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SENATE HANSARD 07 OCTOBER 2020 VOL 29 NO 57
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 7th October, 2020.
The Senate met at Half-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: “In terms of section 39 (7) (a) of the Electoral Act, [Chapter 2:13] the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), notified the Clerk of Parliament that the following persons, nominated by the MDC-T party to fill the vacancies that occurred among the party-list members of the Senate, following the recall of the incumbent Senators by the MDC-T party on the grounds that they had ceased to be members of that party, have been appointed as Senate party-list members with effect from 2nd October, 2020:
- Ndlovu Dorothy Molly, of Bulawayo Metropolitan;
- Phugeni Kalpani of Bulawayo Province;
- Moyo Getrude of Manicaland Province;
- Moyo Tamani of Bulawayo Province;
- Denga Piniel of Mashonaland East Province;
- Ndlovu Chief of Matebeleland North Province;
- Khumalo Nomalanga of Matebeleland South Province; and
- Chisorochengwe Teti of Midlands Province.
NEW MEMBERS SWORN
HON. SEN. D. M. NDLOVU; HON. SEN. KALPANI PHUNGENI; HON. SEN. GETRUDE MOYO; HON. SEN. PINIEL DENGA; HON. SEN. CHIEF NDLOVU, HON. SEN. NOMALANGA KHUMALO; HON. SEN. TETI CHISOROCHENGWE subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the Law and took their seats. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I would want to welcome the newly sworn in Members of the Senate. This is where you have come, the Senate. Join us, we welcome you. Thank you – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] -
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day, on today’s Order Paper have been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE YEARS 2018/2019
Third and Fourth Orders read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Reports of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission for the Years 2018/2019.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to debate this very important motion that was brought to the House by the Hon. Vice President Hon. K. C. Mohadi. Let me recognise and appreciate the lively debate from both sides of the House. Surely, this is the beginning of more good things to come in this Senate. I say to the Hon. Senators that debated this motion, well done, you have shown great maturity and the desire for peace – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]
Madam President, on the motion itself, I would like to thank the Vice President and the entire leadership of Government for embarking on a journey that everybody was waiting for - that of peace and reconciliation. I would like to commend the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for appointing this Commission that has proved that they can make things happen.
Madam President, I know the second republic will walk the talk in bringing the people of Zimbabwe together in order for meaningful development to take place. United we stand, divided we fall. Madam President, I would like to thank President E. D. Mnangagwa for taking the bull by its horns and showing that he is a leader by being involved in person with this initiative of peace and reconciliation. Where there is peace, there is development but where people are fighting there is room for disaster. Let us all unite under the leadership and build the country Zimbabwe that we all want, in Ndebele Madam President we say impetu ingena ngenxeba meaning when we are divided our enemies take advantage and fuel disharmony – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] – My contribution would not be complete if I do not finish with this quote from this important man, one of our national heroes, the late Vice President Cde. J. L. Nkomo, ‘peace begins with me, peace begins with you and peace begins with all of us’. Madam President I thank you – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]
*HON. SEN TSOMONDO: Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity to support the issue which was raised by our Vice President, Hon. Mohadi. I also want to thank our President E. D. Mnangagwa who got an opportunity to go to Matebeleland and discuss about this issue. That gesture of going to Matabeleland and meeting the elders shows that he is a humble man and I thank him for doing that. Madam President the bible says if someone wrongs you, you have to forgive. As human beings, we sin but God forgives us. So, if there are things that we have wronged each other as children of Zimbabwe, what stops us from forgiving each other Madam President?
As Zimbabweans, we should guard our country so that we have peace Madam President. Father and mother fight in the house, they can spend two days not talking to each other, but on the third day you see them asking each other for forgiveness because they are aware that if we continue being angry to each other, it does not bring peace to their house.
