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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 07 MAY 2025 Vol. 51 No. 44

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 7^th May, 2025

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

PRAYERS

(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING SPEAKER

DIPLOMATIC TRAINING WORKSHOP

         THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU): I wish to remind the House that the Diplomatic Training Workshop for the second group of Hon. Members will be at the Golden Peacock Villa Hotel in Mutare from the 8^th to the 12^th of May 2025, with the 8^th and 12^th being travelling dates.  All Members who were contacted by the External Relations Department and confirmed participation are advised to attend the workshop without fail as there are no slots in future groups. The bus will leave the new Parliament Building car park on Thursday, 8^th May, 2025 at 1500 hours.

APPOINTMENT TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: I have to inform the House on the appointment of Hon. Members to the following Portfolio Committees as follows; Hon. E. Zvobgo to serve as the Chairperson of the Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Hon. C. Chiduwa to serve as a Member of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. C. Moyo to serve as a Member of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife.

APPOINTMENT TO THE CHAIRPERSON’S PANEL

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. J. Tshuma joins the Chairperson’s Panel. Can I request Hon. J. Tshuma to take his seat? – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -

APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: We have received the following apologies: - Hon. Gen. Rtd. Dr. C.D.G.N. Chiwenga, Vice President; Hon. Col. Rtd. K.C.D. Mohadi, Vice President; Hon. T. Machakaire, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training; Hon. O.C.Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri,  Minister of Defence; Hon. Prof. D. Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Hon. T. Moyo, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; Hon. D. Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care; Hon. J. Paradza, Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife; Hon. R. Modi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce; Hon. V. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

         HON. MABURUTSE: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. I understand there is a lot that has been done by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.  However, the social media is portraying a negative picture of the status of our healthcare. May the Minister update the House on the Government policies and programmes that have been done so far and the roadmap in improving healthcare?

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. KWIDINI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the good question of wanting to understand what the Ministry is doing on the roadmap to make sure that our citizens receive quality healthcare.  On the part of the social media, indeed people on social media always talk about what is not happening in the Ministry but as the Ministry, we are doing wonders since 2018, to make sure the citizens receive quality care.  What we are doing is only known by the patients, not the social media participants.  As we speak right now Mr. Speaker Sir, our citizens are very happy with the service delivery that we are giving. As we speak, in the first 100 days…

         HON. HWENDE: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Point of order!

         HON. HWENDE: Hon. Speaker Sir, the Minister must concentrate on responding not denigrating citizens on social media because even Parliament itself has already raised these concerns. I remember the Hon. Vice President when he was Minister of Health, invited Parliament to tour hospitals. So it is not people on social media.  He must just concentrate on responding to the legitimate issues that people are raising. I thank you.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Hwende. Why do you not allow the Minister to proceed and if he has not concentrated on the response to the question, then we can ask supplementary questions?

HON. DR. KWIDINI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I was on the way to say the complaints were coming from social media.  No actual person has come to the Ministry to complain directly to the Minister.  Nevertheless, as we speak and as I said, the Ministry has improved a lot in terms of service delivery. As we speak, from the first 100 days of the first quarter of 2025, we managed to change some hospital equipment in the sixty-three districts; that is x-ray machine, theatre beds and so forth.  We are working on other equipment which will be installed in the shortest period.

In terms of medicines and other sundries, the Ministry has tried a lot, working hand in hand with the Ministry of Finance to make sure all these things are now available but we know that in Zimbabwe we do not produce or manufacture most of the drugs and sundries. So, when we place orders, they are sourced out of the country. They take three to six months for them to be supplied but I assure this House that in the shortest period of time, we will see improvements because everything is now well known that our social media is almost attacking the Ministry of Health especially on issues of visitors, not the beneficiaries of the treatment like the patients. I can assure you Hon. Speaker, that if people move around and ask the patients themselves who are receiving treatment, they are very happy with the service which they are receiving. I thank you.

HON. MATEWU: Mr. Speaker, we need to remind the Hon. Minister that social media is born out of our citizens who have lived experiences, including us as well. We know what is in these hospitals. My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is that there is growing inequality. Most people who cannot access quality health services are those who cannot afford. So, the societal differences are born out of poverty for most people who go to our hospitals and are told that you have to go and buy a bandage, you have to go and get this medicine, they cannot afford it. So, what is the Ministry doing to ensure that there is quality healthcare even to those who are less fortunate and cannot afford the exorbitant fees and who are asked to go and buy their own medicines in our hospitals and clinics? I know from experience, people in my constituencies who come to me every time and tell me, we have been asked to go and buy bandages from the pharmacies. What are you doing to ensure that those people who cannot afford get quality healthcare from the Government, from the point of delivery? Thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: My recollection of Standing Orders, I do not know how the original question was phrased. If the source is from media, print or whatever and is not verifiable, that cannot be regarded as a source of information. So, I am not sure how the first question, the original question was verified. If it was based on social media or any other media source, that cannot be debated as a verifiable source.

HON. HWENDE: Hon. Speaker, the original source is actually your Minister of Youth, Hon. Machakaire.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! I saw that and the social media was quoting the Minister who did not validate those statements. That is how I read it.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Mr. Speaker, my point of clarification is that we have got Government now using social media. Cabinet uses social media after their meetings. They go on to present their findings or their resolutions on social media. So, if we say we cannot rely on social media to validate issues of national interest, I do not think it is sustainable Mr. Speaker.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Now, Hon. Madzivanyika, you quoted the Minister of Information, right?

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: The Minister of Youth and the Minister of Health both used social media to respond.

THE HON. SPEAKER: They did what?

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: The Minister of Youth raised this issue of problems in the hospitals on his Twitter account and the Minister of Health and Child Care used the Twitter account to respond.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes. Even then, that is not verifiable. Yes.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Mr. Speaker, Twitter has got verified accounts and unverified accounts. The Minister of Health and Child Care Twitter account has a blue tick, which indicates that it is a verified account. The same applies to Hon. Machakaire’s Twitter handles and above all, Mr. Speaker, can we be furnished with the Order that says social media is not acceptable? Thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Can we be together? For this matter to be completely addressed, I needed to have Hon. Minister Machakaire and the Minister of Health and then I can interrogate them to make their statements accordingly. To me, that would be a verifiable source because they will be there in person. Thank you.

*HON. TAFANANA ZHOU: My question is directed to the Minister of Transport. Hon. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the refurbishment of the roads which is being done under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. My question is still on the issue of roads which are being refurbished. Transporters, truck drivers and bus drivers, most of them took their licences before these new roads which have dual carriageways. People learned in the past before dual carriageways and some of them are overtaking through the left. They are not stopping at the stop sign. What is the government policy in making sure that people upgrade their licences, focusing on the new roads which are being made in the country?

*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to thank Hon. Member for asking that pertinent question. From our point of view , when using the Highway Code, it includes all the things which he had already alluded to. He had mentioned that some of the drivers are overtaking from the wrong side and they are not practising the laws properly, we are going to examine and see if there is a need for additionals.

In terms of upgrading the licences, I believe and thank him that he has got the zeal and passion to make sure that the road users are using the roads in a proper way.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Focusing mainly on the issue of grievances which are there amongst Government workers concerning their salaries, in the past few weeks, university lecturers were demonstrating that their salaries were inadequate, they are not able to support their families. What is the Government policy to make sure that they increase the salaries of Government workers so that they can work hard?

*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA): Concerning the lecturers who are demonstrating in universities, most of the time Government makes sure that their workers are working properly. The negotiations are being done between the Government and workers' representatives, especially those who have got grievances. That is why there are organisations which represent workers and some organisations which are for employers and those who are for employees. They are encouraged to negotiate and come up with a solution. Right now, there are negotiations between the demonstrators and the Government and also between the workers who are demonstrating and the University of Zimbabwe. It is one of the institutions which is expected to provide for its workers who are demonstrating. Thank you.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: My question just gave an example of what is happening to universities but I was focusing on all Government workers. My supplementary is, can she answer the issue of Government workers' salaries and the university lecturers who are demonstrating? Is there any tangible outcome between the demonstrators and the Government so that we can have enough evidence that the students whom we are sending to universities are learning?

*HON. DINHA: Yes, there is something which is going on like what I have already alluded to. There are negotiations which are currently going on and on top of that, students' lectures are not being disturbed. The administration of the University of Zimbabwe say the lecturers must demonstrate while they are outside the campus but the students are attending their lectures. Also touching on all Government workers, I believe that right now, Government is paying very well compared to most private companies. Most people want to work in Government because Government is treating their workers properly. Thank you.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: I have noted the presentation by the Hon. Minister. With regards to the salaries of the civil servants, what is it that has to happen when she is talking about having discussions? Bearing in mind that these same civil servants, the same portfolio, in 2017, they were earning in excess of USD2 000. That same profession in the year 2025, in the same office earning about USD280, is this really an issue to be discussed or the Government is just going back to the year 2000, then the discussion will happen when the civil servants are in the region of earning USD 2,000?

THE HON. SPEAKER: The moment you delve into figures, the Chair must be satisfied that those figures being quoted are correct. In this case, I cannot vouch for the figures because you have indicated Hon. Member what it is about. There must be exact figures.

         HON. MUTSEYAMI:  Hon. Speaker, may you allow me to rephrase my question to the attention of the Honourable Minister.  She was talking about the civil servants and the Government having negotiations with regard to their salaries. What is it that they have to discuss, bearing in mind that it is on record and I am sure the Honourable Speaker knows the record as well because he was in the Office of the Speaker then?  In 2017, the salaries that civil servants were earning and the salaries that the same civil servants in their same offices are earning today, they are way below what they were earning in the region during the 2017 era going backwards. What is it that they have to negotiate? Is it not necessary for the Hon. Minister, the Ministry and the workers to move to what we used to get as salaries during that year then discussions will happen later, maybe to put more?

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Do not canvass the support of the Chair when you say I was there in 2017. Once you revert to specifics of figures, that must be a written question.  We want then the responsible Minister to disabuse using figures that are there in terms of the pay sheet structure.

HON. GUMBO. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Minister is, what is your Ministry …?

THE HON. SPEAKER:   Order please! You are addressed as Honourable Member and the Ministers are addressed as Honourable Ministers in terms of our Standing Orders. 

HON. GUMBO:  That is noted Mr. Speaker Sir. Hon. Minister, what is your Ministry's clear policy plan in as far as increments that are due to the civil servants to ensure that these are delivered? This is a question Hon. Minister, that calls for you to give us the answer.  From a whole Government approach, do you have a clear policy plan to ensure that there is enough in the national purse that allows for the increment of civil servants’ salaries?  We do not want to hear about you talking to them.  We want to hear from you as Government when you sit down, a whole government approach, what is the plan or there is no plan?

HON. DINHA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, there is the Tripartite Negotiating Forum.  Right now, there is a dialogue that is going on between the Government, the workers and the employers. After they have done the talks, then there will be increments. Thank you.

HON. G. K HLATYWAYO: Thank you so much Hon. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Minister is that negotiations presuppose that something is not working. We are asking, what is your plan to increase the salaries outside the Tripartite Negotiating Forum because there must be a plan from Government?

HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. President. There will be increments for the civil servants and the plan that we are talking about will come from the negotiations. After the negotiations, there will be solutions and there is a plan – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Minister, if you could come back and address the House in full regarding the plans that are going to be put in place on the request. All right, thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -

*HON. MANANZVA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands. We heard that the programme of issuing title deeds has begun. What is the Government policy on those who had farms near towns and those who got allocated land during the Land Reform Programme to make sure that all of them manage to get their title deeds?

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Honourable Member, can you repeat your question?

*HON. MANAZVA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My question is directed to the Minister of Lands. What is the Government policy concerning farmers who have got farms near towns and those who were left behind on title deeds during the Land Reform Programme, the fast-track?

*THE MINISTER OF LANDS. AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA):  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to thank Hon. Mananzva for that pertinent question. Firstly, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa saw it fit that using the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Sections 293 and 295, to give a comprehensive document, which are the title deeds that were given to people who were given farms.  This is a comprehensive document, which is the title deeds.  It is above the leases which were given to people. For someone to get the title deeds, he or she must come forward with a lease, maybe for A2, a 99-year lease and A1 permit or a lease. All those documents must be brought forward and scrutinised making sure that he or she is the rightful person for that land and the process of issuing title deeds begins, but the period taken is expected to be three years.

We do not look at the geographical location of the farm, whether you are close or far away from town. All the people who are under agricultural land are expected to get title deeds. Those who were allocated farms during the fast-track programme, who do not have documents are expected to go to the Lands offices in their respective districts.  Their issues are being looked into to make sure that they are the rightful owners or occupiers of those pieces of land. We know that during the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme during 2000 and 2004, there were some people who just settled themselves and the Government said those people must be given title deeds. So, if the Hon. Members know where these people live, may he notify those people or notify us of the area they are staying in so that we can help them? Thank you very much.

