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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 06 MAY 2025 Vol. 51 No. 43

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Tuesday, 6^th May, 2025

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

PRAYERS

(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER

SWEARING IN OF A NEW MEMBER

         THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that on Wednesday, 23^rd April 2025, Parliament was notified by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of section 67 (iii) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] that with effect from the 12^th April, 2025, Tsitsi Tranquility Tawomhera was duly elected as a Member of Parliament for Glenview South Constituency to fill in a vacancy in the National Assembly occasioned by the death of Hon. Grandmore Hakata.

Section 128 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a Member of Parliament takes his or her seat in Parliament, the Member must take the oath of a Member of Parliament as set out in the Third Schedule of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Section 128 (2) states that the oath must be taken before the Clerk of Parliament. I, therefore, call upon the Clerk of Parliament to administer the oath of a Member of Parliament. I now call upon the Member to subscribe to the Oath of Loyalty – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –

NEW MEMBER SWORN

HON. TAWOMHERA TSITSI TRANQUILITY subscribed to the Oath of Loyalty as required by the law and took her seat – HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – [AN HON. MEMBER: Huya ugare apa paigara Hakata] – HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I do not expect such remarks. We must honour the dead.  Are you not ashamed to say huya ugare pano panzvimbo yaHakata?  You have to respect those who have passed on, hamunyare.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER

NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE

THE HON. SPEAKER: I have received a non-adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Persons with Disability Bill [H. B. 2A, 2023].

         The Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (Hon. Dinha) having presented a notice of motion.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Your colleague from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has left. The procedure now is that all these Conventions are subjected to presentation of the whole House, all Members of Parliament in the Multi-Purpose Hall before they are debated here. So, if you can agree with the Clerk of Parliament and your colleague so that we can follow that procedure in spirit and letter.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. TOGAREPI: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 14 is disposed of.

HON. C. MOYO:  I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

LEGISLATIVE REFORMS ON THE IMPORTATION, SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SKIN-LIGHTENING PRODUCTS

Fourteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the use of skin-lightening creams.

Question again proposed.

         HON. BATITSA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker for the opportunity to add my voice on the motion tabled by Hon. Mutimbanyoka. Women should have the freedom to choose what they want with their own bodies, including their skin tone without judgement.

To some women, achieving a desired skin tone can enhance self-esteem and self-image, helping them feel more beautiful according to their own standards. Mr. Speaker Sir, some lightening creams are used to treat specific skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, melasma, dark spots and scars, not just for cosmetic purposes. In certain cultures, lighter skin is traditionally associated with beauty, status or opportunity. Using skin lightening products can help women navigate this societal expectation. In some societies, appearance can influence job prospects or public reception. Women may use these products to better align with the professional expectations. For women who have faced bullying and discrimination based on their skin tone, changing their appearance can be a step towards psychological recovery and personal healing.

The beauty industry thrives on offering a wide range of options. Skin-lightening products are simply another choice among men for women who want to alter or enhance their look. Advances in dermatology have produced several dermatologists approved skin lightening creams that are less harmful than older products. Many skin lightening treatments are non-permanent. If a woman changes her mind, she can stop treatment and allow her natural skin tone to retain.

In conclusion, ultimately, supporting women means supporting their right to make informed choices about their own bodies, whether that is about skin tone, hair colour, fashion or any other aspect of self-representation.

         *HON. THOMPSON: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity.  We can see that the use of lightening creams is increasing. Cases of cancer are also increasing because there is an element of increase of cancer patients due to the use of these lightening creams.  These lightening creams are causing a lot of domestic violence because most of the time there is no agreement between couples on the issue of lightening creams.  Most of the time when men notice that women use lightening creams, they feel that they have been betrayed. 

Mr. Speaker Sir, according to my view, there are not only lightening creams which are being used but some people are now using tablets. The danger of using lightening creams is that when someone is hurt and there is need for stitching, the skin will now be too delicate and light.  Hence, we are encouraging the Government to put in place laws which prevent the use and selling of lightening creams in the country because it is causing a lot of havoc.  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. 

*HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I believe that you had a very restful break.  I am pleading with you if I may speak whilst seated? 

*THE HON. SPEAKER:  Permission granted Hon. Zhou, you can debate whilst seated.  You may sit down but I do not know where the issue of break is coming from.

HON. P. ZHOU:  My apology Mr. Speaker Sir. I am referring to the holiday break.  Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank Hon. Mutimbanyoka who brought in a very pertinent issue in this august House.  This issue is happening throughout the country and it is being practiced and done by everyone, from the young to the old people.  If you come across someone with dark skin today and if you see her or him after two or three days, you will discover that his or her skin would have changed, he or she will be looking lighter.  What it means is that people are using lightening creams and some people are being injected for them to become lighter while some are using tablets.  People are now using injections and creams in order to enhance their complexions. 

Most of us as Zimbabweans are blacks and we have got a black skin.  The majority of the people are not satisfied, they are now using lightening creams.  Mr. Speaker, if you look at us in this august House, we are different according to the way we were created by God without using lightening creams.  After doing some research during the holiday on why people are not satisfied with their skins or if there are any health benefits in using lightening creams, in English they are now using different words, some call them whitening creams or bleaching creams in a bid to market the creams or products. 

Mr. Speaker Sir, as an Hon. Member, I want to denounce the use of lightening creams.  I have a black skin and a fly cannot stay on my skin, you cannot see anything bad about my skin.  Even the previous speaker is a little bit darker than me but she is very beautiful.  There is nothing shameful about being a black person.

 I also want to mention some of the things which I have seen through research and others whom I am working with within this august House and all areas where I come from, especially those who are using lightening creams. It does not necessarily mean that you have rights although some are now taking poisonous drugs and killing themselves saying it is their right.  If you use lightening creams and they damage your skin, you end up running to hospitals.  There are many people who burn their skins by using lightening creams.  In relation to our skins, naturally there is an epidermis part and that is the strongest part on our body.  If the epidermis can prevent all the vagaries of nature which include water, soils or any other things - that epidermis protects you from all those hazards but if you remove that epidermis, you are going to the second layer of the skin which is the dermis and that dermis is not strong, hence you will be affected by water or by any other natural factors.

Mr. Speaker Sir, when you have removed the first skin, you are left with the second skin.  You are now causing skin cancer to yourself. Even those white people are suffering and are using sunscreens to make sure that their skins are a little bit darker so that they can be protected. God loves us and as blacks, we have been given a colour called melamine such that even if you are injected, that melamine disappears.  Those who are engaged in lightening activities, even if you look at the joints of their bones, hands and their knees, you see that there is a mixture of colours, they have light faces and on some other parts, the skin is black, it is not good.   The issue of lightening skins is happening in all areas, in towns, rural areas, farms and everywhere. 

Mr. Speaker Sir, all these lightening creams which are being used by people have got harmful chemicals like mercury and many others.  Those chemicals also affect the kidney.  As time goes on, it will end up causing cancer.  You might move around trying to find a cure but you are causing cancer to yourself by using lightening creams.  This issue is happening to girls, boys, men and women but what is needed is for us to come up with a serious awareness programme, teaching people about the harmful or the dangers of using lightening creams and conscientising people in all areas about the dangers of using lightening creams.  We must also work on building confidence in people to love themselves the way they were created by God.  In the past, we were using Ambi and the name was changed to Ambi Special but our elders used to say people must desist from using these creams because you will be looking down upon God and the way He created you. You see that the issue of lightening creams was denounced by our parents and our ancestors. Those who use lightening creams think that they become more beautiful than they used to be. However, the reality of the issue is that we are black people and those who are darker are more beautiful than those who are light because we maintain our skin until we become old. If you are looking at me, Mr. Speaker Sir, I am now more than 60 years. Nevertheless, my skin is so flawless than those who are using lightening creams.  When we leave this august House, take a close look at me. You will find out that my skin is flawless.

Let those who are light remain light and those who are dark let us bath, be presentable and desist from using lightening creams. Many people are using a lot of funds to buy lightening creams. Some of them are now suffering from what they are doing right now. They are using lightening creams today but they are going to cause some harmful diseases to themselves. Most of the people are now suffering from different skin conditions. Their skins do not have elasticity, they are no longer strong because they have been damaged because of these creams. Hence, I am advising everyone to desist from using the lightening creams because they damage even the structure of your body.

Yes, there are some people who may face some challenges with their skins, the dermatological conditions. However, they must approach the dermatologists and get proper advice on what they are supposed to use and the prescriptions must be followed. Those must continue to follow what the doctors say, not to go and use lightening creams willy-nilly.  At the end of the day, it is going to cause problems. Even people are going to laugh at you because of the condition. Recently, there were pictures which were circulating on WhatsApp, clearly demonstrating people who use these lightening creams. Those pictures were very scary and people were laughing at us. The whites were laughing at us saying we have no self-confidence on our conditions. I am also encouraging Members of this august House, we come from different areas but may we go and start teaching people who are using lightening creams to desist from using them? Right now, I am encouraging everyone in this august House to desist from using lightening creams so that we can be able to help those who are ignorant.

