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SENATE HANSARD 8 JUNE 2022 VOL 31 NO 46
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Wednesday, 8th June, 2022
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Mr. President, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 5 be stood over until the rest of the Orders of the Day have been disposed of.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
SCHEMES TO REDEEM THE NATIONAL HERD FROM DEVASTATING AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT
Sixth 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. CHIEF MAKUMBE: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to add my views on the motion raised by Hon. Sen. A. Dube and the seconder. It is a fact that a man’s riches are gotten through livestock. If you do not have livestock, you cannot be counted amongst men who are rich. Lobola is paid with cattle but with the drought prevailing in the country, our livestock is perishing. In region 5 where there is Manicaland, Buhera and other parts of Chipinge, most people survive through keeping livestock. Some judges were schooled through selling cattle. As Government, we need to map a way for our people to have livestock and to see that the livestock has enough feed. Where there are dams, there is need to embark on irrigation and growing of cotton so that we feed our national herd. Our country was famous on the EU quota of beef. Our people are aware that if they go out of the country and come back, they have to eat our local beef. It is painful to experience drought because it affects our livestock. Our cattle die because they will be affected by diseases like theileriosis and other diseases that affect livestock.
So my plea is that livestock such as cattle should be preserved because that is where our riches come from. If you want to get a loan from the banks and you use your cattle insurance ticket you qualify for a loan. If you have cattle, then you are on the safe side, you will have a good life. Ninety per cent of our daily meals include beef, even lobola is paid for through cattle. So even when there is drought, let us try by all means to work with Agritex officials so that each area is assisted with irrigation facilities and by so doing, there will be enough cattle feed.
+HON. SEN. MPOFU: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to also add a few words on this motion raised by Hon. Sen. Dube with regards to keeping our national herd. In the past, when we used to get less rainfall, there tends to be less grazing land for our cattle and this is a challenge to our livestock. In drought times, there will be less water and this results in our livestock also surviving on borehole water which is a challenge to our livestock especially if there is less rainfall because there will not be any water in swamps or water bodies. The shortage of rainfall is negatively affecting our livestock and as a result, our cattle fail to get water. The same challenge of drought year after year results in our cattle suffering from a number of diseases.
Once our cattle are affected by lump skin, they result in reduced breed. So, to livestock farmers, such diseases contribute negatively to cattle rearing as farmers fetch less when they sell their cattle. The same as the cattle skin is also negatively affected and it does not give farmers enough money. The same drought contributes to soil erosion and because of soil erosion, grass dries out which in the long run results in certain areas running out of grass. Instead of grass growing, we just get different weeds growing from that particular land.
If we can get enough rainfall, we will get grass growing without any challenge. Our plea to the Government is that during such times as drought, we get chemicals that treat cattle from different diseases because farmers get a challenge of getting chemicals and in most cases, they tend to be expensive. Our cattle die because of shortage of chemicals and their unaffordability to buy the chemicals. I would like to applaud the Government for the provision of tick grease, but from region 4 and 5 where I come from, we rarely get this tick grease.
As such, we have quite a number of diseases that kill our cattle like heart water. Therefore, our plea to the Government is that we need to get these chemicals distributed equally to the different provinces. Government should look into the issue of growing plants or food that can supplement livestock feed. If possible those regions with enough grass should be cut and sent to those regions that do not have enough grass so that their livestock can survive from it. Region 4 and 5 does not have enough grass and if there is less rainfall, these places quickly run out of grass. Even wildlife gets to be affected because of lack of grass.
Therefore, I would like to encourage our Government to look into those regions that survive on cattle ranching, to see to it that there is enough feed for our cattle so that in cases where these cattle are affected, there are places where feed is stored to supplement the same regions. I greatly appreciate the motion brought by Hon. Sen. A. Dube because we come from regions where we survive on cattle ranging. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to also debate on this motion presented by Hon. Sen. Dube regarding taking care of our livestock especially during terrible droughts. Indeed, cattle are very important even during the time that we grew up. Cattle would define the status of a homestead and where I come from such homesteads were recognised simply because they had cattle. Cattle are very important. We use them for ploughing and in the past they were key to agricultural practices.
We started by digging holes but as we went on, we realised that cattle were used as draught power. Such people were very much respected. Cattle are very important as a source of meat as well as dairy. If you recall, at a wedding where there is no cow slaughtered, that wedding would be considered a flop or without adequate food, but if a cow is slaughtered, that wedding will be very much respected. The same applies to funeral events and that was a very good cultural practice.
Even with regards to chiefs, if somebody commits an offence, they are supposed to pay using a cow or goats. So that signifies the importance of livestock - where we go around, we see cattle and where we see very good cattle is Matabeleland South Province. I saw very good breeds and I have seen some other places with such good breeds, especially in region 4 and 5 so much that I feel like going to buy from there if I get money.
Now, we are advanced in technology, I have seen at our local university where I stay, that is Chinhoyi, they have advanced breeds and they use advanced technology of artificial insemination. You simply choose the breed that you want and you get the breed. So I am emphasizing the importance of cattle.
Mr. President with regards to the problems that we have during drought, cattle hardly get feed especially if they graze. Sometimes you get people getting hay bales from other areas where there will be good hay to feed cattle where there will be drought. I also realised that the Second Republic employed mitigation measures where there will be shortage of water; there are dams that have been made to provide for cattle livestock. We encourage people around those areas where there are dams to avoid activities that lead to siltation because they affect the water levels of any water bodies.
