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SENATE HANSARD 17 JULY 2024 VOL 33 NO 66
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 17th July, 2024
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICE
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Good afternoon Hon. Senators. I would like to inform the Hon. Senators that all Catholic members are invited to a meeting on Thursday, 18th July, 2024 at 1200 hours in Special Committee Room No. 1 on the Ground Floor, Parliament Building. It will be followed by Holy Mass which will be celebrated at 1230 hours in the same venue. All Members are invited for the Holy Mass.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Orders of the Day Numbers 1 and 2 be stood over until all the other Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2023
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Judicial Service Commission for the year 2023.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024
MOTION
REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2023
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for the year 2023.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2023
Fifth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for the year 2023.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Order of the Day Number 6 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 7 has been disposed of.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REHABILITATION OF OPEN MINES BY ARTISANAL MINERS
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on Rehabilitation of Open Mines by Artisanal Miners.
*HON. SEN. NGWENA: I would want to thank you for affording me this opportunity to also add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Senator Moyo on Artisinal Miners. Artisinal Miners Mr. President is now all over the country and there is no legislation that deals with the manner in which these artisanal miners are conducting themselves. Further, inspection of that issue reveals that a lot of accidents are occurring and lives are being lost, mines are collapsing, people are being murdered and nothing is being done to address the issue.
I believe that there should be research into coming up with a law that will guide the operations of these artisanal miners. I also believe that the issue of mining in the past was being done in a clear manner and if the mines could collapse, they would be assisted too quickly and it would be known who was in that area. Artisanal mining is now rampant and people are dying. The artisanal miners are the ones that are benefiting at the expense of the country.
Wherever one has gone to sink a mine, whether it is gold, they do not produce anything from the process of the mining, they just pocket it. They have no limits in terms of where to conduct their mining activities. They are doing it anywhere and all over. For example, there is a mine in Mashonaland Central, where the road that leads from Harare to Centenary, there is a place called Rosah. If one closely looks at it, there is now a lot of danger being posed in that area because of indiscriminate mining activities. We are afraid that the road might collapse any time as we go to our communal homes. If it were possible, as a Government, we need to have a law that will guide operations of these artisanal miners. I thank you.
HON. SEN. S. MOYO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024.
MOTION
COMPENSATION TO PENSIONERS AND POLICY HOLDERS BY PENSION AND INSURANCE COMPANIES
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on the reduced value of the Zimbabwean dollar.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 148th ASSEMBLY OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) HELD IN GENEVA
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion of the report of the 148th Assembly of the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) and Related Meetings.
Question again proposed
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I rise to wind up my motion, although it was not well debated. One hopes that next time Hon. Senators will look at these reports very well but all the same, the report contained a number of issues which are very relevant to Zimbabwe. I therefore move for the adoption of the report.
Motion that this House takes note of the Report of the148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union IPU) and Related Meetings held on 23rd to 27th March, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, put and agreed to.
MOTION
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES TO HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA ON ASSUMPTION OF THE PRESIDENCY OF PAP
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion that a congratulatory message be conveyed to Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira on his ascendancy to the President of the Pan African Parliament.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. NGUNGUMBANE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate and add my voice on the congratulatory message to Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira, who is one of us and is the Deputy President of the Chiefs’ Council. When a cow gives birth to a male calf in your kraal, the elders choose it for breeding the next generation of calves. Even the rooster, after hatching, a male chick might be identified as one which would produce the best breed. I believe that this was also done by Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira’s family when he grew up until this age where he was elected to be the leader of the Pan African Parliament (PAP).
As chiefs and also as Zimbabweans, we are really proud that one of us has been noticed by Africa, not only once, but this is the second time. We really want to congratulate him. This also shows the Chiefs’ Council is no longer the traditional Chiefs’ Council which people used to know as people who were useful for ceremonial purposes where they would brew traditional beer and also use snuff to appease the ancestors. This is a new era, a new generation, which is now in great positions, not only chiefs in their areas. The Government has also taken this into consideration and have seen that chiefs are wise and knowledgeable, hence they managed to upgrade them to become part of other national boards and associations.
