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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 05 March 2025 VOL 51 NO 31

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 5^th March, 2025

The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two o’clock p.m.

PRAYERS

(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER

INVITATION TO A HALF-DAY WORKSHOP ON THE IPEC BILL

         THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that all Hon. Members are invited to a half-day workshop to unpack the Insurance and Pensions Commissions Bill [H.B. 7, 2024]. The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, 6^th March, 2025 at 0800 hours in the National Assembly.

         I am being advised that the workshop has been postponed until further notice. I thank you.

APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS

THE HON. SPEAKER:  I have received apologies from the Executive as follows: Hon. Gen. Rtd. Dr. C.D.G.N. Chiwenga, Vice President; Hon. Col. Rtd. K.C.D. Mohadi, Vice President; Hon. O. C. Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence; Hon. Prof. M. Ncube,  Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Hon. Dr. S.G. Nyoni, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife; Hon. T. Machakaire, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training; Hon. Prof. Dr. A. Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Hon T. A. Mavetera, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; Hon Dr. F. M. Shava, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development; Hon. M. N. Ndlovu, Minister of Industry and Commerce; Hon. T. Moyo, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; Hon. K. D. Mnangagwa, Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Hon. J. Mhlanga, Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Hon. O. Mazungunye, Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Hon. A. Gata, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; Hon. R. Modi, Deputy Ministry of Industry and Commerce; Hon. Simbanegavi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development; Hon. V. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.

         HON. MUSHORIWA: I rise on a point of order Madam Speaker. You took quite a long time to read the list of absentee ministers. If you look at the front bench, it is actually empty and I do not think that this House should go on a routine of saying that Wednesday is a Question and Answer Session when we do not have the ministers.  My suggestion would be that today’s Question and Answer Session be cancelled because ministers are not here – [HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-

         Hon. Mhona having walked into the Chamber.

         THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is true, you raised a very valid point but I am sorry, we are proceeding with Question and Answer Session. I am sure some of the ministers are on their way as we have witnessed the arrival of Hon. Mhona – [HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-I am sure other ministers are on their way. We are proceeding Hon. Members.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

*HON. MANANZVA: My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement. We heard that people are being given title deeds in farms. My question is, we have people who have already been farming but who do not have letters. What is Government planning to do regarding giving them title deeds?

         HON. BAJILA: May we be informed of the Leader of Government Business today.

         THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister Mhona is our Acting Leader of Government Business.

         *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Indeed, the question  affects many people and has been raised several times. So, the Hon. Minister responsible for Agriculture and Land looked at the issue and clarified that there are some people who hold offer letters and some who have 99-year leases.

This programme is going to consider all those factors so that everything is done above board for those who have letters and those who do not have letters are going to be looked into. There are no new letters that are going to be coming out.

*HON. ZIKI: My question is that there is a directive that was given that there is no other land which is going to be distributed. So, the question is, the land that is available which does not have people, will it remain like that or what is going to happen to that land?

HON. MHONA: There are some areas that are not occupied, but

the responsible Minister is working on that programme and with what we have, the Hon. Minister is trying to ascertain whether those who are occupying land are fully utilising the land and are they legally settled. After the process is completed, then there is going to be regularisation and the Ministry will really consider these issues. After considering the issues, then the rest of the people are going to benefit. I thank you.

*HON. C. HLATYWAYO: My question pertains to the title deeds

that have been alluded to earlier and the question is, what is going to happen to those who are in rural areas without title deeds? They do not have any title deeds and what is going to happen to them? That is my question.

*HON. MHONA: I want to thank Hon. Hlatywayo and indeed it is true. We know that we have people who live in communal lands and most of them were living in reserves, farms and some were given land in the A1 and A2 schemes. Some were allocated through the land reform programme and if there is a specific programme that is going to be implemented later, then the Minister of Agriculture is going to communicate the position.

*HON. MADZIVENYIKA: My supplementary question is that is it not possible, Madam Speaker, for the Hon. Minister to bring a Ministerial Statement regarding title deeds, looking at the hectarage that is given to beneficiaries so that this Hon. House has access to that statement so that its members will be able to debate after the Ministerial Statement? I thank you.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Indeed, it is possible. We will request the Minister to bring a Ministerial Statement on that issue so that Members of Parliament will be able to ask for clarifications – [HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Inaudible interjections.] – I

cannot give you the exact date because the Hon. Minister is not here, so he would communicate that. I thank you.

*HON. DR. NJANJI: My question is directed to the Minister of Lands and Agriculture. What policies are in place to promote agricultural research and development? Thank you.

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Let me thank Hon. Dr. Njanji for that very important question. Madam Speaker, we have got a number of research institutes in Zimbabwe, whether they are just focusing on crops or soil. So, I am sure just to take which is closer home, SIRDC which we know is a research institution. So, already, there is a framework to actually partake in the exercise of research in this country but maybe I will be very delighted to hear, specifically for a certain category, that Hon. Dr. Njanji

is earmarking.

*HON. C. HLATYWAYO: Thank you very much. Regarding research, the question is good. We have stations, research stations where we come from, like where I come from. These are quite useful in terms of research and focusing for farmers who are in surrounding areas but the state of the research stations is deplorable. They are deteriorating. So, my question is, what plans are in place to refurbish such research stations from the infrastructure even to the quality of the service that is offered?  I thank you.

*HON. MHONA: I want to thank Hon. Hlatywayo who raised

quite an important question. Most buildings have been left behind because of the developments in the sector. So, whether it is in agriculture, schools or our road networks, as Government, we are seized with infrastructure development. So, Government policy is that we need to look at these areas and I am happy because with this, when I leave this House, I am going to take the message to the responsible minister, the Minister of Agriculture, so that the Hon. Minister looks into the issue.

*HON. MATINENGA: Madam Speaker, we have diseases that are affecting goats which are leading to blindness and I would request the Hon. Leader of Government Business to tell us about such diseases.

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you very much Hon. Member but the Hon. Minister cannot respond to that question because this is a question that should be put in writing so that proper research is done so that you would have a correct position. I thank you.

*HON. GWANGWABA: I want to direct my question to the Minister of Health but I note that the Deputy Minister is in the House. So, I want to ask the Government policy regarding the buffing up of nurses training colleges so that we have a lot of nurses in Zimbabwe. Thank you.

*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. KWIDINI): I want to thank Hon. Ngwangwaba for that question regarding the building of more nurse training colleges. Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Mnangagwa has the mantra that no place will be left behind and no one will be left behind, which implies that we need more nurses and we are seized with the issue and are in the process of opening nurse training colleges in different districts. We have already identified in different districts where such schools are going to be in order to promote local enrolment so that in every district, we find people getting the opportunity to be trained. For instance, in Gokwe North, we are going to be opening a nurse training school and another big school which will be taking a lot of people in Zimbabwe, probably enrolling 160 or so but we believe that in every district, we are going to be having these schools as time goes on.

*HON. GWANGWABA: My supplementary question is that whilst we are waiting for new schools, why do we not use schools that are already in existence, for example, polytechnic colleges? I am saying this because we know that there are a lot of school leavers who desire to be trained as nurses.

HON. DR. KWIDINI: It is our desire that as the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we work together with other tertiary institutions instead of training our nurses but the challenge is that our hospitals should be more so that when we train nurses, it is a practical programme which requires a proper environment. So, if we churn out more graduates like what happens at universities and colleges, then they will not be absorbed into public hospitals and they will not be able to get practical experience. By so doing, we are going to compromise our standards because we will be having a lot of people with nursing diplomas but without practical experience. I thank you.

*HON. NYABANI: My supplementary questions to the Minister is that, a lot of our school leavers who are being trained as nurses are migrating to other countries. So, what is Government doing in terms of retaining nurses and having bilateral relations with other countries like what happens with Cuba and other countries? The country is losing a lot of qualified people through brain drain. So, we need to benefit from training them. What is Government doing with that?

*HON. DR. KWIDINI: It is true that we are losing a lot of money through training nurses who end up migrating to other countries despite being bonded. As I am speaking, we have International Labour Organisation representatives and other organisations that we are engaging with so that we come up with a proper document which is going to protect our workforce, at the same time ensuring that nurses who leave Zimbabwe, even upon retirement, will be able to be looked after by the social welfare and other modalities are going to be looked into because it is a basic right and it is their right because migration has always been there. However, it is important to note that when they go and produce in other countries, Zimbabwe also should benefit. We are training people and other countries are benefitting.

         ^*HON. CHINANZVAVANA:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  On the same issue regarding the training of nurses, we are saying we do not understand whether the problem is our teachers or the facilities because we have big provincial hospitals which are able to absorb nurses in big hospitals.  My question; is it not possible to enlarge provincial hospitals so that we absorb more nurses because this is a big challenge? We are not talking about district hospitals, how about small clinics – those which are in Muzarabani? Why do we not broaden the enrolment process?  Why do we not take more students?  I thank you.

         ^* HON. DR. KWIDINI: Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I want to thank the Hon. Member for that pertinent supplementary question.  As the responsible Ministry, we desire that we have a lot of students taking up nurse training. It is true, we have provincial hospitals but unfortunately, the accommodation is mostly for patients – trainers do not have accommodation. 

         As a Ministry, after noting that, for a student nurse to perform well, they need proper and secure accommodation where they do not face challenges.  The big issue is that as I am speaking, we want to look into the accommodation issue of student nurses, doctors and nurses.  This is one of the issues which results in our relatives who go to hospital as patients and end up facing challenges.  You would find that nurses and other healthcare workers live far from these hospitals, for example, someone who works at Parirenyatwa and they live in Norton. 

         We want to look into the issue, whether it is the provincial hospital, district hospital or other hospitals. We want to make sure we have proper facilities where we will be able to train a lot of students.  It is not about nurses but we also want radiographers, lab scientists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. 

         For them to be trained, we need proper facilities because some lessons are done in the evening and some are done during the day. If there is no proper accommodation at the hospital, we cannot have people training without accommodation at that centre.  I thank you.

         ^*HON. MABURUTSE:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I want to direct my question to the Hon. Minister of Mines and Mining Development. Last year, the offices of the Ministry of Mines generated a communique which spoke about areas that were affected by Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs) where EPOs were removed and that letter implied that where EPOs were taken out, it was not possible to go and occupy such areas.

         My question is; how far are we in terms of allowing people to peg in areas where EPOs were removed?  For those which have been there for a long time, what is the status?  I thank you.

         ^*THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question regarding EPOs. Firstly, the question is that there are EPOs which have been in existence in a very long time. Also, the issue of the Mining Affairs Board – how the public is going to be allowed to occupy such places.  Let me respond by saying, Government policy and plans are that for EPOs which did no succeed, Government is going to take some of these areas as Government reservations, which means the Mining Promotion Company is responsible for searching and exploration about where minerals are found. EPOs that were tasked by investors to explore, when investors know that there are minerals, they are going to register their claims. 

