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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 01 OCTOBER 2024 VOL 50 No. 90
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 1st October, 2024
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER
PETITIONS RECEIVED FROM THE GIRLS TABLE OF NUMBER EIGHT, PUBLIC INFORMATION RIGHTS AND COTTON PRODUCERS AND MARKETERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE (CPMAZ)
THE HON. SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House that on 29th
July,2024, Parliament received a petition from the Girls Table of Number Eight, beseeching Parliament to ensure that [Chapter 4] of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, in respect of gender equality and gender balance in decision making bodies is upheld. The petition was deemed inadmissible due to lack of clarity in terms of what the petitioners want Parliament to do in respect of amending the Constitution. The petitioners have been advised accordingly.
I wish also to inform the House that on the 23rd of July, 2024, Parliament received a petition from Public Information Rights Forum (PIRF) aggrieved by a group identified as G-Unit purported to be going around assaulting villagers in Chiredzi. The petition was deemed inadmissible as the prayer does not fall within the remit of Parliament. The petitioner has since been notified.
I further have to inform the House that on 25th June, 2024, Parliament received a petition from Cotton Producers and Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (CPMAZ), beseeching Parliament to institute an urgent investigation into the illicit deals taking place at Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) at the expense of cotton farmers and the nation at large. The petition was considered inadmissible as the grievances by the petitioners were not clear, accordingly the petitioner was notified.
HON. I. NDUDZO: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir. On the 5th of April, 2024, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe issued the 2024 Monetary Policy through which a new Zimbabwe Gold currency was unveiled. Zimbabweans from all walks of life fully embraced the new gold backed structured currency as a refreshing departure from previous local currencies that had struggled to cope with hyperinflation exchange rate volatility and confidence in local currencies as a store of value. On the occasion of the unveiling of the new gold backed currency, the Reserve Bank Governor categorically stated that ZiG shall, at all material times, be anchored and fully backed by a composite basket of reserves comprising foreign currency and precious metals, mainly Gold received by the Reserve Bank in part of inclined royalties and kept in the vaults of the Bank.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on the 5th of April 2024, when the ZiG was launched, it had a rate of 13.54 to the United States Dollar. However, the Monetary Policy Statement of 27 September 2024, effectively devalued the ZiG by 44% due to the new official exchange rate of 25 ZiG to US$1. It is common cause that on the 5th of April 2024, the price of Gold per ounce was 2 350, which price had experienced a phenomenal rise to 2 648 per ounce on 27 September 2024. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker Sir, it is important for the Hon. Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to bring a Ministerial Statement to this august House to fully explain; firstly, the disequilibrium of having a gold backed currency devalued by 44% when the price of gold per ounce has phenomenally risen. Secondly, the interventions - [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]– being implemented by monetary fiscal authorities to provide safety needs to Zimbabwean pensioners, war veterans, civil servants and the public in general who get their remuneration in local currency, which, in the twinkle of an eye, has devalued by 44%.
Mr. Speaker Sir, lastly, the measures being taken to create the demand for the local currency in all domestic transactions and roadmap being pursued towards having our local currency as the sole and legal tender in Zimbabwe. I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
HON. MATEWU: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir. I think it was prophetic because my point of national interest was exactly what Hon. Ndudzo has alluded to. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - Thank you.
+HON. D. MOYO: Thank you, Honourable Speaker. I stand proudly and joyfully in this august House. The beauty of this Chamber speaks to the great work being done here in building our nation. After the SADC Summit, we were pleased to see Parliament further adorned with the statues of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi.
In the spirit of leaving no one and no place behind, it is important for us, as a nation, to recognise that these are not the only icons of our country. It is my wish that, as we celebrate the greatness of our nation, we also erect statues of King Lobengula and Queen Lozikeyi, acknowledging that other regions, not just one, have produced great historical figures. Such equality and inclusivity will be celebrated by all citizens. Thank you.
+THE HON. SPEAKER: I thank you as well. It is work in progress. Do you understand isiNdebele? It is work in progress.
I have the last one, Hon. Dr. Khupe.
HON. DR. KHUPE: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir. Today marks the beginning of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is also known as ‘Pink October’. This month is devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer and the importance of early detection and access to timely and high-quality care. It is, therefore, imperative for us as a Parliament, to intensify awareness programmes in our constituencies during the month of October on cancer because cancer deaths have increased astronomically. A clear indication that cancer is indeed a rising epidemic.