The Government has also introduced a teak grease programme. It is a very good programme because the teak grease flows over the cow and that is very helpful. In the past we used to have effective dip tanks but because of change in set up, right now you can also use spraying dipping activities. They can assist to destroy teaks.
We also would like to look at the dairy products: people feed children or the elderly as well as for tea. We need to take good care of cattle to safeguard our livestock herd. We also need to look at our breeds so that that information can be availed to the public and disseminated through various groups.
The other problem that we have in the country is that we no longer have vaccines. We are supposed to have all those vaccines, depending on the change of the season, at the onset of the rain season or after the rain season. We need to have various vaccines.
We also have the challenge of cattle rustlers, we hear of thieves stealing a lot of cattle, be it 5 or 10. It is a very bad thing, sometimes the cattle rustlers work as syndicates, conniving with locals. Therefore, we need to safeguard our livestock.
Mr. President, I would like to conclude and thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I am very glad to debate on this motion raised by Hon. Sen. Alice Dube.
+HON. SEN. C. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President for the opportunity to add my voice on the motion moved by Hon. Sen. Dube. I would like to thank my Hon. Colleagues for the contributions they submitted. . Mr. President, I think we all know that drought is related to climate change. Over the years, our country has been affected by drought. We know that it is difficult for us to control climate change but we can come up with measures that will help us in making sure that during those years that we get enough rainfall, we can harvest the water. For instance, last year and the previous year, we had enough rains but the challenge is that most dams had been silted.
I stay in the rural areas and there are no dams that are being rehabilitated. No de-siltation programmes are being done. If only Government can come up with a programme that will assist in de-silting because we cannot control rainfall but what we can do is to collect the rainfall that we receive instead of letting it run off to seas and oceans.
In other areas Mr. President, people still survive on dam water. They drink from the same source with their livestock and wild life. It is disheartening that if this water is dirty, then they are to suffer from different diseases. The other challenge is that there has not been enough funding, especially in rural areas to get boreholes, only Government can intervene. Like what other Hon. Members said with regards to region 4 and 5, which have got good cattle breeds, we all remember that CSC used to be in these regions because of the good cattle breeds. What we ask for from our Government is that we resuscitate such programmes of cattle rearing so that they continue with such projects and help them send their children to school and reduce the burden from the Government. Thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: Thank you Mr. President. Let me also add my voice to this debate raised by Hon. Sen. Dube. In most cases, when somebody is diagnosed of kwashiorkor, the treatment is feeding and the same applies to the condition of our cattle. In case of drought, we are supposed to take care of them. We are encouraged to take good care of them, they are State property. In cases of drought, it becomes difficult but we should prioritise them.
I would call for assistance for every homestead to take care of their cattle, especially by way of having paddocks. We should also have smart agricultural concepts of “pfumvudza” where we plant stock feeds. There are special plants that can be grown so that cattle may not starve. We also need to have adequate dip tanks. We also have those earth dams that we find in local areas. Those are very important to supply water for the cattle so that they avoid ingesting a lot of soil that may be hazardous.
People are usually taken care of by the Social Services in terms of drought. So, we also want the Ministry of Agriculture, the Livestock department to do the same thing so that they avail assistance as mitigation in times of drought, considering that livestock is different from Human beings because they do not communicate. However, we may be aware of the coming droughts. Livestock is important for the livelihood of people. Thank you Hon. President.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Thank you Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MAKUMBE: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS AND PLUG LOOPHOLES RELATED TO TAX EVASION
Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion on policies that address and plug loopholes on tax evasions, illicit financial flows and corruption.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. CHINAKE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. RWAMBIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE 50TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HOSTED VIRTUALLY BY THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on the motion of the 50th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Lesotho from 10th to 12th December, 2021.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
MEASURES TO RESUSCITATE THE ECONOMY
Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to come up with measures to resuscitate the economy.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHUNDU: Thank you Mr. President. I would like to contribute with regards to the natural resources that were mentioned in this motion. In rural areas, there are a lot of precious resources that need to be safeguarded. It is my thinking that our economy could be fixed if there is acknowledgement of Zunde raMambo, which works in accordance with the natural resources found in this country. We should give allowance for things to be kept in silos so that people do not run out of resources. Even with grain, we should be able to be in a position to give to the Government; to Ministry of Finance so that we have smooth running of things.
Most of our resources are found in different communal areas, with letters from the Ministry of Mines, taking everything from these clichés. Nothing is being left for the Government to assist it. It is important that we have something left for the Government so that they are able to operate as a country. I thank you.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
EFFORTS TO CURB CORRUPTION
Tenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion to introduce deterrent sentences for those engaging in corrupt activities.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. S. MPOFU: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 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
Eleventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on HIV and AIDS service delivery system
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
SECOND REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HIV AND AIDS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) ROLL-OUT PROGRAMME
Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Implementation of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)- Roll – Out Programme.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
Thirteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. A. DUBE: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Thursday, 9th June, 2022.
On the motion of HON. SEN. A. DUBE, seconded by HON. SEN. CHIRONGOMA, the Senate adjourned at Twenty Two Minutes past Three o’clock p.m.