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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 10 JUNE 2025 Vol. 51 No. 52

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Tuesday, 10^th June, 2025

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

PRAYERS

(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)

         THE HON. SPEAKER: It is good to hear that your Parliament successfully hosted the 57^th Plenary for the SADC Parliamentary Forum for seven good days. All our external delegates were extremely more than happy at the level at which the Parliament of Zimbabwe hosted in terms of logistics and hospitality. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Zimbabwean delegation who performed very well during the sessions. They did not disappoint. A special commendation also goes to the Clerk of Parliament and the preparatory team who worked so seriously to ensure that all went exceptionally well. Congratulations!

It would also please you to know that the Zimbabwean Parliament has hosted the SADC PF for the sixth time. However, more importantly, the Plenary was graced by His Excellency the President himself, who gave a very exceptional keynote address, giving guidance to the Assembly on how the Parliaments of SADC can and should look forward to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in our Parliamentary processes and of course, because His Excellency had given the green light for us to host and we did get sufficient funding from Treasury accordingly. We say thank you to His Excellency -[HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]-  

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICE

         THE HON. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that there will be a Roman Catholic Church Service on Thursday, 12^th June, 2025 at 1200 hours in Special Committee Room Number 1. All Members of Parliament are invited.  

ERROR ON THE ORDER PAPER

         THE HON. SPEAKER: I am sure you have checked the Order Paper of the Day. I have to draw your attention to the error on today`s Order Paper where the date is captured as Thursday, 10^th June, 2025 instead of Tuesday, 10^th June 2025 and the issue is being corrected accordingly.  

HON. TOGAREPI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of national interest.  As a citizen of this country, I have been observing that over the years before I became a Member of Parliament, when I became conscious as a citizen that in Zimbabwe, we have a lot of people who have dedicated their lives to assisting others, to giving their resources where they see a need.  I have seen this from yesteryear, people like Jairos Jiri and many others.  Today we have people who have dedicated their resources to assisting people who have challenges and problems, just to give.

Mr. Speaker, we need, as a country, to start appreciating that donations can come from our own people than from other countries.  Our own people who have means must be allowed to support where they want to support and be respected for that mentality of supporting. The mentality that this country can only accept donations that come from other countries, I pray that our God intervenes and removes that from our minds so that we start also to applaud our own citizens, our donors, so that we build a country of people with empathy, people who would want to see other people living well.

 So it is my prayer when I read or hear people going against or thinking that whoever assists means whatever wealth he is using is ill-gotten.  That mentality is wrong.  We are a people, there is a spirit of ubuntu in our people.  We have always assisted each other in our communities.  So if we have others who are prepared to assist, let us respect and encourage – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] - I also include you as Members of Parliament because you do a lot of work in your communities.  You need to be applauded for the good work, for helping those who want to go to school but who cannot pay school fees.  When you do it you want to be respected but when other people do it, you start calling them names.

I want Mr. Speaker with your indulgence, that as a people, let us respect those people who give their own wealth to help others.  

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you very much Hon. Togarepi.  I am pleased that you included Members of Parliament.  I am aware that Members of Parliament are called upon to contribute at funerals.  Even if they have limited resources they have managed to contribute.  I know that others are paying fees for students from less privileged families.  I think the spirit of philanthropy has to be encouraged and the Members of Parliament, I think, are taking the lead in that respect.  Thank you.

HON. MAUNGANIDZE:  Mr. Speaker Sir, today I rise to address an escalating concern that affects the safety and well-being of our communities across Zimbabwe, the increase in road accidents associated with patrons travelling from nightclubs.  This is a pressing issue that calls for immediate action and immediate response.

In recent months, we have observed a troubling rise in traffic incidents, particularly during night-time hours involving individuals who would have enjoyed the vibrant nightlife our cities offer.  While we celebrate the thriving social scene and the economic contributions of our entertainment industry, we must also ensure the safety of our citizens on the roads.  

To mitigate these preventable accidents, we must implement stricter laws including rigorous breathalyser tests by law enforcement.  Positioning police checkpoints on routes to nightlife venues ensures that drivers are sober, thereby reducing the risk of accidents caused by impaired driving.  Breathalyser testing not only acts as a preventative measure but also empowers our police force to uphold the law effectively.  In addition, there should be an automatic withdrawal of the driver's licence if the offence is repeated by the offender.  Furthermore, there should be automated speed limit systems.

