise exporters.  Why we are incentivising exporters is because our only two sources of foreign currency as we are, is only exports and diaspora remittances.  Diaspora remittances are not coming in a structured way. So we have to fall back more primarily on exports.  So, we need to incentivise exports. We are saying if you export US$100 worth of goods, we give you US$5 and we then issue bond notes relative to the volume of exports that are being generated.

I want you also to understand Hon. Member, through you Mr.

Speaker, that another challenge we faced was that the US dollar being a foreign currency reserve currency, is now commoditized meaning people do not look at it as a medium of exchange. They look at it as an asset which they keep under the pillow, in drawers and so forth.  When we introduced the US dollar, we meant it to be a medium of exchange.

Now if money is being withdrawn and not being deposited, it means that there is no money in circulation and the circulation of money is what makes an economy.  If money is not circulating, it means business transactions cannot be undertaken.

So, the measures that we introduced are intended to boost exports through the incentive of issuance of bond notes. The point you made about the return of the ZIM dollar, ZIM dollar is not coming back until certain micro-economic fundamentals are met. We need to build reserves before we can consider bringing back the ZIM dollar.  We need to expedite parastatals reform; we need to address the issue of the current account deficit, and we also need to address the issue of the fiscal deficit.  We need to address the proportion of the wage bill within the framework of the revenues. When some of those macro-economic fundamentals are addressed, the import bill which we were addressing not so long ago - when all those things are addressed, we can then be in a position to say that we are considering  the return of the ZIM dollar but not now.

For now, it is a multi-currency basket and we are taking measures to boost and strengthen the multi-currency regime and to this end, we have issued out directives to all Government departments, all parastatals which offer goods and services to say that they must accept payment of services and goods in any currency which is in the basket. We hope that through this measure we can have a balance of other currencies competing within the sector – [AN. HON. MEMBER: Mari ichawanikwa rini?] – Mari iriko kumabanks, kune US$6.2b in deposits, if you did not know that – [HON. MEMBERS: Supplementary.] –         THE HON. SPEAKER: Order who asked the main question?

HON. CHAMISA: I asked the question and I have deferred it to any of the members to democratize the asking of questions – [Laughter.] –

HON. MARIDADI:  Mr. Speaker, through you, let me thank the

Minister for that very decent response to the first question.  Minister, you list all these fundamentals that you must deal with but you have not mentioned one crucial issue, the issue of corruption.  Day in  - day out, we have a Minister being talked about in relation to corruption - US$4m, US$5m at ZESA, you have not talked about it. What are you doing to address the issue of corruption, especially amongst your colleagues in Cabinet?

HON. CHINAMASA: First, Mr. Speaker with respect, it is not an issue arising from the question asked by Hon. Chamisa, but I will however respond to it. The issue of corruption like I have explained on many occasions, you ask any lawyer, corruption is a very complex crime. It is not easy to investigate because the briber and the bribed have both benefitted. So, neither of them will report themselves to the police. In order to fight it successfully, you need to put in place systems to prevent it from happening and to seek to close the door after the horse has bolted. Those are the measures we are taking in all the Government parastatals that fall under Government.

I will be bringing to this august House two important Bills, which I hope I will receive the support of this august House. We are bringing

Public and State Enterprises Corporate Governance Bill which will set out what our expectations are on corporate governance in parastatals. The other Bill is to deal with procurement. We are decentralising and setting up a regulatory board to oversee the procurement by entities that are procurement entities. Now, you must look at corruption not as an event but a process and a multi-thronged process to address all the issues that are involved. A lot of you expect it to be just an event. The other challenge we face in fighting corruption is that most of the time, it is all rumours. No witness has come forward to become a witness(es) in a court of law – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.

SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.

HON. ENG. MUDZURI: On a point of order.  My point of order arises from the question I raised last week to say after Question Time, can we have a full statement from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to update this House on the situation about bond notes, considering that people are being told that they can only withdraw up to $600 in cash. They cannot access their money and the parliamentarians are confused on what is happening. Which law did they use to end up with this promulgation without addressing Parliament?

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, would you be in a

position in the near future to give a Ministerial Statement to explain the issues accordingly.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): With pleasure Mr. Speaker

Sir. I would only just beg that next week, I will not be available but thereafter, I will be in a position to do so.