We can also tell them the problems which are caused by these lightening creams. Some of the creams are now causing eye problems. It is going to burden the country's health sector because many people will end up in hospitals as a result of these lightening creams.

I am imploring this august House to come up with a very concrete programme, together with the Ministry of Health, to teach people about the dangers of using lightening creams. The education must include both men and women. Even in the Bible, it was clearly stated that ‘my people perish because of lack of knowledge’. This issue is not child's play. There is no repair, I have told you that epidermis can increase in terms of colour. If you disturb the epidermis by using lightening creams, you are likely to face a lot of problems. Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity.

*HON. MATARA: Thank you Mr. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on the motion raised by Hon. Mutimbanyoka on the use of lightening creams. When I am looking at the use of lightening creams, I also take the opportunity to look at the dangers of using lightening creams. The skin can get some wrinkles because of the use of lightening creams. Lightening creams quickly cause aging on people. We can also have a condition called skin cancer because of these lightening creams, especially creams which have a chemical called mercury.

Mr. Speaker Sir, going deeper with my research on this issue, I also discovered that these lightening chemicals and creams like injection tablets really cause damage to our livers and kidneys. It also causes dementia at an early age. Being beautiful due to the use of lightening creams is good for those who love it but there are things like steroids which are being put into those creams. These steroids can cause allergies, some itching and bumps on your whole body.

Mr. Speaker Sir, these chemicals or lightening creams have another smell which they carry. If we smell these things, that is when we see someone who was born without asthma now experiencing such a condition because of being affected by the lightening creams. The thing which really affected me is getting the knowledge that these tablets and injections which cause lightening of the skin also cause infertility in humans. They may cause infertility, miscarriages or giving birth to children with disabilities. I was thinking that instead of trying to find ways which are good for using these lightening creams, if we get a balanced diet which we are expected to eat when we face challenges with our skins and getting reference or diet from the dermatologist, we will get smooth skins. I do not know who told people that being dark is being ugly. I believe that everyone is beautiful with his or her skin. I am encouraging everyone that we must follow the right diet when we feel that we need our skin to be enhanced rather than using creams which will cause a lot of problems to the health of the people in this country. It will also give problems to doctors doing research and giving medication. Thank you.

HON. MANGONDO: May I start by expressing my appreciation to Hon. Mutimbanyoka for bringing this timely and important matter before this House. The alarming rise in the use of skin bleaching creams in Zimbabwe is a multi-dimensional challenge that intersects public health, consumer protection, social perceptions and national identity. It is a matter worthy of our serious deliberation and I once again commend Hon. Mutimbanyoka for his foresight in tabling it for discussion.

This issue goes beyond personal choice and cosmetic preference. The widespread availability and use of unregulated skin lightening products often containing hazardous substances such as mercury and hydroquinone pose a significant risk to public health. Prolonged use of such substances has been scientifically linked to organ damage, increased vulnerability to skin infections and long-term dermatological complications.

This is particularly concerning given the high rates of usage among young women who are often unaware of the risks. Let me add that we also have some young men who have joined the bandwagon of trying to improve how they look by taking these skin-lightening creams. I am sure if you look around the House, you will notice such young men who have attempted to improve their appearance. God did not make a mistake. Nature did not make a mistake to have black people like me. I am very proud to be black as I look dark, tall and handsome. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] -

Although Zimbabwe does have regulatory measures in place such as those articulated in Statutory Instrument 216 of 2019 and import restrictions enforced by ZIMRA, enforcement remains weak. Harmful creams continue to find their way into both formal retail spaces and informal markets, including unregulated online platforms. This points to a need for stronger interagency coordination between ZIMRA, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure that prohibited products do not reach consumers.

I propose that this House adopts a resolution that will consider the setting up of a multi-pronged strategy that enhance enforcement or points of entry and retail outlets supported by increased market surveillance, a publicly accessible registry of approved cosmetic products, enabling better consumer awareness and retailer compliance.

There should be a nationwide public awareness campaign led by the Ministry of Information in partnership with dermatological experts and civil society, highlighting the health risks of these products and tighter regulation of advertising standards, particularly those that promote skin lightening as an aspirational norm. It is important to understand that this is not just a regulatory failure, it is also a social and cultural concern.

Harmful perceptions of beauty rooted in colourism and reinforced through media must be actively challenged. We need to work with educational institutions, traditional leaders and public health stakeholders to promote messages of selfworth confidence in natural skin. This is a matter of dignity and cultural pride. I think Zimbabwe as a proud country and as a country that is loved by the gods, we are a beautiful country with the diverse colour of skins that we have, rather than all of us or the majority of our young men and women to aspire to be yellow bones.

I also recommend that a joint inquiry by Portfolio Committees on Health and Environment, supported by the Consumer Protection Authority, should look into investigating the full extent of the problem, as well as identifying supply chains, retail practices, health impacts and advertising so that the country may be guided by evidence-based policy recommendations.

In conclusion, tackling the proliferation of harmful skin bleaching products is a matter of national interest. It reflects our commitment to safeguarding public health, protecting consumer rights and promoting a proud and healthy Zimbabwean identity. Let us act collectively and decisively. Once again, I wish to thank Hon. Mutimbanyoka for bringing this motion for debate in this House. I thank you Hon. Speaker.

HON. KANGAUSARU: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker for allowing me to rise in full and unwavering support of the motion brought before this House by Hon. Mutimbanyoka. This motion is not merely timely, it is necessary. It compels us to address not just the physical dangers of skin-lightening products but the deeper social, constitutional and developmental implications attached to this unchecked proliferation across our towns and villages, in our saloons, pharmacies and on social media. There is a silent epidemic taking root. Harmful skin-lightening products, many of them unregulated, banned or smuggled, are being used by unsuspecting citizens, especially women and youth who are lured by marketing promises and social pressures.

These products Mr. Speaker Sir, contain hydroquinone and mercury and other harmful chemicals that pose health risks, including skin cancer, kidney failure, hormonal disorder and irreversible disfigurement. Hon. Speaker Sir, while we must acknowledge that in some areas, individuals may choose to lighten their skin as a matter of personal preference, choice without information is not freedom. It is peril. Many of our fellow citizens, especially in the rural areas, are making these choices without understanding the long-term consequences. The lack of awareness is what is genuinely concerning. As law-makers, we are duty-bound to ensure that every citizen has access to accurate health information and is protected from misleading or dangerous products. Hence, I strongly support the call within the motion for the Government of Zimbabwe to launch a robust nationwide awareness campaign, a campaign rooted in education, not in condemnation. This campaign must reach deep into our schools, churches, clinics, digital platforms and community spaces. It must promote self-acceptance and pride in African identity. It must promote self-acceptance and it must celebrate our natural beauty.

In the Word of God in the Songs of Solomon, Chapter 1 verse 5, the Shunammite woman says, “I am black and I am comely”. As she speaks like that, she speaks of her beauty, which means she was fearfully made by God. David in the Word of God says, “I was fearfully made by God, I am a wonderful person. There was nobody and there is nobody and there shall be nobody like me, as black as I am, as the Kushites the black people”.

It must provide scientifically grounded information about the dangers of harmful substances so that Zimbabweans can make truly informed decisions about their health and bodies. Madam Speaker Ma'am, moreover, the motion also calls upon the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the regulatory bodies, to impose stricter penalties on those who manufacture, import and distribute banned or unregulated skin-lightening products. These are not just business people. They are players of poison. They profit while our citizens suffer. We must send a clear signal. Public health is not for sale.

Additionally, Madam Speaker, the motion rightly urges the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the efficacy of our current regulatory framework. Where a gap exists, let us regulate decisively and reform accordingly. We must ensure that all health and consumer protection laws are not only in place but also enforced with consistency and integrity.

 Madam Speaker, our position as Parliament must be grounded in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, particularly in Section 76, which guarantees the right to basic healthcare services and Section 51, which also upholds everyone's inherent dignity. When our markets are saturated with harmful, unregulated products and our citizens are left unaware of the dangers they face, we violate the constitutional protections.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker Ma'am, as we march toward the realisation of Vision 2030, we must remember that by becoming an Upper-Middle-Income Society, it is not measured by GDP but by the well-being, the safety and the dignity of every Zimbabwean. Public health is a cornerstone of national development and the fight against toxic skin-lightening products is a fight for our nation's future. Madam Speaker, let us also recognise that the issue is not only about health, it is about cultural sovereignty and mental liberation. We must counter the harmful narrative that lighter skin is superior.