I urge the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to prioritise this initiative and procure the necessary equipment and training to execute it efficiently.  Furthermore, I encourage the promotion of community-driven initiatives such as in-drive programmes where designated sober drivers offer safe transportation options for individuals living nightclubs.

These programmes have proven successful in other nations in not only reducing accidents but also cultivating a culture of responsibility and care among patrons.  Tragically, innocent children are dying as a result of these accidents.  We cannot allow nightlife enjoyment to come at the cost of innocent lives.  By enforcing stiffer laws and implementing preventive measures, we can protect our citizens and create a safer environment. Thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you very much.  Yes, the road carnage must decrease definitely.

         HON. C. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. Today, University of Zimbabwe strike is on day 57. Students and lecturers are not attending lectures. The newly recruited adjunct lecturers drawn from the streets are also not attending lectures. Dissertations are not being supervised and exams are not being written.

Yesterday, there were demonstrations from the lecturers, yet other students are to go for attachments. It seems this semester is a sheer waste of time to students as well as a loss to parents' hard-earned money. There is chaos and uncertainty at our institution. If it pleases you Hon. Speaker Sir, I request the absent Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, to come only once and give us a Ministerial Statement on the negotiations, deadlocks or practical police intervention to bring normalcy to our tertiary institution. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Before I accept your statement, you have to disabuse part of the statement where it says, the only one who does not attend Parliamentary sessions because the Hon. Minister has given apologies and the apologies have been accepted. So, can you recant on that one?

HON. C. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Speaker, I withdraw.

THE HON. SPEAKER: We will advise the Hon. Minister, if he can make a Ministerial Statement on the situation. Thank you.

 SECOND READING

PARKS AND WILDLIFE AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 1, 2024]

         First Order read: Adjourned debate on the Second Reading of the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill [H. B. 1, 2024].

         Question again proposed.

         HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill. Maybe before I dive into my debate, I want to ask whether the new Minister of Environment upon which this Bill falls under is within the House or the Leader of the Government Business is the one that is now steering the Bill. I think it is important that we understand that whatever we are going to say is being captured.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Whatever you say is captured in the Hansard and the Leader of Government Business is here. So, you may proceed. There is Cabinet meeting today.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. The question of bringing the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill has been on the cards for a long time. One of the things that we all were happy about when we heard that the Bill had been gazetted, was that it would then take cognisance of the issues that are affecting the industry. First and foremost, the current Bill that has been laid before Parliament does not speak to the policies that the Government has actually been speaking on with respect to wildlife biodiversity. We believe that there is a situation where the policy direction by the Government is not fully being followed within the arms of this Bill.

The second issue is the crafting of the Bill itself.  If you go through it, you will see that there are a lot of technical challenges in the drafting of the Bill. You then realise that there have been a number of general definitions that have been made in a very wrong way, to the extent that the deficiencies may be within our Attorney General and needs to be sorted out so that in the future, we will not have a Bill that will create problems even for the next generation. This Bill seeks to create a vehicle to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict. Whilst this is noble and it is a step in the right direction, I believe that this Bill does not adequately address...

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, I think you need to be more decisive in your observations. For example, on the interpretation of clauses, you did not even mention one or two interpretations that you think have not been properly crafted or a provision that you think has not been properly crafted. Rather than speaking in general terms, where are the examples? One or two?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look even at the definition of wildlife, the way it is crafted within the Bill,  it means all forms of animal life, wild or domesticated, whether vertebrate, indigenous or exotic, it is not a proper definition because they cannot be all animals…

HON. TAFANANA ZHOU: Point of order. The document which the Hon. Member is reading, we dismissed it as a Committee. He must not come with the wrong document into the House. Thank you.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, maybe the Hon. Member has not gone through the Bill. I was speaking to what the Speaker has referred to me.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: No, you are not answering my question. I said, have you captured the observation by Hon. Zhou?

HON. MUSHORIWA: No, I am not even aware of that. I am not part of that Committee and I am not aware of any report that he proposed to have been sent.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: So, you are not aware?

