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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 30 November 2016 43-18

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 30^th November, 2016

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

PRAYERS

(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER

VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY

THE HON. SPEAKER: I have some announcements, the first one: - I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of five Hon. Members from the Parliament of Kenya. They are from the

Catholic Spiritual Support Initiative. You are welcome. – [HON.

MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -

I also recognise the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of pupils and teachers from Lakeview Primary School in Norton. You are most welcome. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – [HON. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] - Order, order Hon. Mliswa, you are not in the

Speaker’s Gallery.

*HON. MATANGIRA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] - Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of Standing Order 164, when we talk of Immunities and Privileges as stated in the Standing Orders; the late Cuban leader, Cde. Fidel Castro made some contributions that led to the liberation of Zimbabwe. Now that he has passed on, we need to observe a minute of silence to honour him. Cde. Fidel Castro died after making some sterling effort and sacrifices in the Independence of our country – we have revolutionaries in both the ruling and opposition, it is prudent that we observe a minute of silence in honour of this great revolutionary.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member. First, your citation of the Standing Order is wrong and also - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – the message in terms of the alleged Standing Order has been misdirected.

HON. GONESE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker, in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 63 (1), Ministers are obliged and required to attend Parliament. That is also in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order Number 107.

My point of order is that we have previously indicated that in terms of that Standing Order, Ministers must request leave of absence in writing to the Speaker and we have agreed in this House that the Speaker should make an announcement to this august House to inform us of those Ministers who have applied for such leave and which leave has been granted. If we just proceed without that, we do not know which Ministers are playing truant.

We have Ministers who have persistently been in flagrant violation of those Standing Orders. I believe that you had also assured us that going forward, each time you would inform us of the Ministers who would have applied to you in writing because the provisions in that Standing Order are very clear. They must seek leave of absence in writing. There are some Ministers who are not here and we need to know those who have complied with the provisions of Standing Orders so that those who have not, can be charged with Contempt of Parliament as provided for in that Standing Order –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. I am aware of Hon.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mbengegwi and the Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Dr. Parirenyatwa. I have not received any other notice of leave of absence.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: Mr. Speaker, I request for a point of clarity. You have pointed out Ministers who have requested for leave of absence. Now that we have the rest of Ministers including Hon.

Ministers Chombo, Kasukuwere, Mupfumira and many others and their Deputy Ministers absent; Cabinet comprises of more than 36 Ministers.

If Deputy Ministers are included, they are about 69. Check your record.

Through you Mr. Speaker, what is the position now with regards to the Ministers who are absent without leave? Basically, I am looking at the aspect of charging them for Contempt of Parliament bearing in mind that they have been absent for a very long time.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you. Order, order. Sorry, I need to include Hon. Mupfumira who sought leave of absence. She has got a function at ZIPAM in Darwendale. The Clerks will make the appropriate roll call and we will deal with the absent Ministers during this Session.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

HON. R.N. MAWERE: My question is directed to the Minister

of Health and Child Care. During his absence, I will direct it to the

Leader of the House. Hon. Vice President, what is Government’s policy on mentally retarded persons in terms of payment of medical bills. It is public knowledge now that the mentally challenged people are paying some medical bills for themselves starting from September. Can you please enlighten us on this one? Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I am very grateful to the Hon.

Member who has enlightened me on what is going to happen which I did not know. I am very grateful to the question he has asked and the answer he has provided. I thank you.

HON. HOLDER: My question is directed to the Leader of the

House, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. What is Government policy regarding capital punishment since I have seen some convicts who were freed but were on the death row? I just want to be enlightened on that.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): The current law in the country as articulated under our new Constitution is that women are exempted from capital punishment from death penalty. Every citizen under the age of 18 again, are exempted from capital punishment but men from the age of majority, upwards are liable to death penalty. Under the current law, it is only one offence that attracts death penalty and that is aggravated murder.

Until three weeks ago, we had 90 inmates who had been sentenced to death but three weeks ago, ten of them submitted petitions to Cabinet under a provision in the Constitution for the President to exercise his prerogative of mercy where he deems it fit in terms of that provision of the Constitution.

Fortunately, the ten were granted reprieve and their death penalties commuted to life. So we now have about 80 or 79 inmates in the death cells. We have not been executing inmates sentenced to death penalty for the past twelve years or so. The reason is because we do not have a hanger – [Laughter.] - Hon. Members who want to apply can apply to me and I can assess their qualifications for hanging if they have done that before. I will consider the application but generally, when we went to the UPR in Geneva, 89 members of the United Nations member states appealed to Zimbabwe to reconsider the issue of the death penalty and we are in the process of making a paper for public debate on that issue. I thank you.

HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to find

out if after this paper that is going to be presented to the public for debate, are we going to vote for it or what is the process then since capital punishment was part of the Constitution when we were making the Constitution?

HON. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. If the Hon. Member can attempt to remember what happened for us to be where we are now in relation to the question of the death penalty, it was made a public issue during the outreach programme when we were debating on the issue of our new Constitution. The majority of our people in this country went for the death penalty. They supported the imposition of the death penalty and a minority, me included, went against the death penalty. We believe that the issue of the death penalty should not be partisan or should not be a political party policy. It should be a national policy where we need to have outreach programmes countrywide to discover the attitude of our people towards the issue of the death penalty.

I thank you.

HON. SARUWAKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Hon. Vice

President, I wanted to understand whether this provision does not contradict Section 56 of the Constitution where it speaks to issues of equality and non-discrimination. To me, it would appear to be allowing men of a certain age to be killed; already it discriminates against men. Is that provision unconstitutional in as far as that is regarded?

HON. MNANGAGWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I believe that the Hon.

Member was a Member of this Assembly when we passed the

Constitution but he did not raise the issue that the Constitution was contradictory or discriminatory. So, the current Constitution is a document which was passed by the House.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA: Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and in his absence, it will be directed to the Leader of the House, the Hon. Vice President, Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa. We have some students who were involved in violent acts at the University of Zimbabwe and they were dismissed from this tertiary institution. Of late, we have an Hon. Member of this august House who was caught whilst she was trying to cheat in an examination so that she could obtain a degree qualification. This is destroying our country through corruption because people are obtaining questionable degrees. What is

Government policy regarding people who cheat in examinations because I have said, some other students at the University of Zimbabwe were dismissed from the institution for cheating yet we have Hon. Members who aspire to be appointed as Ministers or to board membership yet they fraudulently acquire their degrees. I thank you.

*THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank the Hon. Member for the question on the cheating regarding examinations and the Government policy. As a Government, we have never had meetings regarding cheating during examinations, hence this is a new case. But, I remember that when we were still at school, there was a time whereby cheating in an examination was forbidden. So, maybe we may have to check as to whether this is now allowed because I am not informed of which Member of Parliament was involved in the cheating of examinations and at which college. I thank you.

HON. ZINDI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to Hon. Minister Made. It is the policy of Government that we should have enough or grow enough food as Zimbabwean farmers. Now, in view of the fact that there is drought, we appreciate that the Government has embarked on a programme to ensure that we import as much equipment for farmers to be effective on farms. Is it not prudent within the policy that we first address the issue of utilisation of the dams that are lying idle on the farms by importing the equipment that should ensure that we deal with siltation and the issue of ensuring that farmers are adequately equipped with irrigation equipment? Thank you.

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MADE): Thank

you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Hon. Member has raised two issues that I wish to confirm that indeed, that is what Government is looking at, for example, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Water which is responsible for the water bodies is looking at importing equipment that will assist in the desilting of dams. I also want to say that indeed the process of desilting dams has already started.

The second aspect which relates to irrigation equipment, that is what Government is seized with. – [HON. ZINDI: Taurisai hatisi kukunzwai.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, can you address

the Chair?

HON. ZINDI: Through you Hon. Speaker, may the Hon. Minister

speak at least louder than he is doing. Thank you.

HON. DR. MADE: Mr. Speaker, I said the second aspect is that the Government is seized with the development of irrigation. Thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: We did not hear anything.] -

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister of Agriculture,

Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, the majority of Hon. Members did not follow your answer. Can you adjust the volume of the microphone?

HON. DR. MADE: I answered in the affirmative that the two aspects of de-silting is being handled by the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate and that irrigation development is what we are dealing with under irrigation. Thank you.

HON. MAJOME: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I realise that the man of the moment, the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic

Development left the House. I did not realise that he had left for the

Senate, but in that case, I would seek to ask the question to our esteemed

Vice President, who is the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Hon. Vice President, is it Government policy or plans to provide, particularly in the Criminal Law Codification and Law Reform Act, a defence to a crime for example, a crime against dishonesty on the basis of using or channeling the proceeds thereof to the benefit of a political party?

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): I would request the Hon. Member to put the question in writing so that we can look at the law and give an informed response.

– [HON. MEMBERS: Aa! This is a policy issue.] –

HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Speech not recorded, the Hon. Member spoke in Tonga.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Hon. Member is

concerned about the fact that the bond notes are anchored on a facility which Government secured with the African Export-Import Bank

(Afrexim bank). His concern, if I understood him well, is that is this justifiable to have the bank notes anchored on a facility tantamount to being a loan.

May I advise the Hon. Member and others also, that this is an administrative issue, not a policy issue. The Reserve Bank Act gives authority to the Reserve Bank Governor do what he has done. All what is necessary is to make sure that the bond notes are backed by concrete evidence of the amount stated and that is the situation pertaining to the issue of bond notes. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will not issue bond notes in excess of the amount guaranteeing the bond notes in the American denomination United States (US) dollar.

I wish to advise the Hon. Member to feel comfortable with the decision made in relation to the introduction of bond notes. This was done to take care of internal transactions because we have no control over the circulation of the US dollar, which we have no relation with the Federal Reserve Bank of the US. We can only depend to the extent that we export, as I said previously, that there are four sources that bring in hard currency in US dollars, which I can articulate. That is proceeds from exports, proceeds as a result of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country, proceeds in relation to the diaspora remittances into the country and bi-lateral or multi-lateral agreements between the Government and foreign countries.

Even if we create assets in the country, we have no basis for matching those assets with money supply because we cannot print the money. To ease that situation, this is why the bond notes have been created which can only circulate within Zimbabwe and not outside Zimbabwe. So, I wish to inform the Hon. Member that he should not feel concerned or worried because the Governor of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will restrict himself to the amount which has anchored the issue of bond notes, which is US$200 million. I thank you.

HON. P. D. SIBANDA: Speech not recorded, the Hon. Member spoke in Tonga.

HON. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The fact remains the same. We do not print the bond notes in Zimbabwe –

[HON. MEMBERS: Hmmmm.] -

You can speculate but if you want to believe or if you want to deal with facts, these are the facts I am giving to the House but I cannot build a durawall on those who want to imagine beyond facts. The issue….

An Hon. Member having shouted supplementary before the Hon.

Vice President finished answering.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! – [Laughter.]–

- [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

HON. MNANGAGWA: I understand this is a democratic House, anybody can speak at any time. There is a binding agreement between the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Afreximbank and the country which is printing these bond notes that it is only anchored on an amount agreed. No excess, nothing can be done beyond what has been agreed by the three parties. Even if tomorrow the Reserve Bank wants to print more than what has been anchored on the facility, he cannot do it because this is done by the three parties to the arrangement. That is a source of comfort for those who may want to believe that – [AN. HON.

MEMBER: It appears there is something fishy.] –

There is nothing except to say the fact of the issue is that the bond notes are legitimately a legal tender in Zimbabwe. Those amongst us who feel uncomfortable in using the bond notes should not, and continue using the US$ because the bond note and US$ are interchangeable. So, there is no need for anybody to worry. If you have no faith in the bond note, why do you not continue using the currency which you have faith in? I thank you.

*HON. SITHOLE: My supplementary question regards to the quality of the bond notes is based on the quality of the paper on which the bond notes were printed, especially when we look at the paper on which the $2 bond note was printed. There is some difference and if you look at the nitty gritties, there are some differences on the texture.

HON. SPEAKER: The question is not supplementary because the original question was about anchoring the bond notes to the $200 million, so your question cannot be supplementary.

HON. MARIDADI: I wish to thank the Hon. Vice President for articulating and giving us comfort but my worry Mr. Speaker Sir is that the $200 million facility that anchors the bond notes, did not come to Parliament in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act because Section 300 of the Constitution talks about what should happen when Government or an agent of Government has borrowed money as a loan or guarantee. Section 300states that the loan agreement must be brought to this House and debated so that the National Assembly sets a limit on the amount to be borrowed and what should be done with that amount that has been borrowed. That has not happened Hon. Vice

President and that is my source of worry. It is a violation of the Constitution and it is unprocedural? I want those issues to be articulated by the Vice President.

HON. MNANGAGWA: It is true that when we borrow money

Government to Government, we bring those loans for approval here.

