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SENATE HANSARD 28 FEBRUARY 2023 VOL 32 NO 18
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 28th February, 2023
The Senate met at Half-Past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 3 has been disposed of.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR THE 7TH MAY 2022 BY-ELECTIONS
Third Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for the 7th May 2022 by elections.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Madam President for giving me the opportunity to debate. I would like to thank the Minister who came with that motion on the elections conducted by ZEC. It is a very good thing for citizens to be given an opportunity to elect their leaders. It is very plausible but what we want to encourage is that when elections are conducted, there should not be chaos and violence. People should be able to freely choose their leaders be it at ward, constituency or for presidential elections. People should be encouraged to choose their leaders knowing that this country likes democracy and upholds the constitution so that peace prevails.
Sometimes we may not know that some of the things we do may have consequences on the image of the country. This country greatly needs unity. As we go to elections, let us remember that we are all children from the same clan. We may differ on the doctrines but we all worship the same God. All what we aspire for is the same. Even if you ask people from different churches or denominations, at the end of the day, they want their people to live peacefully and have enough food on their table. What then causes us to fight when we have similar interests? We need to unite and achieve national unity. Let us not fight.
The second aspect is that this country should achieve peace. If we unite, we bring peace. When there is peace, we will work together and we will be able to attain development as a country. Yes, we are trying here and there to bring development but we are not getting there. We are failing to attain total development. If we compare this country with South Africa or Rwanda, there is no other country endowed with so much natural resources like diamonds or lithium. Why do we fail to live in peace? When we go to elections all we consider at the end of the day is achieving what you want as an individual at the expense of the citizenry. It is important to remember that let us ensure that this country lives in peace.
I want to emphasise that what we did in 2008, I am not referring to the violence but the unity that we achieved was very remarkable. Who can deny that after working in unity and harmony, we achieved a lot? Who can argue that we came from a background where there was no food on the table, the shops were empty, hospitals were closed and every other thing? We had valueless money but the moment we embraced unity and formed a Government of National Unity, we achieved three major things. The first one is unity, second is peace and third is economic development and the independence that we got as Zimbabweans.
The citizens of this country live peacefully; people are now able to build their houses, goods are available in the shops, construction of roads has started and hospitals now have medicines. People are now having many children because life is good. That is why I want us to leave in peace and harmony.
Let us give ZEC the responsibility to run elections in peace without insulting each other and quarreling and let us prioritise that we are citizens of this country. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIMBUDZI: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to support this motion on the report presented by ZEC. Madam President, Zimbabwe will go for elections and as usual, according to the dictates of the Constitution, elections are not new in this country. If we want to listen to what the President, His Excellency Dr. Mnangagwa said, he always preaches peace to this country. He says he does not want violence in this country but wants peace and indeed as Zimbabweans, most of the times we are the ones that break the laws of this country. We fail to hold peaceful elections especially as leaders. We must always preach peace during election time but sometimes you hear leaders encouraging violence and disharmony that contradicts with the laws of this country.
I pray Madam President that the law takes its course. We have several political parties in this country and all those parties are allowed to contest. There is no limit, parties are coming up and increasing everyday and the Government allows that. So it is up to an individual to choose which political party they want to support. The most important thing for us as Zimbabweans is to uphold the law especially during election time. Let us refrain from violence amongst ourselves. Sometimes we hear people saying the international community will say this or that; let us not wait for that but let it be our responsibility as citizens. Americans and the British hold their elections but we are not invited to monitor those elections. Let us conduct our own elections and let us not peddle lies that there is violence or such negative things that tarnish the image of the country. Let us respect the values of the country that do not threaten our own people. Let us live peacefully as Zimbabweans and uphold the laws of this country. Let us love our country and our citizens. Let us not be told by other people what to do because a lot of other countries really focus on us. Sometimes they will prefer those people whom they see that they are weak and accept anything.