HON. MUSHORIWA: No, I am not aware of that report.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Are you reading from the text of the Bill?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes, this is the Bill Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE HON. SPEAKER: What page is that?

HON. MUSHORIWA: This is Clause 2, page 3 of the Bill.

         THE HON. SPEAKER:  Clause 2 seeks to do what?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Remember Mr. Speaker, you actually asked me to provide you with the examples.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes but in Clause 2, what does it say?

HON. MUSHORIWA: It is an amendment to Section 2 of [Chapter 20:14].

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, what does it say?

HON. MUSHORIWA: It talks of the various definitions. In respect to that, Mr. Speaker Sir...

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Point of order Mr. Speaker.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Point of order Hon. Minister.

HON. Z. ZIYAMBI: What he read is the definition of animal, but he is speaking about a wild animal. You are very correct to say, point to us where the definition of a wild animal is and it speaks exactly to what he is saying.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes and I am saying that definition is not the correct definition. Yes, the definition was put and what I am saying Hon. Speaker is that if you have read through the Leader of the House, you would have seen that there is quite a number of omissions. This definition, in all fairness, cannot be the definition of wildlife. You will see even when it comes to the question of the Committee Stage, that there has been some missing link. Not only that...

THE HON. SPEAKER: All right, what is the definition of wildlife?

HON. MUSHORIWA: In my view Mr. Speaker Sir, the definition of wildlife should actually...

THE HON. SPEAKER: Do you have your phone there?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes, I do have my phone.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you google?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes, I did Mr. Speaker Sir. The definition...

THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you google wildlife?

HON. MUSHORIWA:  Yes, I can Google and I can prove to you Mr. Speaker that the definition is totally different from this one.

HON. TOGAREPI: Point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes.

HON. TOGAREPI: The Hon. Member just said it clearly, that his papers are not in order. He is actually out of order. So, we want to wait for somebody who is not in order to get something that will be orderly. I think we can allow him to go and redo his research, maybe come on another motion, for now let him sit. We want to proceed. We do not want to waste time here.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker, I think the Government Chief Whip is trying to undermine the Speaker's orders...

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! You are out of order because I have not responded to the point of order. Yes, I have the Bill with me now. The question is, are you prepared to debate or you want to put your papers in order?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker, I am much ready to debate. I wanted to address this issue. If you check on the definition of wildlife, you had asked me to Google; the Google definition says wildlife refers to un-domesticated animals and uncultivated plants, which is the total opposite of the definition that is within the Bill. In this Bill, the definition includes domesticated animals.

HON. Z. ZIYAMBI: Point of order Mr. Speaker.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes.

HON. Z. ZIYAMBI: Hon. Speaker, if you go to page 2, between lines 10 and 20, there is a definition of an animal. That is what he is making reference to, on page 2. Maybe if he can indicate the definition of a wild animal that he is making reference to.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Mr. Speaker, let me assist you in this. Can I be allowed to assist Mr. Speaker? I am sure there is something that he is missing there.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Please respect your Standing Orders. A point of order has been raised by the Hon. Minister here. You wait for my response, you do not just chip in. Right! On page 2, there is no definition of wildlife. Yes, Hon. Mushoriwa.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Mr. Speaker, then maybe we have got two different Bills. If you go under G, you will see that wildlife means all forms of animal life.

THE HON. SPEAKER: On G yes, so what is the issue there?

HON. MUSHORIWA: I was asking about the definition you had asked me to Google.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, yes.

HON. MUSHORIWA: It is just one example, to say that in terms of wildlife, it does not include domesticated animals. I have checked with Google what you had asked me to do. It speaks the opposite. Not only that Mr. Speaker Sir, there are quite a number, even when you go to the exotic wild animal. The definition again...

THE HON. SPEAKER: Just to help you, you can have wildlife, say a lion and it is domesticated. You can touch it and play with it. You have elephants in the zoo and the elephant is a wildlife but it is in the zoo domesticated. Do you follow that?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes Mr. Speaker Sir, I follow what you are saying. The only challenge...

THE HON. SPEAKER: Do you not think you have overstretched your interpretation?

HON. MUSHORIWA: No Mr. Speaker Sir, if you go to the wildlife in general, even if you Google, if you do that...