They noticed that chiefs are also noble to be included in this august House. Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira has been chosen to represent Zimbabwe in the PAP delegation. The countries that are signatories to this PAP Forum are around 52. They wish him all the best of luck in the task that is beforehand. We also agree with the President that this is not a light duty, but it is a very heavy task because he is leading people of various opinions and who are from various cultures. They also have got different knowledge and understanding. With these few words, I would like to extend my congratulatory message to Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira and this august House. Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira has done a great job at Pan African Parliament. Thank you.
^^HON. SEN. MOHADI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity so that I also say a few words. Mr. President, I would like to thank Hon. Senator Chief Siansali for moving this motion, which is very salient. In moving this motion, he said that he was congratulating and also celebrating our Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira. All of us here know Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira. He is a well-mannered man and also taking into consideration, his character in this august House, we do not doubt his achievements at PAP. Whenever he comes in this august House, he is someone who greets everyone. He does not select in his greetings on political affiliation, but he greets everyone. Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira is one person who follows his culture. He does not divert from the principles of the culture.
I remember one of the days when we were still at the Old Parliament building, when I was proceeding to the building and I was putting on my traditional Venda attire, Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira came to me and said, Hon. Senator Mohadi, you are the one who is dressed in a way that pleases me a lot. The attire that you are putting on is different from the attires that are worn by others. I said that the attire that I was putting on was just a simple attire. He said that was the real attire that he liked. I feel that he is someone who likes our culture and promotes it as well.
Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira, we cannot separate the issue that internationally, he is someone who has been into different Committees. This was necessitated by his hard work. That is why maybe Pan African Parliament (PAP) took into consideration that he should be elected as the President of this body, which is made up of 52 countries. Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira is not just only a chief as Hon. Senator Chief Ngungumbane has said. This shows that even when he was growing up, as a chief, he managed to go to school. He is an educated man and this enabled him to connect with various people and also have consensus with them. It is really pleasing, and it is supposed to be celebrated by everyone here in Zimbabwe, to see one of our own rising in such a manner.
For these 52 countries to accept him, it shows that he is a very noble man. I know when he gets to PAP, he will meet people from various countries with various opinions. For you to market yourself, you have to be cultured and mannered. You also have to create good relations with the people who are there. If you do not have good relations with people there, it makes it difficult for them to accept you or even to work with them.
Coming back home, it has been a while when Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira has been leading the Chiefs’ Council. During his tenure, we never heard that there were any disputes that were in the Chiefs’ Council. He is one person who has good leadership qualities.
We applaud him and we say the good work that he was doing whilst he was in this august House and even in the Chiefs’ Council, should continue in the same wave length. God should continue supporting him, increase his knowledge and make more wonders at PAP more than what he has done here. With these few words, I congratulate him in the name of the Lord, saying keep on doing good. I applaud him for being elected the leader of the Pan African Parliament. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. HUNGWE: Thank you Mr. President. I am going to say a few words and also add my voice and congratulate Hon. Sen Chief Charumbira on his election. The election of Hon. Sen. Charumbira to be the President of Pan African Parliament (PAP), which is a very important board on the continent, is very noble. What pleases me is that some people refer to Zimbabwe as a small country, but we believe that Zimbabwe is blessed. In Zimbabwe, this is King Munhumutapa Empire’s area who used to rule the whole of Southern Africa. So, what it means is that if you belong to a family of rulers, you will continue to rule. Zimbabweans are of the rulership; royal blood and we will continue ruling. We wish to say that in this 10th Parliament, we have also secured a Chief, one of our own who is now presiding over Africa. We want to celebrate over that, the God that we pray to and our ancestors are leading us where we are and we are grateful to them.
We know he is a very good leader, but we want him to go further despite the fact that we know that he is a very good leader, we want him to put Zimbabwe on the map and show expertise and knowledge as Zimbabweans. We want to thank those that elected him. We would also want to thank our President because he was instrumental in his election. If a child has a father who stands behind him or her, it is something that is to be applauded.
