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SENATE HANSARD 10 MARCH 2022 VOL 31 NO 27
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday, 10th March, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
APPOINTMENT TO THE CHAIRPERSON’S PANEL
THE HON PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Standing Order No. 11 (1) provides that as soon as practicable after the commencement of every session or as occasion may require thereafter, the Senate shall appoint two Members who, with the Chairperson of Committee of the Whole House and the Deputy Chairperson of Committee, shall constitute the Chairperson’s Panel. Such Members shall be entitled to exercise the powers of the Deputy Chairperson save in regard to the acceptance of a Motion for the closure.
Following the death of Hon. Sen. Khaya Moyo on Sunday 14th November 2021, I now therefore appoint Hon. Sen Kambizi to serve on the Chairperson’s Panel. - [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE HON PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Before we get to Questions Without Notice, I have a list of apologies from Ministers who could not attend. Hon. O.C.Z Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans; Hon. Dr. Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement; Hon. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. Prof. Murwira, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation, Science and Technology Development; Hon. Dr. Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Hon. Garwe, Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities.
With us here present we have Hon. Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development; Hon. Chiduwa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development; Hon. Machingura, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education and Hon. Mudyiwa, Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development.
HON. SEN. MWONZORA: Thank you very much Madam President. My question goes to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. For a long time, the Government has had a stand-off with the teachers regarding conditions of service and objectively speaking, these conditions of service are poor. What is the Ministry doing to redress that specific problem?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. MACHINGURA): Thank you Hon. Sen. Mwonzora for your question which carries with it the concerns of our teaching community. Most of the teachers that are trained under Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions are employed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. I therefore think the question should be better answered by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Let me however, just go a little further and talk about teachers in our colleges as Higher and Tertiary Education. We do have lecturers in universities, in teachers’ colleges and polytechnics. Maybe if his question was also extending to those, we can say we have done quite a lot. The recently enacted Manpower Development Act established within it the Tertiary Education Council for those teachers. They now have a structure for the board and the board is working on how they are now being moved from the Public Service to the Council itself where their conditions of service will be discussed and determined. That is something that is in progress Madam President. Thank you very much.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. Why has the fuel prices gone up so suddenly?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): I would like to thank the Hon. Senator for such a pertinent question at a time like this. I am sure everybody is aware of the conflict in Ukraine and Russia. Both countries supply petroleum products. Now following the sanctions imposed on Russia, that crisis has affected the whole world. This has resulted in the increase of international price of oil.
Through ZERA, we review the price of fuel on the 5th of every month and this was done on the 5th March but within a day or two, the FOB landing price at Beira where the ships dock, went very high. Therefore, it affected us by increasing the price of fuel in order that oil companies will be able to replenish their stocks. During crises like these, if we maintain our prices, the oil companies will not be able to replenish their stocks.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. What is the Ministry doing to redress the terrible state of our roads in urban areas? I know that the local councils should be taking care of that but it is very obvious that they have since failed. So, as a Government, the Ministry has to shoulder that. What then is the Ministry doing about it?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam President. Let me also thank Hon. Sen. Khumalo for that very important question that will also afford me to address to the august House the process flow when it comes to rehabilitation of roads.
It is true that local authorities have failed to demonstrate that they have the capacity to rehabilitate our roads and let it be known by this august House that all roads fall under the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry then delegates to road authorities. In that case, we would then say local authorities, rural district councils, Department of Roads and apparently we have seen that local authorities were not performing.
I want to thank the Second Republic, in particular His Excellency the President, who then said we cannot continue in this sorry state where we have been rehabilitating our trunk roads but alas, this is not happening to our local authorities.
So, he has then directed that this year, we need to go down to the grassroots, into the locations which is under the purview of the local authorities but we now need to take over, hence the Ministry of Transport.
My engineers are seizes with the matter now in trying to scope those roads to make sure that we bring dignity to the people of Zimbabwe. The sorry state of our roads is not something that we can ignore.
The Second Republic is saying we now need to go to the local authorities, declare and invoke Section 18 of the Roads Act which talks of the powers vested in the Minister of Transport to take over roads that are neglected.
Precisely, this is what we are now doing and I want to assure the august House that we are moving with speed so that we rehabilitate and bring glory to the cities that we used to know. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: May the Minister give us timeframes because even our cars are getting damaged. You drive and the car goes into potholes damaging our shocks.