That is a relic of colonial ideology that has no place in a modern independent Zimbabwe. Let us empower our young girls and boys to know that black is beautiful, brown is beautiful, being oneself is beautiful, like alluded to by the Shunamite woman in the Songs of Solomon, Chapter 1 verse 5 that she says, “I am black and comely, I am wonderfully made by God, I am beautiful as I am”.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker Ma'am, I fully endorse this motion,  it is principled, it is a protocol and above all, it is patriotic. Let us as Members of Parliament, be the voice of reason, science and dignity. Let us protect our citizens through education, regulations and legislative reforms. Let us act boldly and swiftly for public health, for constitutional justice and for the soul of our nation. I thank you, Twalumba.

+HON. M. NKOMO: Thank you distinguished Hon. Speaker.  I would like to add my voice to this motion that was brought by Hon. Mutimbanyoka.  When he brought the motion of these skin-lightening creams, those who want to use these cosmetics, I think they should first consult doctors so that they can get full information on which creams to use on their skins.  They should see specialists who can give them good advice on what creams to use that will not damage their skins.  Africans do not really need these creams.

 We have been told that if the skin gets damaged and there is need for one to be sutured, it will be difficult for them to suture because the epidermis would have been damaged.  For them to suture the epidermis, it would not be possible because the epidermis would have been removed completely.  That is why these people get burns because at times if they stay where there is too much sun, the skin gets burnt because that is not their natural skin.  There is no way that you can reverse your skin to its original form.  It will not go to its original form but you will have burns and have dark marks which is completely different from your natural God-given skin. That is why I am saying they should consult doctors. Doctors would advise them on which creams to use because they will recommend good creams that will not damage their skins. I thank you.

HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am for the opportunity to debate on this motion brought by Hon. Mutimbanyoka.  It is a very complicated and complex matter that we need to approach cautiously with far less emotions and much more ration. It is indeed a matter that needs public debate because as things stand, it is clear that on the ground, something serious is happening.

I will approach the matter from at least three different perspectives that express my conflicted position. First and foremost, I am a He-for-She champion. I believe a lot that this world could be a better place if we could address issues around gender inequality and also appreciate the important role of women to the extent that I believe in gender equality, I am also opposed to any notion that seeks to prescribe to women in terms of their behaviour and conduct. At any given time, I feel very uncomfortable when someone prescribes with so much energy, what is the most ideal for women. When it comes to men, such a process does not exist. Men feel free to do whatever they want. No one bothers to ask them what they are doing with themselves but when it comes to women, it is a different case.

To that extent, as a proud He-for-She champion, I need to make it clear that I will never support anyone who seeks to prescribe to women what to do – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -  We have seen our women, even in this country, when they go in public, in a bus terminal, being undressed for the dress code or the manner they would have dressed themselves, men decide what women should wear. So, this debate, we have to be careful because as a man, I do not feel it is within my rights to start to prescribe to women what kind of dresses they should wear, what kind of hairstyle they should have, what kind of skin colour they should have...

HON. TOGAREPI: On a point of order Madam Speaker. I have nothing against my Hon. who is debating. I think I am following him very well but there is a small area that I find misleading.  All those who have debated here have not associated skin bleaching to women. It has been men and women. So, I do not know why there should be an emphasis as if the motion was targeting women. No, it was targeting everyone as an advice.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. I am sure Hon. Molokela has taken note of that.

HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: Sorry Hon. Madam Speaker.  It looks to me that our Hon. Chief Whip was debating the motion to the extent that he was guiding me on his own point of view. I have a gender lens to everything that I do in life. In this particular matter, it is clearly an issue that affects more women than men. I am biased in my gender lens. Any other debater can come with their own lens, including the Chief Whip. It is within his right to come with his own lens but for him to prescribe how I should debate a motion, that is clearly affecting more women than men in this country. I will not agree, let me proceed.

I was very clear, to those who are listening, I am a He-for-She champion. - [HON. MEMBERS: Are you a woman] -   I am not a woman, I am a He-for-She champion.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! May we have order in the House?

HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE: I am a man who believes in gender equality.  I am very clear on who I am. Let me proceed Hon. Madam Speaker, with your protection. Women in this country should feel free to do whatever they want to do with themselves. At any given time, any person who starts to prescribe their behavior and conduct, we should stand up to them. This is patriarchal bullying and it must not be accepted under whatsoever circumstances. To that extent, I think it is very important for us to approach this matter carefully because sooner than later, it will degenerate into a patriarchal expedition. It will end up disadvantaging women more than advantaging them.

I want to encourage us to be very careful and as a country, we need to listen more to those who are doing the skin-lightening or skin-bleaching. We need to go into their psyche and understand what message they are trying to bring to the society. We should not make assumptions about their behaviour and conduct.  We must respect their rights.

Having said that, I am also in my other life a public health advocate. I am aware that in health, we firmly believe that prevention is better than cure. In health economics, we know that if you invest in behavioural change, if you invest in prevention, you spend far less money than when you react to an epidemic. For example, a budget on preventing HIV and AIDS could be much less, if it prevents people from getting infected compared to the one addressing treatment. So, to that extent, as a public health advocate, I need to be honest with myself and address the situation on the ground.

The current situation is that all medical issues like medicine in this country, they are being openly sold in the market without any strict or tight regulation. Even painkillers or any other medicines are being sold in this country, substandard, sub-quality and exposing our citizens to undesirable consequences.  Now, the same problem applies to the skin lighteners or skin bleaching products in this country. It is a free-for-all show. Our borders are porous everyone can bring whatever product they like and the regulations are very weak. If you are going to town right now the number of pharmacies in Harare, we have lost count. Every corner in Harare has a pharmacy.  If you look at the products they are selling, there is no strict adherence. Yes, some people say we must publicise the list of authorised products but the truth is that the economy of this country at this moment in time, most citizens do not have a choice. They buy products, not those that are of the best quality. They buy products that are available and cheap, regardless of the consequences.

This does not apply only to medicines. It applies to clothes, furniture, food and groceries. People are buying sub-quality, sub-standard, because it is what they can afford. So, to that extent, any researcher in this country would discover that in the streets, shops, and pharmacies in this country, people are selling products that are not authorised by the Medicines Control Council. We have a responsibility as legislators and as policymakers to make sure that we tighten the system and protect our citizens from undesirable health consequences. While we are allowing people to feel free to use skin lighteners at the same time we should be aware of the danger in terms of public health that there are consequences of using sub-quality products and they can come back to haunt us as a nation when it starts to affect those who are using those cheap or sub-quality products.

As parliamentarians, we also need to have a public health clearance and support the Ministry of Health and other regulatory authorities to make sure that we minimise the number of poor, sub-quality or cheap products that can damage the skin of those who would have wanted to enhance themselves. I also have another perspective that also affects my approach to this matter. In my heart and spirit, I am a Pan-African. I am so happy that I was born in Hwange. The soil that I was born on is very black. I am a product of the soil of the coal. I am as black as coal and I am happy that I was born in a coal mine. I am black and proud of who I am.

I would never bleach my skin to enhance my appearance. I am grateful to God that he created me black. I also need to address a subconscious issue that then leads us as policymakers and parliamentarians to worry about the level of black consciousness that we have in this country. Forty-five years after Independence we still have the risk of a colonial hangover. For many generations of our colonial experience we were taught that black is bad, black is horrific, black is witchcraft, black is poor, black is behind other races. We were taught by the colonialists that white is best, white is ideal, white is the role model, and white is heavenly. Everything white is better than everything black.

So, to that extent, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, most citizens of this country still suffer from that colonial hangover. We need as parliamentarians and policymakers to be alive to the fact that there is a level of inferiority complex within ourselves. Not just as Zimbabweans, but as Africans. After many hundreds of years of colonial experience, after many centuries of slavery, we are exposed to a level of inferiority when we engage other races on this planet. The message that could be coming through is that we need to explore. Perhaps, especially at the primary school level we need to invest more in black consciousness. To encourage our children to be proud of who they are.   To encourage our children to grow up knowing that black is beautiful. Black is not inferior. Black is superior. Black can stand on the global stage. Black can be recognised across the world and black is not inferior to other races, especially the white race. Everyone is born with their race colour and they should accept their race colour and should be proud. White people should be proud of who they are but black people should also equally be proud of who they are.

We need to find a way to promote public awareness for people to be proud of who they are, and also for everyone to appreciate if a man is black and handsome, appreciate them for who they are. If a woman is black and beautiful appreciate them for who they are. Most of the people who seem to be lightening their skin are influenced by societal perspectives that seem to suggest that the less white you are the more inferior you become. The more black you are it is most likely that you are going to be seen as inferior.

We have seen confessions from celebrities who have lightened their skin not just here in Zimbabwe but in South Africa. We have gone on public record saying if you want to be a successful entertainer, a successful actress, a successful musician, you have to lighten your skin. Black women or black men are not seen.  They are invisible.  They have done that to enhance their careers. So, it is a question of a societal perspective on blackness and that needs black consciousness training. To that extent, we need to address it as a Parliament to say that let us make sure our education system teaches us to be proud of being black and who we are.