Government then said that on EPOs, Government together with Mining Promotion Company are going to be exploring and Government did that.  EPOs which are not reservation areas are going to culminate in a process where these areas are going to be open to the public so that people can apply.  I thank you.

^*HON. KARIKOGA: Thank you Madam Speaker.  My supplementary question is, what steps have been taken to ensure that the Mineral Promotion has resources for geological surveys so that we will not blame the Mineral Promotion, which probably does not have resources and which will result in us waiting for a long process and for a long time?

         *HON. CHITANDO:  Thank you Hon. Member for that question. There are two steps that the Government is taking into place.  The first step is that Cabinet allowed the Mining Promotion Company to partner with other companies in exploring but the Mining Promotion Company is going to take the lead.  So, the Mining Promotion Company is in the process of geological survey. Secondly, every year, we received an allocation from the annual budget but the annual budget cannot cater for all the needs of the responsible department. Madam Speaker, that is why as Government, we decided that joint ventures would suffice.  I thank you. 

         *HON. S. TSHUMA:  My supplementary question to the Minister is that when we look at what was happening in the past, the application of EPOs would take three years or more before being approved, which resulted in cumulative six years period without approval.  What is Government planning to do with the application process and the speeding up of that process so that it does not take a long time and that the three years will just be three years without any more additional.  I thank you. 

         *HON. CHITANDO:  Thank you Madam Speaker. I am going to respond in two parts. Firstly, the first three years start when an EPO has been given to an investor but the Hon. Member raised a valid point that EPOs were taking a long time.  Indeed, it is true, now all EPOs have been put together and those that were given to investors were given to them but those that were not distributed are going to be opened for applications.  I thank you. 

         *HON. NYABANI:  Hon. Minister, thank you for that programme.  EPOs are blanket interventions which target big companies, how about local and small companies?   How are they going to be dealt with, looking at artisanal miners and other small miners because EPOs might end up acting as monopolies for the big companies and small players will not have any space? I thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –

         *HON. CHITANDO:  Thank you Hon. Speaker and I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question.  The reason why EPOs are Government reservations and being given to mining promotion companies is that in most areas, our minerals are found in different areas.  Some of these minerals are alluvial which when you mine, you would find that they are not very far from the surface but others are deep down, you have to go deep.  The question that was raised relates to the exploration that will have been done.  After explorations have been done, it will be determined that these are alluvial deposits and these are deposits that are really deep and will need a lot of funding.  Government then determines who would occupy such because of the resources that are needed for alluvial deposits, even small players can partake in those. I thank you. 

         *HON. MAKOPE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to direct my question to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.  We have people who recently occupied resettlement areas and Village Heads were chosen among the people.  We find that there are some Village Heads who are in communal areas who are now Government employees, who earn something from Government salary.  The question is for those who are in resettlement areas, what is Government planning to do with them in terms of making them substantive Village Heads and for them to benefit like their counterparts?     

         *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):  Thank you Madam Speaker and I want to thank Hon. Makope for that question.  It is true, Village Heads were in our communal areas, our original areas of descent.  Madam Speaker, please allow me that I take the question to the responsible Minister, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works so that he addresses the question properly.

         *HON. CHITIMBE:  Thank you Hon. Speaker.  My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.  The murdering of people by people who are intoxicated by drugs is now prevalent.  What is Government planning to fight drug abuse in the country?

         *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):  I want to thank Hon. Chitimbe. This is quite a pertinent question which is worrying a lot of people and which affects a lot of people because we are losing a lot of our young people, a young generation through drug abuse which is affecting mental health of many young people.  I want to thank Government because we know that there are a lot of task forces that have been set up. There is an Anti-Smuggling Team which is responsible for fighting and stopping those who are involved in drugs and substance trafficking. There are drones which were bought, which are going to be monitoring our ports and our border posts. For those who will be dealing with drugs and buying drugs, both of them will be equally prosecuted. If we do not work together, then we will not be able to fight this. It is up to us to work together and report to the police. I believe that we are going to work together so that those who sell drugs and buy drugs are prosecuted.

*HON. MUNEMO: Thank you Hon. Speaker and I want to pose my supplementary question, which says that when we look at what was happening in the past, issues of murder were dealt with decisively. People who committed homicide were arrested and these issues were dealt with totally. Now you find issues to do with human trafficking, you find issues to do with ritualistic killings happening in Mount Darwin and other areas. The question is, what plans does Government have in terms of dealing with such killings? I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRUSTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma`am and I want to thank Hon. Munemo. This is quite sad. I want to emphasise that there is no Government which is happy with the burial of people without some body parts.  It is true that these cases are now prevalent but I want to say that the Department of Homicide is responsible for dealing with these issues. Most of the times you would find that perpetrators are caught as soon as possible. I want to say that when such people are taken to courts, then these issues should be dealt with. But if this is not happening, then I will take this message to the responsible authority so that perpetrators are prosecuted. I thank you.

*HON. MATSUNGA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma`am.  Let me thank you for giving me this opportunity. My supplementary question is similar to a question that was asked by Hon. Chitimbe. At the beginning of this year, regardless of the different parts that we are alluding to or different parts of the country, you would find that because of guka and other drugs, young people are committing a lot of crimes. I want to request that the Minister responsible for Home Affairs,  should work together with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs because you would find that there are people who commit homicide after using drugs but such people are being given bail out. It shows that these cases are not being given the attention and seriousness they deserve because of that. I request that we have punitive laws because laws that are in existence are laws that have been there before some of us were born.

The responsible Ministers of Justice and that of Home Affairs, should bring a Bill or an amendment of the existing laws so that we tighten our laws in order to deal with homicide cases. I thank you.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Matsunga. I believe the message has been recorded and responsible authorities are going to take up the issues with the responsible ministries. I thank you.

*HON. MUCHEMWA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Cases of rape and where people steal livestock, such cases have clear laws and they are prosecuted. What is Government planning to do with the tightening of laws of drug-related cases? I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRUSTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Hon. Speaker and I want to thank Hon. Muchemwa. The example that was given is an example which concerns a lot of people. It is true but I want to come back to this august House. We have three Government arms; the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. These two arms of the State do not have the power to enact laws but laws are enacted in this august House. Executive and the Judiciary have different roles. The Judiciary is there to interpret laws that are made in this august House, which means that the judgements that are given to perpetrators of homicide are judgements that are based on the laws. So, indeed, we need to tighten these laws.

Let me emphasise that when such laws or Bills come to this august House, we need to work together so that these Bills are tightened to make them laws which are going to be punitive and deterrent. I thank you.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you for giving me the opportunity, Hon. Speaker. This issue is quite big. I want to request that Hon. Speaker, you extend the time so that we have two or three more questions for us to properly address the question. I thank you.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We are going to allow two more questions.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: Hon. Speaker, the issue at hand is of the use of mutoriro and other drugs reflects that we do not have quite punitive laws to deter those who peddle in such illicit brews and drugs. Why is it taking us a long time to stop these drugs which are affecting our young people? That is my question. I thank you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is you Hon. Members who are delaying the process. You should bring a motion to this august House so that a proper law is enacted.

         *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I want to thank Hon. Makumire. Let me say that nothing is stopping us. The law which applies to these cases, let me say that there is a task force, there is a Committee being headed by the Minister of Defence, which is looking at different ways of fighting drug and alcohol abuse in Zimbabwe.

I want to appreciate the fact that it is our responsibility as this august House to tighten the laws. We are going to bring these issues back to the august House where there is a lacuna or where there is a gap, a legal gap, then we need to fill that gap. The onus is upon this august House to tighten the laws.  I thank you.

+HON. S. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is in relation to the drug abusers, most of them are losing their minds. What has happened to these rehabilitation centres? We used to know that there were rehabilitation centres, are they still available? It will be very useful if we can make sure that these rehabilitation centres are functional again.

HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker and I want to thank Hon. Moyo. It is true, we know that when we have people who have mental illnesses, these people are taken to rehabilitation centres. Together with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we are setting up rehabilitation centres so that those who will be found with mental illnesses are taken to such centres for rehabilitation and that they can be reintegrated into society.

Government is seized with the matter which will culminate in mental patients receiving proper attention. These places are there but please allow me Hon. Speaker that if there is anything that I have left out, the Minister of Health and Child Care can  respond.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Deputy Minister of Health, do you want to add on to what the Leader of Government Business has said?

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. KWIDINI): It is true, the Leader of Government Business has addressed it well and we are setting up rehabilitation centres in the country, especially those that are going to be addressing mental health patients. In the future, we will link them up with vocational training centres working with the Ministry of Youth so that after rehabilitating them, they will then be empowered with vocational skills because we have the Annex at Parirenyatwa Hospital at the moment. We are renovating the Annex so that our mental health patients are attended there.

We also have in Masvingo, Ngomahuru where most people go. In Matabeleland, we also have Ingutsheni Centre where those who are mentally ill go to receive treatment. We have rehabilitation centres in most of our hospitals so that those that are affected by drugs and have mental problems are given psychosocial support and empowered with survival skills. I thank you.

HON. C. HLATYWAYO: Point of privilege.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Point of privilege, Hon. Hlatywayo.

*HON. C. HLATYWAYO: Thank you. The response that was given by the Hon. Minister that there is a Committee which is being led by the Minister of Defence, Hon. Oppah Muchinguri, this Committee was set up for almost a year now. The Committee has been in existence and my request is, may the Hon. Minister responsible for the Committee expedite the process of working or addressing this problem so that we will be able to receive even a report from the Committee? We know what is happening and what is being done by the Committee because we know the Committee is there but we need to see the results. I thank you.

*HON. S. TSHUMA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Let me start by saying that Hon. Speaker, the nation is losing a lot of money. We heard the Minister of Health talking about construction of rehabilitation centres. The issue of drones which are meant to monitor those who pay for drugs but let me say that these are in most high-density suburbs. I believe that this august House is aware that the drug hubs are known by people in residential areas, so we need to be frank with each other.

The police are not doing their job, they must arrest those who sell drugs. We are losing a lot of money, even the Constituency Development Fund. Hon. Speaker, my request is, may the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs come to this august House? We want to engage him regarding this issue because the nation cannot be losing a lot of money through construction of rehabilitation centres, other facilities and other amenities instead of arresting those who sell drugs. I thank you.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Tshuma for those words. Let me hear from the Hon. Leader of Government Business.

*HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member. These are the same words that were raised by Hon. Hlatywayo and also emphasised by Hon. Tshuma. It is your right as Hon. Members to engage the responsible ministers. When you find that there is a gap and we have not done something, it is your right to call us to your different Committees before things spiral out of control. You are not using that opportunity.

However, like the Hon. Member has already said, I am going to take up this message to the responsible Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs, that the House is concerned about the issue and the Hon. Minister will respond accordingly. I thank you.

^*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Tshuma for those words. Let me hear from the Leader of Government Business on how he is going to relay the matter to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the response thereof.