The sad reality is that many people realise that they have cancer when it is at an advanced stage. I lost a cousin a week ago. When she went to the hospital, already her cancer had long gone and she only stayed for a month before passing on. This is pointing to the importance of awareness programmes because early detection of cancer saves lives. If her cancer had been detected early, her life would have been saved.
I would also like to call on the Speaker of Parliament to dedicate, at least, one day every October of each year – a day when an activity is held in Parliament to talk about breast cancer and advocate for breast cancer awareness, screening and treatment. I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Our condolences to your sister, did you say cousin? We are also happy to see you back from England where you had gone for some review. Looking at your face, it looks like it is promising – you must have had a very positive report from the doctors. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
Indeed, it is important that we think about dedicating that day and also that Members of Parliament do some apostolic work of awareness, not only during the month of October, but throughout. I think Members of Parliament should be encouraged that there is a mobile screening clinic run by the Angel of Hope. So, if you can facilitate that screening among other efforts of screening, it will go a long way to detect the disease, especially, at its early stages so that it can be treated accordingly. Thank you very much.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, the Government Minister responsible for Government business is not in. What is the adjustment to the Orders of the Day?
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 3 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 4 has been disposed of.
HON. MUSHORIWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAMMES AND MODERN CANCER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT FOR MPILO AND PARIRENYATWA HOSPITALS
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to raise awareness and invest in state-of-the-art equipment for cancer treatment.
Question again proposed.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank Hon. Dr. Khupe for bringing this motion before this august House. It is true that one of the major challenges that we are facing as a nation is cancer that has had an effect on a number of our citizens…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! The lady conversing louder than is expected, please control the volume of your speech so that the Hon. Member can be heard in silence. Proceed please.
HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I was saying that cancer has become a challenge in Zimbabwe, the continent and the whole world. In the past, we used to have a challenge in respect to HIV/AIDS when it was declared as an epidemic, resulting in the Government then coming up with a proposal where we ended up with the AIDS Levy, which was then deductible from each employee and employer contribution. In a way Mr. Speaker Sir, when the Government took that position, it was a drive that helped us to manage the epidemic including the support that we also got from the international community.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the challenge of cancer in my view is actually severe than HIV and AIDS and I will explain it in this way Mr. Speaker Sir, that cancer has come in a different set up. No one can claim to be immune and no one can claim that he or she cannot have the potential of getting cancer along the way, whereas you could actually have a certain disease that you say in terms of life style and the other stuff, maybe I could actually be lucky not to have it.
When it comes to cancer Mr. Speaker Sir, as a nation and each and every individual from our various constituencies, there is a risk which is there. It does not matter whether they are poor or rich but this is the reality that we face. Naturally Mr. Speaker Sir, because we have got people like Hon. Dr. Khupe who have gone through the journey and got the treatment – we thank God that she is among us today. We also know, just like she had indicated when she was giving a point of national interest, many people have succumbed to this disease and have actually been taken to task during these past few years.
We know quite a number of our people have resorted to selling every stuff, traditional medicine claiming that it cures cancer. Yes, I am a believer in traditional medicines in their capacity to heal but the problem we have now in Zimbabwe is that every Tom and Jack, wherever he or she is, can just start and claim that they have treatment for cancer. People desperate unknowingly will end up actually buying some of these medications that invariably makes the patient even worse. One of the days when I was in Kaguvi Street, I met someone who was selling some things that she claimed were actually a cure for cancer only to be told that literally what that person was selling were mango leaves with no scientific treatment. Because people want treatment, they would end up buying that stuff hoping that they will heal. I believe Mr. Speaker Sir, that we need as a Government, to ensure that we invest into cancer awareness because of the things that are actually crucial in terms of dealing with cancer. As long as we can manage as a country to make sure that we make our people aware that cancer is real and that there is need for our people to get screened early, I think it will go a long way in curbing this scourge because one of the major challenges we face is that our people, including Members of Parliament in this august House, we sometimes feel that we are so strong such that we do not understand the need for having these medical checks related to cancer to be done. We wait until the very last moment and the doctors will tell that the stage at which you are is no longer curable, no longer permissible, even cost effective to have your patient in the hospital. You just take the patient for home treatment. Awareness will play a very big role in this fight.