HON. MHONA: The country is under sanctions lest we forget and whatever we are doing, we are using our own resources. We are funding from the domestic purse. I want to applaud the Government that has gone this far in trying to rehabilitate using available resources. We are talking of a 98 000 km stretch of our roads in this country where 95% are in a sorry state. So, I would also humbly appeal to the citizenry to bear with the Government that the resources are scarce but we are not leaving any location behind. However, the tremendous speed that we would desire might not be achieved given the fact that we are using our own resources and at times the fiscus has its own challenges.
As we speak, we are busy scoping the roads and you will see my team descending; we are in some of these roads that I am talking about but you will see an accelerated pace going forward. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KHUMALO: Yes, the Minister is saying we are using our own resources to refurbish the roads but what is the use of the tollgates? We are getting a lot of money from the tollgates, where is that money going to? How is it being used because I would have thought that it would be going into the roads?
HON. MHONA: It is true the funds from the tollgates are administered under ZINARA and precisely that is what we have been using as a nation to rehabilitate our roads but at the end of the day, it is not much that would come through those tollgates.
What have been given to local authorities was coming from ZINARA and we have been broadcasting figures coming from ZINARA every quarter. We will continue doing that so that we bring the element of transparency and accountability. However, I want to assure you that what has been coming from ZINARA has been declared but it is not enough. As the Second Republic, we are going to have a transport infrastructure indaba where we are going to invite other investors so that they come and partake in the exercise of rehabilitating our roads. This means we cannot do it alone but the pace that we are moving with is in accordance to the available funds that we have.
*HON. SEN. TSOMONDO: Thank you Madam President. When students lose their results they have to go to ZIMSEC to get their results but they are required to pay 85 USD. However, these are students who are not working who do not have that amount. What should be done so that they get their certificates? I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. MACHINGURA): Thank you Madam President., I want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question. I think the question should actually be directed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education or the Leader of the House.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Minister, may I request that you respond in the language that the Hon. Member used. Are you saying those from colleges do not lose certificates?
*HON. MACHINGURA: Thank you Madam President, those who are in tertiary education do not go to ZIMSEC.
HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. What is Government policy with regards to setting up training facilities by private players in the medical field? Are private players allowed to train our people to augment Government, what does the policy say? Thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. MACHINGURA): I want to thank the Hon. Sen. Chief for the question. Before I actually answer that question, Government is trying by all means to set institutions that will answer every aspect of social economic development issues. The private sector can also be a player on the field, for example you can talk about State universities, those universities that belong to Government and non- State universities, for example Africa University, it is a private university which belongs predominantly to the Methodist Church. They write to the Secretary of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development indicating the area they want to cover. Once the Secretary is satisfied, he is allowed to licence them and they can operate. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Transport. Considering that we have a lot of places which have rail infrastructure yet there are no trains which are using the infrastructure, what is the plan regarding the refurbishment of locomotives as an alternative to trucks that are being used for transportation?
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam President. I also want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Chundu for the pertinent question on a very critical issue which is being looked into by His Excellency, Hon. Mnangagwa. This is quite a critical issue which speaks to rail infrastructure which is not being used at the moment. This is damaging our roads because most of the loads are being ferried by large haulage trucks. Let me say that we are in engagement with different partners. As I am speaking, we have a number of employees of my Ministry who are in such engagements to determine the bilateral agreements that can be held between our country and other countries so that we refurbish our railway lines. So I appreciate the question, very soon we are going to restore the glory of our rail system. I believe this will be done through the National Development Strategy 1 so that we refurbish our railway lines. I believe that shortly you will hear our colleagues who will be coming to support us in the refurbishment of locomotives and railway lines.