THE HON. SPEAKER: No, no, I have helped you. You can have domesticated wildlife, especially in a zoo where you can play and touch them but they still remain wildlife.

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes Mr. Speaker Sir, I hear where you are coming from.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Right, if you hear, can you proceed?

HON. MUSHORIWA: Yes and I was going to also say that, even if you look at the definition of an exotic wild animal, in this view, say that it is not endemic to Zimbabwe. In real terms Mr. Speaker Sir, this is not indigenous to Zimbabwe. These are some of the typographical mistakes that are there, which I wanted to just highlight.

         THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I think Hon. Mushoriwa wants to be seen to be making a point that is not there. You have rightly assisted him with the definition of a wildlife and an exotic wild animal. I have an amendment that is there.  If he has the Order Paper, he has seen that but he wants to labour on things that we are going to do in the Committee Stage, where I am proposing a definition and he is also proposing a definition. So, he is grandstanding to show everyone that he has read it fully when things are there on the Order Paper, Mr. Speaker Sir.  Can we surely do that? I so submit Mr. Speaker.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you very much Leader of Government Business.  Hon. Mushoriwa, I think when we come to the analysis of clause by clause during the Committee Stage, your observation will be relevant.  However, the Hon. Leader of Government Business indicated that some amendments have been already noted. So, you may proceed with the main argument of your presentation.

HON. MUSHORIWA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  It is true that we have put amendments to this Bill but you see, only one thing that we have read, it does not follow that the amendments will be adopted at the Committee Stage. Sometimes you need to debate the Second Reading of the Bill.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, we are not in Committee Stage now. I thought you would go to the general principles of the Bill.

HON. MUSHORIWA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.   What I am basically saying is that the crafting of this Bill, the numerous errors and mistakes makes it difficult for even stakeholders to follow. Then, the second issue Mr. Speaker, has to do with the point of order…

HON. Z. ZIYAMBI:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker.  He does not need to debate the Bill.  I think it is not fair for him to continuously hammer on things that he can advise and pinpoint when we get to the Committee Stage.  He should be looking at the principles of the Bill. Now he is looking at the technical aspects of the Bill as if he himself is a drafter. He is a layman. He does not have any single drafting skill but he is hammering on things that he does not have know-how on. The Second Reading speech is about articulating the general principles of the Bill. Then on the Committee Stage, we go clause by clause. You identify where you feel as a newly crowned drafter it has been drafted wrongly. I submit, Mr. Speaker.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you Hon. Minister.  Hon. Mushoriwa, I am sure that point of order was very eloquent, emphasising what I had indicated to you before. If you could go to the general principles of the Bill.

HON. MUSHORIWA:  Mr. Speaker Sir, I believe that when you look at this Bill, there are a number of issues.  One of the things that I wanted to raise is to do with accountability. I actually think that we need to ensure that this Bill should ensure that when it comes to the reports that are supposed to be tabled before Parliament, they should actually be done timely in sync with other legislation. Then Mr. Speaker Sir, there is the question of the authority to determine and allocate quotas for consultative purposes. I want to submit to you Mr. Speaker, that the provision within this Bill where these quotas are going to be done on an annual basis will not be sustainable. I wanted this Bill to make sure that at least we should do this periodically but maybe only for a period which is actually more than a year. Then tied to this Mr. Speaker Sir, there is the question of the donations of wildlife.  I think this needs to be re-looked into. I understand from the Bill, it simply says that any donations of wildlife outside Zimbabwe shall be done by the President. I actually believe that it needs to go deeper and simply say it has to be done under the recommendations of the wildlife industry itself and the Parks and Wildlife Management Commission because it is very important.  Then Mr. Speaker Sir, I have got a challenge, a very huge challenge when it comes to allowing Wildlife Parks…

THE HON. SPEAKER: You have got one minute to go.

HON. MUSHORIWA:  Mr. Speaker, am I going to get the other time that I was being interrupted?

THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, during the Committee Stage you will.