         *HON. TAFANANA ZHOU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question to the Minister is, what is the Government policy to make sure that areas like A1 farms must be put under the chiefs since these areas were still under chiefs before colonisation? Thank you very much.

*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also want to thank Hon. Zhou for asking a question although this question is different from the original question. Now focusing on the issue of A1 farms being under the chiefs, even the A2, were under chiefs, even the towns which you are living in were under chiefs. The issue of governance falls under the Ministry of Local Government but right now we know that we have put it under A1 farms under the Committee of seven, which will help when there is an issue that needs to be resolved. They sit down as a group and resolve the issue, while we are looking into the issue, how we are going to resolve it. Are they going to be under chiefs or it remains under agricultural land?

THE HON. SPEAKER: I allowed the question because I think the answer that will be there is no title deeds for A1. As far as I can recall, there are no title deeds for A1 farms and communal lands for that matter, no title deeds. Am I right?

HON. DR. MASUKA: Mr. Speaker Sir, he has to clarify. Agricultural land is defined as land other than communal and urban land, right? This includes the parks, forestry and of course  old A1 and A2 resettlements. The policy position is that A1 farmers, 360,000 of them, A2 farmers, 23,500 of them will get title deeds. That is the policy position. May I also now take the opportunity to indicate something related to that? The African Purchase area, Matenganyika as we knew them, was also a lease best arrangement. Those will get deeds of grants. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you for the clarification.

*HON. HWENDE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. What is the Government policy Hon. Minister since you are issuing title deeds;  on including giving all Zimbabweans despite their political affiliation, especially those who are not ZANU-PF members.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Those who did not present themselves to get land should not blame it on political divisions. The Constitution is very clear. Land belongs to those that shall be allocated regardless of affiliation to any political party. That has been standing, unless Hon. Hwende made efforts to get land and he was denied on the basis that he belongs to the opposition.

HON. HWENDE: Yes, that was the case.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Why did you not go to court that there was a violation of your rights? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

HON. S SAKUPWANYA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My supplementary question goes to the Minister of Lands. The question is that some years ago, 99-year leases were introduced as a measure of security of tenure and also as a measure for farmers to obtain loans from banks. What measures, of course as we see today, farmers who hold 99-year leases are unable to obtain loans from banks for their farming activities. What measures, legislative or otherwise, are going to be put in place to ensure that the title deeds as it were, when they come, will guarantee a farmer's security in terms of being able to secure loans with these said title deeds? I submit Hon. Speaker.

HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank Hon. Sakupwanya for the very pertinent question. The 2013 Constitution indicates that the President may issue more secure tenure documents. At that stage, the tenure documents that existed were a lease, a permit or an offer letter. When we had the 99-year lease, the thinking was that this was a more long-term tenure document that would give everyone, including banks, the confidence to land. The experience that we have had over the years, of course is that these tenure documents, the 99-year lease were not readily accepted by banks as collateral. It is in this context that the President made the revolutionary step to grant the issuance of title deeds. Title deeds are the ultimate tenure documents and hopefully with consultations from banks, they will be able to take these. Nonetheless as an example, we already have five banks that are operating within the Department of Lands at the one-stop centre which are ready to give mortgages for farmers to purchase their land and also to give support to enable those farmers to be productive on their farms, which is a very good start to this programme. We hope that other banks will be able to replicate this and we urge all farmers that have received title deeds to use these documents to be able to access much needed financing to ensure that they become more productive on their land.

May I take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker Sir, to urge those A2 farmers and A1 farmers that have not completed the forms to enable them to get these more secure tenure documents to immediately do so? Also, to urge all of us to remind our colleagues, our constituencies, that this is a lifetime opportunity availed by our president. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. JAMES: Thank you Hon. Speaker and Hon. Minister. Could I ask if these new title deeds are being issued against the original title deeds or just as and when the Ministry wants to give them? There should be more security if they are issues against purchased title deeds, for example, compensation to the original title deed holder.

HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I know that the Minister was going to answer this question but I just want to make it very clear that the original title deed to the land of Zimbabwe belongs to the people of Zimbabwe and not any other. We are the first owners of the land of Zimbabwe.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Government Chief Whip, I thought you were saying something different. Why do you not allow the Hon. Minister to respond?

HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I thank  Hon. James for a very important question that requires us to put this into context. The context is that the 2013 Constitution recognises that the land is not going to be compensated for because the land was never bought from the original owner. The compensation is for investments in our land. That is what the Constitution says and the President is bound by the Constitution.

Coming to the issuance of these titles, when the State acquires the land, the land becomes State land. So, in Sections 289, 293 and 295 and I urge the Member to refer to that, the State may alienate for the value of that land. So, the State has taken the position to alienate that State land for value. The title that is being given is a new title, and there is no reference to the old title which was rendered obsolete which no longer has value. It is this new tenure document, the title deed that is issued.

The Hon. Member may wish to familiarise themselves with the features of the new title deed, which indicates that it is the President, the Government of Zimbabwe that is selling its land to this beneficiary for this precise property. That is where the title is issued. There is no reference at all to the old title which we do not recognise as the State.

Hon. James having stood up to make a supplementary question

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. James, you cannot ask a supplementary twice but you can ask for clarification.

HON. JAMES: Yes, I am asking for clarity.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, you can proceed and the Minister will respond.

HON. JAMES: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I take it then that these original title deeds are of no use to Government but we see in the compensation plan that you are pursuing, you are asking for these title deed holders to relinquish these title deeds? Please, can you allow the clarification to be done? I am just asking that in this compensation plan that is rolling out, the title deed holders have been asked to relinquish these title deeds.

         HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and thank you for giving me this opportunity to clarify the falsehoods that are being peddled. The government has not requested for title deeds because we know they are worthless. We have not requested for those. In terms of the Global Compensation Deed which was consummated on the 29^th  of July in 2020, the Government agreed with former farm owners that the compensation for improvements throughout the country were worth USD3.5 billion. We never referred to the title deeds and never at any stage requested the former farm owners to return this paper, which we do not consider or value. Thank you.

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: On a point of privilege Mr. Speaker.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Are you not satisfied with the Hon. Minister's response?

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: It is something that I want to raise.

THE HON. SPEAKER: No, please. This is the Minister's question time. Unless you are saying the Hon. Minister's response is inadequate, then you can ask a supplementary question.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: But the law provides such…

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Do not argue with the Chair. If you have no supplementary question, that is it. You will ask a point of privilege tomorrow, please, can you sit down!

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: I am not disrespecting you Mr. Speaker but is this legal?

THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you sit down.

HON. GUMBO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The supplementary question invites the Minister to respond to the question of legislative mechanisms that improve the bankability of the said title deeds. As much as you say that there are certain banks that have agreed and you are inviting other banks to come to an agreement to lend to our various farmers and title deed holders, the legal status of the said title deeds make it difficult for them to be bankable. This is all because the question of ownership is retained in the State.  What are the legal mechanisms and the legislative interventions that you are going to present to ensure the bankability of the said title deeds? Thank you.

HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The legal aspects have been taken care of in terms of the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Land Commission Act. There is no other legislative procedure that is required to make these title deeds. It is all covered in both the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Land Commission Act and is very legal. The banks that have come forward already have indicated that these are bankable and transferable and therefore can be utilised as collateral. Thank you.

An Hon. Member having stood up on a point of clarity

THE HON. SPEAKER: I think the Hon. Minister was clear. The Constitution and the law is there. We cannot discuss transactional issues here.

HON. GUMBO: No, Mr. Speaker, but transactional issues are key on the question of the reason why these title deeds are being issued. We cannot ignore that conversation.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, if I may tickle your humour, unless you were issued with some title deeds and you went to the bank and you were refused, then that would be investigated. If not, the matter rests there.

Hon. Madzivanyika having stood up

THE HON. SPEAKER: I have done my ruling. Thank you.

         HON. CHIDUWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, NDS1 and Vision 2030 promote local beneficiation and local value chains. What is Government’s policy regarding the outsourcing of packaging manufactured products from outside our borders given the Government policy on local beneficiation?

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Minister of Industry, proceed and respond accordingly.

         THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I wish to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Mr. Speaker Sir, the Government is clear from our NDS 1 aspiration, through the pillar of moving the economy up the value chain, from our transitional plan, the industrial reconstruction and growth plan that is Government, we want to promote internalisation of value chains.

We do so through a number of interventions that are aimed at supporting and promoting local value chain development, including where the private sector opts for outsourcing outside the country, the introduction of barriers like tariffs but also where possible, the incentives to promote local beneficiation. In general, we are clear in the programmes that we have been implementing that promotion of local value chains is a priority.  I thank you.

HON. CHIDUWA: We have seen that some major players in the dairy industry are involved in toll manufacturing.

THE HON. SPEAKER: In what?

HON. CHIDUWA: Toll, toll manufacturing.

THE HON. SPEAKER: What, toll?

HON. CHIDUWA: Yes.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Proceed Hon. Member.

HON. CHIDUWA: I want to find out from the Hon. Minister what Government policy is regarding the promotion of local value addition, especially in the dairy industry.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Dairy what?

 HON. CHIDUWA: Dairy industry.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Oh, dairy industry?

HON. CHIDUWA: Yes.

HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. If you would recall, I think it was the end of last year, we shared with the House our reconstruction and growth plan and we shared soft copies contained in there in which there are some of the mechanisms and measures that we are taking to promote our value chains. We also included in there, efforts by Government that are being made to address the cost of doing business in the country. What we have observed and are in agreement with Hon. Chiduwa, is that particularly in the dairy industry, there are companies that have established manufacturing entities across the border, calling it toll manufacturing and then importing or exporting from the neighbouring countries into Zimbabwe at the detriment of the dairy sector.

 To address this, we are in discussion with the Treasury first, to have tariffs on such products so that we protect our industry but secondly and more importantly, to address the issue of the costs associated with dairy production. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is a fact that some of the costs threaten some of these companies' viability and I am happy that the Minister of Finance, working with the Office of President and Cabinet, is advancing in interrogating these. In the near future, we will be advised of some of these permits and licences that will be done away with and this, in our view, will ensure the survival of this sector and other sectors included. I thank you Mr. Speaker.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: I want to thank the Hon. Minister for the response. However, my supplementary question relates to the regulatory framework that we have in Zimbabwe at the moment. How far have we gone Hon. Minister? The issue of regulation according to the CZI, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, they say it constitutes 18% of the overhead of companies and this creates viability challenges or the competitive advantage that they deserve. How far have we gone as a means of industry to address this critical issue of regulation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Member, do not be too aggressive, you must face the Chair.

HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. I do not think there is anything that I said which did not answer his question but for his benefit, I will go through it again. We identified in our reconstruction and growth plan, that the regulatory environment weighs heavily on business viability and to address it, we have the Minister of Finance working with OPC to address this. They have identified most of these licences, fees and other compliance issues that have to be addressed and shortly Mr. Speaker, those who followed the Minister of Finance did highlight a few months back that in six months, most of these will be done away with.

It is a thorough process that has to be done with due diligence and they have indicated they are almost complete with that exercise. They will in the nearest possible future, make announcements of the regulations that are falling away and those that will be significantly slashed to make sure we promote the ease and cost of doing business.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Earlier on, we talked about source references. When Members debate, I want to advise that we are guided by Standing Order Number 85 (b).

*HON. KUKA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I want to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Child Care. In the past few years, we have seen Zimbabweans going to visit their relatives in hospitals twice or thrice a day. Now, because of COVID-19 which disturbed a lot of things in this country, that was stopped.  My question is, what is Government planning to do with regularising the issue so that relatives can visit their sick relatives several times per day? I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILDCARE (HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): I want to thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.  I also want to thank the Hon. Member for that pertinent question. This indeed happened during COVID-19. 

The Hon. Speaker having failed to understand the Shona word ‘vairambidziwa’.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Vaiita sei?

HON. DR. MOMBESHORA: Vasingabvumirwi.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes.

*THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILDCARE (HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): It is true that because of COVID-19, there was a need for infection control, which resulted in the number of visits per day being limited. Sometimes some diseases are transmitted by people who visit the sick, especially during the COVID era. However, regarding this issue, the issue of relatives who want to visit to assist their sick, these visits are there, the morning visit is there, the evening visit is also there. When you go in the morning, you will be able to see how your relatives are doing and how they slept. Also, in the evening, you will be able to tell how their day was. So, when you visit, you just visit at that particular time, I thank you.

HON. PINDUKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.  I would want to appreciate what the Government is doing in revitalising irrigation schemes across the country. On the same note, I would like to ask the Minister about Government’s policy position with regard to other inland water bodies that are not yet fully utilised to avert hunger induced by climate change, also to accelerate food security in our country. I so submit.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER, FISHERIES, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I thank the Hon. Member for the very important question. Climate change is real. Therefore, we ought to climate-proof our agriculture. Consequently, we must climate-proof our food security.  It is in this context that the President, His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, on the 5^th of July, 2024, launched the Accelerated Irrigation Investment Conference. At that conference, he invited the private sector to partner Government in accelerating irrigation development throughout the country. He emphasised that we have 10,600 dams of all shapes and sizes that are ready for investment.