The second thing that I think is crucial, we need as a Government and I want to implore this august House that we are now going to the next budget season where we will be looking into the 2025 budget. I know we normally argue and we have got a general agreement across the political divide that we need, as Zimbabwe, to aim beyond the Abuja Declaration in respect to the quantum of money that is supposed to be given to the Ministry of Health. I think we need to go beyond that and ask this august House to make sure that when we deal with the 2025 budget, we then specifically want the Minister of Finance to allocate certain amounts of money which are dedicated to cancer treatment and equipment.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I actually believe that we need to have a situation where every provincial hospital at the very least, should be equipped to such an extent that we do not have people travelling from one province to another. The ideal situation is for us to make sure that our district hospitals are fully capacitated so that our people will be in a position to be treated as quickly as possible. I am grateful for the various efforts that people are taking. You will note that in terms of HIV and AIDS, there were quite a number of donors who poured resources towards that epidemic but in terms of cancer, you will realise that we do not have as much support that one would expect us to have. Long back when cancer started in the Western world, generally we used to believe when we were growing up that cancer was for the elite, the rich but now we have realised that cancer is real. It affects you and me.
I know people have also gone beyond and said to many of our people that if you eat good and proper food, the chances of you getting cancer is limited. To a certain extent, it may be true but we also need to take cognisant of the reality that we face even today. You know very well for instance, that we are in a period where the rains did not favour Zimbabwe and Southern Africa in general and naturally, the question of choosing which food to eat becomes a luxury, people will then try to eat whatever is available. Naturally, cancer is a real and an immediate challenge that faces us as Zimbabwe and I think Hon. Members, we have got an obligation to make sure that as Parliament, together with the Executive arm of Government, we should do everything possible in our power to make sure that we save a number of our citizens who are unknowingly maybe on the route to get cancer or who need to make sure that they go for cancer screening as quickly as possible so that we save their lives. Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank you.
*HON. P. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Khupe for bringing the motion on cancer. We have heard so many people contributing their views with regards the issue of cancer. I have stood up so that I support what others have already said.
When we had COVID-19, a lot was done, there were masks and sanitisers and that aided on reduction of new COVID-19 infections. So, I was thinking that in the same manner, the Government should come up with ways of curbing the spread of cancer because every family has been affected by loss of their beloved ones due to cancer. Cancer is a disease which is not quickly detected. By the time one is diagonised with cancer, it will be at a very late and dangerous stage. As a woman, I want to disagree with the belief that for man not to have prostate cancer, they should marry children as wives.
We sat as this House and agreed that we should put an end to child marriages – that children should be married at 18 years. So, if we speak in this House and say we should give away our young daughters to old men like you Hon. Speaker, it pains me as a parent.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: This is too much, you said old men like the Hon. Speaker, just say old men – [Laughter.]-
*HON. PRISCILLA MOYO: My apologies Hon. Speaker for giving you as an example. I just wanted the male Hon. Members in this House to know that if a person is of age, even myself, I am also old, I cannot be given to a small boy for a relationship or marriage. We want our children to mature so that when they marry, they will be mature enough to choose their rightful partners. We cannot say that we must give our youngsters to old men for the purposes of curbing prostate cancer.
*HON. ZVAIPA: On a point of order Hon. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
*HON. ZVAIPA: My point of order is that the Hon. Member debating must not debate against another Hon. Member who has debated on this issue. She must debate putting across her own views, she must not attack previous debaters.
*THE HON. SPEAKER: What Hon. P. Moyo is saying, it is her own side of the story – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –
*HON. PRISCILLA MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker, I am speaking my views. We come here to debate because we want to air our own views. It does not mean you will be debating against other Hon. Members. I am debating my own views. Cancer is a very fatal disease. This disease affects both men and women, young and old, everyone is at risk of getting cancer. I want to thank our First Lady, Dr. Amai Mnangagwa, the founder of Angel of Hope Foundation for assisting people as far as cancer is concerned.
Hon. Members in this august House must be aware and be tested from time to time. It is our hope Hon. Speaker, if possible that the Hon. Members get tested here at Parliament. Prevention is better than cure. Sometimes people discover their status when the disease has progressed to advanced levels. Cancer treatment and testing is expensive but if we make funds available to fight this disease, it will go a long way in our country.
