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SENATE HANSARD 17 MAY 2022 VOL 31 NO 42
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 17th May, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two O’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE
NON-ADVERSE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I wish to inform the Senate that I have received Non-Adverse Reports from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on Statutory Instruments gazetted as follows:
During the month of March 2022, Statutory Instrument numbers 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 40 (a), 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59.
During the month of April 2022, Statutory Instrument numbers 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 68 (a), 69, 70, 71, 72, 72 (a), 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 80 (a), 80 (b), 81, 82 and 84.
APPOINTMENT AND CHANGES TO THEMATIC COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I also wish to inform the House that Hon. Sen. Cheza has been nominated to sit on the Thematic Committees on Gender and Development and Human Rights. Further to that Hon. Sen. E. Baipai will move from the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security to the Human Rights Committee.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President Sir, I move that Orders of the Day Numbers 1 to 6 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the effects of drought on the national herd in the dry regions of the country.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on policies that address and plug loopholes on tax evasions, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to support the motion that was moved by Hon. Sen. Chinake which speaks to the emancipation of Zimbabweans through the development of our economy. Zimbabwe is rich. It is endowed with different resources and because of that, you would bind that some of our resources are not being properly secured. Some are being smuggled out of the country which is affecting the development of our economy. Mr. President, our economy is deteriorating despite the fact that we are rich. This is because of corrupt individuals who want to benefit alone. You find them smuggling Zimbabwe’s minerals, which is a bad thing because these resources are not cascading down to the fiscus. You find resources being taken out of Zimbabwe yet as Zimbabwe, we are supposed to be getting these mineral resources and the money is supposed to be taken to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
This comes as a result of corruption. You find corrupt individuals doing this so that they benefit as individuals whilst the rest of Zimbabweans are suffering. We appreciate that President E. D. Mnangagwa is very strict on corruption. He is saying that people should desist from corruption and do the right thing. He even formed the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to deal with corruption. Despite that, you find that there are people who are not prepared to comply. Zimbabweans are suffering. Our economy is not performing well. People are smuggling minerals and other countries are benefiting from our minerals. These minerals are being exported. This corruption is like a cancer which is destroying the country. I do not know what should be done to a perpetrator who is found to be guilty. I think there should be punitive measures put in place. Externalising and exporting Zimbabwe’s resources is not right because people are suffering despite Zimbabwe being blessed and endowed with different resources. We are facing sanctions which were slapped on Zimbabwe by our erstwhile colonisers and other western countries. Instead of surviving on what we have and on other plans that we have as a country, we are suffering. If our minerals were not being externalised, we would be benefitting from their sales. We however have a President who is as wise as Solomon and he is trying his best to ensure that Zimbabwe succeeds. He works with other countries to assist and emancipate the people of Zimbabwe. Let me also reiterate that corruption is like a cancer and it is affecting people. We are supposed to be realising revenue but that is not being taken to the fiscus. Rather, you find individuals carrying cash in suitcases and bags. Some people do not even go to work. You find inflation spiraling as a result of corrupt activities. People do not value the Zimbabwean currency. There is no country which does not require its own currency. As Zimbabwe, we should value our own currency just like other countries do. At one point, I went to Cuba and despite facing serious sanctions like we are doing, they are doing well because the US dollar is not allowed in Cuba. You cannot trade using the US dollar. They insist that you only use the Cuban currency. So it is important that there should be a single currency so that the Zimbabwean currency is the sole currency being used. If that is done, then corruption will be rooted out. We have a lot of things in Zimbabwe but these are not evident because of corruption. There should be strict laws to penalise offenders. The painful thing is that you find people being arrested and released. This is discouraging as corruption cannot be eradicated by one person and one law. We need to be vigilant so that we inform those who are responsible for arresting the corrupt individuals. If you see people engaging in corrupt activities, there is need to inform the authorities because everyone belongs to the Government. If we are the eyes of Government, then there will not be corruption and it will be eradicated. You cannot turn a blind eye whilst watching people engaging in corrupt activities. It is important that perpetrators are prosecuted. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank Mr. President for affording me the opportunity to add my voice to this debate. I also want to thank the Hon. Member who moved this motion, Hon. Sen. Chinake and the seconder of the motion. The issue is of the wealth of the country in terms of natural resources. We are all agreeing that the Almighty God blessed us with natural resources. Though illegal sanctions were imposed on our country, we are surviving through our natural resources. Since independence, many resources were discovered showing God’s blessing on this country. We had potential for economic development but there are some hindrances which are preventing the growth of the economy of the country. We have Ministers who were given posts by His Excellency Cde. E. D. Mnangagwa, to lead different ministries. If you are given the Ministry of Finance, you must be well versed with all things happening on the financial side. To say the truth, we are being controlled via WhatsApp where the rates rise daily. So every week, the rates are going up. However if we look closely, it seems as if the people using WhatsApp are the ones responsible for raising the exchange rates. The Ministry left people to raise the exchange rates without taking any action until the President discovered the rates were going up and he saw it fit that the money be taken to the banks and measures were put in place to end the issue of raising the exchange rates. This shows that the measures were very effective. The prices of goods and even the rates were stagnant for a long period of time but because of corruption in the country where many people are moving around with large sums of money, both local currency and US dollars, what is surprising is that those people are moving around with crisp new notes, meaning there is corruption at high level. These notes must be in the banks. We also ask ourselves where these people are getting the money from. Our economy is going down the drain because of the corrupt activities. Our economy must be controlled by those who are responsible for working on issues to do with finances. The rates continue to go up and we are worried why the prices continue to go up. Why is it that the current state of financial affairs continues to rise? There are many corrupt activities that are happening in the country. An individual can have billions. There are even some influential people who were caught red handed with large sums of money and evidence was there but when those people were brought to book and nothing happened, they were released. Corruption must end in this country so that our economy can improve. People involved in corrupt activities must face the full wrath of the law so that everyone can see that if you are involved in corrupt activities, you will face the full wrath of the law. The simple word is corruption. These new notes must be at banks and being kept there. We also ask ourselves where these people are getting all this money. Due to these people who are involved in illegal and corrupt activities, our economy is going down the drain. Our economy must be controlled by those who are responsible for working on issues to do with finances.