Madam President, we are talking about peace. Zimbabwe is a peaceful country but as we are speaking right now, we are speaking in support of the dialogue that took place in Bulawayo, so that people know that we have peace in Zimbabwe. If you get into Harare Madam President, you see that we have a lot of foreigners who are engaging in business activities, but in their countries they have opportunities to do businesses. The reason they cannot do business freely in their countries is because there is no peace. They are here in Zimbabwe because of our President who preaches about peace everyday so they find it befitting that they should go to Zimbabwe where there is peace. I have travelled outside the country and I remember someone asking me where I was coming from, I said I come from Zimbabwe and they said they liked Zimbabwe. People were saying that country is a peaceful country; they are yearning to be Zimbabweans.
Madam President, I am really thankful to the President for being a father because he took the responsibility to go to Bulawayo. Madam President, emotions were high there but that fire was put down by the President because he took it upon himself and he engaged the elders there. He went and engaged the elders there which calmed down the storm that had risen there.
Madam President I am also happy because in this House, both sides we are united and we supported and thanked the President. I thank the President for what he did. I want to thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity. Thank you.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): I move that the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th October, 2020.
MOTION
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NINTH PARLIAMENT FOR THE LIAISON AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Annual Report of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament for the Liaison and Coordination Committee.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to support the motion that was brought by Hon. Sen. Muzenda. Let me thank Hon. Sen. Muzenda that she brought a very important motion especially for us parliamentarians. We would like to thank the Administration of Parliament, the work that they are doing is very important. They know where we are failing or where there is progress.
Allow me Madam President to say in our Committees there are challenges where LCC has to play a vital role. Some of these Committees have quite a number of people, but other Committees have few people. It is being caused by these Committees being funded by NGOs or civic groups in the work that they do. It is nice and actually attracts a lot of MPs to these Committees because they are funded by these NGOs. When we are having Committee workshops, a lot of people want to attend these workshops. We need to resolve this that so that other Committees do not suffer because people are running towards those funded by NGOs. People in these Committees should not be frustrated and demoralised but should have equal opportunities and work.
I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Muzenda because it helps us as parliamentarians to fix our weaknesses. As Senators, we should have the knowledge on discussions to do with the budget. What I saw as a problem as senators is that in many instances, when the budget is presented by the Minister of Finance, Senators will be on a break in their rural areas and what is given to them are documents for them to debate but it is important for them to be present. I think it is important that we attend such budget sessions so that we contribute meaningfully during debate. We are not getting that opportunity as Senators. In these Committees, we have work plans that are done by Committees after we have agreed and we approve but some of those goals that we set in these work plans are the same as goals set in the National Assembly. We look forward to a situation where if goals are the same, the Administration should look closely at these work plans so that they should move together.
We have observed that Chairpersons of these Committees do not want visits or public hearings and it is a disadvantage to the other Committees. We pray that the Administration of Parliament will help us in that area so that we are able to work well and we look forward to LCC. We will also see to it that when we move motions, we will be very happy to have Ministers responding to our motions. Most of the motions are adopted in this House without Ministers responding. I thank you Madam Speaker.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
MOTION
THIRD REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON DOMESTICATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Third Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on the Domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEES ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) AND GENDER DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENQUIRY INTO PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE AND PORTABLE WATER
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committees on Human Rights, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Gender Development on the enquiry into people’s access to clean, safe and portable water.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. MKWEBU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate on the motion moved by Hon. Khupe who went to make an assessment on the availability of clean water. We thank these three Committees for the great job done. We need to make a follow up and make sure that we see if work has been done. Therefore it is the role of this House to make sure that the Minister responsible for water sees to it that all the people in all the different districts who are encountering challenges with regards to getting clean water are assisted.
These three Committees had a job to make sure that they approach all the areas but however, they only managed to reach out to a few areas. The whole of Zimbabwe is encountering clean water challenges, not only looking at clean drinking water. Quite a number of boreholes have dried up. Dams have dried up, even in farms which is where quite a number of people are looking forward to getting surplus food, there is no water for irrigation nor drinking water.
A number of areas in the rural areas and in towns continue to suffer the same challenge of getting clean water. Most people in the rural areas are praying for rains so that they get water for consumption purposes. A case in point is in Gwanda town and Gwanda rural. Most of the places in this town do not have water and also the surrounding farming areas.