^*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):  Thank you Honourable Speaker. I want to thank the Honourable Member. These are the same words that were raised by Honourable Hlatywayo and also emphasised by Honourable Tshuma. It is your right as Honourable Members to engage the responsible ministers. When you find that there is a gap and we have not done something, it is your right to call us to your committees, to the different committees, before things spiral out of control. So, you are not using that opportunity. But like the Honourable Member has already said, I am going to take up this message to the responsible minister, the Minister of Home Affairs, that the House is concerned about the issue and the Honourable Minister will respond accordingly. I thank you.

^*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Acting Leader of Government Business. It shows that both sides of the House are concerned with this matter. So, your response is very good. I do not know Hon. Nyabani, are you still on this case?

^*HON. NYABANI: I wanted to say that we started discussions surrounding the issue of drugs in the 9^th Parliament and we had a lot of deliberations. So the question is, what is happening? There is no progress.

^*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: What you are saying has already been said, Hon. Nyabani. People have said that the Minister of Home Affairs is not prosecuting those who are selling drugs and yet people know where these people sell their drugs. So let us allow the Leader of Government Business to take that message to the Minister of Home Affairs, so that the Minister of Home Affairs will come back with a Ministerial Statement to the House regarding the progress that is happening in terms of prosecuting those who sell drugs and you will be given the opportunity to engage with the minister after the Ministerial Statement. I thank you.

^*HON. KARIMATSENGA-NYAMUPINGA: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We were saying that the Ministerial Statement is going to come from the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage but we also require a statement from the Minister of Finance who will explain how these drugs are coming into Zimbabwe and how they are imported through our borders. I thank you.- [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -

^*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please, behave in an honourable manner. If you behave as if you have taken mtoriro and you are intoxicated, then we are going to ask you to leave the House.

^*HON. NHARI: Thank you, Honourable Speaker. I want to direct my question to the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality. What plans does the Government have regarding those who move around without putting on any clothes or sex workers because our country has visitors? - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: May we have order Hon. Members?  

^*THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. RWODZI):  Thank you Honourable Speaker. The Government has laws which include laws that speak to public indecency and parading without putting on clothes is illegal in Zimbabwe. But we work together with the Ministry of Home Affairs and we raise issues that affect our tourists in Zimbabwe. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

^*HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Honourable Speaker. I want to say that men who are found picking ladies of the night, how are men who pick ladies of the night going to be dealt with? Is there a law which is going to prosecute them also? Because we cannot only prosecute the ladies of the night, ignoring those who pick them up. I thank you. [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members!

^*THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. RWODZI):  Thank you. I believe these questions should be directed to the Ministry of Home Affairs and I would request that the Leader of the House respond through your indulgence, Honourable Speaker.

^*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Let me pass the question to the Acting Leader of Government Business.

^*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):  Thank you Honourable Speaker.  I want to thank Honourable Zhou who asked a supplementary question. The question which says that those who will be picking up ladies of the night, let me say that when we look at the law, this is called being an accomplice and those who study the law, when you look at the explanation that was done by Justice Chidyausiku regarding commercial sex workers.  Let me say that when an offence has been committed, there is no favouritism. The one who will be committing and the one who will be picking up the ladies of the night are equally liable. I thank you.

^*HON. KARIMATSENGA-NYAMUPINGA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I heard the point that the man is the accomplice. Why can the woman be the accomplice because the man is the one who started? We must not be over excited about whether they move around without putting on clothes. They are called sex workers. This is their job and it is up to those who are buying the services, whether they want to buy the services or not. So, I want to seek clarification from the Honourable Minister that, is the Government going to put a curfew which will say people will not be moving around at night? Ladies of the night should not be taken advantage of but they should be paid their monies because they would have worked. I thank you.

^* HON. MHONA: Thank you Honourable Speaker and I want to thank Hon. Nyamupinga for the point of clarification. I responded earlier saying that for those who do research, they should check a judgement that was passed by the late Justice Chidyausiku. What is crime loitering? When you look at the judgement, it is quite informative that when a precedence has been set, then it goes to the laws that would have been applied by the judges in dealing with cases. I request that you go and look at the judgement that was done by Justice Chidyausiku. That is why you see the ladies of the night moving around without being arrested. I believe that this is what Hon. Nyamupinga was alluding to, that for women who will be moving around working, some will be on night duty. What is a crime in loitering? When you are loitering, when you go and research, you would find what it means.  Thank you.

*HON. KUKA:  Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary seeks to find out Government plans regarding those who are seen parading naked, loitering. How does Government plan to give them employment so that they are able to work during the day instead of working at night?  Thank you.

*HON. J. TSHUMA:  On a point of order Madam Speaker. Before delving deeper into this issue, we need guidance as to whether it is legal or not because sex work is now taken as a profession. Is it a profession and is it legal?  I thank you.

*HON. MHONA:   Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Kuka and Hon. Tshuma who raised pertinent questions. I believe that we are addressing the same questions over and over again. As the august House, when laws have been enacted and when precedence has been set by the courts, I want to say that for them to parade at night does not mean that they are not employed. These are their jobs and it does not mean that for them to work at night, it means they do not have day jobs. You will be surprised that maybe they have day jobs but they also do these night jobs.

So, we are saying when they are working at night, that is why you hear it being referred to as the oldest profession. As Zimbabwe, because of our culture and values, no one would come to you and tell you to go to the streets but when you look at the judgement that was given, it says that those who parade at night would not have committed any offence. That is why they are not arrested. They are moving around carrying out their night duties. When you see them doing their night duties, it does not mean they do not have jobs. We are saying that as black people, we have our culture and values.

It is not legal and we cannot say that people should go to the streets to parade naked. We also respect the law and the precedence that is set by the law. Thank you. 

HON. MLEYA:  Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health. What role is being played by the Government to ensure equitable access to malaria prevention and treatment services, particularly for the vulnerable population, taking into consideration that USAID pulled out funding that was benefiting mainly the rural population? Thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. KWIDINI):  Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. It is true that USAID has pulled out. Nevertheless, as Government, we had our own same programme which we were running as Government under Ministry of Health for malaria prevention, which is accessible by everyone, including ARVs and TB drugs. Everything under that mandate was also run by the Government. The USAID came in as the additional to the policy which was already formulated, which refers to the question raised by the Hon. Member. In terms of accessibility, before even the malaria programme was added on the USAID programme, we had our own programmes of malaria prevention which was being done in perennial malaria areas  such as Gokwe, the Lowveld and other parts of Mashonaland Central and even Manicaland. The malaria prevention and access to drugs and also other commodities like mosquito nets are still being distributed to those areas, even after the withdrawal of USAID. As for now, we cannot say there is no accessibility for those commodities which prevents malaria. I thank you.

*HON. TOBAIWA:  On a point of privilege Madam Speaker. I would request that we need a document which speaks to the USAID fund. The document should clarify what the Ministry of Health is doing regarding this issue because there are so many illnesses and chronic diseases that are affected by this. This question has been raised before, so we request the Minister to bring a ministerial statement.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Indeed, this was asked but it was about HIV/AIDS. Maybe the Minister should just combine all the illnesses that were covered by the USAID.

HON. DR. KWIDINI:  Thank you Madam Speaker. A ministerial statement which explains the withdrawal of USAID and its impact is important. The Hon. Minister stood before the Senate to explain this state of affairs. I believe in the near future, we are going to have a comprehensive document addressing these issues, which shows that the Government that is led by His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa is doing a good job.

         HON BAJILA: I would like the Minister to confirm that despite the sanctions, part of our health budget was being funded by the United States of America until the recent Trump statement.

         HON. DR. KWIDINI: It is very difficult to confirm that our budget is supported by United States. I have never heard of any single day when the Minister of Finance presented the budget in the House saying additional funds will come from USAID or United States of America. What I know is that each and every nation has got partners who come in to select and by selecting programmes which they want to support, they come in through MOUs which will dovetail with policies of that particular country. In the case of Zimbabwe, they came in saying they wanted to assist or support HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

         Without their assistance, maybe we can have minimum challenges but it does not necessarily mean that our programmes are going to stop because of their withdrawal.

         *HON. MURWIRA:  My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. What plans does Government have, especially with regards to referral hospitals where expecting mothers sleep on the floor in maternity homes? There are no beds and water yet these mothers will be waiting to deliver. I thank you.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. KWIDINI): Firstly, in both urban and rural areas, we have waiting mothers’ shelters. In urban areas, council clinics were given the task of delivering women. When you go to Sally Mugabe and Parirenyatwa Hospitals, they only deal with complicated deliveries. As the overseers, we have not been informed of any challenges in council clinics and hospitals. They have not told us that they are facing challenges in terms of bedding and accommodation.

         With regards to water challenges, the Ministry of Health does not deal with water issues but in all our urban areas, water comes from the local authority. When it is in the rural areas, water is supplied by ZINWA. Our responsibility is to treat people. I thank you.

+HON. S. MOYO: Thank you for the response but my follow up question is that I heard you responding about waiting shelters for expecting mothers. Most of the time these mothers’ waiting shelters do not have security and most of the women will be lying on the floor. We expect that the mothers who are waiting to deliver babies need to have a proper place for them to rest and be admitted in hospitals rather than to be given an empty room without bedding. Again, expecting mothers are not given food at these waiting shelters. They are told to look for their own food. These mothers come from far away places. What is the Government policy pertaining to the good care of these expecting mothers? I thank you.

The Hon. Deputy Minister having responded in Shona.

          HON. CHINANZVAVANA: On a point of order Madam Speaker Ma’am.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU): What is your point of order?

HON. CHINANZVAVANA: My point of order is that Hon. Ministers must answer using the language of the questioner because back home people will be waiting and would want to listen to their Member of Parliament asking questions – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKR: Order! Can we have order in the House? English language is a language that is used in this House and understood by many. Hon. Minister, please use English language if you cannot speak Ndebele.

⁺ THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON.DR. KWIDINI): Thank you Madam Speaker, it is true that women who want to give birth at the hospital go to the hospitals and in the waiting rooms there are no beds and food.  As Ministry of Health, we are trying so hard and working day and night to alleviate this problem together with the Ministry of Public and Social Welfare so that they assist with food to give to the maternity wing.  The beds are not very comfortable to sleep on but we are trying to acquire beds for the maternity wing.

*HON. MADZIVANYIKA: My supplementary question is that the issue of poor maternal healthcare is becoming problematic in this country. What plans do you have so that Hon. Ministers’ wives are also put to birth in their local clinics?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: That is a new question.

HON.  MADZIVANYIKA: On a point of order Madam Speaker.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: When a point of order is raised, it suspends everything Hon. Speaker. With due respect, let us follow the procedure.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I am not going to allow you.

*HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  But the law does not allow you to refuse a point of order.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon. Madzivanyika asked a question on what Government plans are regarding  the giving birth of Ministers’ wives in our local clinics. I thank you very much.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I said this is a new question not a supplementary.

HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, this Parliament must be protected from rogue elements.  We must respect our ministers Hon. Speaker. You must protect our ministers from rogue elements. There are some characters...

1. HON. MEMBER: On a point of order?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: How can you raise a point of order when there is another point of order? 

HON. TOGAREPI: We have Hon. Members who ask questions that are not genuine questions to solicit or get answers from the ministers on policy issues but characters who are trying to distract the question time.  I think we need protection to stop them from asking such questions.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You are correct Hon. Member. I think we need to take Parliament business seriously and I am not going tolerate an Hon. Member who does not respect my ruling. Hon. Madzivanyika, please be reminded.

HON. MUROMBEDZI: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker. My question is considering the chronic underfunding and neglect of maternity waiting rooms. Has your Ministry explored sustainable solutions such as community led maintenance, programmes or partnerships with private stakeholders to improve and maintain these facilities to ensure consistent support for vulnerable mothers?  I so submit.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. KWIDINI):  Thank you so much Madam Speaker. I think this is a new question. Anyway, we have not neglected waiting mothers’ shelters as of now, whilst we are constructing; this is a new project aimed at reducing the maternal complications.  We want also to alleviate the problems faced by people who stay in marginalised areas and those who stay far away from the health centres. However, as a Ministry, we have got the open-door policy and as alluded by His Excellency, the President’s mantra, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’. This also applies to the Hon. Members who are in this House that they must also use their CDF funds to help the community by constructing the mothers’ shelters.  They must also use the devolution fund which is given through the local authorities to assist in the construction of these maternal shelters and maintenance of those that have been neglected.  As for now, this is a new project that the ministry is embarking on and it is a noble idea, especially for expecting mothers who live far from health centres. I so submit.

HON. DR. KHUPE: On a point of privilege

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of privilege?

HON. DR. KHUPE: My point of privilege is that, why is it that Government is not formalising the waiting mothers’ shelters so that they are budgeted for next time.  I think if that happens, you find that they are going to be built in all the province so that women do not have any problems. There will be a conducive place where they are going to be giving birth from.  You always say that when women are giving birth, they are doing a national duty.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Dr. Khupe, is that a point of privilege or it is a good way of asking a new question? 

*HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Madam Speaker, we have beautiful roads from Bulawayo to Harare and eventually to Mutare from Masvingo to Beitbridge.  Along these highways, what pains me is that when getting into cities and even in the highways, you will find that there are a lot of broken cars alongside the roads or cars that have been hijacked by thieves and parts stolen.  There are also cars that are not properly parked along the roads or cars blocking the roads as a result of accidents.  My question to the Ministry of Transport is; what plans are in place to bring sanity to these roads in line with vision 2030 where we want clean cities and roads that attracts tourism?

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTUAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):  I thank you Hon. Speaker and I want to thank Hon. P. Zhou for her question.  She spoke about accidents and those drivers who do not follow road rules.  Such drivers do not even put reflective triangles when there is a break down but they put tree branches. Firstly, the law is very clear that when you have a break down, you must put a red triangle.  You must always carry a spare wheel in cases of emergency instead of parking your car at the side of the road when there is an emergency; that is why policemen are found looking for those things at road blocks.

Motorists must leave the required gaps of about seven or sometimes six metres between the main road and the next building along the road.  You will also find rural district councils allocating stands along the major roads.  Along Nemakonde which was called Lomagundi, you find car sellers along the major roads but this problem has since been solved and people were asked to obey the rules of the roads and the laws. So, along our major roads, it is not allowed to build permanent structures along the roads but you should put a temporary structure.  Our major roads are not just affected by broken down cars, even vendors stand right in the middle of the roads vending. These are pertinent issues that require us to find solutions to them and preserve lives.

*HON. P. ZHOU:  I thank the Hon. Minister for his response. I have noted that people in urban areas will put asbestos along the roads when there is construction going on.  If there are laws to safeguard this, we need to promulgate such a law in this august House.  I thank you

* HON. MHONA: I want to thank the Hon. Member for that question and I thank Hon. Speaker. There are city bye-laws which stipulate that there should be a certain distance between the major road and the building next to the road or along the road. The Road Traffic Act is quite clear in terms of building houses and structures along the road.  These things are clear and they are clarified by the law.  We have some people who break laws willy-nilly. You would find that some do that so the ministry of Local Government has that responsibility to ensure that what happens in cities and along roads is legal. You would find that sometimes people build such illegal structures but we need to ensure that proper procedures are done so that we stop this bad behaviour.  I thank you.

*HON. TOBAIWA:  I want to request the Hon. Minister, he alluded to restricted areas. We have experienced a number of accidents along the Parliament road, we have a SADC Summit that is going to be held in the near future. My question is that we have seen accidents happening along this road so we need guidance from the minister regarding what could be done in restricted areas so that we avoid such accidents. I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTUAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):   I thank Hon. Tobaiwa for raising a very important question which we are seized with as a Ministry.  We are coming up with a Statutory Instrument which will culminate in a process where the road will be protected.  We will take papers to the Attorney General’s Office so that the office will generate a Statutory Instrument, which will preserve and protect the road which leads to the Parliament which is a protected area.  So, I want to thank you and I want to inform the House that in the near future, it will be stipulated that anything which is beyond seven tonnes will not be allowed to use these roads in order to protect these roads.  This will be done as soon as we get the documents from the Attorney General’s Office and when the Statutory Instrument is gazetted. 

There are some people who abuse these roads using heavy construction vehicles, so your vision is in line with the Ministry’s vision, I thank you.

*HON. HUNGWE: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My supplementary question is that the question that was raided by Hon. P. Zhou pertains to accidents and broken-down cars that are found along major roads. My question is, what does Government plan to do with the scrap metal that is left along the major roads?

* HON. MHONA:  Thank you Hon. Speaker and I want to thank Hon. Hungwe for that question. We have some commuter omnibuses that are left along the roads and other cars and through VID, such cars will be expounded and investigations are going to be done to ascertain the reasons behind these cars being dumped along major roads. 

         We do not have tight laws.  You would find that some people just leave their cars deliberately along major roads. When we tour the cars, it will require you to pay storage fees.  In other countries, cars are toured within a short period of time.  We need to work with VID and CMED so that we can tour big cars – even 30 tonners.  This is what we plan to do.  When your car has been toured, then you would have to pay a storage fee everyday for that car. I thank you.

         Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU) in terms of Standing Order No. 68.

         HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, I move for the extension of time for Questions Without Notice by 10 minutes.

         HON. NYANDORO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Ten minutes have been granted.

         HON. JAMES: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. The clarity I seek from the Hon. Minister on Hon. Tobaiwa’s question about the protection of the road is this road coming to Parliament from the Old Mazowe Road, the curve down there is dangerous.  Somebody living close by those roads recorded 54 accidents since it was opened, including the one which happened this last weekend. Can the Ministry put rumble strips or some other means there to slow the traffic and prevent these accidents? I thank you.

         HON. MHONA:  Thank you Hon. Madam Speaker Ma’am. Let me also thank Hon. James for that very wonderful suggestion which we do concur with, to also erect rumble strips just before the turn off and after the turn off.  So, we will do accordingly.  I thank you.

         ^*HON. MAUNGANIDZE: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Ma’am.  I want to direct my question to the Hon. Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. We notice that in the past few days, our roads were affected by the rains.  My question is; does Government have any plans of rehabilitating these roads? I thank you.

         ^*HON. MHONA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Maunganidze.  It is true, we rejoice because of the abundant rains that we received despite that the rains destroyed our roads.  I want to appreciate that Government, through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 which was set up by the Statutory Instrument of 2021 which ended in 2024, we thank His Excellency, President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for adding to the programme and stretching it to 2026.  This means that we will not be going back to request for a supplementary budget.

We are working on the roads and it is my request that we have four road authorities, the Department of Roads, the local authority, rural district councils and RIDA, which was DDF in the past.  It depends on where you are coming from, sometimes it will be under rural district councils or under RIDA.  So, we need to sit down and look at the state of our roads and to look at the equipment that is in different localities so that we converge, we sit down and discuss about these issues.  Fuel would be given to the Rural District Council for accounting purposes so that auditors audit and then they would approach the council as the accounting office. 

We are doing gravelling, we have engineers at provinces, at districts who work with road authorities to ascertain the status of different roads. I also request that this august House should look into these issues in terms of allocating funds to the Ministry of Transport, particularly for such projects.  We will not sit on our laurels but we are going to continue working hard so that we rehabilitate our roads.  I thank you.

^*HON. P. MOYO: Thank you Madam Speaker.  My supplementary question is; what plans does the Hon. Minister have with regards to the roads which are damaged by these rains, especially those in highways? 

*HON. MHONA:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I would like to thank Hon. Moyo for the question.  She mentioned the issue to do with these big roads.  She did not mention specifically the route but before they get to Mwenezi, they go past the Masvingo Road but there is a programme where they want people to attend to a road in Mwenezi.  There was a half-done project.

What I am simply saying is that the amount of rainfall is actually reducing, so we would like to continue with the road rehabilitation. We only have 80 kms to finish the Beitbridge- Masvingo-Harare route. I promise you that by October, we will have completed the whole project in all those ways where we used to have detours. 

We initiated the programme from Chirundu to Harare. We are targeting two years and we must be done with Westgate-Chirundu Border Post route.  We would like to extend and upgrade the border post. We target those people who come from Mozambique to Nyamapanda.  We have private partnership and public partnership that are working on those roads.

We have our dualisation programme which is now at Melfort and we intend to proceed up to Marondera to cater for those people who have got challenges in going past Christmas Pass.  We are trying to by-pass the Christmas Pass when going through the Forbes Border Post.  Those are the four road networks which link us to other international companies and this other route which links to Kanyemba Border Post.  I thank you.

*HON. MUDUMI:  Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity accorded to me.  My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.  Whenever you are working on the grass cutting, can you not give those duties to the local youths?  We discovered that a lot of people are coming from a distance, why can you not employ youths from the local areas. 

         *THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  It is a new question but I would like to allow the Hon. Minister to respond because it is targeting the youths.

         *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA):  Thank you Hon. Speaker and I would like to also thank the Hon. Member for asking this question.  Honestly, we actually advise those people who are working in those areas, to take into cognisance the youths and the women in those areas. I am not saying that their husbands should be left out but some of the duties actually need general hand, even for grass cutting we use wheelbarrows as well.  These two categories should work in those areas.  We recommend to those companies who are working in those areas to ensure that they employ people from those areas. 

         Madam Speaker, even if you compare with the Rwanda, the other companies in Rwanda are actually saying women, they are very specific and ensure that whenever they want to do paving, women are the ones who do paving.  Whenever we work on roads, we give an opportunity to those women and youths.  I thank you. 