HON. MUNENGAMI: Last week you ruled that – in fact you were supposed to rule on it on Thursday but unfortunately you were not there.  This week you are around, in terms of asking the Executive especially when the Leader of the House is not around. We did have a serious challenge today. He only came, I think recently about ten minutes ago and we did have a challenge about asking some pertinent questions with regard to the Acting Leader of the House. Maybe, you also need to help us on that one.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I just want to say in

response to the Hon. Member, when the Leader of the House is not there, I would be acting in his place. So, you should ask the questions –

[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Minister for the

clarification. There is need for clear liaison between the Leader of Government Business so that in his absence you are available accordingly.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN MUZARABANI

4. HON. MUFUNGA asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to state when the Ministry will construct a district hospital in

Muzarabani District.

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking that question. The Ministry has plans in its infrastructure development plan to construct a district hospital in Muzarabani District, but the current economic conditions are not allowing it. However, the

Ministry will continue to submit project proposals to possible funders.

To ensure that there is quality delivery of health care to the populace of Muzarabani, the Ministry has St. Alberts Mission Hospital as a designated district hospital and Government has been supporting it in terms of staffing, drugs and surgical, and infrastructure.

SHORTAGE OF NURSES IN CLINICS

5. HON. A. MNANGAGWA asked the Minister of Health and Child Care whether the Ministry is aware that there is shortage of nurses in clinics in many constituencies and if it is possible for the Ministry to employ nurses who live in those areas.

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): I would like to thank Hon. Mnangagwa for the question. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is aware of the shortages of nurses in rural health centres and clinics. The shortages arise from the underlined reasons that the rural health centres and clinics with vacant and frozen posts, these posts cannot be filled as they are affected by the policy on the freeze of vacant posts. The majority of these posts are grant aided posts in mission and council health facilities. The Ministry continues to engage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development over the matter.

The new rural health centres and clinics, some of whom have no authorised establishment, that is the second reason. A number of health centres and clinics were constructed with the input from communities in a bid to reduce travelling distances and increase access to health care. Provincial Medical Directors have had to withdraw nurses from other rural health centres and clinics to provide services in these areas. This increases the workload on those facilities and results in burn out of the staff concerned.

In some cases, nurses go for further studies for six months to a year. This will leave health facilities short staffed during the period when members are on an approved manpower development leave. We have also looked at the employment of nurses into those areas. We can consider this wherever possible, subject to availability of an authorised post and Treasury concurrence to fill the vacant posts. Thank you Mr.

Speaker Sir.

STATUS OF THE LUPANE COAL-BED METHANE GAS

PROJECT

6. HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining

Development to update the House on the status of the Lupane Coal-Bed

Methane Gas Project which is expected to boost the country’s energy generation capacity by an additional 300MW of electricity.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING

DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I thank the Hon. Member for asking the question regarding the Coal-Bed Methane potential in Matabeleland North. Zimbabwe has got the largest coal gas resources in the region. A number of companies have been given concessions within the Lupane-Lubimbi area to explore for this gas. A company called Discovery is one of those companies that has done substantial work and have established minable resource of this gas.

Other companies have concessions in the area namely ZMDC and Hwange Colliery. These companies are looking for partners to help them develop this gas potential. We invite interested companies that wish to enter this sector to approach the Ministry so that we can give them support to enter the sector. Thank you Hon. Speaker.

HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I have got a supplementary question. My question is when do we expect that we will have some movement after you have allocated and allotted some of those concessions to those companies that you allude to?

HON. F. MOYO: Hon. Speaker, we only have one company which I have mentioned, Discovery Resources that has done work to the extent of reaching commercial stage. We are negotiating with that company to see what structure of investment can be put in place so that they can move to the stage of gas development. The other companies that I mentioned are very far from reaching production stage as they still have to do exploration work. So, I would say for those companies that are still to do exploration work, it is probably an issue of raising funding, finding partners who will be able to take them into this first stage of exploring for the gas. So, we can only look for this one company that has done enough work to reach

commercial stage. Thank you. 

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I beg leave

to move that Questions Number 7 to 50 be stood over until Questions

Number 51, 52, 54 and 55 have been disposed of.

Motion put and agreed to. 

VALUE OF DUTY FREE CERTIFICATES IMPORTS IN

2014/2015

52. HON. CROSS asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to inform the House what the total value of duty free certificates for imports were in 2014 and 2015, and to indicate them separately for the different agencies of Government.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, duty free

certificates are used for duty free clearance of imported for the exclusive use of Government. In line with Treasury Circular No. 13 of 2005, in 2014 and 2015, about US$292 million and US$258.5 million worth of goods were imported by Government departments respectively. Duty free certificates cannot be used to clear goods for individuals, parastatals local authorities or similar organisations formed through an Act of

Parliament.