*HON. SEN. MABIKA: Thank you Madam President. I direct my question to the Minister of Transport. I do not know what the law says, whether it allows that when someone is given a rehabilitation contract then they end up not meeting timelines, for instance from Coca Cola to Maruta, the road was done very well and then from Maruta to Chitungwiza the quality of the road is poor. This implies that these are different companies that are rehabilitating the road. Is it not possible that those who do a good job should be given so that they complete the project? I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Hon. Senator for the pertinent question. Indeed Madam President, everyone loves good things. I would also appreciate that the question gives me the opportunity to explain to this august House that road rehabilitation programmes, I believe we have engineers in this House, for instance Hon. Sen. Eng. Mudzuri who knows the process of road rehabilitation. I believe that when we will be refurbishing our roads, for instance the Hon. Senator alluded to Seke road indeed, from Harare, the road is done well. When you reach Maruta Shopping Centre, the road is not pleasing. This does not imply that money was not used properly but it means that there is an asphalt overlay. An overlay which is different from the chip and spray model which was used from Maruta. So the qualities are different but the other one is cheaper. This also means that there is a difference in the quality of roads because of a number of reasons. This results in people observing and commenting about the status of the road and because of financial issues, we believe that if we had enough finances, then we could do the same until we reach Makoni Shopping Centre. For that reason, we look at the job that was done and we believe that we can engage those who have done a good job so that they continue doing the job.
We believe that in what we are doing right now, the contractor who will do a good job will be given the job so that they complete using the same standards. I thank you and I believe that you will discover that very soon, Chitungwiza Road will be re-furbished. This coming week, we believe that areas like Chinhamo, Manyame, St. Marys and other areas, there will be road works. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MABIKA: I want to ask that, for those who underperformed, despite being paid, is there anything that is going to be done to them because they were paid for that job and now the job is going to be redone.
*HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Senator. Those who did their job did what was expected of them. However, what I was explaining is that they were given different tasks, it is different from those who started from Harare to Maruta. Let me say that those who do not do their job properly will not be paid. Please do not be concerned that the Government will pay underperforming people, no, that will not happen. With the Second Republic that is being led by His Excellency, Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa, this does not happen. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. It buttresses the Hon. Senator’s question. We have Julie White to Ardbenie Road, which is a good road and was done properly. We see that His Excellency is concerned about motorists and the people of Zimbabwe. However, we have noted that some contractors who are given the work for road refurbishment are not doing their jobs properly. You find potholes, hardly a year after refurbishment of roads. What does Government plan to do regarding those who are empowered by the Government through the Second Republic but end up disempowering the State by doing shoddy jobs? I thank you.
* HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Sen. Chief Makumbe. This also gives me the opportunity to explain the process of refurbishment of our roads. For example, he referred to Boshof Road from Julie White which branches from Seke Road to Simon Mazorodze. I believe that a lot of people were discussing and some saying that the company which did the road did not do well.
Let me also explain that our roads have not been refurbished in a long time. I remember a question that was raised by Hon. Sen. Khumalo and we explained that the roads were beyond repair and no one was maintaining the road so that it could be in a good state. This culminated in the road being in a total state of disrepair. You find that the roads have potholes and this company which was given the task of refurbishing the road did not refurbish the entire road. I will give an example of fourth to first, the road should be refurbished totally. This is what happened on Boshof Road, only parts of the road were mended or refurbished and at the end of the day, people do not know where refurbishments were done. When the rains came, you discover that there were potholes. Some of these cannot be seen by the naked eye because when you have fixed the road, you do not leave the road without being resurfaced. So, resurfacing is done even after patching of potholes yet the road looks new but some potholes maybe covered. However, where the potholes are not covered, when the rains fall, you will discover that there will be new potholes.
Now we have leant that we do not have to do patches but we have to do a complete refurbishment of the roads. Even this coming year, this is something which is going to happen. For instance, Beitbridge Road, when you check what is happening on the Beitbridge Road, the road is being refurbished properly. However, the roads that are being resurfaced are different from what is happening there. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to ask my question to the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Minister Matuke. Madam President, what are the Government plans regarding food security around the country because a lot of areas are facing drought because of the erratic rains? We might be facing drought. I thank you.
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. MATUKE): Thank you Madam President. I appreciate the question that was asked by the Hon. Senator. Government is aware that we are faced with imminent drought. As the Ministry, we have taken strides after being given the task by His Excellency the President who told us that drought is looming. Probably by the end of this month, we would be distributing food aid after being given this opportunity by His Excellency that we should distribute food. From the beginning of April, we would be distributing food. This window gives us the opportunity to create our database because you have to be on the ground collecting data regarding needy households or those who are in need of food. We will then engage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development so that we fund the food distribution programme. My explanation is that we are continuously giving out food to those who need it. In the past month, we distributed more than four thousand tonnes. However, from the 1st of April, we are going to come up with registers and databases so that we identify all those who need food aid from now and into the future for their sustained livelihoods. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Madam President. We heard the Hon. Minister saying that they have been distributing food and they are continuing with the distribution. However, the distribution criteria should be clear whether there are some provinces which should be benefiting and some who are not going to be benefiting. We also have climate variations because of climate change. What is the plan for those who have not been receiving food? I would like to implore the Ministry to consider distributing to the whole country. I thank you.