If we look closely Mr. President, the rates are going up. We are worried why prices and the rates are going up. Why is the current state of affairs on prices continuing to rise? There are many corrupt activities which are happening in the country. An individual can have billions and billions and some other influential people were caught red handed with large sums of money. Evidence was there but when those people were brought to book at the courts, nothing happened and they were released. Corruption must end in this country so that our economy can rise.
People who are involved in corrupt activities must face the full wrath of the law so that the country and all the Zimbabweans can see that if you are involved in corrupt activities you will be penalised. Sometimes we weigh to say this corruption is better than the other, to say there is lower, medium and higher level of corruption. I think corrupt activities should be classified in groups. For example, corruption at the roadblock must be classified. If you see people exchanging it is corruption. How are we going to classify this corruption?
Those who are involved in extreme corrupt activities must be given higher sentences and a stipulated time when to go to court. Those who are found doing corrupt activities and have properties or money, those things must be taken and forfeited to the State. People must see that being corrupt or involved in corrupt activities does not have any profit because once you are caught everything is taken by the State and you are sent to prison. The judges should know that someone who is involved in corruption must face the wrath of the law because corruption is destroying the future of the country. One person can benefit from resources which were supposed to benefit a large group, province or nation.
Mr. President, we know that the Second Republic led by His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa who is very dedicated and knowledgeable, is working on the refurbishment of roads and other economic activities, even agriculture. All departments are moving forward very well but there is a problem when it comes to money. We are not happy with where our money is coming from. Our money must be controlled. If a person borrows money from the bank for farming or other activities, he must return that money within a stipulated period of time. Yes, we understand sometimes a farmer might fail to understand that but there must be proper laws set for those who borrow money for production. Farmers must borrow with the knowledge that they must return that money.
On corruption Mr. President, we must work hard to end corruption. Even the small miners are doing a wonderful job in their mining activities but the management is not good. One other time, we had a discussion that those who have licences in different provinces must send people to go and collect money. Some people who have money go and buy the gold from the miners illegally, which is not good because some of the minerals are being illegally exported through the international airports or other illegal routes crossing to our neighbouring countries. All these activities must be controlled.
On the diamond sector, reports must be given regularly on how much gold or diamond we have produced as a country or how much we got from copper. Reports must be given regularly and the amounts of money must be declared so that we know how we can use that money as a country and we know that the money is there to allocate to the different departments. Yes of course, there are other things that we do not know in terms of management of money and some other activities are private for the sake of the security of the country but the information must be accessible to every individual so that they understand how the monies or economy and natural resources are being used in the country.
We went to Morocco - their currency compared to the USD is different with a dollar or $2. We went to Zambia and Mozambique, even if you give them USD when making payments, they refuse and tell you to change the USD to their local currency so that you can buy. Although we have the USD, we must protect and accept our local currency and use it compared to the appetite of using the USD. Right now, the rates are at 1:350/400, we do not have hope that the rate will go down. We are going to face many obstacles for us to get that rate down. There was a time when we reached a trillion.
Let us work together as a country to reduce and normalise our rates. We know the Second Republic is working very hard and they are going to make plans for the local currency to return its power and the rates to fall so that things can normalise and that the local currency has its power compared to the USD. We need our currency to be strong, able to buy and is beneficial to the country. We need to focus on the issues of finance. We want the ZWD to have power compared to the USD. Yes, it is good to use the USD but it is good to use our own currency. The owners of the USD can deny us to use their currency, so we must work towards the retention of the value of our own local currency.