However, it is important to note that some Government departments, particularly Ministry of Health and Child Care also receive donated goods from external donors. The goods are also cleared using duty free certificates. Furthermore, other critical Government departments use retained funds to import goods for their operations. The Government, cognisant of the potential abuse of duty free certificates to clear goods for private consumption, has put in place measures to minimise such loopholes.

This includes the removal of selected motor vehicles from the use of duty free certificate facilities. The table below shows Government importation of goods.

IMPORTS BY GOVERNMENT: 2014 AND 2015

Ministry	2014 Imports	2015 Imports
Ministry of Media, Information & Publicity	366,082.19	77,596.05
Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender Community	147,977.55	-
Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation & Economic Empowerment	183,866.04	-
Ministry of Information Communication	-	64,428.43
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development	15,844,567.35	8,608,077.54
Ministry of Defence	21,192,622.01	9,837,178.94
Ministry of Education	3,098,971.70	1,011,812.49
Ministry of Energy & Power Development	81,386.10	105.718.32
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources	968,776.39	2,997420.87
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development	13,921,216.13	794,857.26
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	11,345.49	19,046.64
Ministry of Health and Child Care	181,946,613.56	162,308,739.26
Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education	5,906,162.81	474,669.85
Ministry of Industry and Commerce	177,588.91	130,751.23
Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs	4,592,812.36	4,300,396.16
Ministry of Lands and Land Reform	-	482,228.91
Ministry of Local Government, Public Works	930,474.10	116,403.88
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development	337,834.51	41,093.24
Ministry of Public Service	566,039.51	2,286,516.89
Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises	26,784.00	560,624.91
Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture	81,193.45	167.255.98
Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Management	-	42,352,180.24
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development	8,614,117.92	5,015,606.43
President’s Department	10,017,191.49	7,310,132.84
Ministry of Home Affairs	23,639,553.73	7,585,456.66
Ministry of Labour	-	1,896,130.24
Grand Total	292,287,095.11	258,544,323.26

 

I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. CROSS: Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to know if his reply identifies the agencies involved?

HON. CHINAMASA: Yes, ...

THE HON. SPEAKER:  I did not get your question Hon. Cross?

HON. CROSS:  Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to know if his reply identified the agencies involved and they do. So I am quite satisfied.

Thank you.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir I am

going to attach tables. The Civil Service Head Count Bill excluding unformed personnel for the period 2012 to end of March 2016 stood as per table which I am attaching to my answer and it is a long table. The corresponding wage bill is also attached and reflected in a table which is also in my response. So with the permission of the House, I submit my answer, including the tables for Hon. Members to follow those tables through the Hansard. I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-

HON. CROSS: Mr. Speaker Sir, question No. 53 has not been

addressed yet.

HON. CHINAMASA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I do not have the answer

to that yet. I also do not have answers to questions 56 to 65, and 66 which I only got aware of just this afternoon.

HON. CROSS: Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to express my

appreciation to the Minister for the replies.

CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONERS ON GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN

2015 AND RESULTS OF AUDIT

55. HON. CROSS asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to give  details of the numbers of Civil Service Pensioners on the Government system in 2015 and the results of the audit conducted during the year and details of the action taken to  ensure that only legitimate pensioners are receiving their pensions.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, details on

the numbers of Civil Service pensioners on the Government system

2015 and the attendant pension bill are set out in my table and written answer. Once again I ask and pray that the Hon. Member can follow the figures through the Hansard as follows:

Month	Number of Pension Beneficiaries	Monthly Pension Bill [US$]
January	377 228	39 800 000
February	396 298	39 800 000
March	380 496	39 800 000
April	388 162	39 800 000
May	380 844	39 800 000
June	382 856	39 800 000
July	381 260	39 800 000
August	381 934	39 800 000
September	389 174	39 800 000
October	381 428	39 800 000
November	389 174	39 800 000
December	377 342	39 800 000
Total		477 600 000

 

Audit of the Pension Payroll

The audit of the pension payroll, through the instrument of Life Certificates, is being administered by my fellow colleague, the Hon.

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

In this regard, I am sure that the Hon. Minister will inform the

House upon completion of that audit. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTION AT HWANGE COLLIERY

COMPANY

7.         HON. NDUNA  asked the Minister of Mines and Mining

Development to explain  the measures  the Ministry is taking to ensure further improved  production at Hwange Colliery Company that has received a fresh injection of capital from Government for the purchase of mining equipment.