Under the Reserve Bank Act, when the Governor is dealing with the

Monetary Policy, he has legal authority. The Governor of the Reserve Bank under the Reserve Bank Act has legal authority to transact with other central banks in the world and he can, as Governor, make arrangements to the benefit of this country. This is why, I think the Minister of Finance if he was here, would have been able to inform you that there is a Bill now, in this House which deals with this aspect of the introduction of bond notes to take care of grey areas that have been identified in the Reserve Bank Act. So, the legal position has been taken care of.

One thing the Hon. Member should understand is that this is not the first time that the Reserve Bank has made arrangements with foreign or international institutions to deal with nostro accounts for export purposes or other guarantees to make sure that our transactions internationally are acceptable. He does not need to come to Parliament.

He has that authority to deal with counter institutions worldwide.

THE HON. SPEAKER: If you listen to me carefully – [HON.

MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –Order, order!

HON. MARIDADI: If you do not allow me this one Mr. Speaker I will die – [Laughter.] – [HON. MEMBERS: Let us save a life.] – You made the Standing Orders Hon. Member. You may follow the question in writing because you were the last. – [HON. MARIDADI: I will be dead by then.] – No, we will take you to the mortuary.

HON. MATANGIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. What is Government policy on disputes pertaining to ownership of mines when the Minister has become the police, magistrate, prosecutor and warden?

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Matangira, I did not follow your question can you repeat it.

HON. MATANGIRA: My question is directed to the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. What is Government policy pertaining to disputes on ownership of mining locations registered when … I will wait and then I will come up with a follow up.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. MOYO): Mr. Speaker, I think the question

is quite wide-ranging and ask that it is put in writing then we can answer it more adequately.

*HON. CHIKOMBA: I am directing my question to the Minister

of Agriculture and this is in regard to farming, especially in tillage. We have people who charge $60 per hectare and yet when you are doing it on your own it is $45. Why do we have such a difference and yet we will be performing the same task?

*HON. MACHINGAUTA: My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. We have had some requests from the people of Zimbabwe who said the former Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing was corrupt. They accused him of acquiring stands in various parts of the country and this was done illegally. As the Ministry of Home Affairs, do you investigate such allegations or simply leave them like that?

+THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (HON.

MGUNI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me the opportunity to respond. Let me explain the role of the police. The police operate under Section 219 of the Constitution and the police are empowered to protect the commission of crime and also carry thorough investigations into allegations when there is need arrest the perpetrators and therefore we are saying whosoever is guilty of an offence, or where somebody has witnessed somebody committing a crime, we advise that the witness should go and report to the nearest police and describe how the crime has been committed and if the police have received such a tip off, they will go and investigate. The police will not go and investigate on allegations which appear in the social media or the press. That is impossible.

HON. MAONDERA: He quoted Section 219 of the Constitution

and it is very clear on sub section (1) that the duties of police are to detect and investigate. So he says that there should be a complainant or that someone should go and report first, I think the Minister is misinforming the House. The police force should investigate, detect crime and bring culprits to court.

*HON. MACHINGAUTA: My point of order is that whilst the Minister was responding, he gave the response in siNdebele and I am not very eloquent in siNdebele and hence I did not get the gist of the response.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Carry on.

*HON. MACHINGAUTA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for

protecting me. My query is as has been explained by the Minister and I am saying the duty of the police is to prevent the commission of crime, since we have heard the stories and allegations come out of the media alleging that Hon. Chombo has got a lot of stands which were illegally acquired, the police should have investigated the matter since their duty is to prevent the commission of crime. It is an allegation, yes, but it should be investigated.

THE HON. SPEAKER: You asked a question in Shona and the Minister rightly answers in Ndebele. So, you either understand what he is saying or you use a common language which is English.

HON. MACHINGAUTA: What I want to know from the Hon.

Minister is, did the Ministry of Home Affairs whose purview the police fall under, investigate the allegations which were raised by

Zimbabweans? That is what I want to know from the Deputy Minister.

HON. MGUNI: Zimbabwe Republic Police has got police stations

and sub stations all over the country. In addition they have a hotline which is 777 777 whereby everybody is allowed to phone through to report crime. However, ZRP will not detect crimes through the media like the Herald, even if there is a story written. They have the right to go and investigate. If they find that there are no witnesses coming forward to testify on that case, they have the right to abandon such investigations. I thank you.

*HON. ZWIZWAI: My supplementary question is that the Minister has not answered the question asked. For quite a long time before you were appointed as the Deputy Minister, the Zimbabwe Republic Police did put suggestion boxes so that members of the public would put some information where they want the police to investigate such as tip offs on people selling marijuana and the police will follow up that tip off. When these stories come out of the papers, it means that they have to be followed up because this is a fact and when stories come out in the media, they are talking of a fact unlike what is happening with suggestion boxes which may be based on hatred.

+HON. MGUNI: When we talk of suggestion boxes which are

installed at public places so that people may talk about allegations and also gratitude - when they put suggestions in those boxes, they are not only concerned with reporting crime but they can also show some gratitude and hence, I am emphasising so that Hon. Members will be aware of the role of those boxes. You may report a crime or you may be grateful for something which would have been done. I am saying, a case can only be investigated if there is enough evidence which would have been put across by whosoever would have reported.

*HON. CHIBAYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to our Vice President Hon. Mnangagwa. My question is that, we have a Committee on Budget and Finance which is currently on a fact finding visit across Zimbabwe on the introduction of the bond notes to find out if they are comfortable with using them or not. However, the bond notes are already in circulation, so my question is, does the

Executive respect this august House? What does it signify when a Parliamentary Committee goes out on a fact finding visit on the use of bond notes when the same people are already using the same notes? Can you tell us if the Executive respects this august House? I thank you.

*THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Firstly, I want the Member of Parliament for a Constituency in Gweru to understand that we respect this august House fully and this should be etched in his heart forever. Secondly, it is a good thing that as they go out on a fact finding visit, they are not talking about something they have not seen – [Laughter.] - they are talking about something they are all seeing. So, it is a very good thing. Thirdly, we are helping each other, it is not possible for the Executive to stop implementing its programme because Parliament has not yet finished its own – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Parliament can continue with its own programmes whilst the Executive follow suit because the programmes will be different from each other.

So, I am very happy with what the Member of Parliament for a Constituency in Gweru said. When the Committee is finished, it will bring its report to this House so that we hear what they would have gathered. However, this will help them a lot in answering or responding to people’s concerns – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is in relation to what the Hon. Vice President Mnangagwa said. I think if you read the Hansard of last week, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Chinamasa told the nation that he was going to halt the unveiling of bond notes until the nation speaks on the controversies associated with the monetary policy which was about to be implemented. As the Vice President rightly said, the bond notes are already in circulation. Is this not the reason why the Government is having the problem of obtaining trust in terms of inconsistencies in policy statements given out on given dates. It does not abide to the policy statements made to the nation, particularly through the National Assembly. This is why the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other financial institutions capable of lending you money are disgruntled about, policy inconsistencies. You give out a policy statement today and tomorrow you change your statements. Can you not see that this is destroying the Government Hon. Vice President? This is a problem in our country where we may one day wake up to be told by the Government that we are no longer breathing because they are not true to their word.