He is no longer a representative of Zimbabwe, but of the entire Zimbabwe. His presence shows that it is Zimbabwe that is now ruling and with those few words, I would want to say Shumba, go and lead them well, show them the way and that you are coming from the royal Munhumutapa Kingdom; the land of honey and milk and that you lead people. We do not doubt your calibre. You are very good at leading. You led the Chiefs Council for a long time in Zimbabwe. We just want to say we bless you as this august House, that you lead them well. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: Thank you President of the Senate. Thank you for giving me opportunity to also add my voice in congratulating Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira. I thank the mover of the motion for it is such a pertinent motion. I worked with Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira in the Pan African Parliament. He is a man who is a born leader, even the Committees that he led had a difference with the performance of the other Committees. Hon. Senator Chief. Charumbira is knowledgeable and wise, both from being a chief and also that he is well-educated. It was not easy for him when he went through the election.
You would want to know that from the time we were colonised, there remained two major groups; the Francophone, French speakers and the Anglophone, the English speakers. In the Pan-African Parliament, the decisions are very distinct. There is a problem that in the southern region our countries are quite big, look at Zimbabwe and South Africa, and you have a country called Gambia or Senegal. These are small countries, but counted as very big countries at PAP. When it came to numbers, we could not master the numbers because it has been said the Anglophones and Francophones are different.
When the idea of the rotation of the five regions to be Presidents was mooted, the southern region had never ascended to that position, but the Constitution said we should rotate for the southern and northern. So, there are only two groups that had not had the position of Presidency; North Africa with Egypt and others, and ourselves in the southern region. We would want to thank again the Southern Caucus that is inclusive of the SADC and some other countries, such as members of COMESA that stood with one voice and fought for the southern region to ascend to the Presidency.
We are happy as Zimbabweans because we would not get the position if it was a regional bloc. It was the Southern Africa bloc that fought. You would remember that there was a war that went on for six to nine months. We had won and several machinations took place. If Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira was a weakling, he would have simply stepped aside, but he remained resilient because he knew that he was representing us as Southern African countries and secondly, that it was a position that we would lead the whole of Africa.
Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira is very humble and this humility worked in his favour. He interacts well with other people. He travelled in other countries and taught them a lot of public relations in terms of how one should relate with others which led to the acceptance of the rotation. In 2020, you might have seen that the Members of Parliament disrupted the voting process and ran away with ballot boxes because of the Francophones that were being given a lot of money to ensure that we do not ascend to the Presidency because of their backers.
Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira is a man among men. He has been there for a long time. His humility and knowledge in law helped him ascend to this position. We must thank the Chief and all the other chiefs who made a point that he becomes a Senator because for one to be a member of PAP, you originate either from National Assembly or the Senate. We want to thank the chiefs collectively for choosing Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira to be one of their own and that he should become the President of the Chief’s Council.
We also want to thank our President for his support. Indeed, there was support. It was a war but, in the end, we emerged victorious and the Chief is now leading PAP. We have already seen the fruits of his ability in uniting the people because the election was done and dusted, and we are going on with developmental issues of PAP. If you are a Member of PAP, you would also fill elated as one that relates to Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira.
I also want to thank South Africa which stood by him at the time he was being fought. They had wanted PAP to be moved away from South Africa and be relocated to Morocco, but the South Africans stuck to the law and we are grateful to South Africa, although they were placed under immense pressure, they remained steadfast because it is a Southern African country. South Africa supported Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira’s election to the Presidency. This is history as it is the first time it has taken over the Presidency because it has been predominantly northwest and west.
So, as southerners, we are happy and we celebrate that we now have this position. We did not get it on a platter. We worked very hard for it and he has the position. He has the leadership qualities, cultural values and a modern world. I say congratulations to Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira and we continue praying and supporting him so that his objectives can be achieved as he leads the Pan African Parliament. We also want to thank our neighbours. The others wanted to have other southern candidates to stand against Hon. Senator Chief Charumbira so that he could not achieve his objectives. We are happy, we are victors and we emerged with total victory.
We thank God that we are the ones that are leading PAP. With those few words, I thank you for the opportunity that you have afforded me. I would also want to thank our Chiefs for going a notch above everyone because you are now ruling in the Pan African Parliament on behalf of us your servants. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024.