Madam Speaker, I want to turn to the recommendations that Hon. Mutimbanyoka has recommended. I want to say I have gone through all the recommendations. They are very robust and very clear.  They address the issue from different angles and I want to encourage us as a House to adopt the recommendations on the way forward and try our best as a House to support their implementation. I thank you Madam Speaker.

*HON. KAMBUZUMA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. I am happy that I have been given the opportunity to contribute to this motion which has been moved by Hon. Mutimbanyoka regarding skin-lightening creams. We are black people and we are known for our black consciousness. We are known for our dressing as Zimbabweans. In the past we used to wear skins and other traditional attire because of the dynamism of culture and with the coming of the whites, a lot is changing. We have our national dress which has nothing to do with politics which fosters national unity and national consciousness as Zimbabweans. We are known by our attire.

Just like in Zambia, you would find that every Zambian woman has that cloth, which is called the zambia. So, we need to be proud of who we are because we are created in God’s image. It is because of ignorance. We need to understand that we learn every day. Some are proud of their skin. As black people, especially in Zimbabwe, we rely on agriculture. When you apply skin-lightening creams as a woman, it is difficult to spend a day in the sun. How are you going to till the land? We know that women are the ones who bear the brunt. When you apply the skin-lightening creams then you are exposed to the sun. You would begin experiencing cracks and skin cancers. The President normally says that as Zimbabweans, it is our responsibility to build our own country. For us to spend our time exposed to sunlight, whether it is through selling of different wares, gardening or different activities, when you lighten your skin, it becomes difficult to do your gardening. You cannot do your gardening whilst you are indoors. You cannot cultivate your fields indoors.

I heard a certain speaker saying that especially women, it is not just women but we have a lot of men who are applying skin-lightening lotions. There are women who want light-skinned men also. This is found in both genders but as Zimbabweans, we are farmers, we need to be exposed to the sun. We farm and we till different crops, from cotton, maize, ground nuts and these crops require sunlight. Who is going to till the land for us?

It is true that women want to be noticed and men are not reliable. They can leave you for a darker-skinned woman or a light-skinned woman. Sometimes as women, it is difficult. You find that some have different complexions because of applying skin-lightening creams. Someone is lighter at their feet and maybe darker in different parts of the body like the face. Due to the fact that men are unpredictable, they are found generating interest or getting interested in both the light-skinned and the dark-skinned. So, you find women sometimes having different skin complexions because of this challenge.

This is a challenge and a race against time. It is a competition, where you find that people cannot accept what they are and who they are. Sometimes they use these creams so that they are noticed. Sometimes you would find that these things need introspection. You need to look within yourself and be satisfied with who you are. As a man, if you want a light skinned person or a woman, you want a light-skinned person, it is up to you to encourage your partner to be proud of themselves. Do not just criticise. You find women sometimes getting confused, but if you praise your partner, you will find that you strengthen your partner and they will be proud of their skin colour. Some will eventually have different skin colours because of lack of confidence.

         We are not only saying down with drugs and substance abuse, but even with skin-lightening creams which damage women. Sometimes the children we bear are disabled because of the creams that we take. Some disabilities are not from God, but they are a result of the different medications and different drugs that we take. You find some saying that they have been bewitched or blame the clinics and hospitals, but it will be a result of abusing skin-lightening creams and other drugs.

I want to thank other speakers who shared their views and I want to support Hon. Mutimbanyoka's motion to others. To others, it comes as a form of employment. When Government bans skin-lightening creams, this might result in some people not having any jobs because those who sell along the roads and in the streets should be given hawkers’ licences, not just to sell from whatever point they want because this is destroying our economy since their wares are not taxed. We fought imperialists and we got independence. After seeing that we were overpowering them, they decided to find a new form of colonisation through skin-lightening creams. We are at war. It is an ideological and identity war.

         In a few years, there will be a few people who will be affected by cancer. This is a war which we need to take note of because we are fighting against cultural identity and imperialism through skin-lightening creams. Indeed, we support the motion that was moved by Hon. Mutimbanyoka and Government should come up with regulations or laws that are going to regulate the distribution and sale of skin-lightening creams. There should be licences and because there are no licences, Government is not benefiting in any way since Government is not taxing the sale of such. I thank you.

*HON. MATANGIRA: I want to thank Hon. Mutimbanyoka for moving this pertinent motion. The whole country is talking about drug abuse and the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. It is not different from applying skin-lightening creams which affect the skin. When we look at the reasons for skin lightening, let me say this in quotes. ‘When someone takes the similarity of colour to the white man, in Portuguese they call it simulado, which has caused people to want to bleach and kill themselves. Why? As a result of cancer’.  

Madam Speaker, when someone takes medication which affects their biological make-up, it is like destroying your own health. Some apply such lotions to their faces, I do not know whether they apply the lotions throughout the body because when Adam and Eve were created, they had no clothes. They had uniform skin. The skin colour was the same from the head to the toes. Previous speakers said that we want to represent both men and women. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of the bad deeds that were happening in that city. Men were falling in love with other men through homosexuality. When you find a man lightening their skin, you cannot say father to that man because that man is now someone else's wife. If it is a woman, you find the fingers would be dark and such people are so repulsive and men are repulsed by such appearances. They end up contracting diseases that will affect them because the person that you are dating is already sick.

When you have two colours or so, then you are no longer normal. I believe that as this august House which is responsible for nation building and through the request that was moved by Hon. Mutimbanyoka, as a nation, we need to educate the public about the goodness of their natural skin. When you look at Israel, young children who are in kindergarten are being taught about their history, about where they are coming from and where they are going. What has been said by the Hon. Member is that we need to inculcate our culture in our young people from a tender age. When a mother is applying skin-lightening lotions, then there is nothing that she can teach her children. The school cannot change the primary socialisation that has been done by the parent.

So, let us agree that when something is bad, we need to stop it. We cannot allow people to have licences to send mutoriro and other illicit brews. We cannot allow that because it is a bad thing. Let us agree that skin-lightening lotions are bad for the health of our people. Let us publicise that in radios and televisions because of the skin lightening creams and the after-effects of applying these creams, the diseases, the cancers that they are getting, including the bursting of kidneys. We do not know where prostate cancer is coming from. Maybe it is because of some of these creams. Thank you Madam Speaker.

*HON. MASHONGANYIKA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to say a few words pertaining to the motion that was moved by Hon. Mutimbanyoka.  I believe that the mover of the motion had sat down and he had done his research looking at what is happening and affecting both men and women. The issue of skin lightening is bad because our skin as black people is strong and its strength prevents us from contracting a number of diseases.

When you are bitten by different predators, your skin is just affected for that particular moment but when you lighten your skin, when you are bitten, you react quickly and people start asking what happened. Looking at the issue of different lotions, I believe that women and even men who apply these lotions should look at the pamphlets which have instructions. When you read the instructions, you will discover that they instruct that whilst applying, you should take into consideration the fact that they would lighten your skin but eventually they will have side effects if you continue applying them remember there is a chemical that is applied to the skin-lightening chemical. When you look at cancer, going to dermatologists, they will tell you that the biggest number is of people who applied skin lightening lotions, you find that they would be having different rashes that we experienced when we were young.

Some as a result of that, you would find that the skin will be slightly wrinkled. It will be shrinking and you end up seeing your veins being visible.  Allow me to say that we have veins and we have capillaries. The capillaries are the small veins that supply our tissues.  Then we have arteries which sometimes are used when intravenous substances are being applied in hospitals. So, when applying skin-lightening lotions, you would find that they end up exposing the veins and the veins would appear as if they are displaying blood or they are losing blood because the blood will have clotted and there is no free flow of blood. Sometimes when you go to dermatologists, you meet people who have skin cancers, skin rashes and other afflictions because we were given a strong layer of skin as black people but when you apply a lot of chemicals, the skin begins to be eroded.  As you age and when cancer comes, you will find that you begin to have an odor.

Let me also say that as black women, our biological make-up, even for our men, their biological make-up is, we were created to work.  We are people who are supposed to work as black people.  The way we work, I heard a certain speaker saying that we farm. It is true, we do a lot of farming.  Let me leave that aspect of farming and our young girls go to fetch firewood in the bushes. Even our old women also go to fetch firewood.

When we apply these skin-lightening creams, you would find that you are exposed and the after-effects are that you would lose a lot of money as you seek the help of dermatologists. As a black woman who goes to fetch firewood and do different household chores, you would see that our young people and their representatives, have a responsibility of talking to them because we see young girls doing a lot of things. You find some wearing plastics, the plastics that are meant to protect the skin so that the skin is not disturbed.