         *HON. MHETU: My question is focusing on drivers.  Drivers are being arrested for driving vehicles without spare wheels and reflectors, others are punished for using the biscuit spare wheels.  Taking into cognisant the type of vehicles that we are buying these days, we are buying vehicles which do not have anywhere to place the spare wheel and some of them do have reflectors already.  My question is, what is Government plan with regards to those people who are being arrested for using vehicles with those biscuit wheels? 

         *THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Mhetu, that is a new question. You have to ask for another opportunity for that new question.

         *HON. S. TSHUMA:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I want to seek clarity, on the 18^th April, 2025, the whole country of Zimbabwe is celebrating its independence and this year it will be held in Gokwe North.  When the Hon. Minister was mentioning the issue to do with roads, I had a certain feeling that all the areas surrounding Nembudziya, which is the central place where people will celebrate independence, the routes from Sanyati, Karoi, Matabeleland North, for all those, roads nothing has been done so far.  I would like to ask the Hon. Minister of Transport to tell us what plans does he have for people to access the central point of celebrations?  I thank you.

         *THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  That is a specific question Hon. Member. 

         *HON. BONDA: The Minister touched almost all the roads but I want to remind him that there is this road from Victoria Falls to Beitbridge, people are watching television, maybe if he had actually touched even if there are some other arrangements that are pertinent. 

         * HON. MHONA:  Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.  I would like to admit that this question was asked before.  It does not mean that the roads which I mentioned are the only important roads.  My apologies, that route is very important because that accommodates a lot of international delegates.  We have a very important meeting which will be held this year.  I spoke focusing in this area Mashonaland Central but if I simply sit down without mentioning it, people will say I did not mention it.  We go into Mukumbura Border Post, that is the same route which leads us.  If we focus on Midlands, if we go to Chikwalakwala, we have from Gweru, if I mention that area, others will say why did you not mention up to the border post.  Those are some of the roads that we have in the pipeline.  We have close to 760 kilometres from Beitbridge to Bulawayo, then from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls.  I am happy that we have a company which is working on those roads.  We mentioned that they are working together with a certain company, we agreed that the company should concentrate on the worst affected areas.  We have 760 kilometres which are the worst which are Hwange to Victoria Falls, Lupane to Bulawayo, those are the areas which are actually affected.  We have a company which is going to resume its duties in repairing all those roads.  All those roads which are slightly damaged, they will simply repair them. Our aim is to expand the whole road from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls.  We are going to start from Kwekwe, going to Lupane, Silobela, Lupane, Nkayi and so on.  Those are some of the big roads which people are worried about.  Do not despair, I might have omitted the name, other people from Mashonaland West might say from Binga, Cross Dete, then we link with the route to Bulawayo.  Those are some of the routes which we discover are very important.  I thank you.

         *THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order! The additional time is up so it is time for questions with notice.

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  I rise on a point of privilege Hon. Speaker.  Last week on Wednesday, I rose on a point of privilege to the effect that our Questions with Notice are not appearing on the Order Paper.  I sent my questions on the 19^th of February, 2025, according to Standing Order No. 68 (6), and I want to quote for the second time.  Notices of questions for oral answers mut be given no later than 1300 hrs on Thursdays for answers on the following Wednesday and on Monday for answers on the following Friday. This is the position of the law. I have got seven questions Madam Speaker, which I sent to the Journals Office on the 19^th February, 2025. Up to date, Madam Speaker, this is for the second time that I am raising the issue that my questions are not appearing on the Order Paper. I seek your help on this very important subject. I am sure the Hon. Members are facing the same circumstances. Thank you very much.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We apologise for that, Hon. Madzivanyika. I am being informed that the issue is under investigation in the Journals Office. We are going to revert to you with the response. Hon. Members, please note that we are always complaining that the Hon. Ministers are not coming for Questions Without Notice. I have noticed many questions were channelled towards the same Ministers when we had quite a number of ministries  in the House. When an announcement has been done on the ministries available, please can we ask as many questions to the Hon. Ministers who will be available? We should avoid asking questions to the same ministries over and over again.

*HON. ENG. MHANGWA: Madam Speaker, this is a plea. I am kindly asking in Shona. The CSC question started in July when we were still in Industry. It was moved in November to Agriculture. I am actually tired of being on number 1 which is being deferred up to now. People from Chinhoyi are actually keen to hear. Please Minister, may you kindly ask them to respond to this question. I thank you.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

DETAILS ON LITHIUM MINED AT MANDIHONGOLA LITHIUM MINE

18. HON. NKALA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to furnish the House with details on how much lithium has been produced at Mandihongola Lithium Mine since its inception and to state the percentages of sales that have been donated towards local development programmes such as roads, clinics and others if any.

 

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Thank you Madam Speaker. Gwanda lithium mine has completed construction of its lithium processing plant and she has been following up on the application for an approved processing plant permit with the Ministry. They were given a waiver to proceed pending the approval of the permit. In the meantime, Gwanda lithium mine is currently producing 1 500 tonnes per day of lithium concentrate since its inception in January 2024. The Ministry granted a six-month export licence permit for trial shipment of 5 000 metric tonnes of lithium concentrate to China to establish the potential markets for their product.

Despite not being in full production, the company has been committed to undertaking corporate social responsibility programmes within the community. Since 2023, before they even built the plant, the company conducted the following: Number one, implementation of an 88-kilovolt power line running 80 kilometres from Dubane substation to the mine. Number two, they constructed a new stretching road from Mandihongola to Vela, which is about 29 kilometres long. Number three, they also rehabilitated Mandihongola Clinic premise. Number four, they constructed Sandawana Community bridge, which is about 20 metres in length. They did food distribution towards 11. Number six, they constructed a market store and subcontracting catering services to the local communities. Thank you.

HON. NKALA: Thank you Mr Speaker. I want the Minister to confirm if this 88 kv power line is dedicated to the community or it is for the benefit of the mine because the question is asking for projects that are benefiting the community. What is benefiting the mine is something else but we are talking about the community surrounding that area. Are they equitably benefiting from the existence of the company  in their area?

HON. CHITANDO: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the follow-up question. The 88 kv line is one of the initiatives that the company has done for themselves and also, it can benefit the community in that when people want to connect to that line, they will have to apply through RIA and they will be allowed also to use that facility. Thank you.

POLICY REGARDING MINE EMPLOYEES WHO CONTRIBUTED PENSIONS IN USD CURRENCY BUT RECEIVED PAY-OUTS IN LOCAL CURRENCY

19. 19. HON. MUROMBEDZI asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development what the Government policy is regarding mine employees who contributed pension to the MIPF in USD but later received pay-outs in local currency and to elaborate on the measures being put in place to ensure those who made lifetime pension contributions get their pensions in the currency and value they contributed.

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Following the introduction of the modern currency regime in March 2009, the funds started receiving contributions in the United States dollars which was the functioning  currency until 2019. Therefore, the funds' pension contributions, investment returns and benefits were paid in foreign currency during this period. The currency reform implemented in 2019 had the effect of re-denominating all foreign currency assets and liabilities into Zimbabwean currency as the new mono-currency. During lessons from the 2009 currency reform, IPEC issued a guidance paper on the conversions of insurance and pension liabilities from US dollar to local currency. Hon. Speaker Sir, if ever there should be any need for clarity on this question, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development refers this issue to the appropriate ministry, which is the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. Thank you.

DETAILS OF MINING ACTIVITIES AT BOTEREKWA MOUNTAINS NEAR SHURUGWI

20. HON. C. HLATYWAYO asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House on details of mining activities taking place at Boterekwa Mountains near Shurugwi and to disclose the mining companies involved.

THE HON. MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): There are currently two mining companies that are carrying out mining activities in the Boterekwa mountains. These are Chenxi Mining Company and Saironi Mining Company, which both bought pre-existing mining locations from previous owners. Chenxi Minning Company is conducting surface mining of gold and heap leaching, while Saironi Mining Company is carrying out underground and surface mining rushing, milling, CIP and elution. The mining companies have some valid EIA certificates and mine managers in place.

CURBING OF MINING ACTIVITIES ALONG DEKA RIVER

21. HON. BONDA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to explain to the House what Government is doing to stop mining activities along the Deka River which are causing water pollution.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON KAMBAMURA): Alluvial mining or river bed mining was banned by Government and as such, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development together with other stakeholders before the end of this month March, are going to undertake an exercise to visit the cite and assess the concerns which have been raised by the Hon Member on the effects of mining on Deka River and take immediate appropriate action.

HON. BONDA:  I once asked this question last year and I was promised that there will be a Committee that will have an oversight role at Deka River. There are people who passed away at Deka River when they drank water polluted with sulphur. We are losing some domestic animals as well and today they are saying that they will have an oversight role. When I once asked this question some time ago, I think the Government neglected some of the people who are living along those places.

 This mantra of leaving no one and no place behind is leaving behind some people who are living in Hwange. This issue is well known that there are miners who are mining along Deka River. The Minister of Environment and the Minister of Mines knows that very well. It is not fair to some other people to be sent in the next chapter to have an oversight role. Every minister knows about the mining activities, even people from EMA know about this issue. I thank you.

HON. KAMBAMURA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Member for his concerns. We are going to take urgent reaction and action on the matter very soon. As I have said, it is any time before the end of March but with the concern that the Hon. Member has raised, we are going to take action urgently. I thank you.

HON. JAMES: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Can I ask the Minister if he is planning a visit to Deka? Would he also include in that visit, a visit to the mining activity at Hwange Game Park there? There is great concern as to why it is happening within the game park and the pollution that follows.

HON. KAMBAMURA: Hon. Speaker Sir, I would like to urge Hon. James, if ever he has other concerns with regard to activities which are happening along Deka River and areas which he wants us to also visit, can you please put it in writing so that when we undertake the visit, we make a thorough investigations and make the appropriate action?

PAYMENT OF PENSIONERS’ GRATUITY OF SERVICE BY HWANGE COLLIERY FROM THE YEAR 2000

22. HON. BONDA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to brief the House on measures taken by the Government to ensure the payment of pensioners’ gratuity of service by Hwange Colliery from the year 2000.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. KAMBAMURA): Hon. Speaker, Hwange Colliery is a company quoted on the Harare and London Stock Exchange and also it is under administration. Considering this, it is not proper to sell out the company's shareholding and if also the workers are part of the parent company, considering that it is a listed company and under administration. Thank you.

+HON. BONDA: My question is, prior, there were shares that were sold to our workers and what is the position of the workers of those shares that were sold to Hwange employees, were they paid those shares or they are still available? I want to know about the percentage of those shares.

HON. KAMBAMURA: Hon. Speaker Sir, like I have indicated, Hwange Colliery is under administration and by such, it falls under the Ministry of Justice. So, I want to refer that question to the Ministry of Justice.

POLICY ON ALLUVIAL GOLD MINING AT CHIBARA AND CHINYUDZE AREAS IN HURUNGWE

23. HON MUROMBEDZI asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to explain to the House, the Government policy on alluvial gold mining taking place at Chibara and Chinyudze areas along Angwa River in Hurungwe.