Let us love our country and embrace each other as Zimbabweans. If there is no violence, development in the country will progress; so is education, mining and any other such things. Politics controls all other things and if we continue arguing and quarreling, that also translates to the rest of the livelihoods. Let us encourage people to be peaceful and let us conduct our elections peacefully so that we preserve the lives of people and also prevent the distraction of properties. Let us encourage each other to live in harmony as Zimbabweans. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIFAMBA: Thank you Madam President. I am very proud to be debating on this motion brought in this Senate. As we approach election time, elections must not be an event that brings sadness to us but it must be a source of joy because it gives us an opportunity to choose our leaders for the next five years. Sometimes people really feel threatened by such times because there are some previous elections that were conducted, violence took place and we do not expect such things to recur. Some people lost their homes, some were beaten and some went through very terrible things. Let us remember that we are all Zimbabweans; we may differ on our structures or complexion but we are called Zimbabweans, we stay in the same place. Let us pray for our country; let us not call for violence and try to invite foreigners to try to protect us as if we do not think. Let us prioritise our country. There are some people who just wait for this opportunity and when this time comes, it is as if they now become possessed. Some of them may not necessarily be politicians but just thieves who use that opportunity to conduct all sorts of terrible things such as robbery. They take advantage at election time, yet it will not be the case but it will be someone who just has very bad plans. Let us follow what the leaders of the political parties say to us that we do not want violence. I think that will help us.
The President of this country is saying let us conduct elections peacefully, we do not want violence. We also hear Hon. Sen. Mwonzora saying the same. As Zimbabwe, let us consider that but there are some people in this country who really long for the coming of violence like what happened on the 1st of August, where lives were lost because of violence. For some of us who may be used to commit unwanton activities, let us use our brains and know that you are being used since that person who will be sending you to cause violence will be safe at his home. Sometimes these people are given drugs or beer and you go as far as murdering somebody. That person that you injure is not the one that may bring victory to your party. If your party is going to win, it will win and if it is destined to lose, it will do so. Let us be humane people and respect people’s lives. Let us not behave like animals but let us live in harmony and greet each other just like how we have been doing all along. Why does election bring hatred yet it is only an event that comes and goes? Are you going to shift from your homes because of that? Relationships continue and families continue to exist. If someone comes across something negative, let us be able to assist them. If you meet someone belonging to MDC or CCC, you call for their lives - no, they are also human beings. Elections come so that we choose leaders; let us do it in peace. I emphasise to all leaders here, Members of Parliament, Senators and village heads because we are the ones that do not obey what the leaders say. Let us stay in harmony so that elections come and go. Zimbabwe is a country with milk and honey; it has everything, diamond, gold, chrome and asbestos.
Madam President, if we have peace and harmony in this country we will not even feel the effects of sanctions. There are some countries that do not have resources like Dubai, yet they leave a better life than us. It is simply because there is no peace and we try to invite foreigners to come and lead us when we fail to cope properly - how can you expect a woman from the next house to come and cook for your children when you are there? As citizens of Zimbabwe, let us love our country and let us do away with violence. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. DR. MAVETERA: I would like to thank the President for giving me this opportunity. I would like to add my views on this debate brought by the Minister, giving us the background of what transpired on elections where we choose leaders to take us to the development of this country. Madam President, indeed leadership comes from people. That is why you find the Constitution saying after every five years, citizens should be given the opportunity to mark the examinations pertaining to the people they have chosen in the previous five years.
As people who were chosen, let us ensure that we do not present falsehoods, let us present the achievements we made. I wish all of us as Zimbabweans would understand the gist of the elections because that would ensure that this country would not be where we are right now. It is sad to note that the citizens of this country are going through difficult living conditions; the worst part is that we are a country that is blessed and is where we respect lives, have God fearing people and hard working people. God did not forsake us but endowed us with resources such as minerals. The term ‘breadbasket of Africa’ did not come from us but it came from the whites. They literally wanted to say the breadbasket of the whole world. As leaders seated here, we are the ones who have destroyed this country. If you were not able to achieve anything, why do you want to seek re-election? You want to force people to elect you. You want to call for slogans that ensure that other people are beaten or injured.
We are the leaders. We are the ones that set the tone. People look to us because of our positions. All those people that are being involved in violence, that demon is coming again. We hear so many stories about politically motivated violence. We are the ones that encourage the demon especially when you notice that you have not achieved anything as a leader in those five years, you resort to violence and threats.
Madam President, if you look at the suffering that the people are going through right now, I remember what happened in 1980. We were given large clothes to dress like elderly people so that we could vote. The only election that I am satisfied made a difference is the 1980 elections. The rest of the elections, I regret because it looks like it is not achieving any purpose. The election purpose is to lead to development yet in Zimbabwe it seems it is the other way round. Elections lead to the destruction of the country. If you go around right now in the rural areas, people are not happy that elections are approaching. They are afraid. Even business people are suspending their activities because they are not sure of what is going to happen after elections. Who is causing that? We are the ones chosen by the people. So as leaders chosen by the people we need to apologise to the citizens of this country because we are letting them down.