Since this Committee was looking forward to making sure that the disabled get water just like everyone else, it is very difficult right now because boreholes have run out of water. We really have a challenge because the engine that we use to pump water in Matabeleland is no longer functional, which leaves us in dire need of clean water. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity so that I add a few words on this motion which was brought in by Hon. Sen. Khupe.
Mr. President, when we talk about water, if affects both flora and fauna. There is need for water everywhere within our country. People as well as their livestock and wildlife are suffering at the moment. They are moving all over looking for the precious element, the water that is no more found. You will find that the rivers that used to have water, rivers such as the Limpopo, which in history as perennial rivers which would not go dry, right now have no water.
When we talk about dams, you will find that most of our dams are now below capacity. They do not have sufficient water for their people as they used to do. Also, if we take into consideration the boreholes that we have, they have gone dry. The water table itself has gone too low in such a way that it can no longer sustain our people. There is a cry for water all over. Even the birds in the air do not have sufficient water. They go to homes in towns seeking for the precious water to drink only just because where they used to get water there is no more water.
The element of getting clean water; everyone will just go for water not even considering if that water is clean. Our women now walk long distances trying to fetch water to drink and sometimes when they go to the boreholes, they get two or three buckets and the boreholes is empty. It does not have sufficient water. Mr. President, we are in a dire situation, not of our making, but maybe let me say God’s wishes because no one controls this water. Therefore in future, there is need for us to harness as much water as we can get so that this becomes a problem of the past.
Mr. President, the dams that I have been talking about, most of them have silted now and can no longer store water fro long. There is need for the silt to be removed in those dams so that whenever rains come, they should have more water. There is also need for drilling more boreholes in towns and in the communal areas. These boreholes need to be deep enough so that maybe they can reach underground water.
Mr. President, there is also need for deepening the existing boreholes so that we can harness some more water. The animals, especially wild animals, there is conflict between the people and the wild animals because they also need water to drink and there is nowhere else where they can get enough water to drink, so they end up going near people. We have had reports of elephants killing people just because they will be fighting for the water.
Mr. President, I urge us all because this is the way for us to assist. Everybody should make an effort to assist one another in order for each and everyone to get sufficient water. Once more Mr. President, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to say these few words. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. GWESHE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this debate. We left Parliament to Chivhu. When we arrived we noticed that there was a lot of confusion, they were not even prepared to receive us. It was clear from the look of things that the PA and ZINWA officials do not work well together. The time we arrived there was no one to receive us and we got different statements as to why they were not there when we arrived. In other areas we were shown chemicals which they use to purify water but in Chivhu the chemicals were there but we were not able to talk to anyone.
In Masvingo, we had a high turnover of people. People had a lot of grievances, especially on shortage of water. There was also tension between people in the cooperatives and other residents in the locations because they believed that they were the main cause of shortage of water. They thought that water was sufficient for those people in the old locations but the cooperatives were not included. They took us to the dam and we saw that the levels of water was low to cater for the whole of Masvingo.
We proceeded to Mwenezi and again there was a high turnover of people, including chiefs. We were told the same problem of shortage of water. They spoke with one voice and did not blame anyone. We thought they were going to blame us for the shortage of chemicals since we are their voices but that was not case. We then came back here and visited Lack Chivero. We encouraged them to maintain the area around the dam because it is a reservoir and should be secured. They even started cutting grass whilst we were there.
However, I was disturbed one day when I saw women washing at a burst pipe in the location. They did their laundry because water is hardly available. I represent Chitungwiza and Harare and it is disturbing to notice that people are facing such challenges in towns. I propose that boreholes be drilled in their numbers to ease this problem of water crisis. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUPE: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
MOTION
DISCHARGE OF CHILDREN UNDER CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to alleviate challenges associated to the early discharge of youths from child care facilities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. MOHADI, the Senate adjourned at Eight Minutes to Four o’clock p.m.