THE HON. SPEAKER: There is a vehicle number. AD 19273,

that is blocking other vehicles.

          THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING

DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO): Thank you Hon. Speaker. I

thank Hon. Nduna for his question. The Ministry is working with other shareholders to try and reposition the fortunes of Hwange Colliery

Company. The focus areas at the moment are to re-craft the company’s business model in order to lower overheads. The company will now have its main business being operated separate from the social service delivery sector of the current business structure. That will assist the company to recover costs as well as lower the overheads of its operations.

The second area of focus is one of creating a shared asset vision which is still to be discussed with ZPC and NRZ, but that is an area that is an area we are looking at focusing to try and to reduce the capital requirements of the company. The third area of focus is to right size the employment levels of the company. The company currently employs over 3 000 employees. The business permutation indicates that the correct level of employment will be around 2 000 employees so that is another area of focus.

The challenge that the company is facing as an immediate threat is one of litigation. Government, together with shareholders has put in place a scheme of arrangement that has been authorized by the High Court. The aim of the scheme of arrangement is to get the creditors to agree with the company to stay all litigation against the company and to approve the reconstruction business plan which I have talked about in my earlier comments. To this end, a meeting of the company and its creditors is planned for the 14^th of July and we believe that there will be a meeting of heads and that the company will be protected against litigation, thereby allowing all revenues and finances that it has to be directed towards the productive efforts. So, we will be briefing the House on an ongoing basis as to the developments in the company. I thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.

HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I speak in particular about the capital injection that Government has made into Hwange Colliery. It is feared, unless the Minister can allay those fears, that the equipment that was bought by a loan, that was injected into that company is obsolete. It is being used in a country which does not allow to be used because of its weather pattern. May the Minister clarify on that point whether the equipment that was put there and bought for the company is obsolete or not, and if it is - what is he doing in order to get a redress of that situation?

HON. F. MOYO: I can confirm to the House that the equipment that has been ordered by the company is usable.  I am also confirming that the equipment is in fact new and I do confirm as well that some pieces of equipment have not been in serviceable condition.  In other words, these pieces of equipment have exhibited technical problems that are being addressed.  The equipment that came from Belarus seems to be in good condition.

The equipment that came from BEML of India has exhibited problems centered on excavators. This issue has been discussed with the supplier of the equipment.  We have elevated the matter to the Embassy and I can confirm that the parties are cooperating although a permanent solution has not yet been ushered in.

The supplier of the equipment has extended the insurance and guarantees and the Embassy of India is doing everything they can to assist us to push the supplier to make sure that the equipment that is not working well is in fact brought to order.

I must also say that our working conditions, the environment in which the equipment is working is not that conducive, not all the time to the proper use of the equipment.  So, we have to do our part on our side as Zimbabwe, to make sure that the mine operates with the correct standards that are expected when they are using the kind of equipment that they have got.

As an overall comment, I want to say that the mining activity is a process; the equipment that is being used or that must be used must talk to each other.  In other words, the equipment must be optimised so that it is of the correct sizes, correct cycles and have operators that are able to relate to one another.  This area of optimising the production process is what we are looking at and we are trying to resolve.

The company also has the challenge of getting working capital to get fuel, to get consumable spares in place so that the equipment does not shut down.  We are trying to get local financial sectors to assist the company.  I am going to be talking to some of our bankers as early as tomorrow, to try and see if the company can in fact access some short term loan to close the gap of working capital shortages and I believe that we will be successful in these engagements.  It is our belief and hope that production will begin to pick up.  As I have already said, this Hon. House will be kept informed on developments because we do realise that this is a strategic company.  We do realise that coal stocks at some power stations are critically low.  Thank you.

HON. SANSOLE:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  Could the Minister confirm that in spite of the new equipment that has been commissioned, Hwange Colliery Company still relies more on contract mining particularly, Motor Angele rather than its own mining.  If so what action is being taken to address that situation?  Thank you.

HON. F. MOYO: Hon. Speaker, I do concede that since the purchase of the new equipment up to date, the contractor, Motor Angele has in fact produced more of the coal that is being sold than the company itself.  The reason has been that, as I said, the equipment that we bought was deployed in an area that would not have allowed the company to produce more and surpass the coal that is coming from the contractor.

We have instructed the company to relocate the equipment to go to an easier to operate area that suits parallel to where the contractor is working.  It is our expectation that entering July, the company should produce for the first time more coal than that which is coming from the contractor.  So, we believe the correct decisions are being taken.