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. All alluvial mining was banned by Government under Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024. If there is any alluvial mining taking place, stakeholders are requested to report the matters to the law enforcement agents, the ZRP so that law enforcement will be effected. Thank you.

NUMBER OF ZIMBABWEANS STUDYING IN POLAND AND AUTHENTICITY OF THE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

24. HON. BAJILA asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to inform the House the number of Zimbabweans studying in Poland and to confirm the authenticity of schools and colleges that they are attending.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. CHIKOMO): Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. The report of significant population of Zimbabweans residing in Poland on this community comprises not only students but also truck drivers who have been attracted to Poland for various opportunities and disperse throughout Poland. Poland serves as a gateway to Europe and the United Kingdom, making it an appealing destination for many Zimbabweans. In terms of figures, current estimates are just that they are around 13 000 Zimbabwean students in Poland. However, many of the students who are studying in Poland have made private arrangements to be in that country and have not reached out to our Embassy in Germany which is also accredited to Poland to notify of their presence of stay. This has made it difficult for our Embassy to accurately determine the number of Zimbabweans in Poland. The Embassy has been working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and of Poland, to ascertain the actual figure of Zimbabweans living in Poland.  So far, the exercise has not yielded any desired results. This will then mean that it requires that our Embassy travels to Poland for some days, to conduct a comprehensive exercise within the country.

One of the factors drawing many foreigners including Zimbabweans to Poland are the relatively low university fees which are approximately 3 500 per year. Zimbabwean students in Poland are enrolled in different universities with Vincent Pol University (VPU) in Lublin being one of the most prominent options. VPU is officially registered with the Policy Ministry of Science Higher Tertiary Education, allowing it to recognise Bachelors and Masters degrees. Notably, VPU has recently seen about 300 Zimbabwean students graduate in the last year.

The comprehensive exercise to ascertain the actual population of Zimbabweans in Poland and the institutions that students are enrolled in would help us to fully respond to the question of the authenticity of the institutions that our citizens have chosen to study. I thank you. 

HON. BAJILA: I would like to thank the Minister for bringing the response finally. Last year we saw publication of a list of graduates from the very VPU that you mentioned in your response. Some classes by way of name only, all graduates were Zimbabweans in those classes, the entire class at a university in Poland, all graduates will be Zimbabweans. Therefore, Hon. Minister, the question of the authenticity of those universities is of paramount importance because it is quite strange for an entire class in a country such as Poland to have only Zimbabweans graduating out of it.

         HON. CHIKOMO: What is your question Hon. Member?

HON. BAJILA: Through you Mr. Speaker, my question is, how far are they going? What are they doing to verify the authenticity of the universities and colleges, at least of those Zimbabweans whom are officially in our statistics because there are some whom they are not sure whether they are there or not because of the private arrangements that they made but of those Zimbabweans who the Embassy can account for, the institutions that they are studying in, what is their authenticity?  Have you verified?

         HON. CHIKOMO: I think earlier in my statement, I have alluded that the members will travel to Poland for some days to conduct a comprehensive exercise within the country, so by then, that is when we will know exactly how many students are registered. Like you have already mentioned, some students have gone there on their personal will. So we would not know where they are and what they are doing but as l have told you from what I have just said earlier, kindly note that the Embassy will travel to Poland to provide you with that comprehensive response, I thank you.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. NGULUVHE): I think Hon. Bajila, it is better you provide the colleges and schools if you have them so that the Ministry can actually check on them.

RE-ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

25. HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Government’s position on re-engagement with the American Government given the recent changes particularly on the removal of the 2003 Executive Orders and the designation of 11 individuals and three entities under the Global Magnitsky Act.

HON. CHIKOMO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and thank you Hon. Hlatywayo for the question posed to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

         As Hon. Members, we would be aware that Zimbabwe was slapped with the ZIDERA sanctions since 2001 where-in the US Government and its nationals who are directors in the international financial institution, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the African Development Bank in which the US is a shareholder, were required to block any financial assistance to Zimbabwe.

In addition to ZIDERA, Presidential Executive Order No. 13288 was issued on 6 March 2003, declaring of course, a national emergency and characterising the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe as constituting an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. The Presidential Executive Order was renewed annually, since 2003 until 4^th March 2024. On 4^th March 2024, the then President of the United States of America, Mr. Joseph Biden, signed an Executive Order terminating the Executive Order 13288 and subsequent Executive Orders13391 of 22^nd November 2005 and 13469 of 25^th July 2008. By signing this Executive Order, the President of the United States of America revoked Zimbabwe's specific economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the OFAC, of the Treasury Department. However, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act is still in place.

Mr. Speaker, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Zimbabwe essentially means that ZIDERA remains in place. What was terminated was the Zimbabwe Sanctions Programme administered by OFAC. Its replacement, the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Programme, remains a concern to Zimbabwe as it continues targeting of His Excellency, the President, Dr. Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. We will have the same damaging effects on brand Zimbabwe. We do not view the removal of some individuals and entities of the sanctions list as a significant development.

We, therefore, continue to call for the unconditional removal of all sanctions, including the immediate delisting of all persons and businesses affected by the new Global Magnitsky Sanctions Programme. Mr. Speaker Sir, this sanctions programme will apply in the same way as the previous programme, as it imposes the following restrictions:

1. The blocking of assets and prohibition of transactions.
2. The freezing of any property held within the US jurisdiction and prohibition of US individuals or entities from entering into transactions with the designated person.
3. Denial of entry into the United States.
4. Revocation of any already issued visas, except for visits associated with the United Nations or other applicable international obligations of the United States of America.

In conclusion Mr. Speaker, we believe that our push for the removal of all US sanctions imposed on the country can only be achieved through genuine dialogue between Zimbabwe and the

United States of America. In this context, we are guided by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and by His Excellency, the President's Doctrine of Zimbabwe's Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, which provide the context that governs Zimbabwe's reaction to foreign actions within the international environment. In particular, the context of our engagement and re-engagement efforts with the US follows the philosophies of a friend to all and an enemy to none. Zimbabwe is open for business and Zimbabwe will forever be a sovereign country. I thank you.

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO: Thank you so much Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank the Minister for her response. I need to thank her because it has taken so long for her to come and respond to the question given that was posed in March 2024. Be that as it may, my supplementary question in relation to what she has given to the House is that a perusal of the Magnitsky Act reveals that it targets the most notorious and corrupt individuals as well as human rights abusers. It is a high-level profile sanctions regime. President Mnangagwa is the only President in the world on that list. We cannot have a sitting President on such a list of shame. Why is it so hard for Government to implement political and economic reforms, opening up of the media space, respect for human rights, respect for media freedoms, electoral reforms to conduct free and fair elections? Why is it so hard for Government to undertake some of these economic and political reforms? I so submit.

HON. CHIKOMO:  Thank you very much Mr. Speaker.  With your indulgence, firstly, I would like to let the House know that if you sanction one person, especially the Head of State, even the confidence of

our investment in trade is at stake. We cannot tolerate having our first citizen on such a list. It is not difficult, as you have alluded to in your question, to do the right thing but I would want to let the House and the Speaker know that we are doing the right thing. That is why I have stated in my statement that we are having dialogue with America to make sure that all the sanctions are equally removed because they are coercive and proposes for unilateral coercive measures, which is not good for our country and trade. I thank you.

HON. ZVAIPA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question is again directed to the Honourable Minister. Since 2003, when ZIDERA was crafted, was it ever used in our country as Zimbabwe? Was ZIDERA used by the United States on us? Thank you.

HON. CHIKOMO:  Thank you Honourable Member and thank you Mr. Speaker for the question raised to the House. First of all, I would like to let the Honourable Member know that we are not getting any lines of credit from any other country because we are a sovereign country. The fact that - [HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:  Point of order. Point of order.] - May I be protected?

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:  Point of order.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:  My point of order is that the Minister is misleading the House. The reason why Zimbabwe is not getting lines of credit is because we owe to international financial institutions. It has nothing to do with ZIDERA and the question is, was ZIDERA ever used to stop Zimbabwe from getting lines of credit? The answer is no. The United States of America has never used ZIDERA against stopping us from accessing - [HON. MEMBERS:  Point of order Mr. Speaker.] - to international institutions ...

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Hlatywayo, I think we

are not here to debate whether ZIDERA is there or not. So, let the Minister go ahead - [HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:  It looks like you did not hear what I said, Chairperson.] - Hon. Hlatywayo, please.  I heard. You said she is misleading the House.

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:  Yes, because she is.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Unfortunately, we cannot engage on debates on the Minister's speech. We cannot debate on this one.

HON. TIMBURWA:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

HON. TIMBURWA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. The Member of Parliament is out of order. ZIDERA has effects on this economy in all aspects. Ever since Zimbabwe was placed under ZIDERA sanctions, we lost more than 80 lines of credit which affects every citizen to transact with any country in this country. So, the Hon. Member is out of order.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I am sure we are all aware that there is a direct effect, whether we want to believe it or not but that is the truth of the matter. So, we cannot debate on that one.

HON. P. MOYO: I recognise you Hon. Moyo. Can Hon.  Hlatywayo withdraw the statement that the Hon. Minister is misleading the House? – [AN HON. MEMBER: There is no Hon. Sashwayo. There is no Sashwayo. Where is such Sashwayo?] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, for the sake of progress, can we move on to question number 27?

         HON. BAJILA: I would like to thank the Minister for her response, including her mentioning that Zimbabwe is in the process of engaging with the United States with the intention of having an amendment or a removal of our citizens from the Global Magnitsky list. Now, the Global Magnitsky List emanates from a Russian tax lawyer …

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Go straight to your question.

HON. BAJILA: My question is that in your engagements with the United States, given that the Global Magnitsky List is a list of persons accused of using impunity when their corruption is exposed, in your engagements with the United States, are you making any commitments to ensure that there is no impunity as a response when corruption is exposed? Are you making any such commitments in your engagement with the United States?

HON. CHIKOMO: Thank you Mr Speaker. I wish to notify the Hon. Member that these are ongoing discussions. If there is anything of interest, we will update the House. I thank you.    

POSITION OF SADC ON ONGOING ELECTORAL CONFLICT IN MOZAMBIQUE

26. HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to inform the House the position of SADC in the ongoing electoral conflict in Mozambique following the disputed elections of 9 October 2024, given that Zimbabwe is the current Chairperson of SADC.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE (HON. CHIKOMO): Firstly, let me also state that this question was asked last year in 2024 and understanding

that the Mozambique elections are already held, the Hon. Member may recall that Zimbabwe hosted an Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Harare on 20 November 2024 and during that meeting, the then President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Nyusi, updated the Summit on the political situation in his country following the conduct of the 9 October 2024 General Elections. He assured the Summit that the new President would be sworn-in mid-January 2025 and that misunderstandings related to the election will be resolved internally through the country's legal processes.