In the yesteryears, money was measured in gold and the other minerals and our currency was strong. With the little money that we have, let us work together and make our currency to be strong. There are some people who have looted the country’s money and resources, and went to build in other countries. We do not want our resources to be transferred to other countries. With these few words, I thank you.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I would like to thank you very much for recognising me to debate on a motion raised by Hon. Sen. Chinake, seconded by Hon. Sen. Denga. The topic ‘mining sector in Zimbabwe’ is a very broad one. One can debate for more than seven days uninterrupted because of its complexity and importance to the generality of Zimbabweans. The current harsh economic conditions existing in this country makes this motion very important to all Zimbabweans in this country.
The mining sector plays a very important role in the development of any country and Zimbabwe is included. The mining sector brings the much needed foreign currency and the revenue that assist in the running of the country. It plays a significant role in the development of this country by bringing the much needed foreign currency and income. I will show how the mining sector is important in this country and how Zimbabwe must handle the mining sector as its cash cow. The Government gets most of its revenue from mining taxation. There are various taxes that stream into the Government coffers. We have
Royalties – These are major tax payments from the mining sector. These are sovereign rights to receive payment based on percentage of revenue of the mineral exported. Whatever company is mining in this country – there is a certain percentage it must pay to the Government for all the activities. Most of the companies that are mining in Zimbabwe are foreign. Therefore, before they export whatever they export, a certain percentage is paid to the Government as revenue.
Corporate tax - This is calculated at 25%. This tax is calculated from the profits of a corporation paid on a company’s taxable income which included revenue minus cost of goods sold.
Additional Profit Tax – These are levies specific to the mining sector aimed at capturing a larger share of the rent.
Value Added Tax – This is calculated at 15%. It is an indirect tax on consumption charged on the supply of taxable goods and services.
Exploration Fees – These refer to payments made to a Government for assessment work, taxes, Government fees, geophysical, geochemical and geological surveys.
Pay As You Earn – This is a system of calculating how much an employee must pay to the Government. In other words, the company deducts a certain tax on behalf of the employee and pays to the Government.
All these that I have explained are revenue streams that keep our Government going. Even when civil servants demand salary increments, even all the developments that are taking place right now in Zimbabwe – I want to praise His Excellency and the new dispensation; all developments that are taking place right now, Government is not borrowing. Where is it getting that money from? It is coming from those streams that are coming from the mining sector. This then shows us how important the mining is to this country.
If the mining sector is not handled properly, it can have negative impacts to our communities. These negative impacts are; destruction of natural landscape; it violates human rights; pollutes surfaces and water; contaminates soils and displaces people. As much as the mining sector is a cash cow – and whatever is coming to the Government is then ploughed back to service communities but a good example is the Chiadzwa community versus the Chinese Diamond Mining companies; the community is not benefiting from companies that are there. We passed through Chiadzwa with a certain Committee. What we found there is very deplorable. There is total destruction. There is no land reclamation. The roads are just bad. Schools have been moved away from the local community and children walk a distance of eight kilometres to the nearest school. As a result, most of the children are no longer going to school. As much as we want these companies to pay tax to the Government, policies must clearly state that wherever they do their business, they must make sure that they improve the welfare of the people because some of the people will have been moved to give way for mining which gives money to the Government. The companies must remember that there is something called social corporate responsibility and community trust.
One area that needs to be looked at closely is the area of social corporate responsibility and community trust. This is enshrined in the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act Chapter 14:33 but it appears as if there is no proper follow up because the mines just speak of corporate social responsibility and totally forget about it. There is ZIMPLATS which is doing very well. Good houses have been constructed for the people but some of these Chinese companies are not doing a good service to our people.
There is also need to consider our small scale miners. They are doing a good job and bringing much of the gold to Fidelity but the way they operate, as I shall explain later, leaves a lot of loop-holes to an extend that most of the gold that is coming to Fidelity is probably 40% and 60% is finding its way out of the country.
It is a fact that Zimbabwe has got more than 60 minerals plus the prospect of oil in Muzarabani and Mbire districts. The predominant minerals are gold, diamond, platinum, chrome and coal but since the year 2000, Zimbabwe has been mining only ten out of the more than 60 namely gold, diamond, platinum, coal, chrome, nickel, black granite, asbestos copper and silver. Corruption is rife in all other spheres but in the mining sector, we feel a lot more must be done because the mining sector is our cash cow. People that are tasked to clamp down and regulate Zimbabwe’s illegal gold mining industry are some of the biggest beneficiaries of the illicit activities.
The Zimbabwean Government had targeted to have at least USD12 billion by 2023 but this has become an uphill task because of corruption, embezzlement, illicit outflows of the gold to other countries. Therefore, as a Government, we need to sit down and screw all the avenues these illicit smugglers are using.
Mr. President, a special commission was set up to oversee the gold sector. It is called Gold Mobilisation Technical Committee (GMTC) but I wonder if any other Hon. Member here knows about this Committee which appears to be a wild goose. It is also rife with corruption, a thing that is against the mandate that Committee was given by His Excellency. It is also against His Excellency’s instruction. Instead of doing what they were supposed to be doing, they have also sunk into corrupt activities. I am not sure if we want His Excellency to go down to the mining areas to plug in corruption.