So, we invite those that have the resources to partner Government. We have a committee already established within the Ministry that will assist whoever wants to invest in developing irrigation systems around water bodies to do so. I thank you.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Pinduka, you asked a question and you are busy discussing and not listening to the response of the Minister. I do not think that is fair in terms of the seriousness of the question.

         HON. PINDUKA: I was following Mr. Speaker, sir. Thank you so much.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Were you not talking to Hon. Mutsvangwa? Were you not? Do you think I am blind?

HON. PINDUKA: My apologies Mr. Speaker, sir.

*HON. NYAKUEDZWA: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker and good afternoon to you sir. I want to direct my question to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The Government is distributing food in rural areas, but this season the programme was stopped. My question is, what is Government planning to do with the people who have not yet collected their allocations from GMB? I thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA). Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I believe that Government has distributed food to the nation from May last year to March this year. From April, we are now looking at the areas that are facing food shortages, the distress calls that were coming from the people. At the end of April, the programme was running because of El Nino and the shortage of food in the past season. Now, the programme has to end at the end of April because now we are waiting for those who do researches to ascertain which areas are in need of food assistance.

Now that we received adequate rain, however, there are some areas that did not have adequate rain. There are also some areas where there was a lot of water and there was water logging, which affects the growth of crops. So, the research that is being done by Crops and Livelihoods Assessment is going to inform us of the areas which have a need for food allocation.  Many people had a bounty harvest and they have food but the areas that are facing food shortages are the areas that we are going to look at. We are also going to look at the vulnerable, the old who cannot fend for themselves, the orphans and vulnerable children who also need assistance. After the research, that is only when we will be able to intervene. At the end of that intervention, we are going to be closing that particular intervention. I thank you.

HON. DR. MUTODI: On a point of order.  I have been checking in the gallery and I have seen a heavy presence of visitors. So, I  was just wondering whether we have visitors, was not procedural for us to know who they are and where they are coming from. Thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: I have not been advised whether they are strangers or not but they have been security vetted.

HON. JAMES: Hon. Speaker, I can clarify that.  I can clarify the gallery issue. They are members of my constituency that I have brought through to witness this session. Thank you.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Next time, you must alert the Chair so that we can receive them officially as observed by Hon. Dr. Mutodi.

HON. JAMES: I take that.  I thought all those procedures had been done, my apologies.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  What is your constituency again? HON. JAMES: Mutare Central.  I have to do this every month.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. SPEAKER

VISITORS IN THE SPEAKER’S GALLERY

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Visitors from Mutare Central Constituency, if you may stand. Thank you very much. You are most welcome – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: Before you ask your supplementary, I see there are many Honourable Cabinet Ministers today. One or two have been yawning because nobody has asked a question to them. So can you spread your questions, please?

*HON. HUNGWE: My supplementary question is directed to the Minister of Public Service. The Ministry was distributing food. When are they going to clear the outstanding balances? I thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. Some transporters were ferrying the food to the different depots but there are some who are yet to receive their payments. We are still in talks with the Minister of Finance so that we can pay those transporters so that they can complete the distribution process. I thank you.

HON. MAMBIPIRI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question to the Minister is that this process was done to benefit the rural populace. Those who are in urban areas were promised money on their phones and some were told to open NetOne lines so that they receive these monies. The programme is being concluded and the beneficiaries have not received anything. Are they going to receive any money or not?

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Can you put it in writing for next week please! 

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to the issue of urban support, the harmonised cash transfer process in urban areas, did the Minister of Public Service receive an allocation from the Minister of Finance concerning the harmonised cash transfer for urban areas? I thank you.

HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. During that time we are talking about, the Ministry requested for the release of the money so that there would be some payment for urban cash. Unfortunately, the money was not released and the payment cannot be backdated because resources were not there until the end of March 2025 when the programme ended. So the Ministry will not be able to assist under this specific programme, but in other subsequent programmes to follow. Thank you Mr. President.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Did you say Mr. President?

HON. DINHA: Sorry Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Speaker. Thank you very much Hon. Minister.

HON. TSVANGIRAI:  Thank you Hon. Speaker. I want to direct my question to the Ministry of Youth. In the past few weeks, we saw the President launching the Youth Fund. My question is, was this programme a party programme or a national programme? I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: I wanted to rule that question out of order because even the questioner did not say the youth of which party.

It says Youth Fund. So to that extent, it was meant for the youth. Thank you.

         ^^HON. T. NDOU: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport. As a country, we received too much rain and people engaged in various farming activities. Now, after these heavy rains in our country, so many roads have been disrupted and our cars, especially ambulances that carry patients to different hospitals, buses that ferry people to different workplaces…

THE HON. SPEAKER: Ask your question please!

^^HON. T. NDOU:  My question is to the Minister of Transport.

 

What programmes are they doing as a Government to ensure that ambulances get to the people and food gets to the people? What programmes are they doing as a country to ensure that our roads are in good order?  I thank you.

         THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Hon.  Speaker, I am going to learn the language shortly and I am going to be responding in that particular language. Indeed, it is true that during culture month, we should be able to communicate in different languages. I thank Hon. Ndou for that question. Indeed, in the past farming season, we had adequate rains. In some instances, people were facing challenges because the rains were damaging roads and a lot of roads have been damaged. As a Ministry, we are going to look into the issue.

         I want to inform this august House that, Hon. Speaker through your indulgence, we are looking at the different parts of this country. I am going to come to this august House next week to talk about the different roads, province by province. I will be talking about the different interventions that we want to roll-out as a Ministry shortly. I believe that we are going to communicate how we are going to roll-out the Road Rehabilitation Programme.

As you are aware, in the past, some roads were supposed to be maintained by the Ministry, some by RIDA and some by the local authorities. We cannot continue the blame-game of pointing fingers, but you would notice that as a Ministry, we are going to convene meetings with different stakeholders so that our people can use good roads or roads that are in good condition. We are going to work with RIDA, local authorities and different stakeholders to rehabilitate our roads. We have a lot of roads that need attention, so we are going to come back to this august House so that when we work on the supplementary budget, the Ministry and the different projects should be prioritised.

We are going to come up with other funding alternatives, like working with private companies so that our roads are rehabilitated. We are going to come back to this august House, looking at different provinces, whether it is the City of Harare or the 10 provinces, whether it is our bridges but I am happy to say that where Hon. Ndou comes from, the Beitbridge Road is left with just a few kilometers to complete that highway and the Victoria Falls Highway, which is in Matabeleland North is one road which I want to talk about. I am happy to say that we are at that particular stage where we are in the process of identifying the contractors who are going to be engaged and in a few weeks, we will be communicating that to you. I thank you.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: The interpreters, please can you be up to speed so that we can catch up in certain languages that we are not quite familiar with?

*HON. TAFANANA ZHOU: I want to thank the Hon. Minister for that response. I want to direct my supplementary to the Hon. Minister and I want to talk about the allocation of roads to DDF and the council. We note that ZINARA is sending money to municipal authorities which is meant for road rehabilitation. I want to understand the process and whether the money is still taken to councils. I thank you. *HON. MHONA: I believe when I said that there is no such, I want to say that there are four road authorities. When I come to this august House and I am asked a question, I can say that the road is not supposed to be serviced by the Ministry of Transport, but doing that will be counterproductive. So, on paper, this is what is there. Let me say that it is said that in the past, councils were being given money instead of servicing roads, they would pay each other hefty salaries instead of fixing roads. So, we noted that and instead of blame-shifting, we came up with a strategy of being progressive.

         HON. BONDA: My supplementary question and I am getting a bit excited to hear that Victoria Falls Road is now beginning to shape up. May I actually tell the Minister that constructing new roads alone cannot take us out of this steep end of troubles of our national roads? I just wanted to understand if the maintenance units are actually in place to maintain the roads that are constructed because we cannot keep on constructing and not maintaining the roads. Our troubles, our woes of the roads are beginning or the genesis of the roads, potholes and everything is lack of maintenance of the roads.

HON. MHONA: Let me thank my good brother Hon. Bonda for that very important question. Indeed, Hon. Speaker, the essence of maintenance units cannot be overemphasised and indeed, failure to maintain our roads, they will still get dilapidated.  This is precisely what has happened, when we are talking of roads that were constructed years back and in particular the road that he has mentioned, Victoria Falls which was first constructed in 1941 as a strip road. You can imagine now, almost 84 years down the line and not only that particular road, but several roads were built over time and they were not maintained. We used to have maintenance units that were actually vibrant and they were maintaining our roads, but alas, it was not happening.

I want to say that with the advent of the Second Republic, we have started seeing the rehabilitation of roads which was not seen before. On that trajectory, we have taken a deliberate approach under the guidance of the Cabinet, that we must reintroduce maintenance units and we have done that. Mr. Speaker, where we have started with our ten provinces, you will see maintenance units, various sections and we are going to accelerate that to districts so that we have maintenance units. The essence of maintenance units is to attend with speed, to damaged sections of roads, whether there are potholes.

So precisely, what we are going to be doing, we have also procured the asphalt plant. From the asphalt plant, that is where you get your aggregates, your bituminous products and we have one in Harare and another in Bulawayo so that our provincial road engineers will have access to bituminous products with speed. You will see us attending to the sections of the roads that are damaged. I want to thank Hon. Bonda for that very important question, which will then make the Ministry of Transport move and execute road maintenance with speed. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

*HON. MATINENGA: My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development is that the issue of road rehabilitation is emanating from the challenge that our railways are not functioning. The Hon. Minister spoke about the Ministry's plans to refurbish the railway system so that people would not be focused on roads. My question is that, how far has the Ministry gone in terms of implementing that strategy?

         *THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. MHONA): Thank you Hon. Speaker. It is true that most of our roads are being destroyed because of the volume of traffic and most loads are being transported through our roads instead of the railway system. You would find that there are a lot of potholes because of the loads. I believe that we are at a stage where the National Railways of Zimbabwe is being refurbished and this has been taken up by the Mutapa Investment Fund. We have 2.7 kilometres that cover the width and breadth of Zimbabwe and 50% of that is going to be under refurbishment. This means that we do not have a big burden compared to other countries. I am happy to say that we started working on the Beira Corridor, which links us with Mozambique from Machipanda, the railway system is under construction.

From Mutare to Harare, we are preparing that part so that we improve our transportation. In other countries, big banks normally fund such projects but as a nation, we have one annual budget and when we face drought and natural disaster, it is the same budget that we look into. So, as a nation because of the economic sanctions that we are facing, it means that we face a number of challenges but we are not discouraged. We are going to continue working on different projects. You will notice that we will be urging companies that transport agricultural produce and minerals to use the railway system instead of using the road network. This would help us to take off the load from our major roads because our railways will be used for both agricultural produce and minerals.

HON. JAMES: Could I bring the Hon. Minister's attention to Mutare Bypass Road? We understand that it is a public-private partnership and am I correct in presuming that the partner raises the funds for this project? If so, what possibly could be the delays in getting this project started? Thank you.

HON. MHONA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. Once again, from Hon. James, a very pertinent question, which will also give me a platform to articulate the status quo of this project, which is the Mutare Bypass. I am glad again to the people of Zimbabwe that we have been waiting and it is not only that road, which is of paramount importance. That one is going to ease our trackers not to use the Christmas Pass but they will bypass only 31.2 kilometres to Forbes Border Post. We are not only attending to that bypass, we are also rehabilitating Forbes Border Post, for which we have already signed the concession agreement.

In particular, the road that has been addressed by Hon. James, where we were working closely with a private partner through a loan facility. We have concluded that when it comes to loan facilities, we also have to synchronise with the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion so that as we start our payments, we do not burden Treasury. We also need to make sure that whatever is required in terms of deposit is established and this is what we have been doing.  We have concluded on that particular section.

So, you will see us in the next month, where we are also going to be seeing, by the end of this month we will have signed the facility letter for the Mutare bypass and expect the contractor to start mobilising to sites.  We also have very emotional roads that we are also going to partake in a similar manner, so as to lessen the burden on the fiscals.

HON. MATARA: My question goes to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. What policy measures is Government taking to ensure that there is flexibility and reduced costs and constraints for those people who want to change their surname from their mother's surname to their father's surname? Thank you.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. SANYATWE): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I kindly ask the Hon. Member to come again so that I can understand all the questions.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I understood your question but if you may repeat.

HON. MATARA: My question is, what policy measures are Government taking to ensure that there is flexibility and reduced costs and constraints for those people who want to change their surnames from their mother's surname to their father's surname?

HON. SANYATWE: Thank you Hon. Member for asking such a pertinent question. The Government policy is flexible in changing the surnames of any member to use their preferred surnames. I thank you.