This is happening with our young girls. Our children have a challenge and the challenge is that this is now also affecting us as parents. When our children get married, when they have been applying the skin-lightening lotions, you would find that after getting married, the man sometimes would take the woman into the family and the girl is expected to perform a number of household duties.  Madam Speaker, because of their upbringing, they are no longer able to do any of the household chores and this brings conflict and affects marriages. This culminates in marriages breaking down, leading to divorces where young girls get married without being equipped with basic skills. Sometimes we find girls coming back home after divorcing their husbands.

As women, we say that we want to be involved in mining. Mining is not found in urban areas but it is done in the bushes, in the mines. When you have applied skin-lightening lotions, you cannot perform different duties because you have to protect your skin. You cannot do your mining properly. This is something that I see affecting production. Let me also end by saying that the other issue that is happening when men have married light-skinned women, they take these light-skinned girls to the urban areas.  Then for women who do not apply skin lightening creams, they are taken to the rural areas and they are made to do household chores, this leads to polygamy happening.

 Let me finish by saying that when I participated in the liberation struggle, there were some people who were using skin-lightening creams. When we went to the liberation struggle, some were applying red bricks because they were noticing that the skin lightening creams they had applied were not practical and they were not allowing them to participate in the war properly. The important issue is that we need to understand that we need to be proud of ourselves as black women, not copying the whites. We do not have to copy what is happening in Zambia, Ghana and other countries but as Zimbabweans, let us be proud of ourselves.

We do not want people who apply skin-lightening creams. When boys went to the front during the war, there were no men who were applying skin-lightening creams then. A lot of women got married during that time. Those who were applying skin-lightening creams were people with normal skin. We used to teach women that they should be proud of their skin.  I will give the example of Mbuya Nehanda. If she had applied skin-lightening creams, I do not believe that she was going to conceive the idea of fighting for the liberation of the blacks because you would start thinking of good living when you start applying these creams.  You want a rich man and you do not care where they get their money.

Let me also say that Mbuya Nehanda participated in the liberation struggle as a natural woman. After participating in the struggle, we eventually overcame it, even though she said that her bones were going to rise.  It is because she did not forsake her culture, we have forsaken our culture. If we had taken note of these teachings, we would not be facing the challenge of cancer, which is affecting a lot of our women because of skin-lightening creams. We would not be losing a lot of men. For men who apply skin-lightening lotions, handsome men who are found doing this are sometimes affected. You would notice that we used to rely on livestock as our wealth and as young girls, we used to herd our cattle but because of applying skin-lightening creams, we ended up not respecting our elders. After applying these skin lightening creams, sometimes you would find that this is affecting even boys. You find a 25-year-old boy marrying a 50-year-old woman because he cannot distinguish whether the woman he is dating is a young or an old woman. We also want to look at the issue of child marriages which I alluded to earlier. Our young children now believe that applying skin-lightening lotions would make them mature early so that they get married early. This has resulted in young girls getting married whilst they are still underage. I want to finish by saying that let us look at this issue with seriousness.

Even though it is viewed as a way of beautifying a woman, sometimes it makes clothes appear to be fitting properly. The skin colour sometimes is found to be making someone very beautiful but as Members of Parliament, we need to educate our people from both the rural areas and urban areas because mostly in urban areas, you would find young people applying these skin-lightening lotions. We need to educate people and teach them about the after-effects of skin-lightening creams, how bad it is so that as black people we go back to our culture. When we look at the issue of bathing, this issue has already been discussed. However, when you bath regularly, you would find that you preserve your skin and you would appear beautiful because of bathing. Let us not concentrate on applying skin-lightening lotions but we need to bath so that we preserve our beauty. I want to thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am for giving me this opportunity.

         *HON. CHINODAKUFA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. I want to add my voice to this motion which was moved by Hon. Mutimbanyoka. God created us in our diversity as different people but you find people questioning their identity who they are as black people. The issue of skin-lightening creams is an issue which comes to disturb us and our identities. You find that you would assume that someone is light whilst they are black. My question is, how many white people bleach? You would find that there is none. The issue is that whatever we do, we need to introspect and consider the fact that we are destroying our own health.

You would find someone who is light-skinned at the face but as you look down, you see that the hands are black and the feet are darker than the hands and the face. The issue is that we are losing our identity. There is a word which is normally used. The word describes people as yellow bones. The issue is that we need to encourage our people to be proud of who they are because skin-lightening creams are destroying their health. You find the veins sometimes being pronounced because of the creams. We need to educate people to stay away from skin-lightening creams which destroy our skins. I thank you.

         HON. DHANZI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. I want to support the motion that was moved by Hon. Mutimbanyoka which advocates for the promulgation of laws that prohibit the selling of skin-lightening creams and those who ply that trade should be prosecuted. You would find sometimes victims of skin-lightening creams suffering from different cancers. Sometimes some end up moving around with fans because their skins have been damaged. Let us follow His Excellency’s vision. Let us go to the mines to look for proper vending places that are legal so that when the weather is hot, our people will be safe. Sometimes you would find an old woman who has different complexions. Some would say coca cola and fanta in one body. Some become light as they grow old because of applying these creams. When we were growing up, the issue of applying these skin-lightening creams was associated with people who were promiscuous. As Hon. Members of Parliament, we need laws that stipulate that representatives should reach out to people from different communities to churches. Let us understand that the person who can lighten your skin is His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, through his policies which empower people. We need to educate our people so that they know that skin-lightening creams are bad. We are talking about the abuse of drugs and this is not different from skin-lightening creams. As this august House, it is important that we advocate for the promotion of our identity and we need to be proud of our skins, I thank you.

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.

         HON. NYANDORO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7^th May, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. KAMBUZUMA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 15 to 18 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day Number 19 has been disposed of.

HON. NYANDORO: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT ON COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP SCHEMES

Nineteenth Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the need to establish community share ownership through an Act of Parliament.

Question again proposed.

*HON. MANANZVA: Thank you Madam Speaker and good afternoon to you. I stood up to talk about this quite pertinent issue, which was moved by Hon. Hlatywayo. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about this important issue that pertains to community share ownership. Indeed, it is true that we were created by God and after that God gave us the power of our land as it is recorded in Genesis 1: Verse 8, that “I have created you and given you authority over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over every creature and every living organism.”

So, I stood up to say that as people who are found between Zambezi and Limpopo, the grandchildren of Murenga, the grandchildren of Munhumutapa, no one chose to be born in this country but this is divine. Earlier on I said that when talking to His creation, God says that you need to procreate and fill the earth. We are many and as many as we are, we were given power and authority over all animals. In the past, our ancestors used to live in the bushes and they gave each other different totems. It was not allowed to just get into the forests without talking to the ancestors and without talking to our traditional leaders. This was our culture and this is our culture and there is an artist who called Oliver Mtukudzi who said that you need to engage the ancestors for you to venture into the forest.

 This country is sacred and I stood up to talk about our natural resources which we find in different areas. We have different resources like diamonds, platinum and gold but when you look at villagers who surround these sources of these minerals, you find that their plight is dire. It is quite sad that despite the riches that you find in our land, sometimes you find foreigners coming to plunder the resources without giving back to the community, without constructing roads, clinics and other amenities.

 It is true we know that some do whatever they want at their own time, but I stood up to add my voice to say that it is important that as an august House, we come up with laws that will compel prospectors and miners to give back to communities. Even in the Bible, the word talks about the tithes and we were sent by our constituents to come up with laws that talk about community share ownership, whether it is at ward level, at constituency level or whatever level so that our communities benefit from their natural resources.

I want to go back to the Bible in the book of Malachi 10: where God says, “bring your tithes and God will be happy with the tithes.” The voice of the people is the voice of God and when we do that, God will be happy. This is what the word of God says. We have a challenge of people who just get into communities to extract resources and communities are left bearing the brunt of after effects of the mining activities.

 In my constituency, we have quarry mines and you would note that when they do their stone blasting, this affects people's houses which are cracked and the communities are not benefiting from these quarry blasting activities. I stood up to say that we have raised this issue time and again but we need laws that compel those who are found wanting so that they will be prosecuted. By so doing, we are going to develop our nation and this is in line with the President's vision which says that as Zimbabweans, it is our responsibility to build our country, pray for the country and as owners of the country, we need to benefit from our resources.

I want to end by saying that the former President His Excellency, Robert Gabriel Mugabe said in English that; “our people must always come first in any process of sustainable development and let our Africans come first in any development of Africa, not them beggars.” So, I want to say that our communities should benefit from their resources. Whether it is through employment creation, they must not benefit because they are poor, not because they want to beg, but because they are the owners of the land. This is our only country, our God-given country. It is divine and it is our responsibility to come up with laws which preserve and protect our land. I thank you.

         HON. MAMBIPIRI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. It is quite worrying that there should be a 5% budget which is meant for Community Share Ownership Schemes. When you look at this scheme and when you look at what is happening in other countries, it is transparent but I do not support it because of the wording that pertains to it. I have ten reasons to disagree with this view, the view that there should be community share ownership budgets.