The mining industry is overwhelmingly defined by artisanal and small scale miners, hence its vulnerability to exploitation and illicit financial flows. Small scale miners normally operate without any regulations, they get to any place and if they find gold, they start mining. Chances are that those big guys with money will just come in and grab all the gold from the small scale miners and take it across the Limpopo to South Africa. Therefore, very strong recommendations are that we need to harness the small scale mines so that not even a small grain of gold is allowed to get out of the country through undesignated border areas.
Popular is a nomadic form of prospectus colloquially known as ‘reapers.’ These reapers dig anywhere where a detector sniffs a possibility of gold. They virtually mine everywhere, even in the roads, they do not care, they can even destroy homesteads and graveyards. This brings the threat of violence during the gold rush. These rippers also sponsor or employ those market groups to displace rivals. The mining sector is in turmoil because of bureaucratic tendencies or red tape and corruption, which results in loss of business confidence and sparks capital flight.
Mr. President, there is something that is also taking place in this country that is called blanketing and carpeting of the whole country’s mineable areas with speculative Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs). Even sons of this country who want to prospect and mine gold everywhere else, it has already been prospected for speculative purposes. I think as a country, we need to look at that properly and take away all other areas which have been packed for speculative purposes and allow other players to get into the same field.
One other thing that is causing pilferage of gold or these illicit activities is the delay in processing of certificates and delays in solving disputes. The delays are man-made and breeds illegal miners, reducing the flow of gold to Fidelity; it closes Zimbabwe for business when it is supposed to be open for business. Mine exports is responsible for 60% of all our exports in this country and mining contributes 18% of our GDP. These figures tell us that we need to do much more to the mining sector of this country. If it is properly done and if corruption is properly suppressed, we do not need to cry about sanctions, we will bust them because we will have enough since we have all the minerals.
My recommendation is, I am not too sure what is supposed to be done, but there is that Committee which I talked about which also sank into corrupt activities but we should not lose hope. I feel as a Government – I have a request to make, I think the Minister of Mines and Mining Development; I am not sure how he can find his way into this House so that he answers some of these things that we are talking about in the mining sector. He is the man in charge, we have a lot of questions, and so we can also give him advice. Unfortunately, I have gone out of the topic but I think it is important that he comes here and listens to us as we also give him some advice.
My strongest recommendation is on corruption and tightening of screws so that all the taxes that are supposed to find way to Government are directed exactly there. I want to repeat that I am happy that all the development that is taking place in Zimbabwe, the Government is not borrowing anywhere and the biggest cash-cow is the mining sector. Those six streams of revenue coming to the Government, if screws are properly tightened, I think Zimbabwe can go a long way in busting the sanctions and we will never cry about sanctions again; we will be like Cuba. I thank you Mr. President – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –
HON. SEN. MABIKA: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Chinake for the motion. My contribution will be that, in short, this is a heavily compounded problem with all the driving forces…
THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, you are not connected.
HON. SEN. MABIKA: The answer to our problems lies in our natural resources as a key starting point. We consider the natural resources that we have as mentioned before, the gold, platinum, diamond and so on. However, commodity prices have been rising significantly globally, which means these products must give us a lot of high revenues. The crux of the matter is on how to get money to the households. Why are we still broke despite so many minerals which are in high demand globally? A couple of things are happening in the mining area which should deliver chunks of revenue to the State for onward use and distribution to the people via commercial means such as increased construction contracts and subsidies in time of strife.
We have the issue of mining licences, usually after an exploration a concession is awarded and the concessioner automatically is given the rights to mine when they apply for a mining licence. The mining licence fees have no direct bearing to the quantity or quality of the mineral identified. It is usually a flat fee based on acreage and type of mineral in question. I consider this to be a massive but currently invisible leakage. This area can create several chunks of bumper harvest every year, thereby reducing the impact of sanctions and all these high impact exogenous shocks such as lockdowns, price shocks and other similar things caused by geo-political pressures such as global supply chain disruptions. I would like to give an example of a platinum mine - geographically surveyed to bankable level and found to have a resource worth USD10 billion. A 1% mining fee would give you about USD100. In short, if we check how many of these licences have been given out for the past three years, you will find that we could have a revenue stream of well over USD3 billion. If we are not part of the ownership of the mining companies, they will sell a lot of our minerals and Ministry of Finance can announce great figures on current account balance, et cetera, but how are those great figures accounted for to the people? The mining house still owns the revenue and keeps it in their bank account, then what? Suppliers to mining houses are specialised and very few, where will the people meet this revenue for them to know that our mining is doing great? Community ownership schemes literally failed to deliver. The only way is to have shareholding for purposes of monitoring real activities within the companies to reduce chances of transfer pricing among other ills as well as becoming a dividend receiving part of which the dividend must be deposited with the province as the devolution fund. That way the harder a province works the more they get.