HON. MUSHORIWA:  Mr. Speaker Sir, there is no way I can debate in a minute. I was going to ask for indulgence for another five minutes. I was going to say that there is another issue that is being contained within this Bill.  This Bill seeks to allow mining within wildlife areas.  I think that it will not be good for the wildlife industry. So, I think there is a need for us to re-look into this and also read it with the Mines Bill which will be coming.  What we have Mr. Speaker Sir, is a situation where we have got one legislation which speaks for the other side and the other ones coming and also being the opposite. Mr. Speaker Sir, because of the time, I think as you rightly stated, we will then have to put it through the Committee Stage. Basically, my only submission is that this Bill needs reworking for it to really contribute to the wildlife industry as well.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you Hon. Mushoriwa. As I indicated, you will have more time to critique the Bill at the Committee Stage clause by clause.

HON. CUMANZALA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  I am very happy to add my voice to this debate on the governance of wildlife resources in Zimbabwe. I will start from a historical perspective, briefly.

Mr. Speaker, as all the Members are aware, during colonial or pre-colonial times, local communities in Zimbabwe managed natural resources in a sustainable way. Traditional leaders, in particular, exercised effective control over land and wildlife, ensuring that communities lived in harmony with nature. However, this balanced approach was disrupted during the colonial era, that is 1890 to 1980 when wildlife resources were heavily exploited for the benefit of the colonial administration.  By 1969, there were already three ranches established for commercial exploitation, often at the expense of local communities. The Wildlife and Parks Act of 1975 marked a significant shift in wildlife management, as it was introduced to grant European settlers the power to sell, shoot and trade wildlife for their economic benefit. This legislation effectively marginalised local communities who had been denied any significant say in the management of resources that had previously sustained them.

Post-independence reforms attempted to address some of these historical injustices. The 1982 Amendment to the Wildlife and Parks Act aimed to involve communities to a certain extent but Government control persisted leading to continued encroachment on community rights and interests. Let me dwell on the major issues and concerns today about wildlife governance.

Today, the governance of wildlife resources in Zimbabwe is fraught with challenges. A prevailing issue is the marginalisation of local communities from decision-making processes regarding natural resource management. There is a widespread perception that communities are denied equitable access to the benefits derived from wildlife which is evident in regions such as the Zambezi Valley including Mbire areas, Hurungwe, Kariba, Binga up to Hwange. Despite being rich in wildlife and natural resources, this region has not seen a significant improvement in the livelihoods of its local inhabitants.

Zimbabwe’s policies and laws remain outdated, often prioritising State and corporate interests over the needs and rights of local communities. This situation contradicts Section 13 (4) of the Zimbabwe Constitution of 2013, which stipulates that local communities should benefit from the natural resources within their areas. In Binga for example, there are multiple issues concerning access and control over wildlife resources. Chizarira and Chete National Parks are managed by the Government while other conservancies are controlled by private players. Having mentioned Chizarira National Park and Chete Safari areas, I would like to say, maybe this is an opportunity for Government to review the governance of these resources. Chizarira and Chete National Parks are wholly located in Matebelaland North and are located particularly in Binga but they are controlled from Midlands Province, which is something that we inherited from the colonial arrangement. I think this should be stopped. This complex arrangement raises questions about community rights to benefit from these resources and their role in supporting conservation efforts.

The country’s fragmented legal framework further complicates matters. The Communal Lands Act (Chapter 20:04), Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13) and Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17), each regulate different aspects of natural resource management. However, there is a lack of coordination between these laws, making it difficult to implement effective strategies that uphold community rights. Community-based initiatives such as the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE), once a promising approach for promoting local participation in wildlife management, have become ineffective in recent years.

I remember very well during the times of CAMPFIRE, clinics, schools and other infrastructure were put in place in these areas which I have mentioned above. To address these challenges, it is essential to prioritise effective community engagement and fair benefit-sharing in the governance of wildlife resources. Communities must receive direct benefits from the resources they help conserve, rather than bearing the negative impact without compensation. It is also necessary to resolve boundary conflicts between national parks and local community lands to facilitate better resource management.

Updating Zimbabwe’s policy and legislative framework is critical for sustainable natural resource governance. Current policies are outdated and need harmonisation to ensure that they support modern conservation strategies and community rights. Strategies for improving the management of wildlife in national parks should include community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms and the clear demarcation of boundaries to avoid conflicts.

By addressing these concerns, Zimbabwe can ensure that wildlife management not only supports conservation but also contributes to the well-being of local communities. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

*HON. NKANI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I also have a few words to add on the issue that is being discussed, the issue of co-existence between people and wildlife especially in rural areas.