So I would like to implore that the success of the forthcoming elections is dependent upon the behaviour of the people who were in the Ninth Parliament. If we were unable to achieve anything, let us give others an opportunity. If I am the one who did not achieve anything, let me give someone else an opportunity so that they lead to a better environment where I can then work. We hear of some giving the youth drugs that destroy them. Sometimes we also hear of rape taking place. All those shenanigans that are meant to instill fear in people during election time. During this time, we always hear the President say let us live peacefully because he has plans about where he intends to go with this country. That plan is summerised in the Vision 2030 programme. All the resources are supposed to lead to that but we may not be able to achieve that if we fail to conduct the 2023 elections properly. In fact, we will be worse off.
So are Zimbabweans supposed to be afraid of choosing their leaders of choice simply because they are well known thugs who want to live through politics for the rest of their lives and careers as politicians. We should appreciate and understand that leadership is meant to be passed on to other people.
ZEC tries by all means. ZEC is supposed to be apolitical but sometimes we hear of allegations that it supports one party. That is all because of us politicians. When you are expecting to play a football match, you start by threatening the referee. How do you expect that referee to be objective? The referee is supposed to ensure that the environment is such that you all play peacefully and happily. I am sure some of the chiefs here appreciate that there are some areas where their subjects are living under fear because of the forthcoming elections. Sometimes even the chiefs are also threatened about their chieftainships by the Ministers. Sometimes they are also threatened by violence. I wish we could take this opportunity from now up to the time of elections that we pray for the achievements of the wishes of the elections or the objectives of the elections, what they set to achieve. If we are able to do that, we will really enjoy living in this country. We will all be happy.
My message is especially directed to the leaders who are the architects of violence and distabilisation of the country - architects of sanctions. Whether they have been imposed on you or you begged for them, it is all because of politicians. So as leaders, Madam President, I wish this message to be preached all the time and wherever we go. Let us preach peace. Let us choose leaders who will take us to the achievement of Vision 2030 pronounced by the President of the country. When the President is given a mandate to lead for the next five years, he will have a genuine plan but sometimes when he is surrounded by people who may have rigged their way and have been chosen fraudulently, they let down the leaders.
Madam President, this is a very painful message because it speaks to the lives of the people of this country. As politicians, we need to change how we conduct ourselves. Let us give them the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the resources that are God-given in this country. Let us not make them suffer because of our failure as leaders. This is a very important message brought in by the Minister. I wish if each and every one of us would be given a week to debate on this motion until we lose our voices but since we are given only limited time to debate, let me give others the opportunity to do so.
The main thing is, we are all Zimbabweans. There is no suffering that can go only to ZANU PF or MDC. No citizenship is allocated on political lines. We are all Zimbabweans. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 1st March, 2023.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. KAMBIZI: Thank you Madam President for allowing me to debate the State of the Nation Address (SONA), by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Address by His Excellency contained the legislative agenda and it also set out the pace for business of Parliament. Before going further, allow me to thank Hon. Sen. Mpofu and Hon. Sen. Chief Siansali, who are the mover and the seconder respectively. The two ably highlighted the issues raised by His Excellency in the SONA.
Most of the issues contained in the SONA were effectively dealt with by the mover, the seconder and my fellow Hon. Members. Therefore, I stand here not to reproduce the President’s SONA but may be to emphasise one or two issues that I feel need to be emphasised. I am going to talk of five, if not six items. The first one, I am going to talk about the completion of matters on the legislative agenda. I am also going to talk about agriculture, mining, the economy, manufacturing and modern and efficient infrastructure as expounded by His Excellency.
Under the legislative agenda, His Excellency clearly stated in his address that his address is coming ahead of the 2023 Harmonised Elections. For that reason, His Excellency reminded Parliament to accelerate the completion of outstanding issues as of the last Parliament. What this meant was; the two Houses, the Lower House and the Upper House had to tighten our belts to make sure that we are up to date with all the Bills that were outstanding as of 2022.
On agriculture, I am going to talk about two issues that the President talked about. The first one is the Presidential Input Scheme where the President targeted three million families. This type of agriculture is the best one for Zimbabwe, especially the communal areas. One - it is easy to manage; secondly, they get inputs from the President free of charge. Under this scheme, the President targeted five plots per each family, reproducing grain and oil seeds. This is called Pfumvudza/Intwasa. The second one is the Zunde raMambo/Isiphala seNkosi. This time the President extended it downwards up to the village heads. It used to be for chiefs but now it has gone down to the headmen and village heads. The President stated that the reason for doing that is because our leaders are constantly in contact with the community and when the community has problems that have something to do with hunger, they always run to the leaders at various levels. Therefore, the President felt that it was only necessary and reasonable that all the three stages be supported by Government.