HON. NDUNA: Could the Minister explain to this House, how much in terms of percentages, quantum of the equipment at work or the production in place because of the obsolete equipment that is currently at Hwange.  It is either the equipment at work is going to produce for us the percentage amount of production that is currently prevailing because of equipment that is obsolete.

HON. F. MOYO: I am not sure if I have understood the question precisely but let me try and answer.  The pieces of equipment that were purchased amount to about 35, I cannot be exact.  Out of that equipment, I said only two pieces are giving problems which is the two excavators that belong to the suite that came from India.  With regards to the output, our plan at the moment is that this equipment must produce a minimum of 150 000 tonnes per month and the contractor will produce a 150 000 tonnes per month and that will give 300 000 tonnes of coal per month.

That should more or less satisfy the current market demand.

RESUSCITATION OF KAMATIVI TIN MINE

8. HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to state the progress the Ministry has made in resuscitating Kamativi Tin Mine following the successful engagement of investors and to indicate when the mine would be operational.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINERAL

DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO): Hon. Speaker, the Government

has entered into a joint venture with a Chinese investor, Beijing Pinchang.  The investor is expected to inject US$100 million into the project.

Government entered into this agreement through ZMDC and the parties have started working on financial closure issue.  We hope that these last discussions will be concluded soon.  There are conditions or precedence, that the targeted investor must satisfy and I would like to say that a permanent announcement would be made by the Ministry once these discussions are finalised.

HON. SANSOLE:  Could the Minister give an indication as to what sort of period we are looking at?  I am asking this question because since 2009 when Hon. Chimanikire was Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, we have been told that an investor has been found and Kamativi will open soon and the soon has extended to seven years.  Thank you.

HON. F. MOYO:  I think this is the closest that we have come to signing and finalising an agreement.  The conditions precedence must be satisfied, if my recollection is correct, during this month of July.  So, either it happens by end of July, I think.  If we do not conclude by then, then the parties have failed to agree.  If the parties agree, a permanent position will be concluded in July and the project should take-off.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, with leave of the House, I move that questions 9 to 49 be stood over until question Number 50 is disposed of.

FEES CHARGED BY LAWYERS FOR PROCESSING DEED

TRANSFERS

50. HON. M. D. V. MAWERE asked the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to consider regulating fees charged by lawyers and publishing houses for the processing of Deeds of Transfers.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, Hon. Mawere asked a very crucial question.  This is especially in view of worrying reports of bogus and unscrupulous lawyers who are on the prowl to fleece the public of their hard earned cash in matters relating to the transfer of real rights or immovable property.  The processing of deeds transfers squarely falls under this category.

Mr. Speaker Sir, you may be aware that the preparation of deeds of transfer of immovable property is the exclusive domain of Notary

Publics, who in Zimbabwe can only be registered Legal Practitioners.

This is prescribed by Section 13 of the Legal Practitioners Act of 1981.  The profession of legal practice in Zimbabwe is self-regulated through the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ).  The LSZ is the legal profession’s governing body that is set up in terms of Section 51 of the Legal Practitioners Act.  Every registered legal practitioner is entitled to be a member.

The society is managed and controlled by a council that is composed of not less than eleven councilors, of whom at least nine are elected by members.  The remaining minority of the membership is appointed by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.  Since the majority of the membership is elected, there is therefore, adequate scope for the council to be independent and self regulating.

The function and powers of the Law Society are set out in terms of

Section 53 of the Act.

That notwithstanding, we have not allowed the legal profession to exercise absolute self-regulation on matters pertaining to public interest.  As intimated to earlier on, of the 11 councillors, at least two are appointed by me, as the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.  That is important as it provides the necessary checks and balances in the self-regulation with public interest as the guiding principle of the participation of the Minister in determining the partial membership of the LSC.

One of our crucial areas of interest is the interaction of the public with legal practitioners of their choice is that of the tariff regime used by the LSZ.  This is crucial because as policy makers, we want to ensure and guarantee that the general public’s quest for affordable and quality legal council from lawyers, including matters of deeds transfer, is fulfilled.  In that vein, we have put in place, by means of Statutory Instrument and by-laws or regulations or regulations, parameters within which the fees are charged on clients.  While there are a number of pieces of legislation which are relevant, only two are of interest in addressing Hon. Mawere’s question.