The syndrome of simply receiving a devolution fund which has no bearing on the output of the province is like conditioning the people to receive without working for what they receive. This is a terrible national habit brought in by the NGOs to our people’s mind set – a dependency syndrome. Please note that the current process and procedures for acquiring concessions and mining rights were developed during the colonial era. It was specially designed to benefit the colonisers who were very clear why they came to Africa, to get resources back to their homeland – Britain. The process encourage geological work to be done with minimum State resources and the reward for finding the minerals would be the automatic right to mine and specifically export to their homeland, the originally intended final beneficiary.
In our case, we are supposed to be the final beneficiary of our minerals in whatever state of the beneficiation we can get the minerals to. This has got to be rearranged. The Mining Act requires to be urgently reviewed with regards to this recognition. The recognition that we are supposed to be final beneficiary as a country of whatever comes out of our ground, part of the reason land reform is a problem for the West is what is under that agricultural land – minerals. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 50TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PLENARY FORUM HOSTED VIRTUALLY BY THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on motion on the Report of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Plenary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December 2021.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
MEASURES TO RESUSCITATE THE ECONOMY
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to come up with measures to resuscitate the economy.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
EFFORTS TO CURB CORRUPTION
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion to introduce deterrent services for those engaging in corrupt activities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MABIKA: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for this important motion about corruption. Corruption has become synonymous with the cause of State failure and Zimbabweans’ perception. Corruption has superseded and even replaced all causes of sub economic of Zimbabwe. The people have even convinced themselves that sanctions are a minor contributor to the economic hardships of Zimbabwe. Both local and international media onslaught regarding corruption in Zimbabwe has caused insurmountable damage to all the effort by the State to deliver, to the extent that even when the State delivers something such as dams, roads, health improvement, conquered the COVID surge, et cetera, all that the people see is corruption.
There are two parts to the corruption matter. The first one would be the real corruption and the second one would be the perceived corruption which is usually driven by conspiracy theories generated by third parties who have ulterior motives towards the State or some individuals. We must be quick to note that the way we deal with the real corruption will have a bearing on the relevance of perceived corruption to the people. In other words, the more corruption the State detects and successfully deliver convictions, the less the impact of perceived corruption on the psyche of our people. Failing to deliver on the conviction and eradication of real corruption has got far reaching consequences to our country. The first thing that is attacked by this failure is nationalism. People will inherently attack, as they already do not like anything nationalistic - including and especially our own currency; our achievements to the extent of not even liking our own national soccer team. The flip side of this same anti-nationalist sentiment would be self hate. A nation’s psyche cannot be worse than self hate. How will we be able to develop our country and grow our GDP when we hate what we produce in preference to imports whose forex we do not have? How will we be able to harness maximum innovation from our people when they think that their ideas will be either stolen or misused? How can we assure productivity when the people think that they are only putting their effort for someone else to simply benefit themselves through corrupt means? How can our people trust their currency when they believe that it is going to be siphoned out of the country by corrupt means? How can we harness the intelligence and capabilities of the diaspora for the maximum benefit of the nation when the diasporans think that their country is so corrupt that if they come back home to contribute, it will be wasted energy to be sapped by a few corrupt people?
Basically the people have been left with a hollow feeling about contributing to the nation and to themselves in full, on this soil. Commitment and the will to sacrifice for one’s own country is almost totally eroded. The people are the resource in many aspects. They are the manpower, the innovators, the producers, the market and ultimately the defenders of our sovereignty.
Announcement of operation restore legacy gained the highest traction from all walks of life because of the key pronouncement of getting rid of the thieves around the former President. Nobody can successfully change this perspective. It is therefore more than critical for the Second Republic to demonstrate that corruption is not to be entertained in this country and that anyone who is corrupt shall be brought to book without fear or favour. Attacking corruption is the key binding tool for the nation. It must be used relentlessly for the people to have a positive outlook at themselves. It provides an atmosphere or feeling of fairness. There is no shortcut or alternative to this requirement.
ZACC and other related anti-corruption agents’ limitations
It is evident that ZACC and other anti-corruption institutions in the country have got some limitations in exercising their duties. In the absence of conviction of the corruption agents, there has not been any explanation or release or information on any such limitations. At least some form of credible explanation would go a little way in calming the people down. At this point, no convictions and no explanation create a sense of acceptability of corruption by Government. This is a fundamental problem. Whole anti-corruption departments have been in place since soon after His Excellency, the President of the Second Republic of Zimbabwe was inaugurated. To date, according to the views of the people, there is practically no dent that has been put onto the corruption plate. If anything, it is actually growing in their perception. The question is, what limitations do ZACC and other anti-corruption agents have which could not be solved since 2018? Is it a manpower problem on the part of our investigators? Are the reported cases fake? Is it the judicial system which is slackening after arrests have been made? Are the cases too complex and long to cause arrest and conviction? Could it be our laws are not watertight enough to cause high impact implementation? Is it possible that our people are confusing between ethical and corrupt tendencies? What are the real issues making us look like we are failing to overcome this problem?