Firstly, when this issue was mooted, there was an assumption that there was no development in our communities because there was no money. I believe that there is no development not because there is no money but because - [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU): Hon. Members on my right, you are talking and it is disturbing the business of the House. Please allow the Hon. Member to debate in silence.

HON. MAMBIPIRI: Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I believe that our communities do not have developmental programmes. They are not progressing not because we do not have money but you would find that at times we have had access to money and resources but because of the mismanagement of funds for example, the ZBC at one point had a lot of money but they were not able to pay their workers whilst their management was earning US$40,000 per month. We have examples of the PSMAS scheme where people would go to seek medical attention but they would not find medication whilst hospitals were lacking finances and doctors were lacking finances. The bosses were getting US$500 000, which shows that our problem is not lack of funds or lack of money but it is the issue of mismanagement of money.

 Secondly, the reason why I differ with this proposal is that putting 5% is a repetition of what is already in the Constitution.  The Constitution in Section 301 (3) talks about the Annual Budget, where there should be 5% which is allocated to developmental programmes through the devolution fund. This money is in existence but I do not see the need or the reason.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Nyabani, can you please approach the Chair?

 HON. MAMBIPIRI: The third reason why I do not agree with this proposal is that we might be using the community ownership scheme as an example. This is a tax that will be applied to businesses on top of other taxes that they are already paying. When we look at it as a tax of 5% every month, this means that we have added the burden of taxation to companies that are already overburdened with taxes. When we look at businesses in Harare, when we were crafting our Annual Budget in November last year, businesses were saying that the taxes that they pay are now around 30%.  This means they also have another 3% which is 33; they have 33 taxes altogether. Now, they will have 34 taxes altogether. This is counter-productive in terms of development in businesses.

 Fourthly, it is because the money that is being spoken about is quite significant. Five percent is a lot for most businesses. You would find that they are struggling, they are just breaking even so that they pay their workers and make just a small profit, which means that some companies would not be running viable businesses. These are companies that are creating employment and this might affect this.

 The fifth reason is that this idea is a repetition of what has been done already. When we talk about businesses, we would be talking about big businesses like Bata, Coca-Cola, David Whitehead and other organisations that were in existence in the past. You would find that businesses we are talking about are small businesses, SMEs and small poultry projects, sewing projects, textile projects and small miners. These are people who are not making profits, they are just struggling. If we take 5% from these small businesses, it will affect their viability

The sixth reason, this is counter-productive and it is against the basic tenets of NDS1 and NDS2 which are the frameworks that we use as a nation and which make Zimbabwe open for business. The moment we start charging exorbitant amounts, it means that we will be discouraging investors and prospective businesses because doing business in Zimbabwe will become very expensive.

 The seventh reason, the issue of development is the responsibility of the Government, which is why the Government is responsible for collecting taxes through pay and other taxes. If we decide to create a community share ownership scheme, then we would be saying that the Government has failed in its responsibility. The tax that is normally collected is meant for development. We cannot continue taking and we cannot take an extra 5% from businesses.

 The ninth reason is that it is against what we are supposed to be doing as the Government. Instead of taking money from small businesses, instead we are supposed to be injecting finances into small businesses, as the Government likes what is happening in other countries where small businesses are capacitated. When businesses do not have Government support, then they are bound to be insolvent and this will affect even employment creation and those that are employed already. The 10th reason why I do not agree with this is that businesses are already remitting their taxes, for example, a business in Kadoma is already paying their taxes to the Kadoma City Council. They are making their contribution towards the local council. So, there is no reason why they should add on to what they are already paying or remitting. Lastly, let me say that Hon. Speaker, the issue of community share ownership on paper is attractive but when you look at the prevailing economic environment in Zimbabwe, this is not sustainable and this would affect businesses. I thank you.

*HON. TAFANANA ZHOU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I stand to support the motion which was brought forward by Hon. Hlatywayo, which says that our communities were benefiting from local minerals.  I would like to start by applauding our very own Government which through its experience, said those miners should contribute to the Government.  The Minister of Lands said that the miners should contribute a certain percentage which should be channelled to various communities. What I would like to urge them is that for those funds which are collected, instead of those funds being first channelled to the Government, I propose that the community share ownership scheme should actually be resuscitated.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Zhou, please stick to one language, do not codeswitch.

*HON. TAFANANA ZHOU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.  I am suggesting that whenever they intend to resuscitate those community share ownership schemes, we discovered that when they were functional, some of the funds which were being injected by big mining companies into those community share ownership trust accounts were being abused. If you check now on the internet, you will discover that those community share ownership trusts, when they received the funds into their accounts, were now channelling them to other avenues where they were now using those funds.

I am proposing that we put in place a law which states how funds are channelled to the community share ownership trust are supposed to be spent. We also discovered that a lot of committees used to have their administration working with the local chiefs.  The problem is our chiefs were not well-versed with the knowledge of how exactly they would spend those funds. Our chiefs were being asked to sign and the funds were now channelled somewhere else. I still remember what happened in Mberengwa, some of the funds were used on something else of which the funds had been deposited by Mimosa Mines.

I am urging us all to say whenever we want to have those community share ownership trusts, we must have those committees with people who have the know-how on how to spend the money. We need to know those people who will be signatories because way back we used to remember that Hon. Members were not allowed into those community share ownership schemes. The other thing that I am kindly requesting is that these companies, without the law which states something to do with the community share ownership trust, I am kindly requesting that we already have an existing law in our Constitution which was quoted by the Hon. Member who introduced this motion which we are debating today, which says that these communities must have appropriate percentages which will be channelled to their constituencies. All those things should be implemented and they should all be channelled correctly.

Right now, we are discovering that these big companies which are into mining and other various types of work do not plough anything back into those communities. As Government, we tend to repair all those roads but in no time, their trucks, those heavy vehicle trucks are the ones which then come and damage those roads. Some of them do not actually equate a certain percentage which was entitled to be taken into the community share ownership trust. I believe that these people should be taken to action and ensure that we have a policy which comes from the Minister, giving a directive to say these companies must ensure that things do flow the correct way in regards to the minerals. I am requesting that in all the areas where they do mining, they know the amount of damage they are doing which includes the environment, the road network, which will be put in place by the Government, including those bridges which the Government is putting effort in ensuring they are repaired. We know in my area we have Jeka Bridge which was once repaired by the Government to ensure that vehicles could easily cross. The Government had injected some funds to ensure that small vehicles should cross but those big companies with those heavy vehicles were seen using that same bridge. So, those are the companies which should actually be assisting to say a certain percentage from the minerals which they are getting should be channelled in repairing the road networks.

I am in support of this motion to say they have to look into

 it and they must ensure that they have a law or a policy or have a Statutory Instrument which will ensure that these communities benefit from those companies which do their mining therein. I thank you.

HON. MUROMBEDZI: I rise to lend my full support to the

motion advocating for the enactment of community social benefit schemes across all sectors of our economy. This motion is not just timely but it is necessary. It seeks to correct the long-standing imbalance where companies extract wealth from our communities while leaving behind poverty and underdevelopment.

Firstly, Madam Speaker, the constitutional obligation for community development, the motion is firmly grounded in our supreme law. Chapter 2, section 13, subsection 4 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe explicitly mandates that the State must ensure that local communities benefit from the resources in their areas. This motion gives life to that provision by requiring companies to contribute 5% of their profits directly to community development through community-led committees. Moreover, Section 13, subsection 2 emphasises community participation in development planning, which this motion upholds by ensuring that community social benefit committees will be established in each constituency to prioritise and oversee projects.

Secondly, beyond the mining sector, all sectors must contribute. While the Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill has addressed community share ownership for mining companies, this motion rightly expands the principle to other critical sectors, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and construction. These industries also exploit community resources, yet they escape any structured obligation to give back. Let us not forget that these industries often leave behind environmental degradation, polluted water sources, damaged roads and depleted natural resources. It is only fair that they contribute to restoring and improving the communities they profit from.

         Third is the failure of voluntary corporate social responsibility, (CSR). Madam Speaker, voluntary corporate social responsibility has failed our people. Most companies either contribute token amounts or nothing at all. By making the Community Social Benefit Scheme compulsory, this motion ensures that communities finally receive tangible returns on the resources extracted from their lands.

Fourth is economic empowerment through local employment. This motion's proposal to require companies to prioritise 80% local employment is another crucial intervention. Section 14, subsection 1 of our Constitution emphasises the need to empower marginalised communities through affirmative action. By mandating local hiring, we will reduce unemployment, increase household incomes and stimulate local economies.

Fifth is to let us just draw lessons from regional success stories to show that it actually works. We need not speculate. Other nations in our region have successfully implemented similar policies. Hon. Speaker, Botswana's Diamond Revenue Model, Botswana's partnership with De Beers, through De Botswana, ensures that a significant proportion of diamond profits is reinvested in education, healthcare and infrastructure. This model transformed Botswana from one of the poorest countries to an upper-middle-income nation.