MOTION
ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC HEMODIALYSIS FACILITIES IN DISTRICTS
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the treatment of chronic kidney disease in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. R. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President. I will take this opportunity to add a few words on the motion. Like what the previous speakers have already said, it is now killing a lot of people. We have these chronic diseases that appear like cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney problems. At first people say that it is high blood pressure when it is above 200. Now it is a sign that you are about to have kidney problems. What surprises me is that this is one of the leading killer diseases, but people fail to get proper treatment because it costs a lot for one to go for dialysis, it costs US$80 to US$200 per session. This figure comparing with the standard of life in Zimbabwe is quite challenging for one to pay such amount of money on a daily basis.
Looking also at the figures of these machines, I found that they range from US$46 000 to US$ 48 000, which I believe the country is able to buy a machine for every district. Here in Zimbabwe we have only 16 centres which do dialysis. The majority of the people cannot reach these centres to access these machines. My worry is, if the people cannot reach the hospitals, how are they supposed to be treated? Most of the people die in the rural areas where there are no machines and where these machines are supposed to be. The prices that people are supposed to pay are exorbitant. Even though you are entitled to free medical attention after reaching the age of 65, for some conditions, you are supposed to pay, especially for these dialysis treatments.
Mr. President, I am really surprised, considering that this disease is very deadly and we have some amongst our number who died due to this disease. They tried to go to these doctors but failed to pay the money to get medical attention. I am appealing to you Mr. President Sir, for Government to erect more centres, especially in the rural areas where there are people who always try to go to urban centres to get treatment but people end up paying US$8 to USD200 per session. My appeal is that these machines seem to be very cheap as compared to the US$46 000 that may be paid by the Government. This amount is not much for a Government with many resources. Each district should have one of these dialysis machines because it will help people in the rural areas a lot. My other wish is for the tariffs that are supposed to be paid by people with such chronic diseases to be reviewed as they are too high for those needing dialysis. I believe that Hon. Members have already spoken about this, so I am just buttressing for the reviewing of the tariffs to a lower figure. We do not want a situation where we are told to go to Bulawayo or Harare for dialysis because people live in various districts here in Zimbabwe, hence the need to have dialysis machines everywhere. When someone gets sick, you end up exhausting all the resources that you have, yet you still have to fend for the family. The funds that one has are not adequate to cater for all these things. When you go for dialysis, you will be told that they do not accept local currency as these machines are imported and cost a lot. My appeal is for a review of the monies paid and to make an analysis of these chronic diseases. All of us here are at the ages where we can be affected by such diseases. This disease affects people who are 50 years and above. I appeal for dialysis services to be accessible within our own areas. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: I would also want to add my voice on the motion raised by Hon. Senator Zvidzai on the issue of kidneys. This ailment can cause one to lose one’s life. It is a chronic disease and it is difficult to treat, especially when the ailment has attacked someone from the rural areas because for them to go to hospital and be treated, the amounts required are beyond their means. If you are not a person of means and you fall ill with kidney ailment, you die very quickly. Kidneys are important for they are responsible for the cleaning of blood so that it circulates. Once one has succumbed to this ailment and they fail to raise funds for dialysis, it means that there will be a lot of toxins within the body and kidneys will fail to clean the blood, and circulation becomes a problem. A lot of diseases will attack the person as the immune system will be compromised and eventually, they will die.
Mr. President, it is my considered view that when the motion was raised by Hon. Senator Zvidzai, he had observed that the kidney ailment can be likened to heart disease. The research that he conducted showed that there are about 13 hospitals that have such machines, but that the machines require payment for one to utilise them and these amounts range from $80 to $200 per visit. It will be difficult for one to sustain such payments as the majority of the people do not have the means. It is my view that this ailment should be treated like HIV/AIDS where there is free medication. When one is suffering from such an ailment, the result is one route because they encounter difficulties in raising the amounts required. The kidney and heart ailments should have a levy in the form of a tax so that the chronic diseases can be treated free of charge. It can attack any one of us in this august House and we may fail to raise the required amounts for dialysis.