Coming to the rural areas, the people in rural areas are left out. They do not have the resources to go and get tested and others lack knowledge. There must be campaigns in rural areas so that they are aware of the dangers of this life threatening disease. This disease does not choose, rich or poor, we are all at risk of getting this disease. Awareness campaigns must be made throughout the country so that we will not leave anyone behind.
Just like what we did on AIDS levy, as we can see that enough campaigns have been made and cases of HIV/AIDS are now declining, we must allocate some of the funds to cancer. This will go a long way in helping us as a country. I thank you Hon. Speaker.
HON. DHLIWAYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the motion. My debate will focus more on the traditional medicine research and domestic resource mobilisation made to combat this deadly cancer. While more has been done Hon. Speaker, in bringing every piece of scientific medical knowledge to health in the treatment of cancer, very little attention has been paid to our locally available traditional remedies towards the treatment of cancer.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am of the opinion that more scientific research must be done to access the effectiveness of traditional medicine in cancer and other life-threatening diseases. However, the success of such a programme must be based on an attractive incentive system. Those who provide life serving traditional medicines must be treated the same way with some inventors or innovators by offering them attractive incentives. This will see many submitting their traditional solutions to the responsible authorities. The current system does not fully incentivise the custodians of the traditional medicine knowledge.
Once some traditional medicines are scientifically proven, then a way to fully incentivise the owner must be put in place, may be by coming up with a law or a Statutory Instrument that will help to make sure there is encouragement for more to bring their traditional remedies to the responsible authorities.
Once we discover that a particular traditional solution is there, then there is need to make sure we expand or produce more of those traditional remedies, particularly our trees and so forth. I trust that we have a commission that is responsible for more research in terms of planting more trees and so on. I think once that solution is discovered through scientific research that we have a traditional tree that we think will help to treat a particular cancer, then the Forestry Commission may be mandated with a responsibility to ensure that ways to plant that tree are found.
This will not only help in the treatment of cancer but it will be a solution to fighting climate change which is another global threat. Mr. Speaker Sir, in addition, more attention must also be paid to cancer prevention rather than cancer treatment. To establish ways in which cancer must be treated, I think more research needs to be done from the past researches, food and some lifestyles are the major culprits when it comes to the disease.
HON. DHLIWAYO: The Ministry of Health and National Health Research Institute must up their game in establishing those foods that are leading causes of cancer so that the public is rightfully and accordingly advised. There must be sufficient decent dissemination of the said causes. I understand along the way they met some dilemma as completing the remnants such as profitability that comes into play. Nevertheless, our ultimate objective must be that of serving life. In this regard, one man’s meat is another man’s poison Mr. Speaker Sir. Life and longevity matters. Thank you.
*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me add my voice to this motion which was brought by Hon. Khupe concerning cancer. For sure, cancer is now killing more people than AIDS. If you have AIDS these days, you can live longer taking medication but when it comes to cancer, even if you take medication, it is very difficult. If she does not go to seek medication abroad, we would be talking something else. For this, we thank the President for chipping in.
I want to talk about what causes cancer, for prevention is better than cure because when it comes to curing, it is only two ways, either it is death or you are healed. I think we make laws in this House and want to find out what really causes cancer. The laws that we are putting, are they preventing the spread of cancer? What is causing cancer to be in the country?
The learned said that cancer is caused by tobacco, alcohol and herbicides that we are using in the fields, water and the food that we are eating which is now GMO. Here, we are looking at how to cure cancer but cancer at times is caused by being exposed to the sun for a long time, that is skin cancer. As Parliament, what can we do on things that we can legislate? When it comes to people getting access to potable water and food, what does the country say concerning GMOs?
How can we prevent cancer because screening is the next step? Before screening, what are we doing as Parliament so that we curb the spread of cancer? I want to thank you for what you have brought in this House because once you are diagnosed with cancer, it means you have it. It only depends on whether you have money so that you get treated. We want to thank you for bringing this motion but let us look at the food that we are eating every day. People should go back to eating small grains, road runners and our traditional foods in general. These days we are having GMOs, the broilers. If you look at the road runners at six weeks, they will be very small but because the broilers are being injected, fed on antibiotics, when they get into our bodies, what happens?
As we are looking for medication and machines, we should look at what we are eating. When you are farming broilers, you have to mix the food with medicines and you have to inject them into the broilers. When that medicine gets into our bodies, what happens? That is the result of cancer.