South Africa's social and labour plans under South Africa's mining charter, companies must invest in community development and provide employment for locals. The policy also provides for the companies to invest in skills training of local communities. This policy has funded schools, clinics and roads in rural areas affected by mining activities. Crossing over to Zambia's community development funds. In Zambia, mining companies contribute to local community development funds which finance infrastructure projects and support small businesses in host communities. These are just examples that prove that mandatory community benefit schemes are practical and transformative.

Hon. Speaker, sixth is a legacy for future generations. By enacting this policy, the 10th Parliament will make history. This motion is not just about present-day benefits, it is a national legacy that protects community inheritance for future generations. It ensures that the wealth derived from Zimbabwean soil benefits Zimbabweans first and foremost. Hon.  Speaker, the people of Zimbabwe have waited long enough. It is time to compel all companies operating on our land to invest in the communities that sustain them. This is a call for justice, fairness and sustainable development. I therefore urge this House to support the motion for enacting community social benefit schemes without delay. I so submit.

^#HON. M. NKOMO: I would like to honour Madam Speaker of Parliament. I would like to add my voice to issues that have been brought by other Members regarding our local community trust. Local community trusts are good to help challenges that are faced by people from those local communities. There are places where they are looking forward to helping out, where they come together; workers, traditional leaders in schools and look at how they can help in projects from those areas. Occupants of these communities look at the challenges that they are faced with.

In areas where there is gold or mining in general, there is a local community trust in such areas who help people and the less privileged within those communities, where some help them by paying their children's school fees. Some assist the elderly through providing medical care for them. So, this helps people and they also assist in rehabilitating dilapidated roads so that these communities can develop from these community trusts. Thank you.

HON. MOLOKELA-TSIYE. Thank you so much Madam Speaker for the opportunity to debate on this important motion raised by Hon. Hlatywayo. I do support the motion to a very large extent and I think it is a proposal in the right direction. Let me start by quoting the Word of God. In Ecclesiastics 10 verse 7, the Bible says, ‘I have seen something very strange in this world. I have seen princes walking on their foot, while beggars riding on white horses or on horses rather’.

This is the situation that applies to my community. I am from Hwange. I am a son of the coal. I was born of the coal. Where I come from, the coal is supposed to uplift our lives. It is supposed to improve our lives as the local communities but what is happening today in Hwange is exactly the opposite. Those who were born and raised in Hwange like me watch while people from foreign lands, thousands of kilometres away from Hwange, come to Hwange, establish mines, mine the coal and take away the profits from the coal to their foreign lands. The people of Hwange are today now poorer than they were in 1980.

In the last 45 years, their standard of living has collapsed. It has moved from good to bad, from bad to worse. Today, everyone who is born in Hwange is born poor while Hwange is a town built on coal, the black diamond. Why is it so? When I was a child growing up in Hwange in the 1980s, the company was owned by Anglo-American Corporation. When I was a child growing up in Hwange, the Hwange that I saw and the Hwange that I see today are complete opposites.

The company that used to run the coal mine in the 1980s understood totally the concept of corporate social responsibility.  It invested a lot, not just in the employees, but in the communities. It invested a lot in housing. All types of houses were found in Hwange. It invested a lot in water supplies. We drew water from the Zambezi River, 42 kilometers from my town. It invested in healthcare. The Colliery Hospital was one of the most modern and one of the best hospitals in Zimbabwe. It invested a lot in road systems and education. I am a beneficiary of the Hwange Colliery Company in terms of funding my education and I feel privileged that the company funded my education to be what I am today.

So, what has happened today? The Hwange Colliery Company is no longer the same company that it used to be. It is a pale shadow of itself. It has fallen from grace. In the meantime, in the last 20 years, we have seen more new companies coming to Hwange. We have seen companies coming from China to invest in coal mining and the experience that we have had in the last 20 years as a community is exactly the opposite of what used to happen when I was a child. The new companies that have come to mine the coal are investing in what we call extractive mining, where they do not prioritise the local communities but prioritise profits and themselves more than the local communities. They have not invested in education, healthcare or infrastructure like housing and roads but they have polluted the air and destroyed our water system. The Deka River is polluted, our mountains and hills have been destroyed, our trees are no longer green but they are grey in color due to these mining companies that do not prioritise the local communities. More importantly, their employment system is always and continues to prioritise non-local people. We have seen people from Hwange watch buses bringing people from other parts of Zimbabwe to be employed at the Hwange power station.  At the mines around Hwange, we have seen priority being given to people who were not born and raised in Hwange and this is something that is happening in front of our eyes. We continue to become poorer while other people who are not from Hwange continue to benefit from the coal which is a natural resource that God has given us. This should make us not a poor community.

 Why am I supporting this motion? I am supporting this motion because I know that the concept of corporate social responsibility is not working in Hwange. It might be working elsewhere but in Hwange it has failed dismally. Companies that have invested in Hwange have done very little to promote local community development. They have not employed locals or invested in building the infrastructure of Hwange. In any case, they have destroyed Hwange and there is no sustainable mining in Hwange.  To that extent, since we are failing to rein in these companies, what we could call foreign companies, we need to find new ways to force them to do that. We could change the law to force companies to make sure that there is compulsory corporate social responsibility but it also violates the very concept because it is supposed to be done voluntarily by the company. The other thing that we could do is to force the companies to make sure that their boards have got local community representatives. Some companies have tried to do that but the experience we have learnt is that most of the people who have been appointed into boards of these companies have no say and have no influence.  They just benefit personally leaving the rest of the Hwange community to suffer. So, that concept of board appointments of co-options has not necessarily benefited the local communities but a few individuals in Hwange. We have also seen a situation where as we announced the profits, the companies actually claim that the people of Hwange benefited and we have tried to challenge these issues but we have failed to receive support, especially from the Central Government. What has been happening over the years is a very sad story to tell and as a way forward, I support the concept of community ownership and I have got some suggestions to make.

 From experience, in terms of local community initiatives, I think I can give the Campfire Projects on Wildlife Preservation as an example. We have seen that the moment you introduce this concept, it starts on a good note but as time goes on, it becomes a preserve for a few people. The majority of the people in the local communities eventually do not benefit. So, if we are going to come up with an Act to promote local community ownership, we need to find ways to make sure that the broader community does not get excluded in the process because this is what has happened in most similar projects before.  We need to make sure that we increase the level of community level participation especially in the election or in the appointments of the committee members of such projects. The other thing that we need to fight for is to promote the spirit of devolution. I come from Matabeleland North, one of the most rural provinces of this country. It is one of the poorest provinces of this country and socially and economically speaking, Matabeleland North is far behind the rest of the country.   But in terms of natural resources, Matabeleland North is well endowed. God has blessed us as a province and where I come from in Hwange, we live on top of the coal. We are surrounded by the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and the Hwange National Park.  Mining and tourism alone could improve lives of the local communities but what has been happening in Matabeleland North is that whatever wealth we are producing is centralised and when it comes to us benefitting as a province, we get peanuts or crumbs.  The money that is supposed to develop Matabeleland North develops other parts of Zimbabwe.   We only have one proper town in Matabeleland North and that town is called Hwange. To an extent, we have another town called Victoria Falls but we do not have a city in the entire province.  The other day I was explaining to someone that if you take away franchises like Chicken Inn, we actually have two Chicken Inns in the entire province. One in Victoria Falls and one in Hwange.  Here in Harare, we've got two Chicken Inns on every street, together with other brands that most people in Matabeleland North have ever seen.

What does that mean? It means that in line with the spirit of the Constitution that seeks to promote devolution, if we are going to enact this community share ownership, it must be built on the foundation of devolution. To say that what the people of Matabeleland North are producing through these companies and investments, the profits that come out of that must be allocated to the local communities and at a local level. It must not be sent to Harare first because once it is sent to Harare, it never comes back to Matabeleland North.  We need to make sure that the principle of devolution is built to such an extent that bank accounts will be opened in Matabeleland North. Bank accounts will be opened at a local community level to make sure that whatever money these companies remit is actually remitted at a local level and does not need to be centralised. To that extent, it should be in-built in the Act that each and every committee that will be set up will have a local bank account and if a company is investing in that local community, it must remit the money into that bank account.  I also need to debate the proposed amount of 5%. I think the amount is very little.  Quoting from the Bible from the book of Malachi, Chapter 3, I think God personally has recommended 10% allocation. So, we should start from there. We should start from 10%. It can be more but we should start from 10%. We need to make sure that companies that come all the way from China do not leave 5% peanuts in Hwange. They must leave at least 10% and that amount should be invested in a local investment fund, in a local bank account in which the leadership, the committee members are elected in a very public and transparent way that involves community ownership.  If their term of office expires, they do not continue to be in office like we have seen in other previous projects. They must be removed democratically and they must make sure that the power of administering these community level ownership funds remains with the local communities instead of a few individuals like what we have seen before.