These dialysis treatments help even when one is looking for kidney replacement. Without such machines, you can die whilst waiting for a donor to give you a matching kidney. We have seen it in our constituencies; people with such diseases encounter a lot of problems. It is different from other diseases whereby once you are given medication and you use it properly, within a week, you will have fully recovered. The kidney ailment does take a lot of time.
So, I am calling upon Government, as alluded to by the mover that there be devolution of dialysis machines to district level and the personnel that operate such machinery so that people in the rural areas may also live longer. They are dying of ignorance as they do not know where to get assistance. I believe that this is a pertinent motion and it should be cascaded to the districts and all our communal areas where we come from. There should be awareness campaigns and I fully support that idea because once there is awareness, people are given medication which may prove very useful when they can be enlightened that dialysis machines can be readily available and assist them to do better.
I call upon Hon. Senators and Members of the National Assembly that when we are crafting the budget, we should speak strongly about ailments such as kidney so that money can be set aside to assist in the fight against such ailments. It does not matter whether one is young or old, one can succumb to kidney problems. Once it attacks you, you will not have the means because you will not be ready. Our budget should take into consideration such issues so that the Ministry of Health is given sufficient funding for kidney ailments. I have already said that it should include heart ailments because once a heart ailment attacks you, it requires a lot of money for one to receive attention.
I see some NGOs that come into this country with financial assistance, they should leave politics aside and help people that are suffering. They go to a business that does not sustain human life and they use the funding that they bring to destabilise our country. I am appealing to these NGOs to come and assist in the fight against kidney ailments so that the people can live longer. That is what I wanted to add on this motion. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July 2024.
MOTION
MOBILE BIRTH REGISTRATION EXERCISE
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the challenges faced by the people living in the border areas on the issuance of birth certificate.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July 2024.
MOTION
ESTABLISHMENT OF HYDROCEPHALUS DEVICES IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE PHARMACIES
HON. SEN. L. SIBANDA: I move the motion standing in my name that:
NOTING the rise in hydrocephalus cases in hospitals;
AWARE that the most common treatment for such cases requires shunt devices to drain excess fluid from the head;
CONCERNED that such devices are not readily available in both Government and private pharmacies resulting in children with hydrocephalus dying;
COGNISANT that unavailability of these devices violates section 76(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which mandates equal access to basic healthcare services for all citizens and permanent resident:
NOW, THEREFORE, urges the Ministry of Health and Child Care to—
- expeditiously ensure that shunt devices and requisite medications are available in hospitals to prevent further loss of lives;
- conduct thorough investigations as to why such essential devices are not readily available for long periods; and
- implement policies that guarantee equal access to healthcare services for all.
HON. SEN. PHULU: I second.
HON. SEN. L. SIBANDA: Parents of children who have died and also living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus are concerned about the high mortality rate of the children who are dying of that condition. Our children are dying of conditions that could be surgically corrected and approximately four to 100. I therefore, move a motion to compel Government, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Ministry of Finance to equip the country’s major referral hospitals, Parirenyatwa and Mpilo to offer pediatric surgery to the Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus children. I would also like to ask the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care to conduct public hearings about the hydrocephalus kids and state of pediatric hydrocephalus condition treatment in Zimbabwe. The treatment of this condition is very expensive. I call the Committee on Health and Child Care to engage MOHCC, parents whose children died and those with children living with hydrocephalus conditions and affected communities and medical practitioners.
At Mpilo, we have got two Neurosurgeons: Dr. Mwale and Dr. Hlatywayo who have since transferred to other hospitals. I call the Government to promote early diagnosis, mass screening and appropriate medical treatment to children living with hydrocephalus and to individuals in the communities. Most parents are concerned during the time of pregnancy because most of the parents do not even have money to go and do scans to check if their children have cephalic or if there is any abnormality in the growth of the head. I call on the Government to promote early diagnosis and collect information about children living with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus disorders for purposes of research in communities and disseminate relevant information concerning childhood hydrocephalus.
The effectiveness of the community development model in support to such children and disseminate such research findings through appropriate national and international forums. Also, capacitate hospitals and clinics with child friendly infrastructure, equipment and human resources for an international recognised theatre facilities. Again, to promote access to philanthropic doctors for screening and treatment of childhood hydrocephalus. I urge the Ministry to promote nutrition support for hydrocephalus patients, promote friendly childhood spina bifid counseling and training sessions for care givers. Also, to promote free access to medication to Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus communities.