You brought this at the right time, we should look at the learned. Some of us are not that learned but those of you who are educated, let us look at what is causing that. If it is broilers, we should go back because long back, there was no cancer, it was very rare but these days everyone has cancer. Looking at the men, even at the women, there is cancer but long back it was not there. There were very few cases.
So, this House should investigate. Yes, we can bring a lot of machines but cancer will still be there because of what we are drinking, eating and because we have a lot of income to dispose. So, we should go back to our traditional ways of living so that when we come to curing, we do not spend a lot of money but we prevent. Buying cancer screening machines is more expensive but we can just put laws to curb the spread of cancer.
I once talked about alcohol consumption and smoking of tobacco and there was an uproar but those are the ones that bring cancer. If I say we should do away with those lifestyles, people will be up in arms. So, when we are coming for the budget, drinking and smoking are a pleasure and are the ones causing cancer. We should use peanut butter instead of cooking oil. So, alcohol and tobacco, you can go and research about what causes cancer and you will find that smoking and alcohol is on top. When we go for the budget, we should urge the Minister to tax heavily on that so that Hon. Mugwadi should not drink and smoke because he will die of cancer. The lotions, people are bleaching; their skin would have changed after two months, they are looking for cancer. With these few words, I might waste time, so I want to leave time for others. When we are going for the budget, we should tax the ‘yellow bones’. I thank you.
*HON. KANGAUSARU: Thank you very much Madam Speaker for awarding me this opportunity to rise and add my voice to this crucial motion.
Cancer has emerged as a growing public health crisis in Zimbabwe with the instance and the mortality rates steadily on the rise in recent years. Currently, over 5,000 new cases of all types are diagnosed in Zimbabwe annually. Experience, however, has shown us that this is just the tip of the iceberg as many cancers are not captured by the routine national health system because the patients do not present themselves for treatment or some deaths are not registered. Those who do report say that the majority are already at an advanced stage of the disease due to the limited access to screening services.
The current cancer treatment and palliative services are unable to meet the existing demand. Many of our fellow citizens, particularly those living in rural and marginalised areas are resorting to traditional medicine which has helped tremendously, but not to remove or to forgo the medical treatment. This deep concern trait often leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment with patients seeking professional medical care only when the cancer has progressed to advanced and untreatable stages.
Madam Speaker, the root of the problem lies in the severe lack of cancer awareness and the pervasive misconception about the disease within our community. Far too many Zimbabweans remain uninformed about the importance of early detection. The availability of evidence-based treatment options and the life-threatening consequences of relying solely on traditional medicines are not available. This proper knowledge gap is further exhibited by the harsh economic reality faced by the majority of our population.
Madam Speaker, the sad truth is that the vast majority of our Zimbabweans simply cannot afford the exorbitant costs associated with private hospital care or the option of seeking treatment abroad in countries like South Africa, India, Britain, Singapore, China et cetera. As a result, our general hospitals which are primarily a point of access to healthcare for the overwhelming majority of our citizens are often ill-equipped to provide comprehensive high-quality cancer care services that are desperately needed by our people.
From outdated diagnostic equipment and inadequate treatment facilities to a critical shortage of trained oncologists, oncology nurses, and other specialist cancer care professionals, our public health system is simply not prepared to address these ongoing crises.
The dire situation has had a devastating impact on the lives and countless Zimbabweans who are far too often facing death sentences and the inability to access the care they require.
Madam Speaker, this august House cannot stand idle but in the face of this public health emergency, I call on the Ministry of Health and Child Care to take immediate decisive action to address this crisis head-on. We must implement a nationwide cancer awareness campaign that reaches every corner of our nation, educating the public, especially in our rural communities on the importance of early detection, the availability of evidence-based treatment options and the life-threatening consequence of relying only on traditional medicine, but combining both traditional and medical medicines.
Madam Speaker, at the same time, we must strengthen the capacity of our primary healthcare facilities, especially in the rural areas to perform early cancer screening providing seamless referral to specialised cancer treatment centres. This will be a critical step in ensuring that our citizens receive the care they need at the earliest possible stage, dramatically improving their chances of survival and recovery.