Firstly, attorneys in general practice are required to charge their clients fees in terms of the General Tariff of Fees for Legal Practitioners, approved by the Minister of Justice and published by the Law Society of Zimbabwe, with effect from February 2011.  The Law Society Tariff requires that Legal Practitioners charge fees on an hourly basis, though it is recommended that attorneys break down the hour into smaller units to ensure accurate billing.  The rate charged per hour is dependent on the individual Legal Practitioner experience with an inexperience on obviously, charging considerably less than a seniour one.

The second regulatory framework which, in this case, is the most relevant in addressing Hon. Mawere’s question, is Statutory Instrument 24 of 2013 called The Law Society of Zimbabwe (Conveyancing Fees) By-Laws.  As the name suggests, this document sets out the fees to be charged for all conveyancing work including transfer of properties and the registration of mortgage bonds.  The fees charged are a percentage of the overall value of the property concerned and are calculated on a sliding scale, that is, the percentage that one is allowed to charge decreases and the value of the property increases.  The Conveyancing By-Laws are a comparatively recent addition to the profession.

Mr. Speaker Sir, in view of the reasoning that has found sense in my foregoing response, it is clear that the tariff regime applied by lawyers in processing deeds transfers is regulated by us to a considerable degree, principally in as far as implementing the public interest principle is concerned.  This is so because it is imperative that all the Statutory Instrument I alluded to, should pass through for my approval before they are promulgated.

It is significant to note that legal practitioners are legally obliged to charge fees that are fair and reasonable.  Therefore, it is considered by the law that the charging of a fee higher or lower than that set out in the Tariff is illegal.  As such, it is mandatory for legal practitioners to charge fees in terms of the Tariff or face the real risk of disciplinary action for charging unreasonable fees.

Mr. Speaker Sir, now that I have clarified the position in terms of the law in as far as the existence of a regulation framework or fees charged by lawyers, I have to turn to the second part.  The second part deals with the regulation of fees charged by publishing houses in the process of deeds transfer.  Publishing is done through press, as a way of giving notice to interested parties who may potentially claim rights on the same immovable property.  Publishing is usually done in the press of one’s choice, as long as that publishing house has the capacity of a wider and substantial reach.

The business of publishing lies in the competitive environment, where the supply and demand variables of a free market are at play.  It is the duty of the public to choose the cheapest publisher of such notices of their choice.  However, the policy nitty-gritty of the potential regulation of publishing of such notices resides in the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.  I can only articulate with certainty the policy status regarding the regulation of fees by lawyers as

I am the custodian of the same.

Allow me to conclude by urging all Honourable Members to encourage their constituencies to attend the “Open Days” that are usually organised by the Judiciary Services Commission for the general public for free in different districts around the country.  This can expose our people to useful information on how the legal system in our country operates.  I also house crucial departments under my Ministry, such as: the Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, the Law Development Commission, the Policy Legal Research, the Deeds Registry and most importantly, the Legal Aid Directorate because of its decentralised status.  These departments are a treasure trove of free information and materials that simplify the legal processes, including the conveyancing processes.  Surely, that can be helpful to the public if you need to know about the legal process in the country.  Thank you.

OPERATIONALISATION OF THE CADASTRE MINING TITLES

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

9.            HON. NDUNA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining

Development to update the House on the progress that the Ministry has made in introducing and operationalising the Cadastre Mining Titles Management Information System.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING

DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO):  Thank you Hon. Speaker.  The official signing of the Cadastre Mining Titles Management System was done on 23^rd February, 2016 between the Ministry of Mines and Mining

Development and a South African Service Provider called Spatial Dimensions.  The project is now under implementation phase.  Thank you.

STOPAGE OF ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES AT PEACE MINE

10.            HON. M.M. MPOFU asked the Minister of Mines and

Mining Development to inform the House:

1. When the Ministry will stop the illegal mining activities that are taking place at Peace Mine;
2. Why the Ministry has taken this long to address the challenges in view of the fact that the matter was reported to the police last year in January, 2015, and also debated in the National Assembly on 7^th

October, 2015;

1. Explain what the Ministry is doing to curtail the corruption taking place at Peace Mine where a few individuals benefit from the Mine proceeds at the expense of the local community.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING

DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO):  Hon. Speaker, on question 10 (a) when the Ministry will stop the illegal mining activities that are taking place at Peace Mine, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development issued a suspension order to get the mine to cease operations on 17^th February, 2016.  Further to that suspension order, the Ministry also wrote to the police on the same matter.  The police have however, not yet acted on the request of the Ministry to enforce the suspension order due to their perceived legal challenges in the matter.  The Ministry issued the suspension order due to unorganised work processes, which constituted to dangerous mining activities.