The challenges that most of the children are facing, most of them come from less privileged families. Since their treatment is very expensive, they find it very difficult to visit health facilities because they cannot afford. A child with hydrocephalus to survive, they need a shunt device which is used to drain the fluid from the head, which will cause the head to drain the fluid from the brain. They can undergo surgery but a lot is needed for this operation, which includes a shunt device and other accessories. Before that, a child has to go through an MRI Scan and other medical requirements before the surgery. This is effective if there has been an early diagnosis but if a child delays to get a scan to check if they are suffering from this Spina Bifida, they would be encountering some deformation and the child might end up dying.
Care givers end up abandoning families because their children need almost 90% of their time. They need a constant check up and most of the times, people who are in charge of the children are the mothers. They end up abandoning their duties even if they are employed, they are forced to stay at home to look after their children because of their conditions, which other people might not manage to take care of. The kids are not taken in ordinary schools. Most of them would need hearing aids, which they cannot afford because they come from poor families. The shunt devises are very expensive and they are not readily available in the country. The cheaper devices are from a minimum amount of about USD160 to 200. I pray that the Ministry would take care of this problem on time before this illness kills more children. I thank you.
HON. SEN. PHULU: I have listened to the impassioned plea by Hon. Sen. Sibanda on this issue of children living with the hydrocephalus disability or condition. Certainly, what I have taken away is that this disability or condition is a very painful one. It is painful for the child living with the condition. We keep referring to the child because these children never grow up to become adults. That would be extremely exceptional, if one lives to become an adult. So they are already sentenced to death from the time that they are born. All we can do as a nation is to make their time on this earth comfortable so that, that little time they were given, they can enjoy a quality life. When we talk about the right to life, we do not talk just about exhibiting the vital signs of life like breathing or a pulse.
Certainly, the right to life encapsulates the right to a quality existence. They must be able to exist with as little pain as possible. They must be able to maximise whatever senses they have. They must be able to love and be loved. They must be able to laugh. They must be able to cry. They must be able to experience being on this earth and if they are our children, if they are born into Zimbabwe, certainly we should care about taking care of them. From the point of view of a nation on National Budget, I do not think a shunt device would break the back of this Government. From the point of view of a family, a mother, a father, a sister, who have to look after these children, that cost is back-breaking. What we have done, obviously because they are disadvantaged, they are in the minority. If we are not suffering it ourselves, we are experiencing it ourselves, it is easy to hide and ignore it, so that it does not touch us.
I believe that what has been happening is that some of these conditions – hydrocephalus is one them. I have seen many more terrible conditions that afflict children, which we have tended to ignore because they cannot speak for themselves. The parents who are in such a grievous situation are disadvantaged. They cannot speak for themselves. So, I rise today to express my deep concern and outrage at the persistent lack of affordable shunt devices for the treatment of this condition in Zimbabwean hospitals. This is not only a healthcare crisis, but a human rights violation that is denying countless children and individuals with this dilatating condition, the chance to live a full and dignified life.
Mr. President, as we all know and as has been expressed by the mover of this motion, this is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention to prevent brain damage and even death. We need not argue, let us talk about it in order to move the Government to do something. A sentence should be enough and I thank Hon. Sibanda for her impassioned plea, her detailed plea which gave us the statistics of this ugly condition that is strangling our children silently in our hospitals and in homes across the country.
The replacement of the shunt devices is a life serving procedure, proven to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of hydrocephalus. However, it is heartbreaking to know that these essential devices are not readily available or affordable where they are found in both Government and private pharmacies, leaving many individuals without access to this treatment. As a nation that has ratified the United Nations Conventions on the Right of the Child, we have an obligation Mr. President, to ensure that all children have access to healthcare services that are necessary to ensure their survival and development. That survival and development includes the survival and development of these special children who suffer from this terrible condition.
Article 24 of the Convention specifically emphasises the right of the children to the highest and terrible standards of healthcare. We cannot turn a blind eye to this fundamental right and continue to neglect the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. Furthermore, our country has ratified the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which enshrines the right to life, dignity and health.