HON. MNANGAGWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I do not know why the Hon. Member was hesitant to ask the Minister of Finance and Economic Development - [Laughter.] – Anyway, let me answer your question ‘Pastor.’ The issue you touched on to say the Government is making the nation disgruntled – there is a law which stipulates that, after every five years, we hold an election in order to choose the next popular Government – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – This nation chose us, it fell in love with ZANU PF – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – because it can be trusted. Those who are untrustworthy cannot be voted to lead the nation, so that is their problem to assume that we cannot be trusted. We are trusted by those who voted us into office...

HON. CHAMISA: On a point of Order Hon. Speaker. Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. The Vice President is prudent if he gives descent answers to others. If one lives in a glass house, they should not throw stones, lest those stones are thrown back at them. If the Vice President does not humble himself as a leader, he should not cry foul if we begin to misbehave around him. We are making an appeal to the effect that, if we ask questions in anticipation of an answer, let us not humiliate or insult each other. The issue of elections which are being referred to, have too many wrangles – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – the elections in this country are known to be full of wrangles – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – The Hon. Vice President should respect Hon. Members when they have asked questions so that we get answers. Such issues may lead to a situation where we will also stand up and say things that will shake and denigrate the Government. I am asking for respect for each other Hon. Speaker.

*THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Kumhanya handikusvika.

The Hon. Vice President had not yet finished – [HON. MEMBERS:

Inaudible interjections.] - If he had finished answering you, you could have understood.

HON. MNANGAGWA: Hon. Speaker, I have heard that the Hon.

Member knows the answer to his question because if he did not have the answer, he could have listened to my answer. Whilst I am giving out the answer, he says it is not correct, why would he ask me a question for which he knows the answer? He said that the Government is denigrated by the people because it is not consistent in its statements and I said no, people voted the people whom they have trust in and they are here.

HON. CHIBAYA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my question is very loud and clear. I asked a very clear question and said, we have a Committee which is currently moving around the country on a fact finding mission, seeking the people’s opinion on the use of bond notes and this is not the only Committee which will go out on an outreach programme seeking the public opinion. My problem is, the next time these bodies go out, there is going to be a problem. When the next Committees go out, people are going to look down upon these Committees. So, I am saying, Mr. Speaker, please protect your Committees because if we undermine the intelligence of the public, they will also undermine these

Committees. When they go out, they will not take them seriously.

Therefore, when you are asking people to give their opinion on the use

of bond notes, why are we asking them when these bond notes are already in circulation? Are we respecting public opinion?

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): I think to assist the august House – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Ehe, I am his assistant. Yes, ndishefu wangu kauyu, ndishefu wangu kauyu.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Can we hear the Hon. Minister.

HON. CHINAMASA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want to complement what the Hon. Vice President and Leader of the House has said with respect to the legal framework on the basis on which the bond notes have been introduced. To start with and this is what– [HON.

MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- THE HON. SPEAKER: Wait, wait.

HON. CHINAMASA: To start with, we have made it clear…

HON. CHIBAYA: That is not the question.

HON. MARIDADI: He is setting his own question and answering it – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

HON. CHINAMASA: Yes, I am coming to that. I am coming to that. Either you want an answer or an explanation or you do not, but I have to give the background first – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible

interjections.]-

HON. CHIBAYA: We know the background.

HON. CHINAMASA: You do not know. You do not know the background.

HON. CHIBAYA: We know.

HON. CHINAMASA: You are not the Minister of Finance and you do not know the background – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible

interjections.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Chibaya, you clarified the question. Can you allow the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development to answer? If you are not satisfied, then you raise a supplementary.

HON. CHINAMASA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I was saying

I am standing in to complement what the Hon. Vice President Mnangagwa and Leader of the House has already explained. I am now adding to what he has already said.

The legal framework under which bond notes have been issued – let me explain; under existing legislation, the law is there. The law to introduce bond notes is there and this is for the lawyers to argue amongst themselves, but in order to reinforce that legal framework we came up with, it is the Presidential Powers. In other words, if anyone wants to challenge the validity of the bond notes, we are standing on two grounds – the existing legislation and also the Presidential Powers regulations, but the Presidential Powers regulations last six months and in the mean time we must come with a permanent legislation which is the Reserve

Bank Amendment Bill.

We can do the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill almost on the last month of the period of six months. What we did is we went through, we did a Presidential Powers. The point I want to make Hon. Pastor and

Advocate is this…

THE HON. SPEAKER: Please address the Chair – [AN HON.

MEMBER: Address the Chair. Leave the man of God alone.] -

HON. CHINAMASA: Under the existing law, the legislation to introduce bond notes is already there, but out of abundant caution, we decided that we reinforce that regime with the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill.

HON. MARIDADI: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. The Minister must listen. The Minister did not answer the question. The question is clear. There is a scarcity of resources in this country. We are sending out a Committee of Parliament to go around the country to get people’s views on an issue that the Minister has an answer on already. The Minister has not answered that.

Minister, why has the Committee gone out? We have given money to that Committee to go and talk to people and yet, Minister, you know that it is a dead rubber. What the Committee is doing is a dead rubber and the Minister knows it. Why are we wasting resources on a dead rubber? That is the question the Minister must answer. Do not give us legal gymnastics. Answer the question Hon. Minister – [HON.

MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Can Hon. Members listen very carefully to the answer and do not get emotional. Unfortunately, the Chair cannot instruct how the Minister can answer, but I understand the question and the answer from the Minister.

The question is, the Statutory Instrument under Presidential Powers was passed and the courts have affirmed that, having affirmed that, the bond notes therefore, are in circulation legally. Because the Presidential Powers Statutory Instrument will expire in six months, it is necessary then to have the RBZ Act amended accordingly for permanency. That is how I understand the Hon. Minister – [HON.

MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- Order, order. Are you raising a point of order Hon. Gonese?

HON. GONESE: Yes, it is arising from the response you have given. The point is that, in terms of Section 141 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, we are required as Parliament to seek the views of the public. To seek the views, we have to consult the public on any Bills which we intend to pass and the Amendment Bill, I think we had the

First Reading yesterday and the Bill has now been referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.