The first issue is that the land is not increasing in size. The size of the land remains the same. If you own land for example, 10 hectares, it is going to remain at 10 hectares and also expecting the number of people to increase, which clearly indicates that people need areas to build their homesteads and farms to grow their crops and do other different activities.

Moreover, on the side of wild animals, wild animals are breeding, which means we are now focusing and in the near future, we are going to have a conflict between wildlife and humans. When we have a conflict between wildlife and people, there are issues which are going to arise. Firstly, people’s crops are going to be destroyed by wild animals such as elephants. If the elephants invade an area where people are staying, they destroy all the plants, which indicates that the issue being debated in this House is very pertinent.

Secondly, the co-existence of wildlife and people is dangerous. We have diseases that are in wildlife but when the wildlife now mixes with humans, the diseases that affect wild animals affect people.  For example, when people are bitten by tsetse flies, they might suffer from sleeping sickness.  We will now be amazed why someone is behaving this way when he or she is sleeping everywhere. These are diseases that are being caused by wild animals because they will be bringing the diseases to people since there is not enough space.

There is also another disease called epilepsy. On research, it clearly shows that epilepsy is caused by diseases originating from wild animals, which clearly indicates that the issue being discussed is very pertinent. We must come up with a resolution to avoid conflict between wildlife and humans. I suggest that for us to put fences and boundaries between wild animals and people is difficult because the population of wildlife is continuing to increase. I suggest that when the population of wildlife has grown, we must kill the older ones, especially the elephants. We must kill the older elephants, sell the tusks and retain the money to the communities for their initiative of development, like road rehabilitation and borehole drilling.  We will get finances from the elephant tusks that we would have killed and sold and we can also distribute the meat to the locals because they are the beneficiaries or the owners of the resources.

 On the same issue, we see that we have put ourselves in a difficult position concerning the agreements which we had engaged, especially the CITES, agreements which we have entered into with other countries. These countries do not have wild animals. They are preventing us from killing our wild animals. They are saying we must consult them when we want to kill our wildlife. They tell us not to kill the wild animals but they do not have any conflict with these animals because they do not stay in the same area with them. These issues need to be scrutinised and as a country, we must not engage in those laws which prevent our freedom to do whatever we want with the wildlife that exist in our country.

The other problem is that those who are responsible for wildlife, for example, I come from Chakari, elephants come and spend even a week destroying the plants. If we report the issue to the Parks and Wildlife authorities, they do not come immediately. They will be telling you that they do not have staff. If this person who is responsible is going to attend something, you co-exist with these wild animals for a long time. You can come up with all the traditional ways of scaring those elephants away; beating drums but they do not go.  When they destroy crops, if you ask them to compensate you in terms of the crops destroyed by the wildlife, they do not do anything.

As an initiative, Government must increase the number of wildlife rangers so that people can get help timeously. These people who work under Parks and Wildlife are not mobile.  When there is a problem, they will go on foot or go to rural district councils to ask for transport.  They do not have vehicles to move around monitoring the situation and also attending to emergencies.  This is another issue which needs attention so that the number of park rangers is increased and also the resources needed for them to execute their duties properly and timelessly must be increased.

A few years back, there were CAMPFIREs. These were committees which included locals who were responsible for the problems which have arisen with the wildlife. Right now, we do not have these campfires. Wild animals are moving from one point to another willingly without any control. I thank you.

         HON. W. MAPOSA:  Thank you so much for giving me time to debate the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, to amend the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act, to repeal the trapping of animals and animal control, to repeal the killing, control and to provide the voting method connected with the foregoing.  The Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill in Zimbabwe aims to empower communities.

The Bill seeks to increase community involvement in wildlife resources and commercial activities. It also aims to divulge conservation and management responsibilities to local communities, to establish a conservation fight.

The Bill seeks to establish a Fund to compensate the victims of human and wildlife conflicts, including those who have been killed, maimed or lost their property as well as their life. It is very important in this Bill to have wildlife experts. The Bill seeks to professionalise wildlife experts. Formalisation of hunting quotas; the Bill seeks to formalise the system for allocation quotas of hunting animals in our communities.