In mining, His Excellency talked about growth in production of gold, coal, chrome and other related minerals. As exhibit, the President commissioned the following; Cam and Motor Mine Biox Plant, Radnor Mine and Blanket Mine expansion. His Excellency also acknowledged the contribution of our artisanal miners in that they contribute to the output of gold being sold to Fidelity Printers. He however advised that all those who were involved as artisanal miners follow the rightful path that is required to do that legally.
Under mining, he also advised that Government was decisively going to deal with the mining and smuggling of precious minerals. He went on to urge the players to operate legally and in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Madam President, on our economy, the President stated that the economy was growing much faster than the supply of power. No wonder why at the moment electricity is failing to cope. We have quite a number of black-outs here and there although we have some problems from our Plants. By now, Unit 7 from Hwange should have been commissioned and if it has not, I think there are one or two other things causing that.
Issue number 2, the President also talked about 300 megawatts from Unit 8 that was going to be commissioned during the first quarter of this year. In manufacturing, the rebound of the manufacturing sector is encouraging as expounded by His Excellency. The industrial capacity utilisation that has risen to 66% in 2022 as compared to 47% in 2020 is quite encouraging. Implementation of the local content strategy saw the introduction of new products that are critical in agriculture, mining, transport and other sectors of the economy.
On another note, His Excellency noted that modern efficient infrastructure is the cornerstone for economic development of this country. For example, we have seen 340 kilometres of the Harare-Beitbridge Road that has been completed and opened to traffic. We have seen the construction of Mbudzi Interchange which is currently underway. Local companies contracted under ERRP have created direct and indirect jobs for our people. Work on the Binga airstrip is on course. Bumi Hills is on course. Upgrading and modernisation of Robert Mugabe Airport is on schedule. Modernisation of Beitbridge Border Post is almost complete. If you get there, you will not say you are in Zimbabwe.
These are some of the highlights of the SONA 2022 as addressed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. I felt I should stress this because these are things that we are seeing on the ground and not day-dreaming. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: Thank you Madam President for giving me the opportunity to debate the State of the Nation Address that coincided with the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament by the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. I would like to thank the mover of the motion Hon. Sen. Mpofu and the seconder of the motion Hon. Sen. Chief Siansali. It was a historic occasion for Members of Parliament and staff to have the President address in that state of the art and majestic new Parliament building in Mt Hampden. This beautiful structure came about through our excellent relations between the two countries, Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China. This is a result of our engagement and re-engagement policy, ably led and spearheaded by none other than our Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Dr E. D. Mnangagwa.
Of importance, the President talked about the achievement of our National Development Strategy 1. This address came when we are a few months towards 2023 harmonised general elections and therefore, as legislators, we are expected to speed up the completion of issues on the legislative agenda. I hope the elections will generate a lot of interest from the citizens of this country as more people will have a lot of interest to represent their constituencies in that magnificent building.
Our President also talked about monetary and fiscal policy measures that time had stabilised our economy but of late that indiscipline seems to be creeping up again and we expect the Minister of Finance to arrest the situation before it is too late. Even the month-on-month inflation for September 2022 had gone down to 3.5% from 12.4% in August 2022.
In agriculture, our President talked about the Presidential Input Programmes that he said was targeting over three million farmers at household level as agriculture is the backbone of our economy. We have some models for A2 and A1 farmers. The models are funded through CBZ and AFC loan schemes.
He also touched on the growth of our mining industry and gave gold as a good example. Of interest, it is seems the country was not aware of the new kid on the block. The President said a lot of investments in lithium sector were pleasing. We urge Government to deal with illegal mining activities and the smuggling of precious minerals, and also safeguard our environment.
The Head of State and Government also talked about empowerment of our youth and women. The President also heaped praise on our universities on the implementation of Education 5.0. Our universities are now producing graduates that create employment and not job seekers. This, he said was the greatest achievement on the Second Republic.