Article 16, of the African Charter guarantees the right again to attain the highest terrible standards of physical and mental health. We cannot ignore this ride and continue to deny our children who live in this condition. Our policies as opposition political party over the years, including our policies particularly called SMART, emphasises also the right to healthcare and this is compromised by the lack of this shunt devices and certainly should our Government romp to power one day, we would emphasise the right to healthcare including the rights of these marginalised children.
We cannot claim to be committed on achieving these goals while denying individuals with hydrocephalus access to life serving treatment. As we deliberate on this critical issue, it is imperative that we consider the broader implications of our actions on the nation development trajectory. The state of affairs surrounding the availability of these devices, simple devices I must add, for hydrocephalus treatment in Zimbabwean hospitals, is a stuck reminder of the gap between our policy promises and reality. Our National Development Strategy (NDS1) and Vision 2030, both emphasise the importance of addressing the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society. NDS1 specifically highlights the need to reduce poverty and inequality, while Vision 2030 is to create a prosperous and empowered nation. Surely, it should be shameful to find in an empowered and prosperous nation, a small number of children who are suffering this way while we ignore them and do nothing to alleviate their pain.
However, the current situation where children with this condition are denied this access, hampers the fulfillment of the vision that we have painted to the nation through the Vision 2030 and all our promises. Furthermore, the President’s mantra is that no one shall be left behind and this is contradicted by this situation. How can we claim to be committed to leaving no one behind when children with hydrocephalus are being denied a chance to live a full and dignified life because they cannot afford a machine, a simple machine which Government can afford to pay because they are small in number? There is no argument that we see the Government spending millions to buy these gadgets because there is a small percentage of our society. Certainly, I think the pocket change of Government can quickly be used to intervene as quickly as possible.
The lack of devices is not only a healthcare crisis but also a development one Mr. President. It undermines our ability to achieve the SDGs, particularly SDG3 which aims to ensure health lives and promote the well-being for all ages. The absence of these devices contravenes the principles of the equity and social justices inclined in our Constitution.
It is imperative that we take immediate action to address this crisis. We must prioritise the procurement and distribution of shunt devices to ensure that children with hydrocephalus receive the treatment we need. I would go on Mr. President, but let me cut short by saying, I would like to urge Members in this House not to ignore this plea because it has a word that we do not know and I came across it, which was a first time - hydrocephalus.
Let us debate this motion. It has been raised in earnest and from a genuine heart. It has been raised from deep emotions by someone who has worked and cared for these children. Someone who has come across this pain and I would like to invite each and every Senator from my side of the aisle and across the aisle, to go and deeply search or research this motion, and find something to say about this motion so that at the end of the day, it is a well debated motion because all our views and contributions will make this bus move and turn the key to this thing being done.
Let us see if hearted and emotive debates will make our Government move, and move quickly in order to deliver on this plea. We do hope that the Minister and all those who work in this area out there can hear us and come to actually answer to this important issue. It is not trifling and I know it is not about elections or changing Government. It may appear to be a small issue but someone is dying out there. You are lucky if you do not have a child who is born with this condition and I am lucky if I do not have, not because I am clever. I am not erudite and sophisticated.
You can have a child, grandchild or nephew, and even if it is a stranger that you do not know, we do not want to leave in a country where we ignore things because we think they are a small matter and we do not care about them. I would like to implore my colleagues to come with me on this journey and I will be interested to see, and lobby personally each and every one of you to say something about this. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. NDEBELE: Thank you Mr. President. I am very grateful for the motion raised by Hon. Sibanda, which talks about health complications for kids. It is a very sad state, we have come across this. You can be quiet for a long time thinking about what you would have seen, yet there are others who would have already come across that. All of us here were not born like this, were not born dressed. We came from a sorrowful state. Therefore, we should all encourage Government to be involved in babies being born because they are the ones that we look up to for Zimbabwe as a country. We do not expect that the end of our generation should mean the end of the world. The world and the country go on with the future generations including the ones that are being born now, that translates into the state of the country right now.