There were also issues of poor financial administration that needed to be attended to.  The Minister of Home Affairs has been requested further to assist to enforce the suspension order in order to allow full investigations to take place.

On question (b), the Ministry has been urging the Silobela Development Community Trust to run the mine according to the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act, particularly with respect to the appointment of a mine manager, establishing underground mine design systems which are missing at the moment and establishing an approved citing of works plan which is mandatory as it protects concerns of Safety, Health and Environmental standards.  However, the Trust has not been able to heed the advice and recommendations from the

Ministry, resulting in the suspension order.

With regards to question (c), the Silobela Community

Development Trust has refused the mine manager entry into the mine.

On 2^nd April, 2016, the Ministry wrote to the Officer Commanding ZRP Midlands Province seeking the assistance of the police to allow the mine manager to access the mine in order for the manager to remedy the issues of concern that I have talked about.  The Ministry continues to conduct routine inspections on the mine in the absence of the mine manager.  The Trust has not yet appointed a manager since the removal of the one who was in place.  It must be noted that the appointment of a mine manager is the prerogative of the employer, while the Ministry’s role is one of approving such appointments.  The comments made above that refer to the Community Trust assume that decisions are indeed

being made by the Trust as an institution and that corporate governance is being observed in the decisions that the Trust make.  Thank you.

HON. M. M. MPOFU:  Since we have cited all these challenges, what are we supposed to do as a community since we have asked Government departments to help us?  Up to now, there is no help and the community is still crying.  So, I would want to ask the Minister what our next port of call is.

HON. F. MOYO:  Madam Speaker, I take note of the Hon.

Member’s concerns, particularly that he is the legislator for the area and he would be concerned if things do not appear to be functioning according to the country’s laws.  We expect the community to try and congregate and get their Trust to work.  That prerogative is theirs.  On the side of the Ministry, I can confirm that my Minister and his counterpart, the Minister of Home Affairs are discussing the matter to see how best the matter can be pushed forward to seek an amicable solution but at least ensure that the law is being observed.  So, the matter is now being attended to at ministerial level.

DISCOVERY OF GOLD AND PLATINUM DEPOSITS IN KARIBA

11.   HON. MUDYIWA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development that, following the discovery of gold and platinum deposits in Kariba recently, what measures are in place to ensure that the

Chiadzwa Diamond mines debacle is not repeated.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING

DEVELOPMENT (HON. F. MOYO):  In line with Government

policy  which says that all riverbed mining should be done by

Government or through a Government entity, the Ministry has mandated the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamonds Mining Development (ZCDC), a wholly owned Government company, to conduct evaluation exercises and then embark on the subsequent mining of the identified deposits.  Appropriate equipment is being looked at and is being mobilised.  This includes, exploration equipment so that mining is done in an efficient manner.  We have mentioned that there may be diamonds there but for now, I think the confirmed position is that there are gold deposits in alluvial form and we still need to confirm whether there will be commercial diamonds in the river.  Thank you.

Questions with Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 64.

             HON. MUNENGAMI:  Madam Speaker, I move that Questions

with Notice time be extended.

HON. NDUNA:  I second.

HON. MUKWANGWARIWA:  I object.

HON. MUNENGAMI:   Madam Speaker, I moved and Hon.

Nduna seconded.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Yes, there was an objection, if

there is anyone who is objecting to that….

HON. MUNENGAMI:  Madam Speaker, the objection only

came after I had been seconded.

             THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  That is the procedure Hon.

Member.  You move for the extension and someone else must second you but if there is an objection, then we take the objection.  That are the rules of Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Munengami, can you please respect this House.

HON. MUNENGAMI:  I respect the House….

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, order, the decision has been made and you must follow it – [HON. MUNENGAMI: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Munengami, behave yourself.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

COMPLETION OF MORTUARY AT KANA HOSPITAL

1. HON. O. NCUBE asked the Minister of Health and Child Care to state when the mortuary at Kana Hospital in Gokwe – Kana

Constituency will be completed.

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): Kana Mission Hospital is currently being funded through the Public Sector Investment Programme and $40

000.00 has been disbursed to the hospital.  They have used it for the refurbishment of the Out Patients section, new ablution blocks, construction of new kitchen and replacement of roofs in the male and female wards, pharmacy, staff room, dressing room and verandas. The hospital is still included in the 2016 Budget and it is the prerogative of the respective institution to make its own priorities and they can put the mortuary as their next priority project if funds are made available by

Treasury.