As I conclude my debate, as some of the issues were ably dealt with by my fellow Hon Members, I would like to urge our ministers to expedite the tabling of the remaining Bills to both Houses and to urge all political players to take heed of the President’s call to maintain peace, unity, harmony and tolerance as we move towards the 2023 harmonised elections. We say no to violence under the Second Republic. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the motion. I would like to applaud the message pronounced by His Excellency on the State of the Nation Address. The President said a lot of important words and the most important thing I got is that let us work in unity. If we are able to work together, we will be able to achieve this development. The President also alluded to NDS1 achievements; this shows that people understand the progress achieved through NDS1.
Mr. President, I also want to allude to the President’s address with regards to agriculture. He said that people should continue to produce through agriculture freely, especially under Pfumvudza/Intwasa. It really led to the achievement of great yields throughout the country because people got free inputs such as fertiliser and seed. The people really welcomed that and the President also said that. So, I really would like to applaud that agriculture should continue in ernest.
Mr. President, with regards to mining, the President really highlighted how the country got a lot of progress from mining proceeds although you also pointed out illegal activities by some miners who were supposed to regulate their work and operate legally. We also like to allude to infrastructural development. No one can doubt that the Second Republic has achieved a lot infrastructure such as roads, housing and other new mines that have since opened. We have seen a lot of wisdom coming from Government through such achievements so we should really appreciate such achievements.
The biggest message by His Excellency the President is that we are going towards elections and ZEC has played its role. They have done their part. We are yet to applaud them and also we would like to appreciate the census that took place using modern technology. That is also one achievement that we should applaud. His Excellency the President said those elections should be done in unity as citizens of the same country. Let us do it in harmony, especially as leaders in the National Assembly and Senate.
We are the ones who are supposed to set a good example as we go to the people. Mr. President, with those few words, I would like to support that the President’s message is very insightfully to this country.
I thank you.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday 1st March, 2023.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Mr. President Sir, I move that Order of the Day, No. 5 on today’s Order Paper 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
PROMOTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the sustainable management of waste.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank the Hon. Member who raised that motion. The motion is very clear, it refers to waste management and indeed there is a lot of garbage around and it is so disgusting to look at. If you walk around down town towards Mbare, you will find heaps of garbage. If you go to Mbare, you cannot even walk properly because there is litter including the high density suburbs. Nobody wants to walk around dirty or to leave in a place that is full of litter. If you see Hon. Sen. Komichi with unkempt hair and torn clothes without bathing and with a bad odor, you will know that it is either he is sick or is extremely poor.
This is the image of our urban settings, it means our city fathers are struggling because as I likened it to a person, if you do not bath, you are poor because you are not be able to buy soap and you are not be able to buy new clothes. Sometimes it is because of such extreme poverty that services are not maintained. So the litter that you see everywhere shows that this country is suffering, we may attack each other or criticise each other that the local authorities are not doing anything, it is because of extreme poverty. Sometimes if we were to search the coffers of local authorities, you will find that there is no money. It means the economy of this country cannot sustain garbage or waste removal. That is abnormal to say all the urban cities or urban authorities are unable to get rid of garbage to deliver service; it means that the economy is not working. We need to come up with suggestions because this is a clear sign that the economy is not working. We need to address the root cause of the non-removal of waste in this country.
Mr. President, as Government, we need to come up with plans to resuscitate the economy of this country. In my previous contribution, I alluded to how things were no longer moving in this country, where we were in extreme poverty when even our shops were empty and we were importing everything but when the leaders sat down, they came up with solutions. If we are unable to be honest, it will not help the citizens of this country. Let us be honest so that we ensure that there is progress in this country. We must unite. Let us work as one family. How do they do it in Rwanda? They go for elections but after that, they unite and there is a lot of progress because they are not ashamed of being honest. Rwanda is one country that has exemplary leadership in terms of unity and peace because people want to work together. They have a mechanism that they respect as citizens of Rwanda, whether you are Hutu or Tutsi or any religion, you are supposed to follow that system.
Mr. President, today we sing praise to Rwanda that there is development and it is clean but why do we fail to do that as Zimbabweans? I tried to walk around down-town and I was ashamed because it is so disgusting; there is a lot of litter. I called the Mayor and the Mayor told me that there are no resources. As Parliamentarians, we have the right to be honest. This country must come up with inclusive government mechanisms. It is the only way that brings solutions. If you are ashamed of being honest to say that only unity can bring progress in this country, we will be lying to ourselves. If we think foreigners are the ones who can help us, we will be lying to ourselves. We will continue suffering and those foreigners will be happy and will laugh at us. Foreigners are not happy to see us uniting as a country and as Africa because when you unite, they will fail to come and exploit our resources and some of us, to perpetuate their allegations on sanctions. If we unite, no sanctions will stand the unity of Zimbabweans and Africans.
