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SENATE HANSARD 22 NOVEMBER 2022 VOL 31 NO 81
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 22nd November, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
SWEARING IN OF A NEW MEMBER
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: In terms of Section 39 (7) (a) of the Electoral Act, Chapter 213, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) notified the Clerk of Parliament that Maryleen Nobuhle Ndiweni has been nominated by the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance MDC-A Party to fill in the vacancy in the Senate that occurred following the death of Hon. Sen. Mildred Dube, representing Bulawayo Metropolitan. Maryleen Nobuhle Ndiweni has therefore been duly appointed as Senate Party List member for Bulawayo Metropolitan with effect from Friday, 11th November, 2022.
Section 128 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his/her seat in Parliament, the Member must take the oath of a Member of Parliament in the form set out in the third schedule of the Constitution. I therefore call upon the Clerk of Parliament to administer the oath of a Member of Parliament to be Senator in terms of Section 128 of the Constitution.
NEW MEMBER SWORN
HON. SEN. MARYLEEN NOBUHLE NDIWENI took and subscribed to the oath of loyalty as required by law and took her seat.
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS AND OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE 9TH PARLIAMENT
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have to inform the Senate that His Excellency, the President Hon. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa will deliver the State of the Nation Address that will mark the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the 9th Parliament at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022. Additional details pertaining to relevant logistics are provided for in the information brief that was circulated to Hon. Senators on Monday, 21 November, 2022 via your e-mails. I hope you have read your e-mails.
I also have to inform the Senate that the New Parliament Building has not yet been officially handed over to the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe. A special request was made to hold the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the 9th Parliament and State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the new Building, which was deemed a suitable venue for the occasion and the Chinese acceded to the request. Hon. Senators will be taken for a familiarisation tour once the handover has been done and Hon. Senators will be informed accordingly.
PARLIMAENT IDENTITY CARDS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: There is a request from the Chief Whip that Hon. Senators are kindly reminded to bring their Parliament Identity Cards for ease identification at the New Parliament Building tomorrow. I thank you.
SWITCHING OFF OF CELL PHONES
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Members who are very senior in this House know that we put off our cellphones when we get into the House please.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Madam President. There seems to have been confusion – tomorrow when we are bringing our gadgets, where are we going? Are we coming here or we are going to the New Parliament Building?
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: It is good to seek clarification. According to the announcement that I made, it says that there is information which has been sent to your e-mails. If it is not clear, I think we heard that it says we have not been taken for a familiarisation tour and that is because the building has not been handed over to us so that we are taken on a familiarisation tour. We are being forewarned that it is cheaper to use that building for such events than hiring a place like a hotel where we pay some monies yet that House is open. So, authority has been sought for us to use it for the Official Opening. We will be advised in due course when we will permanently move to that new building. I hope it is clear.
*HON. SEN. ENG. MUDZURI: Thank you Madam President. I wanted to ask on the issue of iPads; if you go to ICT personnel, they also cannot help us in terms of sending and receiving messages. For a number of times, I have been there. This affects a number of Members of Parliament. Gadgets are there but they even told me that a number of Members of Parliament have the same problem. As a result, we do not receive information on time.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I am being informed that there is information in our pigeon holes as well.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 2021
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for the year 2021.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA seconded by HON. SEN. KAMBIZI, the Senate adjourned at Thirteen Minutes to Three O’clock p.m.