The new President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency President Daniel Francisco Chapo, was sworn in on the 15^th January 2025 as promised - [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- Mr Speaker, in terms of the structure of SADC, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation currently chaired by Her Excellency Dr. Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, deals with the region's peace and security matters. The Organ is seized with development in the region, including in Mozambique. That would require the attention of the bloc at the level of the SADC Summit. No issues concerning Mozambique have been brought to the attention of the SADC Chair from the Organ. I thank you.

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO: Thank you so much Hon. Minister for your response and again, like you rightly noted, this question was asked a very long time ago and never responded to. We thank you for coming and finally responding to it. My supplementary question relates to the SADC early warning, early response mechanism. I want to get your comments on whether you think this is a useful tool in terms of how it has been implemented. We were talking about a SADC Summit and you know, a SADC Extraordinary Summit that was convened to talk about Mozambique but this was convened at a very late stage when we had lost a lot of lives in Mozambique. You are also aware that there was the Panel of Elders that was supposed to go in and engage the stakeholders in Mozambique and it never happened. I want to understand whether you think the early warning, early response mechanism of SADC is functional and what needs to happen to make sure that, you know as we Chair SADC as Zimbabwe, we are able to respond to issues in a timely manner. I so submit.

         HON. TIMBURWA:  Order Mr. Speaker Sir!

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. NGULUVHE):  What is your point of order?

HON. TIMBURWA:  My point of order, Mr. Speaker, is that this is a Parliament of the Republic of Zimbabwe.  This is not a SADC Parliament.  The question from the Hon. Member, as Zimbabwe, we respect the sovereignty of Mozambique as a nation and the Hon. Minister is responding on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Affairs which is Zimbabwean, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Affairs, not SADC.

HON. CHIKOMO:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I would like to think that Hon. Hlatywayo’s statement is very insulting in the sense that you cannot say that a board that our President, His Excellency Dr. Dambudzo Mnangagwa is chairing is dysfunctional.  I would also like to say that the question, is it functional…

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:   Point of order, Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. CHIKOMO:  Can I please finish, Mr. Speaker?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Hlatywayo, your point of order is overruled.  Let her finish.

HON. CHIKOMO:  I would like to thank you Mr. Speaker.  Her question in context is, is it really a useful tool, is it really a functional tool?  So, by that statement, I would still repeat what I said earlier but in the interest of time, Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to say Section 12 of the Constitution provides that Zimbabwe's foreign policy must be based on principle of peaceful settlement on any matter and that Zimbabwe remains non-aligned.

To follow up, allow me also to say that Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none.  Zimbabwe is committed to principles of sovereign territorial integrity and non-interference in international affairs.  Lastly, Mr. Speaker Sir, the Hon. Member is relying on social media hearsays.

HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO:  Point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Your point of order is overruled.  Conclude your statement, Hon.  Minister – [AN HON. MEMBER:  Point of order.]

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Your point of order is overruled.  Let the Minister finish then you will be given a chance.  You can continue Hon. Minister – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections]

*HON. CHIKOMO:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I think they have heard what I said.  I thank you.

Questions With Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No.68

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. TOGAREPI:  Mr. Speaker, I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 25 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 26 on today’s Order Paper has been disposed of.

HON. NYANDORO:  I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ICT, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES ON MOBILE AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

Twenty Sixth Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the Portfolio Committee on ICT, Postal and Courier Services on mobile and internet connectivity in Zimbabwe.

Question again proposed.

HON. V. MOYO:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good afternoon.  Firstly, I want to thank the Minister for the comprehensive report on all the matters that were raised and all the observations that were observed by the Committee.  I would also want to thank every Hon. Member who debated on this very critical report.  Without much further ado Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to move that this report be adopted;

Motion that this House considers and adopts the Report of the Portfolio Committee on ICT, Postal and Courier Services on mobile and internet connectivity in Zimbabwe, put and agreed to.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

FOOD DEFICIT MITIGATION STRATEGY PROGRAMME

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA):  I rise to give an update to the Parliament of Zimbabwe on the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy Programme.  The Fourth Blitz Food Distribution phase is underway, though at a slow pace as various depots in provinces like Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Midlands have run out of stocks.  Currently, Manicaland and Mashonaland East are withdrawing their tonnage from concession depots with assistance from well-wishers.

Treasury released ZiG 40 million to clear transport arrears which is but a drop in the ocean out of approximately ZiG 238,162,757,032 that the Ministry owes to transporters.  Vulnerable groups are finding it difficult to c ontribute to transport costs, hence Treasury should consider release of more funds to pay transportation of grain and clearance of arrears.

Update on the distribution from the first blitz to date: The first blitz of food distribution was from May to July, 2024. During the first blitz food distribution from May to July, 2024, a total of 5 579 709 food insecure people was reached, with approximately 123 293 metric tonnes which translates to about 89.2% of grain as indicated in the table below:

Province	Total population to benefit	Grain Rqmnt/3 months	Cumulative (mt)	% Coverage	Balance (mt)
Manicaland	1,087,314	24,464.59	21,922.30	89.6%	2,542.29
Mash. Central	626.735	14,101.54	14,101.54	100.0%	-
Mash. East	925,210	20,817.85	14,878.57	71.5%	5,939.28
Mash. West	803.370	18,075.82	16,896.12	93.5%	1,179.70
Masvingo	951,466	21,407.98	20824.01	97.3%	583.97
Mat. North	520,524	11,711.79	9,987.67	85.3%	1,724.12
Mat. South	322,336	7,251.81	7,251.81	100.0%	-
Midlands	903,969	20,339.31	17,431.33	85.7%	2,907.97
National	6,140,924	138,170.68	123,293.35	89.2%	14,877.33

 

         The second blitz food distribution was from August to October, 2024. During the second blitz, a cumulative total of 100 985 tonnes, that is 72.2% was delivered to about 4 488 244 people. The total of coverage was 72.2%.

Table 2 below indicated the distributions by province:

Province	Total population to benefit	Grain Rqmnt/3 months	Cumulative (mt)	% Coverage	Balance (mt)
Manicaland	1,087,314	24,464.59	18,405.40	75.2%	6,059.17
Mash. Central	698.256	15,710.76	11,043.54	70.3%	4,667.23
Mash. East	925,210	20,817.23	18,195.49	87.4%	2,621.74
Mash. West	803.370	18,075.83	11,802.55	65.3%	1,179.70
Masvingo	954,205	21,469.61	14,269.35	66.5%	7,200.26
Mat. North	520,524	11,711.79	9,049.55	77.3%	2,662.24
Mat. South	322,927	7,265.86	9,049.55	95.0%	364.61
Midlands	903,969	20,339.30	11,318.38	55.6%	9,020.92
National	6,215,775	139,854.94	100,985.50	72.2%	38,869.44

         The third blitz, food distribution was from November, 2024 to January, 2025. Out of the targeted six million people, a total of 4 049 424 people were reached with grain with 91 112.04 metric tonnes, which translate to 61.7% of grain. There is a coverage of 61.7%.

Table 3 Distributions by Province under 3^rd Blitz

Province	Total population to benefit	Grain Rqmnt/3 months	Cumulative (mt)	% Coverage	Balance (mt)
Manicaland	1,223,732	27,533.97	16,568.32	60.2%	10,065.65
Mash. Central	762.290	17,151.53	12,347.56	72.0%	4,803.97
Mash. East	960526	21,611.84	15,513.12	71.8%	6,098.72
Mash. West	867,642	19,521.95	16,808.30	86.1%	2,713.62
Masvingo	969,470	21,813.08	10,693.61	49.0%.5%	11,119.47
Mat. North	524,713	11,806.04	4,556.96	38.6.%	7,249.09
Mat. South	343,658	7,732.31	5,752.99	74.4%	1,979.30
Midlands	911,088	20,499.48	8,871.18	43.3%	11,628.30
National	6,563,119	47,670.18	91,112.04	61.7%	56,558.14

 

         The fourth blitz food distribution, which is February to date, nationally, a total of 26 353.53 metric tonnes which translates to 26.8% of grain has been distributed out of the targeted 98 446.79 metric tonnes. Provincial distributions; the total population to benefit is 6 563 119 people and now the coverage that we have covered so far is 26.8%. There is a balance of 72 093 metric tonnes, which is supposed to be distributed before the end of the fourth blitz.

Fourth Blitz indicated in the table below:

Province	Total population to benefit	Grain Rqmnt/3 months	Cumulative (mt)	% Coverage	Balance (mt)
Manicaland	11,223,732	18.355.98	3,522.98	19.2%	14,833.00
Mash. Central	762.290	11,434.35	3,659.71	32.0%	7,774.64
Mash. East	960,526	14,407.89	4,341.78	30.1%	6,098.72
Mash. West	867,642	13,014.63,	4,354.25	33.5%	8,660.38
Masvingo	969,470	14,542.05	3,582.18	24.6%	10,959.87
Mat. North	524,713	7,870.70	1,786.18	22.7.%	6,084.52
Mat. South	343,658	5,154.87	1,020.35	19.8%	1,134.53
Midlands	911,088	13,666.4832	4,086.11	29.9%	9,580.22
National	6,563,119	98,446.79	26,353.53	26.8.%	72,093.26

 

Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi

To date, under the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi, the cumulative total distributions still stand at 4,550.7 mt, of grain. As previously reported, whilst some chiefs have completed distribution of their initial allocations, they are yet to submit the acquittals which will enable more allocations.

Table 11 Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi Collections to date

Province	Allocation	Collection to date(mt)	Balance (mt)	% Collected
Manicaland	1,080	597.65	482	55%
Mash Central	1,095	543.00	205	50%
Mash East	900	294.10	606	33%
Mash West	550	371.77	178	68%
Masvingo	1,250	913.50	551	73%
Mat North	850	574.65	275	68%
Mat South	730	190.00	125	26%
Midlands	1,145	871.75	477	76%
National	7,600	4,372.51	3,243.58	57%

 

4. Urban Cash for Cereal

The Cash for Cereal programme under the FDMS which requires about ZWG322,400,000 (USD12,4 Million), is yet to be funded by Treasury.  Out of the 1.7 million beneficiaries, only 28,875 were paid in October 2024.

5. Development Partners

For the 4^th Blitz Food Distribution, development partners have commenced distributions in various districts.  As at the 27 February 2025, a total of 7,253.55mt was moved around the district.  Below is a table indicating tonnage moved per province.

Table 12: Tonnage distributed by Province

PROVINCE	PARTNER CUMULATIVE (mt)
Mashonaland Central	545.19
Mashonaland East	468.17
Masvingo	2,108.32
Matebeleland North	2,065.91
Matebeleland South	18.46
Midlands	2,047. 51
National	7,253.55

 

6. Challenges
7. Inadequate grain at local depots in most parts of the country due to late replenishment as transporters moving grain via road system are reporting incapacitation.
8. Delayed release of funds by Treasury to both the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Grain Marketing Board for administration and transportation of grain.

• Some partners who were receiving resources from USAID have indicated that they can no longer continue supporting some districts as their funding has been suspended.