ADVERTISEMENT INVITING NURSES TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT

IN SOUTH SUDAN

2. HON. MASIYA asked the Minister of Health and Child Care:

• to state whether he is aware of the advertisement in the media inviting state registered nurses to seek employment in South Sudan;
• if so, can the Minister appraise the House of their employment benefits and allay  fears that they may be exploited;
• to assure the House that the nurses will be safe from the civil wars in South Sudan; and
• to indicate how many Zimbabwean nurses have taken this

offer.

          THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): Both the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the South Sudanese Embassy are not aware of the advert in the media inviting State Registered Nurses to seek employment in South Sudan. This was only brought to the attention of the Ministry through the question from Parliament.

If there are any advertisements to be done, this will have to be discussed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Health Services Board, guided by consultations at the appropriate levels. Work is still in progress on a Government to Government agreement with the South Sudanese Government on a bilateral agreement on export of health workers.

Should the Government to Government agreement be finalised, such issues will be looked into with advice from the Attorney General’s office.

This will be discussed with the South Sudanese Government at the appropriate time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through their embassies, would be able to give guidance on security matters.

On how many Zimbabweans have taken this offer, none through the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

POLICY REGARDING BURIAL OF STILL BORN BABIES

3. HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Health and Child Care  to explain the policy regarding the burial of still born babies.

          THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.

1. PARIRENYATWA): This depends on the wishes of the family, some will say it is a death in the family and would consider it for burial.

Otherwise, the majority will be incinerated at the hospital.

CONSTRUCTION OF SHASHE BORDER POST

51. HON. S. NCUBE asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to state when Shashe Border Post would be constructed.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA):  Shashe border post started

operating on 1^st June 2016 with temporary structures.

Notwithstanding the fact that Shashe border post is operating with temporary infrastructure, the border post is envisaged to decongest Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts as well as provide convenience for the local community staying on either side of the border.

Construction of permanent structures at the border post has not yet commenced and the Government is in the process of mobilising funds.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

              THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC

WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING (HON. KASUKUWERE): 

Madam Speaker, I move that Order of the Day, No. 1 be deferred to next week.

Motion put and agreed to.

HON. MUNENGAMI:  On a point of order Madam Speaker,

there is no quorum in the House in terms of Standing Order Number 56

(1).

[Bells rung]

          THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: The opposition Member of

Parliament has called for a point of order on quorum and 58 Members only from the ruling party are only present.  I think Parliament is a very important institution that must be respected by them because they were voted for by the electorate.  It is very unfortunate that Members of the opposition have decided to sabotage Government business by calling for the absence of quorum and they all left this House.  We all saw it and this is unfair to Government in terms of resources and everything.  We really want to send this message to the opposition that it is very unfair and unproductive to the country. They come here and pretend as if they are representing the people, only to realise that they are also representing themselves as individuals.  This is my presentation to the House and because of lack of quorum, the House is adjourned to tomorrow. Thank you.

      A notice having been taken that there being present fewer than 70 Members, the bells were rung for Seven Minutes and a Quorum still not being present, THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER adjourned the House

without question put at One Minute to Five O’clock p.m

      NOTE:  The following Members were present when the House adjourned: Beremauro G.; Chapfika D.; Chibagu G., Chigudu M.;

Chikuni E, Chimwamurombe A.; Chingosho C. P.; Chitindi C.; Chitura

L.; Chivamba K.; Chiwetu J Z.; Damasane S A E.; Dhewa M W.; Dutiro P.;  Gwanetsa K K.; Kadungure D A.; Kanhanga E W.; Kasukuwere S.;

Kaundikiza M.; Khumalo M.; Kwaramba G.; Mabuwa C.; Madanha M.;

Mahiya M.; Makoni R R.; Mandipaka O.; Mangami D.; Marumahoko

R.; Matiza B J.; Matuke L.; Mavima P.; Mawere V M.; Mguni O.;

Mhlanga J N.; Mkandla M.; Mlambo W B J.; Moyo F.; Mpofu M M.;

Muchenje F.; Mudyiwa M.; Mukwangwariwa F G.; Musanhi K S.;

Ncube A.; Ncube H, Ndhlovu A.; Ndoro L F.; Nduna D.; Nkatazo M M.; Nkomo Mail.; Nleya L.; Paradza K.; Savanhu T.; Shamu W K.; Shava J.; Shongedza E.; Tsomondo C.; Uta K and Zhou P.