*HON. MATARA: We note that people are facing challenges, that is why I posed that question.  There is no flexibility, some issues need the courts, some money…

*THE HON. SPEAKER:  Can you ask your supplementary question without repeating the original question?

*HON. MATARA: Okay. My supplementary is...

THE HON. SPEAKER: No, please, you do not say okay to the Chair.

HON. MATARA: Sorry, Mr. Speaker Sir.  My supplementary question is, there are a lot of hardships which are being faced by people when they want to change their surnames. It involves courts and this requires money yet most of these people are less privileged.  That is why I came up with this question. I just want to know whether the Government can do something to assist such that those who cannot afford to pay the courts to change their surnames can also benefit. Thank you.

HON. C. SANYATWE:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I kindly ask the Honourable Member to put the question in writing because it is too specific so that I can come up with correct answers. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Honourable Matara, are you agreeable so that we get a detailed response in writing through a Ministerial statement?   

HON. MATARA: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I say I will do so.

Hon. Madzivanyika having stood up to raise a supplementary question.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, Honourable Matara has agreed that the Honourable Minister presents a Ministerial Statement to explain the situation. So, the supplementary question does not arise. Wait for the Ministerial Statement, then you ask questions for clarification after that Ministerial Statement.  Thank you.

*HON. MURAMBIWA:   Thank you Honourable Speaker and good afternoon.  Let me start by directing my question to the Minister of ICT. I want to thank His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for his good work of uplifting the nation. I thank him for saying that no one will be left behind and no place will be left behind.  My question to the Minister of ICT is that, from the President's words, there are some areas which do not have access to the network. What is the Government doing so that no one is left behind in terms of accessing networks, whether it is in schools, clinics or hospitals? I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON. DR. MAVETERA):  Thank you Honourable Speaker.  I want to thank Hon. Murambiwa for that question, which is quite pertinent. Firstly, the Hon. Member said exactly what is transpiring because His Excellency said that no one will be left behind. As the Ministry of ICT, we plan to make sure no one is left behind.  I am going to talk about the role of POTRAZ, the issue of tower relocation which involves the Ministry going to different areas and using base stations, using universal service funds to take the networks to different areas, especially in the borderline areas. These are the areas that we are focusing on so that it becomes easy for us to take the different networks to the communities because all the borderline areas will have access to the network. Secondly, we are working together with other telecom players through the National Broadband Plan, which is the framework we are using in terms of spreading the network throughout the country.

We do that after identifying the National Broadband Plan. The issue of network is quite pertinent as we engage Econet, NetOne, TeleOne and other players with the sole purpose of taking network to the people. We communicate with them and we also look at our map so that we identify the areas that are not covered.

The third intervention is that we want to thank the President who allowed us to use Starlink. Let me say that the coming in of Starlink is helping us to reach out to areas which do not have base stations. Through Starlink and through our partners, the telecom partners are reaching out to different communities and I want to request that we get funding so that we add on to what is already on the ground for connectivity to be taken to all areas.

         HON. CHIDUWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I wanted to find out from the Hon. Minister, in 2022, the Government launched the Zimbabwe National Financial Inclusion Strategy and this strategy was looking mainly at rural areas to make sure that they also have access to financial products. She mentioned the point of tower relocation and I wanted to find out if there is synchronisation…

THE HON. SPEAKER: We do not say ‘she’, we say ‘the Hon. Minister’ mentioned. I am correcting this now for the third time.

HON. CHIDUWA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker. The Hon. Minister mentioned that they have got a programme for tower relocation and I wanted to find out if there is synchronisation between their programme on tower relocation and the Financial Inclusion Strategy by the RBZ.

HON. DR. MAVETERA:  Thank you Hon. Speaker. I really want to thank you for that question. Yes, as the Minister of ICT, we work more importantly with the Minister of Finance in all initiatives that we do.  On the Financial Inclusion Strategy, I am quite sure that probably there could be a way that could have been designed so that at least we have that alliance, especially with the RBZ.  I think with the Minister of Finance, we really are having close communication on finding out how we can benefit from all the initiatives that they have. I want to thank the Honourable Member for also highlighting that maybe it needs me to be able to look into it and find out ways that we can synergies.

Mr. Speaker Sir, the ultimate goal is for us to have more resources from whatever way so that at least we can enhance our digitalisation agenda.

         HON. G. HLATYWAYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I have just noticed that in the major cities, especially Harare and Bulawayo, in terms of Starlink, they are over subscribed and it is becoming difficult for people to get on those platforms. Sometimes people end up using roaming which is a little bit expensive. Is there any plan from the Ministry’s perspective to increase capacity as it were?

         THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON. DR. MAVETERA): Thank you very much Hon. Member for that question. Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. Yes, we had communication with Starlink and they actually visited us three weeks ago and we highlighted that to them. This is work in progress where they are going to enhance their capacity especially in the urban areas, Harare specifically. They are going to up their capacity but we also felt that the coming of Starlink was supposed to particularly give assistance in connecting the rural areas. That is where we think it is going to be quite a game-changer for us as a country. However, we have had communications with them and they have assured us that they are going to enhance capacity and also even have some packages which are a bit minimal to be able to satisfy our market. Thank you.

         Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 68.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Before we proceed with Questions With Notice, I want to thank the Government Chief Whip and Chief Whip from the opposition for synchronising the role for debate. It makes life much easier for the Presiding Officers here and I like that collegiate (team) spirit. When there is common purpose, you come together and come up with a joint programme accordingly. Appreciated very much. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] – chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi.

Hon. Deputy Minister of Finance, I hope you are coming back because there is a question soon after that on the Order Paper. Hon. Ministers who are leaving now, just a minute. Hon. Ministers, it is not a good thing that when we start the session, you start walking away. I do not know which Standing Order is guiding you. We have not finished on questions that relate to Cabinet; including Hon. Dr. Masuka who must come back.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

APPRAISAL ON THE IMPORTATION BAN FOR 10-YEAR SECOND-HAND VEHICLES

1. HON. BONDA asked the Minister of Industry and Commerce to appraise the House on the importation ban for 10-year second-hand vehicles at a time when the local motor manufacturing industry is not fully functional to meet the local demand.

         THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. N. M. NDLOVU):  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Before I present my response, for indulgence, I have a request. I realise on the Order Paper that there are more questions for the Ministry from Numbers 60, 61 and 62. I do not know if it is possible that I respond to this one and also to the other three or wait until we get there.

I am responding to the question asked by Hon. Bonda specifically to do with the ban on the importation of vehicles older than 10 years. Allow me to thank Hon. Bonda for raising an important question. I will start by highlighting that the automotive industry, as long as it is the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector and the economy at large- in recent years, the motor industry has faced several challenges which have resulted in the sector operating at below 5% capacity utilisation levels. From 90% peak levels during the first decade of our independence, the major challenges facing the sector include among others, heightened competition from imported used vehicles and lack of consistent demand and shifting consumer preferences.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, the motor vehicle sector used to be vibrant in the past due to consistent support of offtake agreements by the public sector. Also, due to a supportive tariff regime and limited insignificant pre-owned vehicle imports, to boost the local motor sector which has been suffering from the flood of cheaper imports, Statutory Instrument 54 of 2024 was enacted to ban used cars that are older than 10 years from the date of manufacture. By phasing out used cars by 2030, the Government hopes to boost the industry back to its previous levels when it sold 20 000 units per year. Protection of the local motor industry is aimed at promoting job creation in line with the National Vision 2030. I also advise Hon. Members to note that the motor industry sector in its time, particularly during the 1990s, employed more than 70 000 people and these jobs were distributed across a range of supporting industries which included the tyre manufacturing when Dunlop was a significant force. Glass production through Auto Glass as well as the production of exhaust fabrics, carpets suspension components and paint, to name a few.

         However, a substantial decline of approximately 80% in employment has occurred across all subsectors due to the stiff competition the local assemblies are facing. The significant reduction has contributed to the closure of key companies like Dunlop and Auto Glass, the demise of downstream businesses within the value chain and the decline production at Willowvale Motor Industries and Daven Engineering. A company like Willowvale used to be a major employer that once operated with more than 2 000 workers that worked across three shifts and now has close to 10 workers remaining. Plans within the sector are to enhance value chains as several potential players are interested in entering Zimbabwe’s local motor industry value chain through manufacturing and assembling. This includes OEMs original equipment manufacturers such as Isuzu, VW, Toyota and Mercedes Benz who have expressed interest in collaborating with Zimbabwe due to the potential to source automotive steel for their manufacturing means from Dimson.

These OEMs intend to begin with component manufacturing and to train students at Polytechnic in Harare. This training programme will equip students with the necessary skills over four years after which they will be capable of commencing major manufacturing activities. By 2017, there were only 22 countries on the continent that did not have any restrictions with the aim of reducing trade and balance on second-hand imports. There were 27 countries on the continent with 8 restrictions. Approximately 664 million has been spent in 2023 alone on the importation of motor vehicles in this country.

I conclude by highlighting that the ban is part of the Zimbabwe Motor Industry Development Policy, which aims to revitalise the industry and create a more favourable business environment and the policy includes measures like pre-shipment inspections for imported second hand vehicles as part of regulating second hand vehicles to ensure they meet environmental and safety standards. I thank you.

HON. BONDA: Thank you for the comprehensive answer that I got from the Minister but contrary. I heard that this statutory instrument was meant to protect the motor industry protection. That is the part I quote. In this instance, we do not have any motor production in Zimbabwe at the moment. If I may reiterate what the President said, “no one shall be left behind” as far as development is concerned. What plan is there to accommodate the poor majority of this country who cannot afford to buy a car in cash from the motor dealers since there is no mortgage or any loans that is there to be facilitated by the local Zimbabweans to buy a new car in the country for the citizens especially the working class of Zimbabwe?

May I ask this question of saying, would the Government lose any income if they allow the cars that are affordable to the citizens of Zimbabwe and pay the duty as per the amount of car value for a car that would actually be declared into the country, so that everybody can be on the wheels? There is no development that can be there without transport.

HON. N. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Our intention is clear. It is to protect the local industry but more importantly to protect our people. We have inadvertently become a dumping site. When you go around our country and you see vehicles that are broken down or are beyond any use, it is because we were allowing vehicles to come here without any restrictions. Our programme, I was shy of mentioning some of the programmes that we are coming up with because we are nearing finalising them and having formal announcements on.

We will be able in the short-term to have a local assembly of private cars that will be in the range of between USD10 and USD18 000, with the finance institutions coming on board to allow for payment terms. We believe that this offers our consumers whom we think cannot afford better payment terms than the raw deal that we are getting. More importantly, we are bringing jobs back home. We are expanding especially on the value chains, where some of the components will progressively be localised. That is why we think that it is very important that we restrict the vehicles that are coming into the country and ten years is still very concessional and as we move forward, we will be considering even reducing theirs.  

THE HON. SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Minister. I think ten years is reasonable comparatively in terms of what the other countries are doing.

HON. TOGAREPI: Mr. Speaker, I move that we allow the Hon. Minister to deal with some of the questions that are directed to him like Question. No. 60, 61 and Question No. 62.

HON. C. MOYO: I second.

PROTECTION OF THE LOCAL SUGAR INDUSTRY

60. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Industry and Commerce to inform the House on the Government plans to protect the local Sugar Industry from cheap imports.

         THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. N. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I will try to be very fast. Allow me to thank Hon. Makumire for asking a very important question about the Government’s plans to protect the local sugar industry from cheap imports. Regarding this critical matter of safeguarding our local sugar industry against the pressures of cheap imports, the Government recognises the vital role the industry plays in our economy, creating employment, creating livelihoods and supporting numerous downstream industries. Therefore, we are committed to taking decisive action to ensure its long-term viability in competitiveness.

         To that end, I would like to outline a comprehensive plan that Government is undertaking focusing on the following key areas, the first one relates to the 2025 national budget. The House will recall the recent budget statement by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, which included provisions allowing exporting companies to import sugar specifically for blending purposes. This measure is designed to ensure that our exporting companies can maintain competitive pricing on the global market. It is a targeted intervention carefully calibrated to support our export sector without undermining the local sugar industry.

Secondly, we have a programme on anti-smuggling and this is the illicit influx of cheap sugar which we have strengthened through our anti-smuggling measures. Any sugar found within our borders is now presumed to be smuggled unless the importer can provide documentation, proving its legal status of importation. This robust measure is intended to protect our local producers from unfair competition and ensure that all that should enter our markets adheres to the necessary standards and regulations.

We are also implementing the local content strategy which my Ministry is limiting sugar imports to the bare minimum levels necessary. This strategy priorities the utilisation of locally produced goods and services, fostering domestic value addition and creating opportunities for local businesses. In the context of the sugar industry, it means we are encouraging local procurement of 8% of sugar as raw material. This is in line with the Finance Act.