In the meantime, the Portfolio Committee has gone to conduct Public Hearings and the import of Section 141 is to have public involvement, to consult the public so that we get their input on legislation. This legislation is the one which is providing the framework for the introduction of bond notes. The import of the questions and the points of order from Hon. Members is that, is this not a fait accompli?

In other words, the input from the members of the public are largely redundant if the Executive has gone ahead to introduce the bond notes which are already legal tender. What happens if the people of Zimbabwe have rejected or are going to reject the introduction of those bond notes and yet the Executive has already gone ahead to introduce the notes. That is the import of the question that, are we not wasting resources doing things which are already overtaken by events? That is the point – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

HON. CHINAMASA: Mr. Speaker Sir, clearly, the Hon.

Members are reluctant to hear my story. They are closing their minds to what I am telling them and if they continue, it is like a conversation between the deaf. The point I have made Mr. Speaker Sir, - [AN HON.

MEMBER: There is sign language.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: May you just listen to what he is saying.

HON. CHINAMASA: What is before this august House is not the Presidential Powers; it may be through the Parliamentary Legal Committee, but what is before this House is the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill, that is what we are consulting the public about. We await to hear what the public have to say – [HON. MEMBERS:

Inaudible interjections.]- I do not think that this – [HON. MEMBERS:

Inaudible interjections.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order please.

HON. CHINAMASA: The Portfolio Committee is a Committee

of this august House. It is out there consulting the people about a Bill. Let us wait to hear what the people have said. Why are we now afraid to receive the views of the people who by the way, have already started using the bond notes. Infact, there is a clamour contrary to what the Hon. Members are saying here. There is a clamour for issuance of bond notes.

It is very important that as Members of Parliament, we should be patient and wait to receive the report of the views of the people. I thank you.

*HON. MATUKE: My question is directed to the Minister of Finance. There is high demand of bond notes in banks. I have visited some banks and there are not enough bond notes. What is your Ministry doing in order to increase bond notes because they are on demand?

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to

rise and thank the Zimbabwean public for the overwhelming support that they have given to the bond notes –[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]-

The point made by the Chief Whip, Hon. Matuke is very correct. Twelve million bond notes were issued on Monday and this is not meeting the demand but the Reserve Bank has insisted that they will drip supply the bond notes into the market because they do not want to create any situation which is inflationary. I want to ask the public to be patient.

Their needs will be met in the course of time.

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

Finance. That we now have…

THE HON. SPEAKER: Is that a supplementary? - [AN HON. MEMBER: Isupplementary gara pasi. Munonyanyodya mudzepete muchiuya kuParliament. Chibaya gara pasi kani!]- Order, order, order.

Hon. Member, can you ask a supplementary question.

HON. KATSIRU: My supplementary question is on bond notes. Bond notes have started getting into various banks and unscrupulous business people have started to change prices in their shops. Some are not accepting bond notes. What measures have you put in place to protect the bond notes?

HON. CHINAMASA: The introduction of bond notes is a new development and we should expect teething problems. Some of the teething problems which are being reported include those which the Hon. Member has raised which basically have to do with some commercial entities refusing to accept it as legal tender but they are obliged under law to accept it as legal tender. Anyone who offers bond notes in discharge of obligations will have discharged, whether the person being offered the bond note refuses or not.

The issues that he raised, there is already a hot line to assist the smooth introduction of the bond notes so that any issues of the nature raised by the Hon. Member can be followed up with the relevant culprits and we will be able to deal with those cases where they refuse to accept them. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, order. The subject is quite interesting and I believe that at some time, the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development may address it perhaps through some Ministerial Statement to clarify certain grey areas.

Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON.

SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 64.

*HON. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. You have said a Ministerial Statement is going to be issued by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. We hope that when the Minister makes the response, he talks about the texture of the two dollar bond notes. We wish that when he issues this Ministerial Statement, he talks about the texture of the $2 bond note. I have the two different notes which show the difference in texture of what is supposed to be the same note. The colour in some notes is wearing out whilst the other notes are intact.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I am begging you at some time to give the Minister these notes so that he can test the texture which you are talking about.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

*HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. Under

Privileges of Parliament, Section 68 (d), that in this House Mr. Speaker, we now have a Pastor, Hon. Chamisa. There will no longer be noise in Parliament but he will just be praying for us. Our Pastor here in Parliament is not going to talk nonsense but he will be a person who prays for us when we go out of order. So, we want to thank the Pastor. He should preach so that we have peace in the country and he should not be involved in mischief.

I have stood up to just thank the Pastor that is in this House. We now have a Pastor who does not speak nonsense or who is stubborn because the Bible that I read says, if there is a person among us who is stubborn, the Pastor should pray for us and he should not move around with people who are lazy and stubborn. Thank you Pastor.

*THE HON. SPEAKER: We have heard that. I think Hon.

Chamisa has heard about it and we are all happy for him.

HON. GONESE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. In respect of the questions directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care, I know that some of the members who were supposed to ask the questions are not there. I note that some of these questions were deferred from the

19^th of October; they have been on the Order Paper for quite some time.

If the Minister had prepared answers, they could have been handed to

Hansard by one of the Minister’s colleagues. The point is that the Minister has not attended to these questions for quite some time because they have been deferred since the 19^th of October Mr. Speaker, and we are almost getting to the end of the year.

THE HON. SPEAKER: What are you suggesting Hon. Member?

HON. GONESE: I am suggesting that the Minister should be advised to attend to them. The Leader of the House is here and it is clear to me that the Minister is not attending to some of these issues under his purview.

THE HON. SPEAKER: And, he has a Deputy.

HON. GONESE: The point Mr. Speaker is that the Minister does not have to be personally present. He can prepare answers or his

Ministry can prepare answers which can be handed to another Minister. It has actually happened before where a Minister is unavailable; some other Minister can come with the answers.

THE HON. SPEAKER: It is noted.

COMPLETION OF THE ROAD TO KADOMA VEHICLE

INSPECTION DEPARTMENT

HON. PHIRI asked the Minister of Transport and

Infrastructural Development what the Ministry is doing to complete the road to Kadoma Vehicle Inspection Department and parking area in view of the fact that it is currently in a bad state?

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. J.M.

GUMBO): Mr. Speaker Sir, the road to Kadoma Vehicle Inspection Department belongs to Kadoma Town Council who I am sure are doing something to repair it. If not, I advise the Hon. Member to approach the authority that I have referred to – Kadoma Town Council. The Ministry is currently looking for funds to rehabilitate the parking area at Kadoma Depot. I thank you.