*HON. MATUKE: Thank you Madam President. I believe the Hon. Senator who posed the question did not understand my explanation. I explained that the law determines and requires that we stop the food distribution programme if we had good rains but because we are faced with drought, we will not stop distribution of food at the end of March. We will continue distributing until the end of April. That window we have opened allows us to move around the country to reach all peripheral areas so that we identify those in need of food. This will assist us in creating a database of those who need and might not have a good harvest. We will not stop distributing food but because His Excellency directed us to continue with the distribution, we have extended the period so that we have our registers. My plea to all the leadership in this august House and those who are responsible for different areas is, if they have information regarding the needy in their districts, they should approach the districts and give us the information. They can also come to the Ministry offices and give us information because there is food for distribution. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHISOROCHENGWE: Thank you Madam President. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is that, we understand the issue of creating the database of those who are in need, what else should be done so that every needy person is identified and included? I thank you.
*HON. MATUKE: Thank you for such a pertinent question which was asked by the Hon. Senator that when creating the database, everyone should be included, no one should be left out. The Government desires that food be given to all people without discrimination on religious affiliation, political affiliation or tribe. The President said that everyone who needs food should be given after investigations have been carried out that indeed that person needs food aid. If there are people capturing data leaving out other people, that information should be relayed to the Ministry’s offices so that action is taken to ensure everyone is treated the same under the law by the Ministry.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Madam President. The question of food aid has been bothering me. Tomorrow we will be in a tight situation. People who need food will be waiting for us. Hon. Minister, what should be done and what can the Ministry do so that those in need of food aid are given? We know that you have been distributing but what is the policy that can be put so that everyone benefits? Hunger does not select people. The chief’s silo/dura ramambo does not have enough. I am happy that Hon. Minister you explained that food distribution is going to continue.
*HON. MATUKE: Thank you Madam President. The question that was asked by Hon. Sen. Chief is pertinent, I agree totally with you. We have a lot of needy areas but I would like to point out that there are some areas which might have a bumper harvest. Government policy is that we do not just distribute but we have to gather information and create a database for those who need food. We allocate food using a certain criteria. We do not just park a truck and distribute food. We must have a record of those who are supposed to receive and their household. This means that when grain is distributed to the people, there must be reconciliation of the database of those who would have benefited.
This information will be used by Ministry officials who would have a complete record of beneficiaries. This issue speaks to the issue of completion of the database as soon as possible. I believe that 30% of our people are going to harvest, but 70% would be facing drought because of certain reasons. Some regions in the country will harvest and others will not. Government has not stopped distributing grain but it is going to distribute to more people this year because of the prevailing situation. The Hon. Sen. should understand that we will be having teams who will be creating registers of those who are in need around the country. However, if there is an emergency, the information should be relayed to our offices and we will respond accordingly. We will distribute the grain whilst waiting for the completion of the papers.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF MAKUMBE: My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture. During his absence, I will direct the question to the Leader of the House.
Government gazetted pre-planting prices but when we look at the economic environment, fertilisers were around US$60.00 per bag. This means that in a hectare, one would need eight bags of compound D and six bags of Ammonium Nitrate. However, the harvest might be two tonnes or less per hectare. What is Government going to do regarding the pricing that was done comparing it to the economic situation?
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI):At the beginning of every year, Government convenes a meeting where pricing of grain is done, whether it is cotton or whichever crop. After planting, our extension workers move around the country looking at the crops and observing what is happening on the ground and then give feedback to Government. Towards harvesting period, the agricultural extension workers give feedback again regarding the pricing of different crops. This is the information that our extension workers gather to determine this year’s farming season and the harvest that is being anticipated.
Please bear with us, Government is carrying out investigations so that prices will be determined.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: I would like to know the current status of the nation’s silos because the Minister mentioned that there was an assessment that was done, which explains what the situation is. Do we have enough grain in our silos? If not, what are the plans that we have as Government regarding the importation of grain? We know that this is a long process.
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Indeed, we know the current position of our silos and we are aware that in the past year we had a bountiful harvest. Our silos are full - not only with maize but with a strategic reserve of different crops which include sorghum, millet and maize which is around 1.5 metric tonnes.