The next issue is on international agreements. It is important to acknowledge that the Zimbabwean sugar industry itself is an exporter. In the context of International Trade Agreement and our commitment to open markets, we cannot outright prohibit sugar imports since we are also exporting. We must therefore strike a balance between protecting our local industry and fulfilling our international obligations. Mr. Speaker, let me end this response with the measures on enhancing competitiveness and addressing monopolistic tendencies. Indeed, we are very much alive to the fact that the industry is a monopoly miller, that Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe operates two mills, Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Sugar Estates.

We also recognise the long-term survival of the sugar industry, which depends on its ability to compete effectively in the global market. To this end, the Government is in the process of attracting and supporting new applicants in the industry to enhance the sector's competitiveness, promoting fair competition and preventing anti-competitive practices. I wish to add that we are now collaborating quite actively with the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement. Mr. Speaker Sir, the medium and long-term growth of this sector lies in our ability to increase productivity in the sugarcane farming levels. On average, the yield should range between 130 and 170 metric tonnes per hectare of sugarcane. Yet, the average yield as of now is sitting at around 40 metric tonnes per hectare. This is at the core of why our sugar is not competitive, which limits our ability to export in large quantities.

To address this challenge, two critical interventions have taken place. The first one is that the Government has designated sugarcane as a strategic crop.

Secondly, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, has co-assigned the administration of the Sugar Production Control Act with the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, so that they focus on the agronomy side of the sector to increase productivity by farmers. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. MAKUMIRE: Supplementary.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Yes, a quick response please.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. This question came about because we were facing a lot of challenges which were addressed by the Minister that led to the retrenchment of close to 1 000 workers. I would like to hear the plans in place to assist the company going forward. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Minister, how do we resolve the issue?

HON. M. NDLOVU: Mr. Speaker, I am not too sure if I understood the question.

THE HON. SPEAKER: The question is, the current producers are not failing to meet the requirements. What alternatives are there?

HON. M. NDLOVU: Mr. Speaker, if maybe he may clarify, I am not following quite clearly the requirements that you spoke of.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you repeat your question?

HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe, the giant sugar producer in Zimbabwe, is currently in the process of retrenching 1 000 employees and to date, more than 100 have already been laid off. The company is citing some hardships that are related to cheap imports that are coming in and the high cost of production that the company is experiencing. So the follow-up question now is, what measures is the Government taking to ensure that even the cost of production remains minimum or average? Thank you very much.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, I am sure it is clear now.

HON. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is very clear now. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the follow-up question. I am not aware of the reasons why they are retrenching. I have had discussions, extensive discussions with Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe and the importation of cheap sugar has not been raised as one of them. Indeed, they have highlighted that they have reservations about the 20% threshold that the Government came up with but we have had discussions with them because again as a country, our sugar is the most expensive in the continent. However, exporting companies  increase their costs and it reduces their competitiveness. Mr. Speaker Sir, as I have highlighted in my original response, there are a number of issues that have to be addressed in the sector. Among these interventions will be the introduction of other players in the milling industry. We cannot continue to rely on one company.

Secondly, we need to support our farmers to be more productive because as we speak, before me is a dispute between the miller and the farmer on  purchase price agreement. The farmer wants to push the price up because they are not productive. Pushing the price up means we are less productive and our sugar cost is high. Then they would require that Government bans imports. What we remain with are high sugar prices for local consumers.

 I am also responsible for consumer protection. The whole sugar strategy, as I have highlighted Mr. Speaker Sir, we are interrogating it with the Minister of Agriculture so that we come up with a comprehensive plan, starting with high productivity for our farmers. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: If you want more details, please read the Hansard.

RESUSCITATION OF ZISCO STEEL AND LANCASHIRE STEEL

61. HON. MADZIVANYIKA asked the Minister of Industry and Commerce to explain to the House the plans in place to resuscitate ZISCO Steel and Lancashire Steel in Kwekwe.

         THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Allow me to thank Mr. Madzivanyika for asking an important question on the plans that we have to resuscitate ZISCO Steel and Lancashire Steel in Kwekwe. The Iron and Steel sector is at the core of our re-industrialisation efforts aimed at boosting the country's economic growth as well as creating jobs. The sector serves as the backbone for various industries, including construction, automobile and other manufacturing sub-sectors. It is also one of our priorities under NDS1.

 In line with our transitional plan, which is the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan which we launched in 2024, this sector is one of the priorities that we have identified as having high growth potential in terms of promoting import substitution and reducing our perennial trade deficit. Again, Mr. Speaker, the coming on board of Dinson Iron and Steel Company currently presents a unique opportunity to build synergies with the existing ZISCO Company plant and other downstream industries such as Lancashire, hence promoting the revival of the local iron and steel sector.

 We have three key initiatives that we are undertaking in resuscitating ZISCO and supporting Lancashire Steel. The first one is the reviving of the wire mill plant at Lancashire Steel. This project will see the manufacturing of wire rods, drawn wire, weld wire and brick force, barbed wire as well as galvanised wire. It is expected to create more than 20 jobs and provide wire-related products to both up and downstream industries and generate revenue for the company.

         The second one is the establishment of limestone beneficiation plant at BIMCO. The plant will manufacture burnt lime, aggregate stones for construction and mill limestone into different products. As the House might be aware, we had Kuvimba which had a management contract that has since been terminated owing to non-performance by the contractor. This therefore means that ZISCO board and management have regained urgency to manage and control its own affairs and we welcome this development at this critical juncture.

Furthermore, and more importantly, the Ministry held an Iron

and Steel Indaba on the 12^th and 13^th of December 2024 in Kwekwe, which was officially opened by His Excellency, President Dr. Mnangagwa. The Indaba aimed at revitalising the sector, boosting economic growth and positioning Zimbabwe as a regional manufacturing hub. Critically, several solutions came from the Indaba, rather several proposals came from the Indaba. I am pleased to announce that together with the key players in the sector, the Ministry is already implementing the action plan that came from there. Part of the resolutions pertain to the revival of ZISCO through promoting synergies between Dinson and ZISCO. In fact, we are very close to having the two companies sign an MOU that ensure that they do not compete in producing the same products but rather, complement each other.

Dinson produces pig iron and steel billets for exports and will soon be producing the second stage of hot rolled wires and rolling bars. They have agreed in principle to leave certain types to be produced by ZISCO Steel and these are the shafts, the wire, the beams, the angles and the flat sections. The entire sector will leverage the emergence of Dinson Company, which has started production of pig irons and steel billets. I want to submit by concluding that for their part, ZISCO Steel is currently mobilising resources to revive one of their kins for limestone beneficiation into burnt lime or what we call quick lime, which is used to remove impurities in steel making and is also used in construction such as cement manufacturing. I thank you.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Hon. Minister for the response.  My follow-up question relates to the issue of having truckloads, loads and loads of trucks getting into ZISCO, taking out the scrap for sale. That gave me an indication as a legislator that this company may be scrapped off for good. Do you have any plans to deal with such a situation or is it part of Government policy? Thank you.

HON. N. M. NDLOVU Thank you Mr. Speaker. ZISCO Steel is currently implementing a robust turnaround strategy anchored on a strategic partnership that we are mapping out with Dinson.  We have stopped any stripping of ZISCO, which happened in the main during the life of the contract that I said has been terminated. As I have highlighted, the ZISCO Board and management have taken full control of the operations at ZISCO Steel.  Our focus currently, is to make sure that the capacity that was lost at ZISCO Steel, which was the primary conversion of iron ore into steel, we have regained through Dinson. The entire value chain in this country is linked to ZISCO Steel, hence the importance of having this MOU so that ZISCO Steel begins to come back into production and support the downstream industries including the foundries right across the country. Thank you.

PROMOTION OF THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

 

62. HON. MADZIVANYIKA asked the Minister of Industry and Commerce to update the House on Government plans to promote the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe.

THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. N. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I want to thank Hon. Madzivanyika for asking an important question.  The importance of addressing the ease of doing business cannot be overstated as it directly impacts competitiveness.  However, issues of competitiveness (and ease of doing business by extension) are cross-cutting and can only be addressed through a whole-of-Government systems approach.  Let me point out from the outset that the mandate of ease of doing business has since been relocated to the Office of the President and Cabinet, with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion as the lead Ministry.  However, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce remains a key stakeholder in the whole architecture.

In that regard, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce presented the state of the local industry to Cabinet, which highlighted that there are prospects for growth of the manufacturing sector if appropriate interventions are made, among them the ease of doing business reforms.  The Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan (ZIRGP) (2024 to 2025) provides an opportunity to address these issues constraining industrial performance while promoting the recovery of the manufacturing and commercial sectors.

May I also advise the august House that the Ministry, through the National Competitiveness Commission, convened an Inaugural Competitiveness Summit from 19 – 20 February, 2025 at the ZITF as the Guest of Honour?  The Summit sought to interrogate the country's business operational environment and landscape, with a view to identifying bottlenecks and factors that militate against competitiveness at the national level.  Thus, the ease of doing business takes centre stage.

The Summit also provided a practical call to action, in line with the pronouncement by His Excellency, the President, Hon. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa when he addressed Cabinet on 11^th February, 2025, wherein he emphasised that, ‘To enhance the overall performance of our economy, the ease of doing business continues to be an important aspect of our programing.  In that regard, concerted efforts must be made to revisit all the areas that hinder the start or growth of all investments, whether local or foreign.  Emphasis should be on ensuring that business does not suffer from prohibitive regulations as well as punitive administrative licences and fees required by ministries.  Fees, licences, permits and regulations should promote economic development and improve the livelihoods of the people.

The Ministry’s Current Activities to Promote the Ease of Doing Business

In its endeavour to implement the Call to Action to enhance Competitiveness, the NCC presented the 2024 Zimbabwe Competitiveness Report (ZCR) to the Taskforce on Business Malpractices and the Ease of Doing Business, which is chaired by the Office of the President and Cabinet, on 25^th March, 2025. Going forward, the Hon. Vice President, Gen. Rtd. Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Cluster Ministries, will present the paper before the Cabinet.

The 2024 ZRC provides a comprehensive analysis of Zimbabwe’s productivity and competitiveness performance against comparator countries, with a specific focus on four key competitiveness pillars which are: innovation, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience.  Some of the recommendations in the report include:

Strengthening Public Private Partnerships (PPP) collaboration and allow the industry to lead innovation activities occurring at innovation hubs to ensure demand-driven innovation.

Zimbabwe must focus on increasing investment in road, rail, air, housing, electricity, water and digital infrastructure to promote equitable access to key enablers of economic activity, thereby creating a more inclusive and robust economic environment;

Promote the use of clean and affordable sources of energy;

Development of capital markets to ensure that investors have access to long-term capital;

Incentivise inventors to create new technologies to meet environmental challenges while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement and

Government should promote Industrial Clusters through strengthening technology hubs and innovation clusters in various regions, to foster local tech start-ups and diversify technological resources across sectors.

These proposed recommendations will improve the business operating environment and go a long way in promoting enhanced economic growth and development.  In addition, the Inaugural Competitiveness Summit highlighted key findings and proposed interventions which all are collaborative efforts from the Government, the Private Sector and Academia, among others in their successful implementation. 

Analyses on Cost Driven, Statutory Instruments and Regulatory Charges that Hinder Competitiveness

The Ministry, through the NCC, has also analysed the respective cost drivers with a view to improving the ease of doing business and competitiveness.  These include:

Analysis on the ‘Impact of Overlapping and Multiplicity of Regulations on Zimbabwe’s Business Environment’

Analysis of Regulatory Charges in Zimbabwe;

Analysis of the Impact of intermediary Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) is negatively impacting business and national competitiveness.  A comparison with other countries in the region shows that the Zimbabwe rate of 2% for local currency transactions is higher than those prevailing in the region.

Business Environment Competitiveness Review Initiative – to appreciate the underlying causes/challenges leading to some companies going under distress and corporate rescue.  To date, the Commission has met with OK Zimbabwe, Sai Mart (Choppies) and Truworths in the retail sector and Khaya Cement in the manufacturing sector.

The Ministry’s Future Plans

The Ministry is making the necessary arrangements for the National Competitiveness Commission to undertake a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Study and Stakeholder Dialogue in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF) and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI).

The RIA will unpack the regulatory framework to identify specifics on what currently encumbers the business operating environment, with a view to having this accordingly streamlined to reduce the cost burden on businesses.

Rural and Urban Council Competitiveness Initiative -

Specifically, to review the impact of council or local authority fees, service delivery and infrastructure on local level business environment competitiveness, to streamline some regulatory burdens.

In conclusion, I would like to underscore the point that the ease of doing Business touches on more than one Government department or authority.  Some of the issues to be addressed in improving ease of doing business do not fall under the purview of my Ministry but collectively touch on all MDAs.  This, therefore, calls for a whole-of-Government systems approach to effectively address all the pertinent issues.  I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Those who were following the Hon. Minister’s response, you should google that Indaba on Competitiveness.  That was the issue and you will get the recommendations accordingly, in an effort to bolster the response from the Hon. Minister.