INFORMATIVE ROAD SIGNS WITH CONTACT EMERGENCY

NUMBERS FOR THE POLICE

HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Transport and

Infrastructural Development to explain to the House why there are no informative road signs with contact emergency numbers for the police, fire and ambulance services so as to assist motorists who may require their services in times of distress?

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. J.M.

GUMBO): Thank you Mr. Speaker. Hon. Masuku, as you may be aware, Zimbabwe and the rest of SADC countries adopted SADC

Traffic Signs. While the catalogue of these signs includes informative signs for the police, hospitals et cetera, there are no signs which give phone numbers for our services. Motorists are expected to have these numbers on their person or in their mobile devices and this is usual. However, I will request my staff to look into the possibility of modifying appropriate signs to include phone numbers as suggested by the Hon. Member. This had not come to our attention but I think the suggestion is a good one and it is something we would want also to consider for the benefit of the people. I thank you.

+HON. MASUKU: My supplementary is, Government is

collecting a lot of fines from motorists and I am begging you that you should put satellite stations so that when there are any problems on the road, people will get assistance. Let me put myself very clear, your Ministry is collecting a lot of monies from motorists through tollgates, licences and other fines. I am saying when people have problems on the roads, we need to have satellite stations on the roads so that when a motorist has problem, assistance will be nearby because of that satellite station.

HON. DR. GUMBO: The question is very important. The

suggestion is very important and valid but it is not part of the question. If it comes as a suggestion, it must be taken on board. The monies that we collect, are collected for different purposes for which they were set to be collected, but I take your suggestion that in future, we must come up with a position whereby some satellite service centres can be found on the highways so that when people are involved in accidents they can easily get assistance. I thank you.

HON. GABBUZA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The Minister’s

response talks about working on SADC signs as a region. We have heard this since Hon. Minister Mpofu was a Minister of Transport, do they have a timeline as SADC, as to when these signs are going to be put on the road or are going to be agreed on to start being implemented in the various SADC member states?

HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Through you

Mr. Speaker, I think I got the question and I answered it. The SADC signs are on the road but Hon. Masuku had asked why on those signs we do not put emergency numbers for the police to be contacted in the area so that whoever might have been involved in accidents can quickly contact the police. This is what I have agreed to say, I think it is a good suggestion that we must also consider, although it is not something that has been put by the SADC Committee on these signs but the suggestion I have accepted that it is a good innovation that on top of the information that is put on the signs on the roads, we can also add police cellphone numbers so that people can get assistance.

Hon. Majome having wanted to raise another supplementary question to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MARUMAHOKO):

That is the last supplementary question.

HON. MAJOME: My supplementary question to the Hon.

Minister is to the fact that when the Hon. Minister conceded in this House that SADC signs had started to be used without the necessary legislation and that he had since rectified it. He indicated that the

Government was going to conduct an awareness campaign so that motorists who obtained their licences before those signs went into effect would be advised of the signs and would become aware so that they can use them. That also learner drivers, who are learning to drive and being certified by the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) would also be given the new signs so that even the Highway Code reflects those.

My question is when is this going to happen? As a road user myself, I have not seen anything at all. My worry is the signs are in place side by side but as to the exact meaning, motorists and other road users are having to guess what it is that they might mean. Also the Highway Code looks like it is still the same, where learner drivers are being certified according to the old signs but they are going to be meeting new signs on the road.

HON. DR. GUMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is true that I did mention to the House that we would actually be educating our public on the road signs. We are doing that, the Traffic Safety Council of

Zimbabwe (TSCZ) are busy doing it. They have got even the Highway

Codes; they are being distributed in schools and they go out and make road shows. We started doing it a long time ago. If we have not done it in your constituency, I will ask Mr. Chinyere to actually come to your place. We are giving Highway Codes, new traffic signs et cetera, throughout the country. If Members of Parliament want to get those pamphlets, they get them for free from (TSCZ) at Pax House, here in town. We have been doing that; I do not know why we missed your constituency. I thank you.

INSTALLATION OF CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION CAMERAS (CCTVS) AND COMPUTERISED TEST EXAMINATIONS FOR

LEARNER DRIVERS AT THE BULAWAYO VEHICLE

INSPECTION DEPARTMENT (V.I.D)

HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Transport and

Infrastructural Development to inform the House when the Ministry is going to install Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) and also conduct computerised test examinations for learner drivers as a way of curbing corruption at the Bulawayo Vehicle Inspection Department

(VID).

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND

INFRATRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):

Whilst the question is specific for Bulawayo, I would want you as an Hon. Member to say across the country because this could be happening throughout the country and not only at Bulawayo.

The Ministry has a zero tolerance policy to corruption in line with the aspirations of ZIMASSET. In this context, we have implemented the following pro-active strategies to curb corruption at the VID, particularly on the learners’ licences tests:-

In line with advancement in the global village, VID as a learning organisation will, in the near future move towards E-learners licence testing, which will help to reduce direct human interface as is the case now, therefore reducing corruption. The proposed computerised system was exhibited during this year’s Trade Fair in Bulawayo at the Office of the President and Cabinet stand, where members of the public took the opportunity to appreciate the proposed system.
My Ministry will, in line with best practice work with other stakeholders to ensure that the new technology is implemented as a continuous improvement exercise. I would like to assure the august House that any reported case of corruption is investigated in order to get to the bottom of it and appropriate action is taken in terms of the laws of our country.
My Ministry has implemented a host of strategies to improve service delivery and curb corruption at VID depots countrywide.

Amongst the strategies implemented was the introduction of the 6^th

March, 2016 of Toll- Free numbers 08013121, 08013122 and 08013123 for members of the public to report any person who solicits for a bribe or consideration in order to obtain a drivers’ licence or a certificate of fitness for a vehicle.

ASSISTANCE TO FORMER EMPLOYEES OF WENELA ON ACCESSING TERMINAL BENEFITS

HON. GWANETSA asked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to inform the house what the Ministry is doing to assist former employees of Wenela in South Africa to access their terminal benefits and pension.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR

AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): The

Wenela Ex-miners hailed from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and Mozambique. Some lawyers in South Africa and a company comprising of Zimbabwean professionals have made efforts to engage the

Government of each respective country to get a mandate to represent the workers. On our part, we have engaged the professionals and established that there are about 15 containers of documentation relating to the exminers and their families. A database has been created. We are in the final stages of the engagement with the South African based professionals who will facilitate the transfer of the pension fund and other benefits owed by the South African Government. The Ministry of

Finance and Economic Development and ours are involved.