The Minister of Agriculture explained that the reserves have not been tapped into. We have been looking into this issue so that we determine the next course of action. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: My question is directed to the Leader of Government Business that in the past two weeks, Zimbabwe was blessed with a baby girl, Kudakwashe in WBC, who excelled the world over. This is a good thing, and we are pleased with Kudakwashe’s performance. The explanation is that she has been through a lot of sporting activities like boxing until she excelled in her sporting discipline. I believe that everyone is happy with that. What pains me is that we saw a story on ZTV where she explained the value of her belt which is worth US$1 000.00. At one point we had a man who received a similar belt which was worth around US$10 000.00 but now because this is a woman, she receives a belt worth US$1 000.00. This is painful but I decided to come and speak on her behalf in this august House. As Government, it is our plea, may we please give her some money because she is talented. May we assist her? If possible, please take this plea to the Executive. Is there a policy which speaks to that? Thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): I would like to thank Hon. Komichi for his contribution regarding this young lady who excelled in Zambia. However, there is no Government policy which says that anyone who excels in sports should be given money. If you look at sporting activities, different sport associations do not want Government interference. However, the request that she excelled is a good request but it is not policy. So if the responsible offices write to Government requesting for assistance, then something could be done but there is no policy - the world bodies specify that governments must not be seen interfering in sporting activities. I thank you.
Questions without Notice were interrupted by the HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 67.
*HON. SEN. SPANI-HUNGWE: I move that we extend Question Time by 10 minutes.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
*HON. SEN SIPANI-HUNGWE: My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. In the past few days or a week ago, we have seen prices of fuel, whether it is petrol or diesel soaring. May we have an explanation of what is happening and why the prices are changing? Sometimes in the morning or afternoon, we are having increases in fuel prices. I believe a lot of people would like to understand what is happening and how these increases are coming. I thank you.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): I would like to thank Hon. Hungwe for asking such a pertinent question but I believe that this question was asked when we started this session and it was asked in English. However, it has been asked again in Shona.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I am sorry Hon. Member, maybe you were not in when it was asked but you can go and read the Hansard.
HON. SEN. D. M. NDLOVU: My question is directed to the Leader of Government Business in the absence of the Minister of Local Government. What is the Government policy in connection with sale of stands? If a person buys a stand today, it takes almost seven years before that person is shown the stand and when the beneficiaries want to know what is happening, there is a delay, arbitration and all sorts of answers. Can the Minister explain to me since I am a person who is representing other people, they always ask that question from me and I promised to ask the question?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Residential stands or commercial stands in urban areas are sold either by private individuals, municipalities or in certain instances local government. So, it will depend on who sold the stand and if it is the municipality, it is responsible for processing the relevant papers so that the beneficiaries get title to it. If it is sold by a private individual, the individual is responsible for ensuring that the land is serviced, the relevant papers are approved and the stands get the relevant title deeds. Local government again does the same. The Hon. Member needs to go and ascertain who serviced and sold those stands so that relevant help can be given to her.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: If I can help the Hon. Senator; if it is a particular stand, I think you need to put your question in writing so that you can get a researched answer.
HON. SEN. D. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Madam President. It is the Ministry of Local Government, so I will write to them.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Madam President for giving me the opportunity to ask my question to the Minister. As you have heard Hon. Minister, we are facing a drought and the road networks to our people are not in a good state because of the rains. What is being done so that we can access our constituents?
*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Hon. Sen. Chirongoma for such a pertinent question. I believe that this question has been asked before but let me just emphasise that after receiving goods rains, our roads were damaged and they are in a bad state. This has resulted in some areas being inaccessible. Let me explain that some roads fall under DDF, some under local authorities and others under council, though my Ministry has the overall responsibility for all roads. Our listening President, His Excellency President E. D. Mnangwagwa said we should all come together and work on our roads so that they are accessible. No-one should be left behind when food aid is brought from Government. It is Government policy to ensure that all roads are rehabilitated and made accessible to everyone.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT (HON. SEN KAMBIZI) in terms of Standing Order No 67.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, unfortunately all the ministers who were supposed to respond to these questions are not present, therefore we will defer the questions.
On the motion of THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI), the Senate adjourned at Forty-eight minutes to Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday 15th March, 2022.