This failure to conquer corruption or the perception of it in some cases is putting the Second Republic into disrepute and is hurting nationalism, thereby impacting very negatively on all aspects of our economy through both leakage and having a demoralised people, yet the people form the backbone of the country. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you for affording me this opportunity to debate this very important motion on the issue of corruption. If we take a close look on the discussions which were held in this House, they all lead to corruption which will not make our country move to the next level. We were happy when we were given Commissions by the President E.D. Mnangagwa in the Second Republic. We thought everything would be okay since they were Commissioners. As alluded to by the other speakers, is it hard for them or is corruption too much for the Commissioners that they cannot do anything? Are they still Commissioners?
In the Senate and National Assembly, we made vows to the country. So why can we not have Commissioners coming here to train us on what to do so that we can help the Government since we are another arm of Government? We are leaders from different constituencies. We see a lot of things. Some cases where Government money is used, we see as Members of Parliament but we do not have powers to consult anyone where we can use the money. We are hurt.
We see our relatives being called to perform different activities or jobs and end up seeing them wasting resources for the Government or mining away our resources. After they have consumed enough, they leave and others come and consume again and leave. Is it not good for Members of Parliament to advise that on such a place, there is corruption happening and then we wait to see if the Commissioners do not act after getting that information?
Secondly, we have never seen people engaged in business going to the banks or in a queue at the banks. Where do they take their funds to? There is corruption there. In our African tradition, we say there is no smoke without fire. We need to report our cases too. The police on its own is not enough. We see a lot Mr. President which disturbs the country. As Hon. Members, we need to keep our funds well since that is where we get our salaries from. Therefore, we need to build our country well so that our economy becomes stronger.
We know the leaders of corruption. If one person has a lot of stands in one town and others do not have, that is seen by everyone in the country that this has exceeded the corruption level. How much he earns and invests is too much. How is he getting everything that he has? That needs to be closely looked at so that our resources are protected. We were given diplomatic passports to represent our country in other countries but we cannot even represent our citizens in our own country.
As Hon. Members and an arm of Government, we need to help the Government in what is happening in the country. Citizens and Ministers also notice where things are not good. If the Government is not supported, we are also not supported as members of Government. We need a strong Government. His Excellency and the Ministers cannot notice everything. They need our help. We praise others for working well but I think we need to have forms to assess the Ministers so that we know how they are performing.
Corruption is too much Mr. President and corruption alone; I see it happening every day. Members of the public must be able to talk about people or groups they see engaged in corruption. They should be able to name groups, not only individuals who are responsible for hampering the development of the country through looting of resources and money from the RBZ. A lot is happening behind the scenes. We love our country and we need to protect it. Thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS ON HIV AND AIDS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN ZIMBABWE
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the First Report of the Thematic Committee on HIV/AIDS on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on HIV/AIDS service delivery system in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
MOTION
FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS ON HIV AND AIDS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN ZIMBABWE
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on HIV and AIDS service delivery system in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MATIIRIRA: Thank you Mr. President for affording me the opportunity to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Kambizi concerning the problems faced by people who are HIV positive during the lockdown period. I would like to thank you Hon. Sen. Kambizi for raising such a pertinent motion.
We moved around as a Committee seeing people living with HIV and AIDS during lockdown times and how they survived. In Manicaland - Chipinge, we discovered that during the lockdown a lot of people were affected. We would like to thank the Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care – they are trying their best that everyone has medicines for HIV and AIDS in all the hospitals. During lockdown, they all faced the problem of lack of medication. They would not come back to look for medicines because of the lockdown. A lot of hospitals had no medicines especially Cotrimoxazole. If they discovered that a person is living with HIV and AIDS they would take a CD4 count. Other hospitals and health institutions had no machines to do the CD4 counts. A lot of people were disturbed because they had no access to their medicines. Some travel a lot of distances and during the lockdown they would not move from one place to another in time and this affected them countrywide. We all know that if one is taking ARVs, he or she needs to be constant in terms of taking the medication. A lot of them defaulted and continued later. Some lost lives due to these problems.
We also discovered that we have children who are living with HIV and AIDs and they are taking care of themselves. It would have been better if they had parents. These children do not have anyone to encourage them to take their medication as per the prescription. People need more sensitisation with regards to COVID-19 since it is still prevalent. They need to be educated on what to do if we have another lockdown so that we do not lose lives. This must be done through the Ministry of Health and Child Care so that everyone gets medication in time. This is what we noted as a Committee Mr. President, I thank you.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE THEMATIC ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) ROLL-OUT PROGRAMME
Thirteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Implementation of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Roll-Out Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 18th May, 2022.
MOTION
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF HON. SEN. SIMON KHAYA MOYO
Fourteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the untimely passing on of the late Senator for Matabeleland South, Hon. Sen. Simon Khaya.