 The other thing that we need to talk about when we talk about community ownership is sustainable development especially from a point of view of climate change and protecting our natural resources and our environment. What we have seen in Hwange in the last 30 years is an example. We have seen companies violate environmental sustainability laws. The Environmental Management Authority has failed dismally to reign in these companies. The Environmental Management Act has not been able to stop these companies. So, what we need to do is to make sure that through these community ownerships, we need to give power to the local communities to protest.

 In Hwange, recently we saw local communities in Ward 14 starting a demonstration on the road because there were some big trucks that were passing by, pouring dust into the community and they have been complaining for many years. They put blockages on the road, barricades on the road so that those big trucks do not pass in the community because the law enforcement agents are not forcing the big trucks not to pass in the local communities. We need to find ways to build it within the new law that local communities have the right to protest and should be protected by the law, should be supported by law enforcement agents such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police to enforce their right to protect their environment. Because these companies are destroying our environment, once they have finished, they leave the town and they go to another part of Zimbabwe and continue to exploit the communities. We need to make sure that they do not leave a destroyed environment for the local communities. We need to protect the environment for future generations. To that extent, we need to build it in the law that the local communities should be encouraged,  be allowed and  empowered to stand up to any company that deliberately destroys the environment in order to promote profit. So to that extent, I need to aid before the august House that it is a matter of urgency that we come up with these laws while at the same time making sure that we do not leave any place, we do not leave any community behind in making sure that we fight poverty.

Poverty is a curse, poverty is not a blessing, we must not accept poverty. The poverty that I see in Hwange today, the poverty that I see in Zimbabwe today is totally unacceptable because God has blessed this country with a lot of natural resources. God has blessed this country with more than 60 minerals. We have got platinum, gold, coal, diamonds, lithium and many others but we cannot continue to remain poor while foreigners come and mine our wealth and leave us poor. Thank you so much Madam Speaker.

HON. KANGAUSARU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to support this motion, which is of paramount importance to social economic development of our nation. The motion rightly calls for the institutionalisation of community share ownership schemes through an Act of Parliament, compelling companies operating in our community to allocate a mandatory percentage of their profit toward development. This is a crucial step towards achieving economic justice, ensuring that communities benefit from the natural resources within their localities.

Our Constitution under Section 34, clearly states that “the State must ensure that local communities benefit from the resources in their area”. Despite this constitutional provision, many communities in resource-rich areas continue to experience poverty, inadequate infrastructure and environmental degradation. The contradiction must be addressed through a legislative action. Currently, corporate social responsibility remains a voluntary initiative. While some companies engage in corporate social responsibility programmes, others are also engaging into environmental sustainability governance. Many do not leave or host communities to be at the blunt of resource exploitation without adequate compensation. The voluntary nature of corporate social responsibility has resulted in unequal development.

Some companies contribute significantly while others contribute nothing, creating a regional imbalance. Neglecting of community needs; companies often fund projects of their choice rather than prioritising critical community needs. Environmental degradations. Many companies extract resources but fail to rehabilitate, delay or address pollution concerns.

Corporate negligence. Without a legal obligation, companies operate with impunity, prioritising profits over people. Madam Speaker, this situation is unattainable. We must transition from voluntary corporate social responsibility to a mandatory framework or to economic environmental sustainability governance that ensures equitable community development. Moreover, the proposed mandatory allocation from company profits is not only justified but necessary. This contribution will provide a liable source of funding for community development projects, ensure that all companies contribute fairly to socio-economic growth of host communities, align Zimbabwe with global best practice on corporate social responsibility or environmental sustainability governance, reducing dependence on government resources for local infrastructure development.

To ensure transparency and accountability, this motion writes cause for establishing community-shared ownership communities in all constituencies. These committees will play a crucial role in identifying priority development projects, ensuring that funds are directed towards urgent community needs such as roads, schools and healthcare.

Also, it helps in monitoring and evaluating corporate contribution, preventing misallocation and ensuring funds are used appropriately, engaging companies and government authorities, providing a structured dialogue platform between corporations, communities and government stakeholders.

 I support the proposal to extend community-shared ownership schemes beyond the mining sector to include agriculture, manufacturing and other resource-intensive industries. It is illogical to limit such an important initiative to one sector when other industries also benefit from community resources like agriculture. Large-scale agricultural enterprises should contribute to rural development through investments in infrastructure and water conservation. 

Industries must support skills development, local employment and environmental sustainability, tourism and hostility. Companies in these sectors must reinvest in community projects, particularly in the area they operate. By broadening the scope of community-share ownership schemes, we ensure inclusivity and sustainable national development.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker, I strongly support this motion as it seeks to bring justice and sustainable development to our community. The exploitation of natural resources should not come at the expense of local populations. By legislating mandatory contributions through community-share ownership schemes, we will ensure that every Zimbabwean benefits from our national wealth.

I therefore urge all Hon. Members to support this motion in the spirit of fairness, justice and national progress. Let us stand together to build a Zimbabwe where economic development translates into real benefits for our people. I thank you.

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.

         HON. C. MOYO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         Debate to resume: Wednesday, 7^th May, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that Order of the Day, Number 20 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 21 has ben disposed of.

         HON. C. MOYO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

ENACTMENT OF LAWS THAT ADDRESS THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN IN ACCESSING THE WOMEN’S MICRO FINANCE BANK SERVICES.

         Twenty- First Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the critical role played by women in the economic development of the nation.

         Question again proposed.

HON. DR. KHUPE: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Ma'am. First of all, I would like to thank those women who contributed to this motion. These women have got women at heart because we came into this Parliament as women, the 60 who came in through the PR to come and represent the 52% women who are out there. I would like to thank them very much for their contribution. Madam Speaker Ma'am, the Women's Bank is supposed to be a vehicle towards women's economic empowerment and as a vehicle towards women's economic empowerment, the Women's Bank is supposed to be women-friendly.

It is supposed to be women-friendly in the sense that collateral should not be asked from women because most of the women do not have any collateral because of primogeniture practices, that of bequeathing inheritance to male children. So, many of them do not have that collateral and therefore, the bank must instead make sure that the trustworthiness of women is put as an asset in business. Instead of requiring them to bring in collateral in terms of houses which women do not have, their trustworthiness must be considered as an asset in business. The other issue Madam Speaker Ma'am, is that the Women's Bank, which is currently there right now, is operating as a microfinance bank and with a microfinance bank, interest rates are very high, repayment periods are very short.

Many women cannot afford that because they do not have that. Therefore, this is the reason why we then requested that we want this bank to operate as a Women's Bank so that women have access to capital. If you go around and ask many women whether they have benefited from the Women's Bank, most of them will tell you that they have applied for loans but have not been given those loans. So, it means that the bank cannot give money to many of our women. I would also like to call upon the Minister of Finance so that a lot of money is injected into the Women's Bank so that at least it will be able to lend many women who want to be in business.

You know that Zimbabwe is highly informalised with more than 80% of the people in the informal sector being women who are trying to eke a living out there and we would want to see those women being given loans, loans which will assist them in making sure that they are able to produce goods because we want this business of women going out to other countries like South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana for greener pastures to stop. We want our women to start producing in this country and export their products to other countries so that we get the much-needed foreign currency. This can only happen if the bank has the capacity to lend many women, if the bank is going to make sure that interest rates are very low for women, if the bank is going to make sure that repayment periods are longer and if the bank is going to make sure that no collateral is required.

What the bank needs to do before lending women money, they are supposed to make sure that those women go through literacy training so that women understand that before they borrow money, they must have a plan. What is it that they want to use this money for? What business do they want to get into? So that as they borrow money, they will use that money based on that plan. Once they do that, they are guaranteed to make profits so that they are able to repay the bank. So, I would like to thank all those women who contributed and I would also like to call upon the Minister of Women Affairs to come and respond to this motion. I move that this motion be adopted.

Motion that this House –

 NOTING with satisfaction the critical role played by women in the economic development of the nation; 

MINDFUL that the Women’s Micro Finance Bank in the country is meant to assist women in terms of capital for those embarking on business ventures;

COGNISANT that the majority of women cannot access loans due to stringent collateral requirements and high interest rates for the servicing of such loans;

NOW, THEREFORE, resolves that this House—

1. implores the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion House to come up with measures which ensure that the Women’s Micro Finance Bank serves the interests of women as provided in its mandate;
2. enacts laws that address the plight of women in cases where primogeniture practices are encountered, especially the ones which bequeath inheritance to males at the expense of females, thereby leaving them as destitutes, hence their failure to meet collateral requirements, put and agreed to.

On the motion of HON. KAMBUZUMA, seconded by HON. NYANDORO, the House adjourned at Twenty-Eight minutes to Six p.m.