Localised ownership of wildlife, the Bill seeks to ensure a gender and regional representative on the authority board and to include traditional leadership.

The Bill was also tabled by the former Climate and Wildlife Minister. It was first read in Parliament before it was referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee. The Parks and Wildlife Amendment, amends the key reflections of the Bill.

I also note that the Bill proposed formalisation of the existing system of allocation of quotas for hunting of animals and of other professional management activities. It also provides private donation of animals outside Zimbabwe, confirm and delegate appropriate authority.

The Bill also states community’s ownership of wildlife and criminal penalties in handling and removal of animals or animal products from recreational parks and sale of animals or animal products.

The key takeaways - we have lost a lot of people in our communities. There is a need for sensitisation of communities before public consultations are done. It is critical that communities are informed about proposed laws and their implications before they participate in consultations, which are key in our communities.

The importance of appropriation and diversion of the Bill being transcribed into local languages. There is also a challenge, sometimes we do not produce these Bills in our local languages. This will help ensure that all communities remember and understand the Bill and participate effectively if you translate it into their own languages.

There is a need for enhanced participation of youths in public hearings and deliberations, including youth representation in local boards.

Youths also need to be included in the board of the World Life and Parks Board. Considerable compensation for animals, crops and livestock, was destroyed because of human life conflicts. As I speak, in my constituency Hon. Speaker Ma'am, there are a lot of hyenas which are causing havoc, killing the community's livestock and they are not even getting any compensation.

 Our wildlife is overpopulated. It is also proposed that the Government should have a month of canning for those who are overpopulated. Once the Government does a canning, they have to give out this meat to our community so that they can also benefit from the cake. The Government should also open an account. If somebody has been attacked by a wild animal, they should not pay a single cent at the hospital. They should be attended to rather than to say, go and look for money when someone is suffering.

The communities are ready to work with the Government. Give the meat to the community so that they also benefit from the canning of animals that are overpopulated. So I submit.

HON. NJANJI: Thank you Madam Speaker. Allow me at this moment to express my thoughts, facts and insights about the Bill before us. Let me begin by applauding the Second Republic under His Excellency for being sensitive and responsive to issues affecting the citizens, which is captured in their unwavering commitment to the enactment and amendment of legislations that are critical for the Socio-Economic Development of our country.

Several tenets of our amendments are affected in the Bill. However, are more drawn towards the clause which speaks about the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund Part 2C page 7 of the Bill which reads, “They shall be established a fund to be called the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund, whose object shall be to offer some monetary relief to victims of Human-Wildlife Conflict”, that is to say, victims of any encounter with a wildlife animal resulting in the death of victim or his or her maiming, that is to say, any permanent disablement of a bodily function or any other physical injury to the victim.

This is one of the greatest virtues of this Bill, which I find smoothing and critical in the light of the many deaths injuries and crop destruction, which is the daily order of living communities like Mbire in Mashonaland Central Province, where Human and Wildlife Conflict is a perennial thorn in the flesh. Madam Speaker, we read in the media of people, both elderly and young dying from cases of elephant attacks, crocodile attacks and snake bites. Many of the victims of the Human-Wildlife Conflict have been dying, leaving behind vulnerable families.

Therefore, I do commend with utmost desire the inclusion of such tenants in the Amendment Bill as it will surely bring a new impetus among communities in cases of Human and Wildlife Conflict. I believe that these funds may contribute a lot to saving the lives of victims who would have been injured but without the finances to seek medical help. Some of the people who end up dying after encounters with human-wildlife conflict mainly lose their lives as a result of a lack of funds to go to the hospital.

Hence, I strongly believe that the Human and Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund reflects larger strides in the country's Park and Wildlife Management legislative growth. Allow me to speak further on another commendable clause of this Bill before us. Amendment of Section 4 (2014) on page 4 of the Bill speaks on the issue, functions of Parks, Wildlife Authority of the Principal Act is amended in Subsection [1] by the insertion of the new paragraphs after paragraph 1. “Promote community participation in conservative and non-conservative wildlife-based commercial activities through conferment of delegated appropriate authority status and community partnerships”. These new insertions in the Bill bring empowerment to promote community participation and create harmony among the inhabitants and wild animals.