7. RECOMMENDATIONS
8. Whilst appreciating the ZWG40 million that Treasury has released, there is still need to avail more resources for both grain movement and cash for cereal.
9. Replenishment of local depots to necessitate easy access to cereals.
10. CONCLUSION

Grain distribution has entered the 4^th Blitz and it is anticipated funds will continue to be released to enable efficient and timely distribution of grain to food insecure people. The urban populace require support as registration has been done in all urban areas and beneficiaries are anticipating their benefits which their rural counterparts are receiving in the spirit of leaving no one and place behind.

HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I just wanted clarity from the Hon. Minister if she is aware that where we are coming from, we have situations where local arrangements were made so that the beneficiaries are actually paying for transport. I heard in her presentation, she mentioned quite a number of times we are calling on Treasury to avail resources especially for the payment of transport. So, I just wanted to find out if you are aware of the local arrangements that are being made where beneficiaries are paid for transport?

         HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. We are aware of the transport arrangements that are being made because from the first, second to the third blitz, the Government was providing transport from depots, surplus to depots of deficit and then from depots of surplus to the contribution point, they were also providing transport. Then there was transport arrears that the Government owed to the transporters in which the transporters refused to transport grain both from depot of surplus to depot of deficits and also from the depots of surplus to the distribution points.

         HON.  S. MAHLANGU: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I want clarity Hon. Minister about the Cash Cereal Programme that was last funded in October.  Whenever you get the funds, are you going to do the back pay for those months not paid? I thank you.

         HON. MALINGANISO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to applaud the Minister for bringing the statement.  My concern is still on the numbers that are left behind.  You realise that on selection of who did not have food, I do not know what was relied upon but a lot of people were left behind.  I understand, it is the last blitz probably, there is nothing to do about that.  Probably going forward, there is need for deliberate action to make certain detection of who is hungry so that nobody is left behind.

         I heard the Minister alluding to the fact that there were local arrangements to avail transport.  What are the modalities to make certain that the abuse that she alluded to on the funds collected does not go unchecked?  You will realise that those transporters who were contracted by the Government continued the ferrying and in instances where sometimes grain is to be ferried from 20km to where it is distributed, beneficiaries were even made to pay a dollar for a bag of grain, which is unheard of because normally trucks are hired per kilometre. We have a situation where a transporter would get in excess of USD900 for transporting 30 tonnes of grain.

         My last contribution would be on disbursements.  I understand it is not done by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.  I understand Mr. Speaker that budgets may suffer shocks but why is it not that we employ a situation where our budget was pegged at USD100 and we end up maybe on expected revenue, getting USD80 then disbursements are done pro rata?  A ministry that was supposed to receive USD10 because you have been garnered, only 80% end up being given USD8 because the problem of disbursements hampers everything progressing because each question posed to any minister, they will tell you of disbursements.  Why do we not spread pro-rata? I thank you

         HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  On the Cash for Cereal Programme as I have said, the beneficiaries for Cash for Cereal are 1.7 million and only 28 875 were being paid.  The last payment was in October 2024.  I think if the funds are availed by the Treasury and Cabinet have to consider approving to give those who have not received the cash transfers so that they will go back to the first blitz, second and third.  We are now about to get to the end of the fourth and final blitz.  It is up to the Cabinet to approve that those months that were not paid be paid to the beneficiaries when the money is being released.

         On the local arrangements, that is the money for transport that is being collected in the rural areas by the headmen.  Some of the money is collected by the councillors.  I think the Members of Parliament should supervise to see that the monies are put to good use because there are prone to abuse. Some councillors and headmen are seeing it as a way of getting some cash.  The vulnerable people who are supposed to receive grain have no money.  Some are not able to pay one dollar, even one dollar fifty or two dollars.  We can see that those vulnerable people end up being deprived of their share because they are not able to pay money for transport. That is why I said that we are appealing for the Treasury to release more money so that the Government may continue to transport the grains from depot to depot and also from depot to the distribution point.  I thank you.

         HON. TOGAREPI:  Mr. Speaker, I think what the Minister is telling us here is that there is a problem between her Ministry and Treasury. Treasury is not disbursing money for the payment of transport and also payment of the transfer to vulnerable people. Would it not be prudent Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Finance comes here to explain why money for transport has not been disbursed. It is true that it is his ministry that is not doing that. Is it his ministry that is not transferring money to the vulnerable people?

         Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I heard the Minister saying people were not given money for the past three months.  If that money is raised, it must be paid in retrospect. Did I get you correct because my worry is if I did not get my payment of grain last month and we are in this month, will it be correct to say you will give me the arrears to it last month or we proceed from there because you have revised? I need clarity there Minister.

         With your ruling Mr. Speaker, we would want the Minister of Finance because, Hon. Members, if you hear about these transport costs, they had been closed by MPs and we are just told that noise is at GMB, people need to be given in their wards.  Hon. Members look for the money and how the trucks are paid.  I do not know how they are going to be reimbursed but that is the situation.  That is the situation, we would want to hear you and Minister of Finance clarifying this fact.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. NGULUVHE): It has been noted Chief Whip. Arrangements will be made that the Minister of Finance comes to the House and give a ministerial statement on that issue. Maybe the Minister might want to clarify the last part which was asked by the Chief Whip.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have said that if the arrears are to be given, it is up to the Cabinet to approve or disapprove if they should be given or not. Thank you Mr Speaker.

HON. C. HLATYWAYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. There are areas that received rains very late this season, especially those areas in the lowveld including, Chipinge South. These areas will definitely need a Phase 5 or a Number 5 blitz. Mr. Speaker, are there any plans to deal with those communities? Obviously, we will need that intervention from Government. Thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Honourable, I just wanted you to ask a question so that we give a chance to the Minister to answer.

HON. BAJILA: Thank you so much Mr. Speaker. I just have one question of clarity remaining. Others, the Minister has taken them. The Minister mentioned issues around our ability to get assistance from development partners. Some development partners prioritise countries that are low income earners. Now that Zimbabwe is a middle income earner, walking towards upper middle income, has our declaration of status as a middle income earner not affected us in getting development assistance, particularly towards the Food Mitigation Programme?

HON. M. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In the case of the development partners, they are still there. They are helping, complementing the Government in assisting vulnerable people. Up to date, I think they are covering about seven districts. They are also covering about more than five provinces. So, the development partners are still there. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Did you hear the question from Hon. Hlatywayo Hon. Minister?

HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I did not hear anything. May the Hon. Member repeat his question?

HON. C. HLATYWAYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I was saying there are areas that received rains very late, including areas in the lowveld like Chipinge South. There is need for Government intervention in those areas, the 5^th blitz just targeting areas with that challenge. Do you have any programme or plans to deal with those specific areas to assist them to mitigate the hunger issue?

HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. In the case of Chipinge region, it was because the depots did not have any grains. The Honourable Member has registered these complaints to the Ministry and we are looking into it. We are arranging for the grains to be moved to the depots nearer to Chipinge. The Cabinet has also approved for the 4^th  blitz to be extended by one month. So, there is still time for those people to be covered. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. S. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Honourable Minister, Honourable Chair, His Excellency the President has said there is no one who will die of hunger in this country and no one will pay for the transport. I am here to say the Ministry is going against the President's call that they are writing some circulars to send to the provinces and to the districts, to say the vulnerable persons are supposed to pay for the transport. They are going against His Excellency's call. Thank you very much.

         HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. It is true that the President is always saying that no one should die of hunger. Surely, up to date, no one has died of hunger. This is because people are getting cereals. Moreover, on the distribution, we are not leaving anyone or no place behind. When the locals started providing money for the transport, in some cases it is the locals that are providing money for the transport and in some districts, there were well-wishers who were providing transport. The Cabinet approved that there should be transport arrangements in the districts. That is when the locals started contributing money for transport. We are appealing to the Treasury daily so that it can avail money for the transport. As I have already said, the Treasury has released 40 million to the Ministry to cover the arrears of transporters. However, the arrears are over 200 million ZiG. So, it is just a drop in the ocean.

If Treasury could avail money for covering the arrears and also for paying the transporters so that they will continue transporting grains to the distribution points, I think there will not be any problem of arrangements of getting transport by the locals. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

         *HON. NYABANI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  Minister, I heard you speaking about well-wishers who will be assisting us in transporting food.  Did you by any chance, come across those well wishers or you are just using the name well-wishers?  If I look in my constituency, I have 25 wards and a lot of households.  If I say I want to provide fuel to ferry food, it is a mammoth task.  I just want to know which ones you call well-wishers in Rushinga who are transporting maize.  What is it that is happening?

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Nyabani, I think the Chief Whip did say it is better if the Minister of Finance comes into the House and clarify.  He did allude to the fact that Hon. Members are using their own funds.

         *HON. NYABANI:  My issue is on the well-wishers.  Can those well-wishers be stronger that Government?  Let us look at what is happening in our constituencies because when our people fail to get food or maize, they simply say the food should have been provided as scheduled.  We, however, did not get well-wishers.  I thank you.

         HON. DINHA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question that he has asked.  When we talk of well-wishers – a practical example is where we have some Members of Parliament who are transporting maize for their constituencies.  Those are well-wishers.  A lot of people are assisting people using their own resources because they do not want the citizens to pay the dollar or two dollars needed for transport.  I thank you.

         *HON. HUNGWE:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I am on the issue of the Government separating transport and the food being provided that the Minister raised.  An example is if a 30 tonne truck purchased by Government costs USD15000 and then transport to give food to the vulnerable costs around USD600 and we look at the proportion that Government is putting in as compared to the amount of money the citizens do not have.  I think they are failing to calculate it.  I propose to the Ministry that if we are distributing 70%, for example, we need to reduce by 5% or 7%, it will then cover the transport costs and the cost of the grain.  So, Government will have done well but then we end up having chaotic distribution because of the USD700 or USD1000 which people are failing to pay.  So, I am suggesting that it is better when we are calculating the food expenses to just say we are providing 1000 tonnes and then it gets to those people without asking them to pay anything as they are vulnerable people. 

         We have issues in our constituencies where the elderly are failing to get food because they cannot pay for the transport costs, yet they are the targeted beneficiaries.  I propose we do a local arrangement for them so that food is not chaotically distributed and done wrongly ending up with the poor failing to benefit.  I am kindly requesting the Minister to look into it as a priority.  I thank you.

         HON. CHIDUWA:  My point of privilege is to ask the indulgence of the Chief Whip to bring in some of these issues so that when the Minister of Finance is making a Ministerial Statement, it will then cover all these other programmes and we will understand the none or late disbursements of funds.  If you look at the Social Welfare Programmes, it is a compendium of programmes.  We have the BEAM, AMTO, harmonised cash transfers, cash for food and we have a common problem in all these social welfare programmes.  The common problem is none or late disbursement of these.  I thank you.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Point taken.

         On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. NYANDORO, the House adjourned at Fourteen Minutes past Six o’clock p.m.