My Ministry and indeed, Government is keen to see the successful transfer of this fund from South Africa to NSSA. This will give relief to and immensely benefit surviving ex-miners and/or their beneficiaries. I thank you.

ACQUIRING OF RESULTS BASED MANAGEMENT IN THE

PUBLIC SERVICE

HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services how the Ministry hopes to acquire results based management in view of the absence of the job evaluation awareness in the Public Service.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): The

question from Hon. Masuku is noted. However, let me start by explaining that the Civil Service has not conducted any job evaluation of late. The last job evaluation was conducted in 2003.

The Results Based Management System in the Zimbabwe Public

Sector was introduced in 2005 as a reform measure aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Administration System in order to improve service delivery as well as enabling the system to more positively respond to the developmental needs of Zimbabweans, thereby improving their quality of life. This system has gone through various stages until it has reached the current Integrated Results Based Management Programme. The current system entails strengthening the linkages on macro policy planning level, budgeting, and personnel performance and monitoring pillars in a unitary system.

Since the inception of the systems, the Public Service has been utilising the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management and Public Service Training Institutes for the institutionalisation of the programme. These institutes have been used to train public servants on results based management. Public servants are therefore aware of the programme.

CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT

SERVICE

HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Public Service Labour

and Social Welfare why some individuals are allowed to have contracts of employment in the service of the Government, as is the case with Rita Makarau the Secretary for Judicial Services Commission who is also the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR

AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Let me

advise the Hon. Member that the information requested does not fall under our purview. As the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, we are responsible for those members whose contracts of employment are administered under the Public Service Act (Chapter 16:04). Thank you.

2015 ALLOCATION FOR BEAM PER PROVINCE

HON. CHITURA asked the Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare to state the allocation for BEAM in 2015 and to further state how much was released per province, giving detailed numbers of girls who benefited per each province.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR

AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): In

2015, the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) was given a budget allocation of only US$7 million against an ideal budget of US$27 million. In the face of this inadequate budget provision, and bearing in mind the need for vulnerable children who are the usual beneficiaries of BEAM to continue accessing education as per ZIM ASSET requirement, my Ministry sought Cabinet guidance on how best to improve the programme forward. Cabinet resolved among other things that:

The US$7 million be used to partly clear school fees arears the programme owed schools for 2013 and 2014. These arrears amounted to US$20 103 831.00;
It was also resolved that the BEAM budget need to be increased by an additional US$40 042 721 to enable vulnerable children to be assisted in 2015 and;
that the children who were on BEAM in 2014 be accepted in schools whilst modalities are put in place to mobilise resources to clear the arrears.

Given the above, my Ministry adopted the 2014 database and allocations to schools to facilitate programme beneficiaries school attendance for 2015. In this regard, allocations and benefiaciaryship per province are as per attached Annexure 1.

In addition to the above, the BEAM Programme also paid examination fees for 2015 Ordinary Level and Advanced level beneficiaries amounting to US$987 227 for 10 817 children (4 468 girls and 6 349 boys) as per Annexure 2.

Annexure 2 2015 BEAM Exam Assistance

Province	Boys	Girls	Total	Amount (USD)
Bulawayo	102	120	222	18996
Harare	423	428	851	78836
Manicaland	881	559	1440	129864
Mashonaland Central	750	440	1190	106458
Mashonaland East	960	612	1572	139660
Mashonaland West	812	545	1357	129998
Masvingo	969	663	1632	147116
Matabeleland North	254	233	487	42537
Matabeleland South	262	278	540	47229
Midlands	984	651	1632	146533
	6 397	4529	10926	987227

STRATEGY TO BRING SPORT TO GRASS ROOT LEVEL

HON. MASUKU asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation

to explain to the House the Ministry’s practical strategy to bring sport to grass root level, particularly in the Nketa Constituency.

THE MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION (HON.

HLONGWANE): Section 9.1 of the National Sports and Recreation Policy stipulates that all Zimbabweans must be involved in sport, recreation and physical exercises. To meet this objective, the Ministry of Sport and Recreation has embarked on a Community Sport and

Recreation Development and Promotion Programme (CSRDPP), an initiative which seeks to provide equal opportunities and access for all Zimbabweans to participate in sport and recreation. It places emphasis on developing and empowering communities through sport and recreation. Community Club formation is ongoing and the clubs are to be formally registered with relevant National Sport Associations (NSAs). To date, 5556 clubs in various sport codes have been formed countrywide. In Bulawayo, Mzilikazi District, in which the Nketa Constituency falls, a total of 53 clubs have been formed in various sporting disciplines as illustrated in the table below:

Sport Code	Number of Clubs Formed
Soccer	21
Netball	10
Basketball	6
Chess	4
Athletics	10
Darts	1
Rugby	1

APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS

HON. MASUKU asked the Vice President and Minister of

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs why the prerogative to appoint

Board Members is assigned to an individual Minister, instead of Parliament as this would be a way of curbing corruption.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): I wish to thank the Hon. Member for raising such an important issue.

It is public knowledge that most of our state owned enterprises are not performing as well as we would want them to. Some of the major reasons for this state of affairs is the poor economic environment affecting the country, largely due to illegal sanctions imposed on this country by the West and lack of good governance or corporate governance skills within these entities. In light of this, Government has embarked on a number of measures and reforms to improve the operations of these public entities.

In terms of Section 3 (1) (h) of the Constitution, good governance is one of the nation’s founding values with transparency, accountability and responsiveness being key in this regard. Those who have the responsibility to appoint members of parastatal boards and those appointed to such boards should, therefore, strictly adhere to this constitutional principle.

In terms of the current legal framework, Ministers are entrusted to appoint members of boards of public enterprises falling within their respective ministries. In making such appointments, Ministers are obliged to work in consultation with relevant authorities on the most suitable candidates to be appointed to any board.

It should be underscored that in terms of Section 106 of the Constitution, Ministers should act in accordance with the Constitution and logically, any law made there-under. Encapsulated in this provision also are the actions of Ministers in appointing members of boards of state enterprises, parastatals and local authorities. Section 107 of the Constitution also provides that Ministers are collectively and individually accountable to the President in the performance of their duties. This principle obliges or compels Ministers to carry out their functions in a responsible manner. Ministerial decisions in the appointment of members of boards are no exception and there is good reason to trust the actions of Ministers in this regard.