HON. TOGAREPI: Hon Speaker, I move that we give the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education an opportunity to answer his four questions, Numbers 70 to 74.  So, they are five questions.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: I second. Motion put and agreed to.

ASSISTANCE FOR GRADUATES IN SECURING TRAINEE POSITIONS

71. 71. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to explain Government’s initiatives to assist graduates in securing trainee positions to enhance their work-related experiences for future employment.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. SIBANDA): Thank you very much Hon. Speaker for this opportunity. The question from Hon. Makumire addresses a critical aspect of Zimbabwe's Higher and Tertiary Education system aiming to enhance the employability of graduates and bridge the skills gap. The question before us is timely and aligns with the aspirations of our NDS1 and Vision 2030, which prioritise Human Capital Development in innovation and the creation of a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth and transformation.

The Ministry recognises the importance of industrial attachments and graduate trainee positions in equipping them with practical skills, fostering innovation and ensuring that graduates are job-ready. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to implement measures that will guarantee meaningful and industry-aligned experiences for every student. The Ministry has implemented several initiatives to assist graduates in securing trainee positions and enhancing their work-related experience. I will outline these initiatives highlighting their objectives, feasibility challenges and recommendations for further improvement.

Firstly, the establishment of industrial attachment programmes. The rationale behind this is the Ministry has encouraged Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions to establish robust industrial attachment programmes. These programmes aim to provide students with hands-on experience in their respective fields, thereby enhancing their employability. The second one being that this initiative is feasible and has been successfully implemented in various institutions. Partnerships with industries have been fostered to ensure that students receive relevant practical training.

However, there are some challenges in that some institutions face logistical and financial constraints in securing placements for all students, particularly in sectors with limited capacity. Additionally, industries may be reluctant to participate without incentives. The recommendation is that the Ministry will provide additional resources and support to institutions to facilitate the establishment of these programmes. Incentives for industries such as tax breaks should be considered to encourage greater participation. Then the other strategy is collaboration with industry stakeholders. The Ministry has been working closely with industry stakeholders to align academic programmes with skills demanded by the labour market. This collaboration ensures that graduates possess the skills needed by employers.

On feasibility, this initiative is highly feasible and aligns with international standards. Successful models from other countries demonstrate the effectiveness of such collaborations. However, we are facing challenges in terms of collaboration with industry stakeholders. The success of this initiative depends on the willingness of industries to collaborate with academic institutions and the capacity of the Ministry to facilitate these partnerships. The recommendation that we have is that the Ministry would formalise partnerships with industry bodies and chambers of commerce to streamline the process. Regular reviews and updates of curricula should be mandated to ensure ongoing relevance.

Then there is the issue of incentivising companies to offer trainee positions. The Ministry sees that this could be the right thing as it encourages companies to offer trainee positions. The Ministry is proposing incentives such as tax breaks and grants. These incentives aim to increase the number of available placements for graduates. This proposal is feasible and has been successfully implemented in other countries. However, the challenge is that, as a Government, we must ensure that incentives are designed to maximise participation without placing an undue burden on public finances. There is also a risk of companies offering low-quality placements once they hear about the issues to do with incentives.

There is also the issue of introduction of entrepreneurship and financial literacy programmes which can go a long way in terms of the issues that were raised by the question that came from Hon. Makumire. In conclusion, the Ministry is cognisant of the oversight and legislative role of Parliament, which includes providing guidance on policy measures to be undertaken by Government agencies. We welcome any proposals and recommendations from this august House and we are committed to working with all stakeholders to implement them. The proposed initiatives that we spoke about are both ambitious and necessary for addressing the challenges facing Zimbabwe's higher education system and labour market.

Each initiative aligns with the regional, continental and international standards. However, successful implementation will require careful planning, adequate resourcing and strong collaboration between the Government, Universities and the Private Sector. The Ministry recommends the following steps to ensure the effective implementation of these initiatives; Introduce incentives for companies to participate in graduate training programmes and strengthen financial intelligence and entrepreneurship courses into the curricula of higher education institutions. I thank you.

PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES IN LOCAL CURRENCY

72. HON. ENG. MHANGWA asked the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to inform the House on the policy regarding the use of local currency for payment of school fees and measures in place to ensure compliance with the policy considering that some universities, such as the Zimbabwe Open University and Chinhoyi University of Technology oblige learners to pay part of their fees in United States dollars.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. SIBANDA): The question borders around the use of local currency for payment of school fees and measures that are in place to ensure compliance. The Ministry acknowledges the concerns raised and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions remain accessible and affordable to all Zimbabweans in line with national economic policies. The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, has instituted a multi-currency system that allows for transactions in both Zimbabwe gold and foreign currencies, particularly the United States dollar.

This framework is designed to stabilise the economy, promote the use of local currency and facilitate trade in key sectors. Institutions of higher learning are expected to adhere to this policy by accepting fees in ZiG pegged at the prevailing interbank exchange rate. However, it is recognised that some universities, particularly those offering specialised programmes reliant on imported resources such as fuel, vehicles, spare parts and teaching materials, may require partial USD dollar payments to sustain operations. The Ministry has engaged with universities to ensure compliance while balancing the need for institutional sustainability. Measures are in place to monitor adherence and address deviations from the policy.

The Ministry's position on fees payments in local currency. As I have alluded to, the Government's policy mandates all fees and levies in higher education institutions to be paid in ZiG using official exchange rates of the day. However, when institutions procure critically important inputs, they may structure fees in a dual currency model, subject to approval by the Ministry and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

 The other issue is on compliance measures, regular audits. The Ministry, in conjunction with the RBZ, conducts periodic audits to ensure that universities comply with local currency payment policy.

Transparent fees structure. Institutions are required to publicly display fees breakdowns, clearly indicating the portion payable in ZiG and any justified USD components.

Then we also have the grievance mechanism. Students and stakeholders are encouraged to report non-compliance through the Ministry's toll-free hotline and the Tertiary Education Services Council, which is TESC. However, there are challenges here and there in some universities such as Zimbabwe Open University and Chinhoyi University of Technology that face operational constraints due to reliance on imported resources. Hence, you realise that certain programmes justifiably have a certain portion that is charged in USD. The Ministry is engaging these institutions to explore local sourcing alternatives and strategic partnerships to reduce dependency on foreign currency.

Then, on recommendations and way forward, the Ministry will enhance oversight through quarterly compliance reviews and impose penalties on institutions that violate the policy.  Also, ZIMCHE will integrate currency compliance into institutional accreditation standards.

Then, on other issues to do with support for institutions, RBZ and forex allocation to prioritise forex access for universities importing essential educational materials to minimise USD fee burdens on students. Local content promotion will encourage institutions to adopt locally produced teaching aids and equipment through partnerships with industrial training hubs and innovation hubs.

The other issue will be on stakeholder engagement to continuously dialogue with student unions, university councils and industries to align fee structures with economic realities while safeguarding affordability.

In conclusion, the Ministry remains steadfast in enforcing the local currency policy while addressing legitimate institutional challenges. We are committed to striking a balance between policy compliance, quality education delivery and student welfare.

We appreciate Hon. Mhangwa's enquiry and assure this House that corrective measures are being implemented to ensure uniformity and fairness in fees payments across all institutions. The Ministry will table a comprehensive review of the fees payment framework before the Parliamentary Committee for further scrutiny and guidance. I submit. HON. ENG. MHANGWA: Thank you Hon. Minister for the comprehensive response. I am at a loss. In one vein, you say it is Government policy that it is all paid in ZiG. On the other hand, you condone moving away from the policy. Will it be possible to finish the formula that determines the percentage based on the fact that you have Great Zimbabwe University accepting ZiG in totality and ZOU which is meant to be a distance learning institution whereas fuel is common in all universities and should not differentiate one university from another?

In the second vein, ZOU, for somebody possibly doing a degree in education, I am failing to pick where forex comes in. I would ask the Minister to furnish me with the differentials that can help us get to the picture unless he is hiding behind a finger. I so submit.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI. ZHOU): Hon. Mhangwa, can you withdraw the last part of your contribution? I allowed you to explain further but you had already asked your question. To point to the Minister that he is hiding behind a finger is unfair. Please can you withdraw?

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: Madam Speaker, I withdraw for the sake that he answers but that is the feeling that I have.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I want you to withdraw.

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: I withdraw.

HON. S. SIBANDA: Thank you very much Madam Speaker.

I would like to thank the Honourable Member for the follow-up question. My response was to the effect that we do not have institutions that totally reject payments in ZiG but there are specific programmes that rely partly on imported materials for teaching. Those are the programmes where universities engage the student unions and other stakeholders in terms of making all those stakeholders understand the essence of charging in forex. This is not necessarily to benefit the university but it is for the benefit of those students so that they can get quality education. If indeed certain universities totally reject the ZiG as the Hon. Member has put it, we will make a follow-up and make sure, that does not happen because that is illegal. So I submit.

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: On a point of clarity.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: On a point of clarity Hon. Mhangwa:

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon. Minister, as I speak, I have seven different university students for whom I fund their payments. Two are at the University of Zimbabwe, two are with ZOU, one with GZU and the last two are with Chinhoyi University of Technology. This comparison I am giving is based on the payments that we make every semester. Based on this, ZOU insists the first 200 is in USD. CUT says you pay 50% in USD and you pay 50% in ZiG.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Mhangwa, can you go straight to your point of clarity?

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: The point of clarity is, this is happening and there is no uniformity in the universities. There is no formula to determine the programme that is being done. Can the Minister give us the actual position and what happens if a university is errant? I so submit.

 THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister has responded. If you want to add more, you had already clarified on the first part of the question and you repeated the same thing. He cannot then come to express the same sentiments. He has clarified according to the Chair.

Time limit

         HON. PINDUKA: I move that time for Questions with Notice be extended by 30 minutes.

         HON. ENG. MHANGWA: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

INTRODUCTION OF NAMBYA LANGUAGE FOR TRAINEE TEACHERS AT HILLSIDE TEACHERS’ COLLEGE

74. HON. BONDA asked the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to inform the House on the progress being made towards the introduction of Nambya language programmes for trainee teachers at Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. S. SIBANDA): The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development is deeply committed to the preservation and promotion of Zimbabwe's rich linguistic heritage as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and Indigenous Languages Policy of the Ministry. This policy underscores the importance of integrating local languages into our education system to foster inclusivity, empower communities and strengthen national unity.

I am pleased to inform this House that Hillside Teachers’ College has been at the forefront of implementing this policy. The college has already introduced four indigenous languages; Chitonga, Chikalanga, Sisuthu and Chivenda into its curriculum. These programmes are designed to equip trainee teachers with the linguistic and cultural competencies necessary to serve diverse communities effectively. Regarding the Nambya language, the college is actively working towards its incorporation into the curriculum. The college has already engaged Great Zimbabwe University which produces graduates for indigenous languages to secure the needed Nambya language lecturers. Approval from the University of Zimbabwe and other logistics are already underway for the programme to start in January 2026.

However, I wish to assure the House that the Ministry is providing full support to expedite this process ensuring that Nambya is introduced without further delay. The Ministry has taken significant steps to institutionalise the teaching of indigenous languages across higher and tertiary institutions. These include; number one, the policy directive. A directive has been issued to all higher and tertiary institutions to introduce at least four indigenous languages into their curriculum, ensuring nationwide linguistic inclusivity.

         The other initiative is around the National Language Institute. The establishment of the National Language Institute at the Michigan State University which is tasked to develop literature, curricula and research and support the teaching and preservation of indigenous languages. The Ministry remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing linguistic diversity and cultural preservation.

Our immediate actions include model institutions, engaging Hillside Teachers College as a model for integrating indigenous languages studies with practical skills development, ensuring that graduates are well prepared to meet the needs of diverse communities; logistical support in providing the necessary resources and support to finalise the introduction of Nambya at Hillside Teachers College and other institutions.

In conclusion, I extend my gratitude to Honourable Bonda for raising this important question, which reflects our shared vision for an education system that is both globally competitive and deeply rooted in our cultural heritage. The Ministry remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve these goals. Thank you very much. I so submit.

**HON. BONDA: Thank you Hon. Speaker for affording me this opportunity and the Minister for responding. Right now, we are in June. Then we have learners who are going to be writing in November but they do not have teachers. If we are to put the percentages of learners who are passing indigenous languages including Nambya, they are very low.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: These mics are not working and I am not sure whether the Honourable Minister will hear your question . Is it possible that I request you to do that in English?

HON. BONDA: Okay, thank you so much Madam Speaker but with your indulgence, may I point out that this is the reason why we do  not have Nambya interpreters in the House, why? It is because the teacher training colleges in the country are not catering for that language, the minority language called Nambya. As we speak right now, next month is June.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Bonda! It is not that we do not have an interpreter but it appears there is a technical fault with the mics. The interpreter is there but we can hardly hear him.