Mr. President, if we look out there in the rural areas, we may prioritise urban areas. There are a lot of things in the rural areas yet that is where the majority reside. They are the ones who make us sit here, with that margin we should also promote them because we cannot be here right now. I say so because the rights of children in the rural areas are not well recognised or respected. Looking at all the diseases that are spoken about and the ones that were referred to by Senator Sibanda. Most of the people in the rural areas do not know them. The knowledge about the disease that we are talking about this time is not known in the rural areas because the health facilities in the rural areas do not even have that knowledge.
Mr. President, you realise that a child can be disabled below the age of six months. They continue going to the clinic, just receiving paracetamol. They lose weight and become disabled with no remedy. They only receive breast milk, when the mother looks at such a child even if the milk runs dry, the child will only play with the mother’s breast but with nothing coming out. Even the cheeks of the baby will not grow because they would be having serious problems.
I came from Midlands, it is now about two weeks. I was very disturbed because I came across that incident. People were gathered because the baby was in such a state. We sent the baby to the nearest clinic under the local authority and we realised that there was not even a single pain killer, so we were supposed to go to the next hospital that we considered better from the place that I had come from. We went to that hospital and there was a doctor, but we realised that the doctor did not have knowledge. We realised that even the baby was not supposed to be exposed to such a condition.
Mr. President, we are talking about Midlands Province, we were all powerless and we could not do anything. The baby was supposed to be taken to Gweru. The baby was supposed to be admitted and a pediatrician was supposed to come from Bulawayo, but the specialist comes on certain days yet we were looking at the life of a baby. We were looking at a potential doctor, a soldier and all other good things. We proceeded with the baby and I left them there. I was phoned to come and collect them again because the things that were required were not available. They required US$9 000. We are talking of very new branch that cannot afford anything on their own.
Right now, we are only looking for pain relief because we are not expecting that money to be raised from anywhere. My request to Government is to have health centres by regions so that they may be assisted. I also request that doctors in rural areas go for a specific health programmes because they will be seconded by donors. The Ministry should also ensure that doctors go right round so that we do not lose lives of babies.
Mr. President, the nurses who are in places that we come from are not concerned at all. I ended up telling them that I am Senator Ndebele because of their behaviour. That is when they showed concern about the baby. We are looking at people with nothing and they may not even have been wearing any perfume. They frown at the baby and anyone who comes nearer to the baby. They do not even consider the state. It is so painful. I apologise for being emotional Mr. President. It is so painful Hon. Senators, it happened to me and I am in deep pain. I was not even able to talk to the nurses in front of the parents. I ended up taking the parents to the car and went back to talk to them. I had to tell them that they should not go to work where they cannot work with patients, where they look down upon patients, especially after realising that the mother cannot even produce milk. They are not concerned, yet they take pride in the clothes that they put on. Mr. President, it is so painful. I came from that state when I was born.
I remember by that time my grandfather used to go around in the rural areas, administering injections, maybe that is why I survived. I hereby request that let us debate deeply on this motion. Just like Hon. Senator. Phulu said, there is nowhere we can go as a country if we do not respect innocent people before God. Let us not prioritise our sinful wishes without prioritising development of the country.
Mr. President, I want to apologise because I have reached a state of much anger because of an innocent baby that has affected parents. That baby will not grow properly. We are the ones who are violent to the mother because as leaders, we are unable to do things in our areas. We selfishly look at ourselves and say we are girls of raptures but where we come from, what does a clinic have? Imagine dropping from these big vehicles carrying a baby that can die any minute, yet they expect that they chose a leader who will ensure that we get even paracetamol.
It is so painful, especially to those people who cannot express where their pain is. I appeal to Government to take health issues seriously. I hereby challenge Government, or the Health Ministry not to say we have grown to where we are today and will not care about others. Those who work in that Ministry must be taught to deal kindly with those in need. I thank you Mr. President.
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I hope next time you will not be so emotional and you speak properly.
HON. SEN. SIBANDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN PHULU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to Resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fourteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on Presidential Speech: Debate on Address.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th July, 2024.
On the motion of HON. SENATOR MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SENATOR MAKAMBA, the Senate adjourned at Twenty-Six Minutes past Four o’clock p.m.