Africa must realise the root cause of poverty. We are divided by foreigners, be it whites or what colour, none of them like us. Let us unite and respect our dignity. Leaders in this country as well as Africa should stand up and preach unity starting from this House and all the people. Mr. President, all the time that we have united, we succeed; in 1980, we succeeded. We have some of our leaders who went to the liberation struggle. They had separated in Mozambique after losing some 5 000 people but in 1980, they united with that white settler who had bombed us in Chimoio. We used to sing against Muzorewa but in 1980, we united. After achieving that unity and peace, we focused on our economy and there was progress.
In 1987, there was conflict between Matabeleland and Government, but after the Unity Accord and peace achievement, we focused on the economy and there was progress. In 2008, we did the same after fighting during elections. The former President Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai united and we were able to achieve unity, peace and economic development. So, that is our way of doing things as blacks. We have our way in which we are supposed to operate. Let us respect our culture not to emulate other people’s cultures where we insult each other. Our culture is the way to go. They do not want to see us in peace, so if we are united, they will not be able to perpetuate…
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. KAMBIZI): Order, order, you seem to be moving away from the motion.
HON. SEN. KOMICHI: Thank you Mr. President. I was trying to focus on causes of problems being faced by the country. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my views on this motion of ensuring that we keep our environment clean. Firstly Mr. President, what happened this term of the Second Republic, the President himself realised that there is too much litter in this country and gave certain examples that he does not want litter and set aside time for clean-up campaigns. It is as if he provoked the people to be more careless.
Mr. President, we must blame mostly the local authorities. We came from there. A local authority budgets for everything before they start their work. That budget is taken to the Minister for approval. So what it means is, refuse collection generates a lot of money that the citizens pay for but I think the problem lies with management of those funds or maybe as Government, especially us legislators, we should put laws that put conditions on who should be elected a councilor because some of the people fail to achieve that because of their backgrounds. They may not know anything to do with cleanliness.
Local authorities must make budgets that are approved by the Ministers on waste management. So there is zero management. There must be monitoring and evaluation. Each and every local authority should start working from there. Garbage and litter has destroyed our cities, especially our main cities Harare, Bulawayo and other cities. It is an eyesore. There must be a thorough enquiry. As legislators, we must put laws in place instead of tolerating garbage everywhere as well as potholes. People have paid for those monies and the budgets have been approved. So where is that money going?
Yes, one speaker said it is because of poverty, yet the poor people are the ones that are being milked that money but the local authorities are failing to act. There is a lot of garbage in places like the City of Harare and that has to be rectified. Monitoring and evaluation must be implemented there. The advantage in the rural areas is, councilors are given tasks to achieve. So they compete to fulfill those tasks or maybe all the revenue that is being collected is not going to the intended purpose. Even the Minister must also understand that they need to act upon those things. Even those buses that travel there must be litter bins. Commuter omnibuses do not have litter bins. By-laws have to be rectified and we must have strong laws, not leaving people to do what they want but the biggest thing is that by-laws must be made by councilors so that they see all the litter and the garbage that we see.
There is no better place right now. The President has set an example by putting the first Friday of the month as a clean-up day, so what is their problem? Why are they failing to collect refuse? They must buy the refuse trucks. Each and every province and ward should be scrutinised or else we as political leaders should criticize each other. The leadership should ensure that things are rectified. Even our people, we are now going towards election; I am sure the people will now be able to choose who should be re-elected. The Ministers should ensure that people who are elected are people who are able to deliver, not someone just coming from nowhere and are chosen as Ministers or the mayor. There must be thorough vetting. There should be references on whether that person has leadership training and qualities. It cannot just be anyone. I thank you Mr. President.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday 1st March, 2023.
MOTION
PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on measures to combat human trafficking.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move the debate do now adjourn.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 1st March, 2023.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 145TH ASSEMBLY OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION AND RELATED MEETINGS
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the 145th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union and related meetings held in Kigali.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 1st March, 2023.
MOTION
CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECRUITMENT OF ECD TEACHERS
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the challenges affecting early child learning.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. MABIKA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MATHUTHU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 1st March, 2023.
On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. MATHUTHU, the Senate adjourned at One Minute past Four o’clock p. m.