HON. BONDA: So, if I speak another language besides that, is it going to be okay? I am not actually at liberty to speak the foreign language of English as I am prone to making quite a lot of mistakes and fail to express myself what I want to express.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You can proceed in that language, I understand the Hon. Minister will hear you quite well.

HON. BONDA: Let me break the English, it is fine. Let me get to the point. In June, next month, some children are going to sit for ‘O’-Level and ‘A’-Level exams. Whilst these students are going to sit for Nambya exams, we actually or the Minister has alluded that there are no qualified teachers who are teaching these kids. So, what is the position of the Government when they set exams knowing that there is no teacher who is going to teach those subjects in those schools?  Bulawayo, being the only one with a teacher training college for high school does not have that language but the Minister has alluded to any other language, Chivenda, Tonga, everything is actually being taught there, with the exception of Nambya. The exams are actually ready and the children have actually paid for the exam fees to sit for the exams where there are no teachers who are teaching them.

Which direction are we heading to when it is like this? I just want to know the dedication that this has not been like last year only. It has been ongoing for the past five years…

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Bonda, you need to ask one question at a time so that the Hon. Minister is able to respond. Hon. Minister, did you hear that question quite well? Please proceed and respond.

HON. BONDA: I was yet to complete. I know I could have spoken quite a lot but it was because of the language jargon problem.

I only spoke quite a bit.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: All the same, there is only one supplementary question at a time.

HON. BONDA: It is the same illiteracy in Nambya that I am still...

         You want to debate?

HON. BONDA: Thank you Madam, with your indulgence I will sit down but I just hope I will get a comprehensive answer from this.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. S. SIBANDA): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. My response was pertaining to a question that was raised to do with the training of teachers. I never dabbled on the availability of teachers in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education because that is not in line with my ministry. So, I want to correct the Hon. Member that I never confirmed or denied the existence of teachers.

I was responding to questions pertaining to the training and in response to the follow-up questions that he raised, the issue of the four languages that I have spoken about does not in any way believe the Nambya language but this is a process.

The Hon. Member might recall that this is an issue that was introduced not long ago. That is my request, to appreciate the progress that we are making and the response that I have given and the promise that I have made, that in January 2026, the issue of training of teachers that are going to teach Nambya will be introduced. On the issue of those that are going to write exams, I cannot delve into that, because that is the issue of primary and secondary education. So I submit.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Bonda, are you satisfied? HON. BONDA: Thank you Madam Speaker. For progress sake, we can proceed but I am not satisfied with this.

STATISTICS ON SCHOOL DROP-OUTS IN 2024

 

34. HON. MUROMBEDZI asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to give statistics on school dropouts in 2024 disaggregated by sex, age, districts and provinces.

 THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. GATA): The following information relates to the statistics of school dropouts at primary and secondary level. I have categorised it into provinces. In Bulawayo Province, district by district:

Bulawayo Central, the total was 28, Mbizo, the total was 64, Kami, the total was 32, Mzilikazi, 100, Reigate 61

 Total was 285

Harare Province, Chitungwiza total of 112, Glen View Mufakose 77, High Glen 45, Mabvuku Tafara 111, Mbare Hatfield 34, Northern Central 7, Warren Park 112

Total 489

Manicaland Province Buhera 157, Chimanimani 93, Chipinge 1,330, Makoni 122, Mutare 201, Mutasa 34, Nyanga 110,

Total 2,047

Mashonaland Central, Bindura 297, Guruve 155, Mazowe 344, Mbire 503, Mount Darwin 641, Mzarabani 655, Rushinga 223, Shamva 234

Total 3,052

Mashonaland East, Chikomba 28, Goromonzi 174, Wedza 44, Marondera 52, Mudzi 256, Murewa 149, Mutoko 55, Seke 108, UMP 140,

The total for Mashonaland East is 1 006.

Mashonaland West

Chegutu 164, Hurungwe 569, Kariba 221, Makonde 462, Mhondoro-Ngezi 106, Sanyati 342, Zvimba 328,

The total for Mashonaland West is 2 192.

Masvingo Province.

There is Bikita 119, Chiredzi 889. Chivi 129, Gutu 151, Masvingo 242. Mwenezi 497, Zaka 201.

The total for Masvingo is 2 228.

Matabeleland North Province

 Binga 450, Bubi 107, Hwange 39,  Lupane 227, Nkai 368, Tsholotsho 185, Umguza, 18.

The total for Matabeleland is 1 394.

Matabeleland South Province

Beitbridge 131, Bulilama 59, Gwanda, 81, Insiza 89, Magwe 68, Matopo 57, Umzingwane 14.

The total for Matabeleland South is 499.

Midlands Province

Chirumanzu 60, Gokwe North 1 048, Gokwe South 658, Gweru 275,

Kwekwe 330, Mberengwa 171, Shurugwi 25, Zishavane 64.

The total for Midlands is 2 608.

So the grand total of all the ten provinces, the drop-outs in the primary school, is 15 809.

Then for secondary schools,  Bulawayo Central, 101, Imbizo 102,

Khami 68, Mzilikazi 222. Reigate 164.

The total for Bulawayo is 657.

Harare Province. Chitungwiza, 335.Glenview Mufakose, 189.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Sorry, Hon. Minister. May I kindly request you, with your indulgence, Hon. Murombedzi to give totals for the entire province? Please furnish the Clerks-at-the-Table with the whole list. Just give us the total list for the provinces.

HON. GATA: Alright, thank you.

Harare Province

Glen View Mufakose 189, HighGlen 270, Mabvuku/Tafara 330, Mbare/Hatfield 101, Northern Central 73, Warren Park 290Total for Harare Province is 1 616.

Manicaland Province

Buhera 822, Chimanimani 239, Chipinge 1 270, Makoni 816,  Mutare, 929, Mutasa 257, Nyanga 509Manicaland total 4 842.

Mashonaland Central Province

Bindura 513, Guruve 539, Mazowe 711, Mbire 277, Mt. Darwin 853, Muzarabani 464, Rushinga 408, Shamva 553

Total for Mashonaland Central 4318.

Mashonaland East Province

Chikomba 231, Goromonzi 468, Hwedza 225, Marondera 374, Mudzi 646, Murehwa 541, Mutoko 822, Seke 274, UMP 556

Total for Mashonaland East 3 937.

Mashonaland West Province

Chegutu 556, Hurungwe 1277, Kariba 121, Makonde 1 070, Mhondoro-Ngezi 387, Sanyati 728, Zvimba 632Total for Mashonaland West 4 771.

Masvingo Province

Bikita 721, Chiredzi 688, Chivi 498, Gutu 304, Mavingo 562, Mwenezi 567, Zaka 446

Total for Masvingo 3 786.

Matabeleland North Province

Binga 533, Bubi 309, Hwange 249, Lupane 504, Nkayi 476, Tsholotsho 613, Umguza 137

Total for Matebeleland North 2 821.

Matabeleland South Province

Beitbridge 220, Bulilima 374, Gwkanda 301, Insiza 229, Mangwe 229, Matobo 382, Umzingwane 77

The total for Matebeleland South 1 860.

Midlands Province

Chirumanzu 186, Gokwe North 1 215, Gokwe South 1272, Gweru 422, Kwekwe 730, Mberengwa 712, Shurugwi 378, Zvishavane 223. Total for Midlands 5 138.

So, the grand total of school drop-outs in secondary school is 33 746. These are the statistics Madam Speaker and I will furnish them with a copy.

HON. MUROMBIDZI: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. This House has clearly seen that these numbers of school drop-outs in both primary and secondary education are on the high side. My question to the Hon. Minister is, what is Government doing to ensure that we keep these school children in class? Hon. Speaker, these figures are too high and we would like to know what the Government plans to keep school kids in school.  I so submit.

HON. GATA:  Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.  Thank you Honourable for a very important question. As a Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we have embarked on a programme that is called Early Warning System. This programme, the Early Warning System will help us with indications on what are the causes of school drop-outs in both primary and secondary school.

So, we are training our teachers who are helping us to identify communities that will need help. We are doing this partnering with UNICEF and it has been going on so far for six months. It has started already in schools and as we speak, they are on the ground training our staff.  There are various reasons for school dropouts. Depending on the reasons, some of the reasons could be girls getting pregnant and school fees, which is being catered by BEAM. Girls dropping out because of pregnancy, this is a call to all of us, the House and parental involvement that we help each other with the community.

There are quite a number of reasons of school dropping out. Some may be caused by distance to school and schools are being built to adhere to five kilometres for a child to walk to school and some, it is just clear motivation from parents that is needed. So, I so submit, thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Thank you Honourable Minister.  The extension time has expired but with your indulgence, questions 43, 63, 64 and 65, if the Honourable Members who asked these questions are in the House, I think I need to add more from Hon. Makwiranzou. Written responses can be submitted and they will appear in the Hansard for the sake of those Members who really need the responses to the questions. The same applies to question 35. Hon. Makumire is in the House. Questions 36 to 80 – Hon. Makwiranzou, you had responses to all your questions?

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR OIL AND GAS RESEARCH AND OTHER STRATEGIC MINERALS EXPLORATION (HON. DR. MAKWIRANZOU): I have submitted all the answers. I thank you.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Are they just submitting the answers without giving us the questioners to make follow up questions? Is it for Members of Parliament who are not here or those who are here, I am not getting what is happening?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: If there is any Hon. Member who requests to defer to next Wednesday, it is still alright. You can indicate by standing.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: I indicate that all the questions which are outstanding in my name on the Order Paper be deferred.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I am just referring to those that we have said the Hon. Ministers are here. We will defer all the questions that were asked by Hon. Madzivanyika. Is there any other Hon. Member who feels they need to defer their questions?

Some Hon. Members having stood up

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you very much and Ministers please take note.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

ESTABLISHMENT OF A DIGITAL INFORMATION CENTRE IN CHIPINGE SOUTH

30. HON. C. HLATYWAYO asked the Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services to inform the House what plans are in place to establish a Digital Information Centre in Chipinge South.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON. PHUTHI): The Ministry is establishing Digital Innovation Centres (DICs) across all provinces in the country to provide ICTs to rural and marginalised areas.  The following DICs were established in Chipinge Districts:

1. Checheche
2. Chibuwe
3. Chipinge town
4. Mt Selinda
5. Tongogara Refugee Camp

To reinforce these efforts the Ministry is also working on a project to provide free public Wi-Fi hotspot under the Presidential Internet Scheme to ensure availability of internet connectivity to targeted areas across Zimbabwe.

Community members can connect to the Internet if they have the smart devices to use. This initiative is expected to be more effective as it has a bigger footprint than the physical Digital Information Centres.

IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT LEARNING PROGRAMMES IN BORDER AREAS

31. HON. C. HLATYWAYO: asked the Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services to explain to the House what government is doing to implement computer or ICT learning programmes in Boarder areas in Chipinge, particularly in Makoho Primary, Chinyamukwakwa Secondary and Primary, Mahenye Primary and Secondary, Mabee Primary and Secondary, Chisuma Primary and Secondary schools, Maparadze Secondary and Primary, Mutandahwe Primary and Secondary schools.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES (HON. PHUTI): The Ministry through the e-learning programmes is setting up computer labs and providing internet connectivity in schools around the country. The need is huge but the financial resources are limited. However, every effort is met to ensure equitable distribution of the available resources.

         Key considerations for a school to be equipped with ICT gadgets include the availability of power and ability of the school to provide suitable infrastructure to ensure the security of the ICT gadgets.  Among the schools mentioned above, Chisuma Primary school was resourced with ten laptops in November, 2024.  The other schools will be considered as more resources become available.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 2018

70. HON. C. HLATYWAYO asked the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to inform the House the number of students who have benefited from the National and the Presidential Scholarships district by district since 2018.

THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. SHAVA): Scholarships in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development are administered through the entities such as ZINGSA, CEITD and ZCHPC.  These scholarships are for postgraduate students in STEM disciplines to foreign countries, especially Russia.  The following is a detailed narration of scholarships under the CEIRD.

CEIRD

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development has secured some scholarships with international institutions. Some of those scholarships are facilitated through the Centre for Education Innovation Research and Development (CEIRD).  The CEIRD facilitated scholarships are only a postgraduate level and were first established in 2023.  The target skills for the scholarship programme include:

Biotechnology and Barometrical Science

Agriculture and food technologies

Robotics and Artificial intelligence

Nuclear Science and Nuclear Technologies

Material Science and Engineering

         Current Students Numbers

Year	Number
2023	26
2024	9
2025	Paperwork for 40 students is being processed.  Final number will be confirmed after finalisation.

 

Partners Institutions

The following are institutions that are in partnership with the Ministry:

Don State Technical University (DSTU)

ROSATOM affiliated institutions

People’s Friend University in Russia (RUDN)

INTRODUCTION OF NAMBYA LANGUAGE FOR TRAINEE TEACHERS AT HILLSIDE TEACHERS’ COLLEGE

74. HON. PINDUKA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House what the Ministry is doing to ensure that mining companies which extract mineral resources plough back to the respective local communities, for example, as is the case with Eureka Gold Mines in Guruve.

         THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in Zimbabwe is actively enhancing mechanisms to ensure mining companies contribute meaningly to local communities where they operate as exemplified by Eureka Gold Mines in Guruve. To achieve this, the Ministry is advancing legislative reforms through the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill which explicitly mandates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a legal obligation for mining entities.

Current Legal Framework (Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05]):

         Under the existing Act, there are no explicit provisions requiring mining companies to undertake CSR activities. While the law emphasises environmental protection, safety and royalty payments to the state, it does not formally tie CSR initiatives (e.g community infrastructure, education or healthcare projects) to the retention of mining titles. CSR has largely been voluntary with companies like Eureka Gold Mines in Guruve setting a precedent by independently investing in local schools, roads and water infastructure.

Provisions of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill:

         The Amendment Bill introduces legally binding CSR obligations to institutionalise community development. Key provisions include:

1. Conditional Mining Titles: Companies will be required to submit and implement approved CSR plans as a condition for obtaining or renewing mining licenses.
2. Community Development Agreements (CDAs): Mining firms must negotiate and formalise agreements with local communities to fund projects aligned with their needs (e.g. clinics, schools and employment opportunities).
3. Transparency and Accountability: Regular reporting on CSR expenditures and outcomes will be enforced ensuring communities benefit directly from resource extraction.

Eureka’s voluntary initiatives such as building educational facitilies and improving local infrastructure demonstrate the impact of CSR. The Amendment Bill seeks to replicate such practices nationwide by making them mandatory, ensuring all mining firms contribute equitably to socio-economic development in their host communities. Eureka Gold Mine has undertaken a number of Corporate Social Responsibilities since reopening in 2021. A total of USD883,013.30 has been spent on CSR projects as follows:

NAME OF PROJECT	BENEFICIARIES	COST (USD)
Water and Sanitation Drilled 22 Solar Powered Boreholes	Guruve schools, Guruve host communities, Guruve Growth Point and Bindura City Council	$185,000.000
Community Development Pillar – Constructed a Grey City Muroiwa Dip tank	Surrounding host communities	$35,000
Community Development Pillar -  Road Rehabilitation at Mucheriwa (8km), Grey City (10km) and Bone farm (12km) access	Host Communities	$4,835

 

Roads
Education Pillar donated textbooks to promote quality of education in rural areas	Four primary schools and two secondary schools	$29,036.00
Education Pillar donated 300 chairs and 300 desks	Guruve Primary School	$11,700.00
Education Pillar – payment of school fees for 30 vulnerable and disadvantaged children	Three primary schools and one secondary school in Guruve District	$4,905.00
Education Pillar constructed two classroom blocks at Muroiwa Primary School	Host communities and other surrounding farms	$75,000.00
Community Development Pillar donated 20 chairs for Guruve DDC’s boardroom	All District Stakeholders	$4,400.00
Health Pillar donated 240 blankets and linen at Guruve District Hospital	24 Wards in Guruve District	$9,864.00
Community Development Pillar donated fuel to different stakeholders in Guruve and Mashonaland Central Province	Government Stakeholders and host communities	$42,794.00
Community Development Pillar – fencing of Chief Chipuriro Cultural Heritage Centre	Traditional Leaders and Chief	$6,200.00
Community Development Pillar relocated affected families (construction of 29 modern homesteads)	Host Communities affected	$465,152.30
Education Pillar hosted school prize giving functions	Chimanikire and Guruve Primary	$2,000.00
Hosted Eureka Mine Business Lunch	Key Government and Community stakeholders	$7,127.00

REOPENING OF BINDURA NICKEL MINE

75. HON. HAMAUSWA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House when the Ministry is expected to reopen Nickel Mine in Bindura considering its significance to Mashonaland Central Province and the nation at Large.

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): The Minister of Mines and Mining Development acknowledges the significance of the Bindura Nickel Mine to Mashonaland Central Province and the national economy. Currently, the mine remains under care and maintenance, a status aimed at preserving its infrastructure and ensuring and ensuring environment compliance during its non-operational phase.

The reopening of the mine is contingent upon resolving critical resolving critical legal, finance and operational challenges which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. While no definitive timeline can be provided at this stage, the Government prioritises the mines revival as part of broader efforts to revitalization Zimbabwe’s mining sector. Updates will be shared with the House once inter-ministerial consultations and legal processes conclude.

PLANS TO ASSIST ARTISANAL MINERS IN KWEKWE

 

77. 77. HON. MADZIVANYIKA asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House the plans that the Ministry has to assist artisanal miners in Kwekwe, particularly with regards to concessionary financing and registration requirements.

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINING DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHITANDO): Government has a number of initiatives aimed at supporting artisanal miners:

• Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR), through its Gold Development Initiative Fund (GDIF) recognises the critical role of small to medium – scale miners in Zimbabwe’s gold production. To support their growth and enhance productivity, GDIF provides accessible credit facilities for the acquisition of essential mining equipment and working capital. This initiative directly aligns with the national objective of increasing gold output and ensuring sustainable supply of gold to FGR.
• GDIF Funding in Kwekwe Region

Various mining operations were funded in 2024 in the Kwekwe region as shown below:

Total Miners assisted	Total funding disbursed (US $)
35	3.1 million

 

Impact of GDIF Funding

The funding provided by GDIF has had a significant positive impact on the beneficiaries as evidenced by the following:

Mechanisation of operations:  a substantial portion of the funding has been utilised to mechanise mining operations resulting in improved efficiency and effectiveness. This has resulted in increased efficiency, higher production volumes and improved safety standards.

Start-up machinery and operationalisation – for new mining ventures, GDIF funding has enabled the acquisition of startup machinery facilitating the operationalisation of the projects.

Plant upgrades and increased gold deliveries: existing mining operations have uitlised the funds for plant upgrades, leading to enhanced processing capacity and increased gold deliveries for FGR.

Establishment of milling capacity: some miners have successful established their own milling capacity reducing their reliance on external services and improving overall productivity.

The GDIF’s support for miners in Kwekwe region has instrumental in driving mechanisation, increasing gold production and fostering economic growth. The positive outcomes highlighted in this report underscore the effectiveness of FGR’s initiative in supporting the mining sector and contributing to the national gold production targets.

The Ministry administers the Mining Industry Loan Fund which provides financial assistance to small- scale miners for:

• Acquisition of mining equipment
• Development of mining operations
• Capacity-building initiatives

Additionally, the Government has established a USD 10 million facility specifically to support small-scale miners. A total of 5 million was allocated to ZMDC for establishment of gold service centres and five million to the Mining Industry Loan Fund. There is 2 million drawn from the 10 million facility is accessed through applying to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. The Ministry bought some of the mining equipment which is awaiting to be disbursed on a first come first serve basis. So far, the equipment purchased includes 30 compressors, 7 by 65KVA generators and 100 submersible slurry pumps.

• Technical Assistance

Efforts are also being made to provide training and technical assistance to ensure compliance with the Mines and Minerals Act and promote sustainable mining practices. The Chief Government Mining Engineer’s Office undertakes awareness campaigns on Safety, Health and Environmental Issues.

iii. Registration Requirement

         To register a mining claim, there is need for financial capital and knowledge of mineral occurrences in the area of interest.  However, the procedure for registration of a mining claim is as follows:

1. Acquire a Prospecting Licence; Purchase a valid prospecting licence from the relevant Provincial Office at a fee of USD 75 ( or equivalent in local currency)
2. Ground Demarcation: Engage a certified pegger to demarcate the boundaries of the proposed mining claim on-site in compliance with statutory regulations

• Submit Application: Lodge the completed application for claim registration, accompanied by demarcation reports and non- refundable processing fee of USD 150 (or equivalent) to the Mining Commissioner’s Office or designated Ministry of Mines Department.

1. Surveyor Verification: A Government – appointed surveyor will conduct an on- site inspection to verify the demarcated boundaries and confirm adherence to legal requirements.
2. Issuance of Certificate: Upon successful verification, a Certificate of Registration will be processed and issued, granting legal rights to the mining claim.

INFORMATION ON THE GEOLOGICAL REPORT OF MINERALS

79. HON. D. MOYO asked the Minister of Mines and Mining Development to inform the House whether the Ministry has a comprehensive Geological Report of minerals and to state whether there is any value addition that has been achieved from the minerals.
80. Comprehensive Geological Report on Minerals.

A geographical report is a comprehensive document that analyses and interprets geological conditions of a specific area, providing critical insights for decisions – making in various fields. The Ministry does not have a comprehensive geological report. However, a geological report database can never be said to be comprehensive because new information is always being generated as said to be comprehensive because new information is always being generated as result of new technology and new understanding of geological process. About 60% of the country has been geologically mapped with all known mineral deposits in the areas well documented. This information has been complicated by information that is continuously being generated by private companies from their exploration in EPOs. Information from these activities has resulted in the generation of important archives, which can be conveniently put into three layers.

1. Mineral maps giving a bird`s eye view of the distribution of all known economic minerals of Zimbabwe with a high level summary of each known mineral deposit.
2. Regional geological bulletins that describe mineral potentials of particular areas.
3. A rich archive of technical reports on individual known mineral deposits and exploration reports submitted by private companies.

Mineral exploration is however dynamic and conducted at many levels from grassroots to mine development exploration. Currently, the Ministry is expediting issuance of EPOs to promote continuous exploration, especially at grassroot level while putting provisions for synergies between owners of poorly explored deposits and those with capital for brownfields exploration.

1. value addition and beneficiation

         There is value and beneficiation being undertaken in Zimbabwe. In line with the aspirations of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1:2021-2025) of increased value addition and beneficiation, the Ministry of implementing a number of strategies including:- Banning exportation of beneficiation tax on exportation of platinum group metals concentrates, chrome ores, granite blocks and lithium ores.

A number of value addition and beneficiation projects have been implementation since the inception of the 2^nd Republic. The value addition and beneficiation projects which have been implemented in the gold sub sector include Fidelity Gold Refiners in Masasa.

The iron and steel Plant in Manhize; A number of projects underway in the PGMs subsector include Zimplats expansion projects in Ngezi, Mimosa Smelter in Zvishavane, Unki smelter in Shurugwi. A number of smelters have been established in the chrome sector including Afrochine Smelting in Selous, Jin An Smelter in Gweru, Zimasco Smelters in Kwekwe. A number of lithium processing plants have been established in Kamativi Mining Company Lithium Processing Plant in Hwange, Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe in Goromonzi, Bikita Minerals in Masvingo, Sabi Star in Buhera. Lithium producers have also committed to establish plants to process lithium concentrates into lithium salts Coke Oven Batteries established include Dinson Colliery Coke Oven Battery in Hwange, South Minning Coke Battery amongst others. On the 24^th of February 2025, His Excellency, the President, Cde Dr. E. D Mnangagwa officiated the ground – breaking ceremony of Palm River Industrial Park in Beitbridge, which is going to house various minerals beneficiation facilities. This is well in line with our vision as Government increased value addition and beneficiation. 

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. KAMBUZUMA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 26 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day Number 27 has been disposed of.

HON. C. MOYO: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT ON THE STATE OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

         Twenty-Seventh Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the state of the electricity supply in Zimbabwe.

         Question again proposed.

HON. SIHLABO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am. Firstly I would like to express my gratitude to the Portfolio Committee Members who diligently participated in coming up with this comprehensive report on the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply, which assess generation capacity, distribution challenges and the sector’s inefficiencies.

Secondly, I would like to thank all the Hon. Members in the House who comprehensively debated on this economic enabler and also proffered possible solutions.

Thirdly, I would like to thank the Deputy Minister for his comprehensive reply even though the Committee noted some misunderstanding in a few issues which the two parties have since amicably dealt with.

Hon. Speaker Ma’am, the energy sector is a crucial enabler for our country to achieve its desired goals of an Upper Middle-Income country by 2030. Therefore, the Committee is grateful to the Ministry’s taking to heart its report and its recommendation. I therefore move for the adoption of this report.

Motion that this House considers and adopts the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development on the state of the electricity supply in Zimbabwe (S.C. 2, 2024),  put and agreed to.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that Order of the Day, Number 28 be stood over until Order of Day Number 29 on today’s Order Paper is disposed of.

         HON. C. MOYO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND CHILD CARE ON NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

         Twenty-Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the benchmark visit by the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. CHINANZVAVANA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. May I take this opportunity to thank all those who took the time to debate the visit to Seychelles by the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus? May I move that this House adopts the Report?

Motion that the Report of the benchmark visit by the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus on Advocacy on Anticorruption, Electoral Reforms and the operations of the Seychelles Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in advancing gender equality,  put and agreed to.

On the motion of HON. KAMBUZUMA, seconded by HON. C. MOYO, the House adjourned at Five Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.