Question again proposed.
+HON. SEN. NKOMO: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to add a few words to the motion which was raised by Hon. Sen. Mathuthu regarding the passing on of Hon. Sen. Ambassador S. K. Moyo. The passing on of Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo really pained the whole nation because of his contribution towards the independence of Zimbabwe and beyond. A lot of things were said by Hon. Senators in this august House and I cannot repeat all that was said. However, the point is that it is prudent that everyone knows the man we are talking about who was a great man of valour.
We have heard Hon. Members saying that he was trustworthy. Because of his integrity, he was sent by ZAPU to go to school, he was sent to pursue university education because of the kind of a person that he was. During the liberation struggle, because of his good deeds, he was deployed in the office of the leader of the party who was the late Vice President Dr. Joshua Nkomo. Zimbabwe, especially Matebeleland South Province lost the father figure who used to urge us to work very hard and encouraged us to unite so that as Zimbabweans, we need to be united in everything that we do so that there is progress. He was a jovial man who was always smiling but hard working. We know that in Government, he had different positions. In Matebeleland South, we referred to him as ‘Mr. Ten years,’ meaning that he was a secretary of different ministries in 10 years. He was a Minister for different departments for 10 years, an ambassador to South Africa representing Zimbabwe for 10 years. This was a serious man who was committed and would sing patriotic songs like the song that we work for our nation. He would urge people to work for positions. We lost a valuable cadre.
The passing on of Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo really pained us. It really affected me even as an individual Hon. Senator. I am here to represent Matebeleland South and I am here because of his passing on. It pains me that he was a hard worker but also challenges me to work hard like what he used to do. This man was a liberation cadre who fought alongside other cadres so that we attain independence. The Agrarian Reform was also taken up by different cadres including the late Hon. Senator, S. K. Moyo.
The Government should take care of our war veterans. We thank President E. D. Mnangagwa for noting the hard work of the late Hon. Senator S. K. Moyo because he honoured him as a national hero. We thank His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa for the honour. There are a lot of cadres who were with the late Hon. S. K. Moyo, some passed away before independence. Let me thank the President, noting that President E. D. Mnangagwa recently pronounced that he values liberation cadres and war veterans. He even gave a directive that their welfare be looked into because he is a visionary leader and cares for war veterans.
Mr. President, I am saying this because those who passed away before independence should be remembered together with their families because there are surviving families who need to be looked after. We also have some who passed away after independence who should be looked after by the Government because leading our nation will be easy if people are happy. If people are not happy, it will be difficult to lead them. This programme was initiated by President E. D. Mnangagwa, thinking of collaborators, detainees and war veterans, this is a good initiative which encourages the people of Zimbabwe and they appreciate that the Government is doing its best to take care of their welfare. I believe that those who passed away before independence and after are not different from the late Ambassador S. K. Moyo. He was a leader, a fighter and worked with people, he was led by other people and he also led other people within the structures of the war veterans and other liberators.
It is a good initiative if the Government to take care of the welfare of war veterans who fought alongside with the late Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. Our war veterans are suffering and it is good that they are looked after so that there is peace, harmony and unity in Zimbabwe. Ambassador S. K. Moyo was a wonderful man. After attending the Senate, he would go to Matebeleland South to meet his constituents, party cadres to discuss about developmental issues. He was a man who was developmental. He desired that there be unity in Zimbabwe and we need to unite because those who are late, we do not know where they are but we believe that their spirits know that they left Zimbabwe in safe and united hands. As Zimbabweans, we need to unite and defend what Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo and other cadres fought for so that we protect our economy and nation. Our economy is busy disappearing yet we are here and we cannot ring-fence our economy. We need to be vigilant so that Zimbabwe is not poor but is independent and has a vibrant economy.
Our cadres fought for the liberation of Zimbabwe and for us who are alive, we need to be vigilant and make sure we protect our economy and nation. It was a sad loss, Matebeleland South as a Province really felt the pain of losing Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. He was a man who embraced all ages. He had an open door policy, he was consulted by different people and was always open to assisting different people. He did a good job and we commend him for that and appreciate him. Let me also thank this august House which stood with Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo even up to the funeral until he was laid to rest. Hon. Senators, I appreciate you. With these few words Mr. President, I would like to say that as I step into his shoes, I would like to say may you rest in peace Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. MATIIRIRA: Thank you Mr. President for affording me this opportunity to talk about our late father, Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. First and foremost, I would want to thank His Excellency the President, E. D. Mnangagwa for conferring hero status on the late Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo because of his contribution to Zimbabwe. He worked for Zimbabwe as a nation and to ZANU PF as a party. He was a humble man, merciful and peace-loving; hence His Excellency the President saw it fit to accord him the befitting hero status. He left a good image and he was a good role model, courageous in as far as his love for his country was concerned. He loved himself as much as he loved this country. We are aware when he came two days before his passing on and sat here alone in the Senate Chamber, little did we know that he would pass on. When we received the news, we realised that he was a man who was committed and dedicated to his country Zimbabwe and wanted to work for his Government. He had come to bid farewell to the august House. We would want the Moyo family to also know that we are with them as they mourn their dear departed. We know that once God has called one to the Kingdom, no one can stop that. He was promoted to higher glory. As we mourn the deceased, let us be thankful and celebrate his life and look at the future. I want to say farewell to the late Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. Go thee well. With those few words, Mr. President, I thank you.
+HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to talk about our colleague the late Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. He was short but had a broad vision. He worked hard since before independence. He was an aide to the late Dr. Nkomo and did his job with fortitude. I would like to appreciate our Government for the way he was treated during his days when he was not well. We were informed that the late Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo was admitted in hospital but we noted that Government was involved in providing medical attention. The Minister of Health who is also the Vice President, Hon. Chiwenga ran around to make sure that Sen. S. K. Moyo received medical treatment. Everything was done to try and give him treatment.
When he passed on, we were informed that Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo had passed on and the Vice President, who is also the Minister of Health Hon. Chiwenga was present. We met doctors who informed us that Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo had passed on. We had doctors from all corners who were consulted by the Ministry but it was sad that Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo passed on. When he passed on, the President did not send anyone to declare him a national hero but he came on his own and said that no paper work would be done but that Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo will be going to the National Heros’ Acre. His Excellency said that because of the great exploits and deeds that were done by Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. As a region, we would like to thank the support that was provided when we took the late Senator to the National Heros Acre. It was not easy but His Excellency the President, E. D. Mnangagwa saw it fit that at a particular time, the late Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo would be taken to lie in state at his rural home and eventually at the National Heroes Acre.
Because of the relationship they had and the good job they did working alongside with other leaders, Government noted that. I would like to say that may his soul rest in peace. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MABIKA: Thank you Mr. President. I would also like to add my voice to the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Mathuthu on the passing on of Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo. He was a very strong man who did not even show that he was sick. He would smile even when he was not feeling well. The late Hon. S.K, as we would passionately call him in other quarters, was a down to earth man. He was very humble. I remember Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo as a very kind man who did not like any controversy. He loved peace. He was loyal in the performance of his duties and above all, he was a gentleman who left a gap that is going to be difficult to fill. May his soul rest in peace. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I would like to take this opportunity to wind up this very important motion. I would like to thank all the Hon. Senators who contributed to this very important motion, which touched almost every Senator in this august House. True to all the contributions which were made in this august House, Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo was a very committed man to the nation and the country Zimbabwe. He was a true son of the soil and a national hero. I would like to thank His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa for according Hon. Sen. S. K. Moyo a national hero status. May his soul rest in peace. I thank you.Motion that this House;
EXPRESSES its profound sorrow on the untimely passing on of the late Senator for Matebeleland South, Hon. Sen. Simon Khaya Moyo, on Sunday 14 November, 2021;
PLACES on record its appreciation for the services which the late Hon. Senator rendered to Parliament and the nation at large;
RESOLVES that its profound sympathies be conveyed to the Moyo family, relatives and the entire Nation for the untimely loss of the Hon. Senator, put and agreed to.
MOTION
DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE BY YOUTHS
Fifteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the devastating effects of drug abuse by youths.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: Thank you Mr. President. I also want to add my voice to this motion on drug abuse. I would like to thank all the Senators who supported this motion. These drugs are destroying our youths. We are talking about the leaders who protect our children from the law societies and all the leaders. Today’s youths are abusing drugs and do not have the future in their vision. This morning I saw someone at Rainbow Hotel and he was bleeding profusely through the nose but it was clear that he had consumed something and was intoxicated. My request is that there should be a law from the National Assembly and Senate that should be enforced and those who abuse drugs should be incarcerated for a long time. Our youths are our future but we will end up not having any leaders if they continue abusing drugs. The children of today insult their parents when under the influence of drugs. Right now they are using pampers as drugs. If we come together as leaders we should assist our youths because they do not understand what is going on in their lives. They are abusing drugs left, right and centre and that is why this motion is very important to all parents. I thank all the Senators who supported this motion. I move for the adoption of this motion.
Motion that this House:
DISTURBED by the excessive and prevalent abuse of drugs by youths countrywide;
NOTING the situation is exacerbated by the unemployment rate among youths who consequently end up spending most of their time idle and end up resorting to taking all sorts of drugs;
CONCERNED that such abuse of drugs has devastating consequences on our future generations and the Nation as a whole;
NOW THEREFORE calls upon the government -
- To put in place measures that will curb the abuse of drugs by youths through self-help projects so as to keep our youths fully occupied all the time.
- Set up rehabilitation centres and hospitals to assist our youths who are addicted to drugs to the extent of treating such abuse as a way of life.
- Legislate for stiffer penalties for the importation of those substances that give rise to incidents of drug abuse in the country put and agreed to.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Sixteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MABIKA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18th May, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA, the Senate adjourned at Half past Four o’clock p.m.