Hon. Members may be aware that in 2014, following a public outcry about the lack of corporate governance mechanisms in state enterprises, parastatals and local authority boards, Government came out with a new framework for the appointment of board members and CEOs of public enterprises. In terms of the new rules, there is an agency which should maintain a database of persons who are suitable to be appointed to such boards. Persons to be appointed to the boards should possess relevant skills aptitudes and experience.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I have no doubt in my mind that these safeguards will enable ministers to appoint members of boards who are qualified and skilled to perform the tasks demanded by the institutions. The corporate governance and delivery spoken to by the new rules is in tandem with international best practices. The agency will play an important role in the appointment of members of boards and ensure that corporate governance standards are adhered to at all times. I thank you.

HON. MARIDADI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question is that we know that the problem with parastatals is a problem of corporate governance as the Hon. Vice President said. I think the appointment of boards is always a problem because we have realised that whenever a Minister comes in, the first thing that he does is to fire the boards that are in parastatals and under his purview. There are Ministers who, wherever they go, the same board members follow them, if they are reappointed. If a Minister is under the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, he will take the same board members from there to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development if reappointed.

Yesterday, I looked at the end of year reports by various parastatals and various State agencies and the same people appear in boards as if there is a cliché of people with a monopoly of experience and expertise. There are 15 million Zimbabweans and Ministers should cast the net wider. I think the Government should come up with a policy that enables Ministers to cast the net wide. Appointments of people to boards should not be on partisan basis.

THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your question Hon. Member?

HON. MARIDADI: My question is that, the policy on the corporate governance framework is not working, can you not come up with another policy that ensures that there is no partisanship and corruption in parastatals?

HON. MNANGAGWA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. If

there are any specific issues, questions or issues of corruption or where a Minister has moved from one Ministry to another with the same number of names of board members, he is at liberty to indicate and we will look at it. As I stand here, I would not know. You must have done your research and what you can do is ask another question and indicate that Minister X, when he was the Minister of that Ministry, he had the following board members and when he left that Ministry, they resigned from that board and followed him to the new Ministry and so on. We can then look at it and find out whether it is correct or not.

However, off the cuff, one cannot be expected to know who is on which board and this is why under the new framework, we have created a database agency, where the skills and aptitudes of individuals are properly articulated.

HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker Sir, my supplementary arises from the issue of appointing directors of parastatals to boards. May the Hon.

Vice President...

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, we are talking of board

members and not directors, so if you have a new question, you can put it in writing.

HON. NDUNA: This is board members Hon. Speaker. What informs the policy which ensures that directors of parastatals are also appointed as members of boards? Does it not fly into the face of corporate governance?

HON. MNANGAGWA: The Hon. Member should be able to

distinguish fully substantive members of the board and those who are ex-officio members of the board. That is intended to carry institutional memory from the institution to the board. Thank you.

SCHEDULE OF NAMES OF PEOPLE WHOSE ALLOCATION OF SUGAR PLOTS WERE CANCELLED IN THE HIPPO VALLEY

AND TRIANGLE.

HON. MASIYA asked the Minister of Lands and Rural

Resettlement to furnish the House with the schedule of the names of people whose allocation of sugar cane plots were cancelled in the Hippo Valley and Triangle Estate, owned by Tongaat Hullets. The schedule should include the following details:-

Full names;
Date of Birth;
Identity Number;
Address;
Sex;
Allocated plot number;
Status of beneficiary;
Marital Status.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT

(HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): I would like to thank Hon. Masiya for asking this question. The issue of withdrawal is a process which takes time to execute. Firstly, a notice of intention to withdraw is produced and served to the affected farmer. The notice of intention gives the affected farmer a seven day period within which to make his/her own presentations. Thereafter, the presentation or no presentations of the withdrawals are done. Right now as we speak, no withdrawals have been done yet. We are looking at presentations made. Therefore, there is no list to provide to the Hon. Member. Thank you.

NAMES OF PEOPLE NOT VACATING THE PLOTS

MASIYA asked the Minister of Lands and Rural

Resettlement to provide the names of those who are not vacating the plots and to state why the Ministry is not involving the police.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AND RURAL

RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): I would like to thank Hon. Masiya for asking this question. At the moment, no one has refused to vacate any plot since we have started the process. Thank you.

ALLOCATION OF FARMS TO PEOPLE BY THE LAND OFFICE IN

CHIREDZI DISTRICT

MASIYA asked the Minister of Lands and Rural

Resettlement to inform the House why the Land Office in Chiredzi District was continuing to allocate farms to the people and yet the Head Office has been informing the nation of the cancellation of offer letters.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AND RURAL

RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): The Chiredzi

District lands office is not allocating any new land at the moment. The allocation of land is done through the Head Office. Generation of offer letters is done at the Head Office and the offer letters are signed by the Minister who is the responsible authority. I can assure you that I have not signed any offer letters from Chiredzi at the moment and if there are any new offer letters which the Hon. Member knows about, they may have originated somewhere and not from my office, which warrants an investigation.

As I said, let us not be obsessed too much with the cancellation of offer letters of some farmers in Hippo Valley and Triangle and think that everything that is happening there is wrong, not at all. This does not mean that there will not be any allocation of land in those areas, but the cancellation is just an anomaly that is being rectified. I thank you.

PLANS TO BUILD DECENT ACCOMMODATION FOR PRISON

OFFICERS ESPECIALLY IN SATELLITE PRISONS LIKE

NYAZURA

HON, CHITURA asked the Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to inform the House the plans that the Ministry has to build decent accommodation for prison officers especially in satellite prisons like Nyazura.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON.

MNANGAGWA): Thank you. I wish to thank the Hon. Member for raising such an important issue. The Zimbabwe Prisons and

Correctional Services acquired some farms during the country’s Land Reform Programme. Fully fledged prison stations and satellite prisons were established on the farms as indicated on the attached schedule for the respective stations.

Mr. Speaker Sir, whilst the acquisition and establishment of such farm stations was a welcome development that also coincided with the establishment of other satellite prison stations within some police stations, this indeed called for a greater demand for officers’ accommodation. Thus, in as much as the ZPCS was and remains committed to providing sound and decent accommodation to members of staff, inadequate funding from Treasury has stalled such efforts resulting in all our Satellite Prison Stations and other established stations facing a critical shortage of officers’ accommodation.

In an effort to address the accommodation challenges being experienced, we have since come up with a model house which is relatively cheaper to construct, on which our intentions are to construct such houses at farm stations and satellite prison stations experiencing the critical accommodation challenges. However, our major setback is on the availability of financial resources to facilitate construction of such houses. Therefore, as soon as financial resources are available, decent accommodation will be constructed for the officers. I thank you.

LIST OF THE SATELLITE PRISON STATIONS FACING

SHORTAGE OF STAFF ACCOMMODATION

Harare Metropolitan Province