Furthermore, Madam Speaker, we must allocate the necessary funding and resources to equip our general hospitals across Zimbabwe with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge equipment and highly trained personnel required to deliver comprehensive, world-class cancer care services. This includes not only the latest diagnosis tools and treatment modalities, but also the establishment of dedicated oncology wards, chemotherapy units, and palliative care facilities to ensure the long-term sustainability of our efforts.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care must collaborate closely with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to support the training and retention of oncologists, oncology nurses, and other cancer care specialists within our country. By investing in the developing of robust and home grown cancer care workforce, we can build a resilient, self-sufficient system that is capable of servicing the needs of all Zimbabweans regardless of the economic status or geographical location.
However, Madam Speaker, the Government’s efforts alone will not be enough to overcome this challenge. I call upon the Hon. House to prioritise the development of a comprehensive national cancer control strategy that addresses the full spectrum of cancer prevention and early detection treatment and palliative care with a particular focus on servicing or serving the needs of our rural and marginalised population. The strategy must be backed by dedicated funding streams and a clear results-oriented implementation plan.
Madam Speaker, at the same time, I urge the private sector, civil society organisations, and international development partners to complement the Government’s initiative by providing technical expertise, financial resources and innovative solutions to boost our cancer care infrastructure, expand access to life serving services. By working together, we can ensure that no Zimbabwean is forced to face this devastating disease alone without the support and care they desperately need.
This time, the call for action is now. Cancer has claimed too many lives in our country and the cost of inaction is simply too high. Let us come together as a nation, united in determination to confront this crisis head-on and build a healthier, more resilient future for all Zimbabweans.
This motion highlights our collective commitment to advancing cancer treatment. Let us continue to work together to improve the lives of Zimbabweans affected by cancer.
My recommendation is to increase funding for cancer research and treatment infrastructure; strengthen public awareness campaigns; prioritise prevention measures; address the shortages of specialised medical personnel; establish a national cancer fund; and pray to God to deliver us, protect us, to cause us to be immune according to Psalms 91. We must cry to God so that God, in the totality of the fullness of time, now in the last days we all know that these are the last days, that many diseases shall come, many calamities shall come to us. There shall be hunger, war, there shall be disease, then we cry to our God that God our Father may count us worthy of those who will escape the calamities of the last days.
I pray today that we may be delivered from such. Also in the word of God, as I come into this House as a saved Apostle and man of God in the House among others that are here, it is time for us to return to our God, in case maybe he can hear us and be merciful to us. These calamities can run away from us if we also look to God. There are things; there are diseases, surely that we can be able to prevent. We can do what humanly people can do but there are things that only God can do. Like in the word of God, it says, if they know Balm Yam and Gilia and the daughters of Zion; they are sick but I have come here as a servant of God to declare that surely, there is healing and there is Balm Yam and Gilia. There is an answer when you look up to God.
In the days of Moses, the people who were bitten by snakes they
were sick; they were crying all over. They cried to Moses and God said to Moses, lift up the snake and put it upon a hill that whosoever shall look at the snake and when he looks at that snake, shall be healed. I have come here to declare and speak and say if prayers venture, with all the troubles that we have, can we be able to try God and look up to God because there is a snake that was put upon the hill. That snake resembles Jesus Christ to say when the son of God is lifted up, whoever shall look up to him, shall be healed and he shall receive his healing. It is up to us as a nation to say to God, we are human, we can do what we can do to help our people but God have mercy upon our nation. Have mercy upon Zimbabwe, that we can run away from the calamities of the last days. That is our prayer that we need to pray all of us. That is the mercy that we need to go to our people that are suffering there in the rural areas. They have no answer; they have no one to turn to. I can testify, where - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: May we have order in the House?
HON. KANGAUSARU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I can testify Madam Speaker. I was called in Hurungwe East, where I was called by a parent. He said Pastor, can you come; Honourable can you come and I went there. I looked at the situation, there was a mother who has cancer and there was nothing I could do but only to say to God, God help us. God hear our prayer; hear our ample cry from the end of the earth, we cry for help that you may help us. There are thieves we can give money but money cannot help but if we look up to God, then God will be our answer. He will heal Zimbabwe. God heal our land Lord. If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and turn away from their wickedness, therefore, I will hear from heaven and I will heal their land. Heal our land; heal our land! I thank you
HON. TOGAREPI: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. KAMBUZUMA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 2nd October, 2014.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. MUSHORIWA the House adjourned at Nineteen Minutes past Three o’clock p.m.