Mitigatory measures remain key in communities affected by Human and Wildlife Conflict to avoid hunger and famine, since wildlife animals pose threats to agriculture which results in continued suffering of the communities. Additionally, I want to commend the establishment of the Wildlife Professional Council of Zimbabwe with various mandatory roles, which adds impetus to the professional and integrity structure of the Parks and Wildlife Management. It is crucial to have such an establishment to align with the International Standards of Wildlife Government, which in turn attracts potential investors, thereby contributing towards the attainment of Vision 28 from this sector. Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I so I submit. Thank you.

         HON. MUROMBEDZI:  I rise to debate the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill [H.B. 1, 2024] which offers us a chance to make laws towards creating a transformative approach to wildlife conservation and management as well as rural livelihoods and the economic sustainability of the tourism sector. This Bill in question introduces progressive mechanisms to devolve conservation responsibility to local communities, addresses human-wildlife conflicts through relief measures and strengthens anti-poaching efforts through stricter penalties.

However, while the intentions of the Bill are noble, there are several areas that require deeper reflection and amendments to ensure we strike the right balance between conservation, economic interests, and the livelihoods of affected communities as well as align it with the global best practices.

Conservation is not just about protecting animals; it is about balancing ecological sustainability with human needs. Our communities, especially those in wildlife-rich areas like Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chilonga and Hurungwe, Mbire, have for decades borne the brunt of human-wildlife conflict. Elephants trampling crops, lions attacking livestock and the loss of human lives have become common tragedies. Yet, compensation remains inadequate, delayed or entirely absent. How do we expect rural communities to support conservation efforts when their livelihoods are constantly under threat without meaningful redress?

Hon. Speaker, I want to first recognise the strengths of the Bill.

1. Community Empowerment and Localised Conservation (Clause 3).The devolution of wildlife management to Rural District Councils (RDCs) is a major step forward. Empowering communities through delegated appropriate authority status ensures that conservation benefits directly reach rural populations, promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Example from Namibia: Through the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme, Namibia has successfully devolved conservation responsibility to local conservancies, resulting in increased wildlife populations and tourism revenue. Zimbabwe is rightly moving in this direction by enhancing community partnerships through CAMPFIRE and RDCs.

2. Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund (Clause 9)

The establishment of a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund demonstrates government’s commitment in supporting victims of wildlife attacks. By providing financial relief, we promote co-existence between humans and wildlife, especially in communities on the edge which are prone to conflicts with animals like elephants, lions and crocodiles but I must ask, what guarantees do we have that it will be transparently managed and efficiently disbursed? Communities need more than a fund on paper—they need direct participation in decision-making and a legally binding structure that ensures prompt compensation. Namibia’s Conservancy-Managed Wildlife Self-Reliance Fund provides a practical model where communities directly control resources for conflict mitigation. Why can Zimbabwe not do the same?

During the public consultations, citizens across provinces made it unequivocally clear: they want compensation, not a relief fund. The preference for compensation over a relief fund is grounded in the urgent, real losses communities endure due to human-wildlife conflict, lives lost, crops destroyed, livestock mauled and homes damaged. Compensation guarantees a direct, timely and legally binding response to such losses, offering dignity and predictability to affected families. In contrast, a relief fund as currently proposed, is discretionary, bureaucratic and vulnerable to delays, politicisation and opacity. Compensation also holds the State accountable, reinforcing its constitutional obligation to protect citizens and their livelihoods. The Government must adopt a formal compensation model backed by law, with clear timelines, valuation mechanisms and community oversight. If we truly value the role of frontline communities in conservation, then we must match that rhetoric with action by compensating them when they suffer for our national wildlife.

The creation of the Wildlife Professionals Council of Zimbabwe is another commendable aspect. Regulating and certifying wildlife professionals will raise standards, ensure ethical practices and curb the abuse of hunting licences, which has tarnished Zimbabwe’s reputation in the past.

Another contentious issue is the ownership of wildlife. This Bill seeks to remove wildlife ownership rights from private landowners and vest them in the State. While I agree that wildlife is a national treasure, stripping ownership from those who have invested in conservation over decades is a dangerous precedent. The private sector, which includes conservancies and safari operators, has played a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s wildlife success stories. The CAMPFIRE programme, once a global model for community-based conservation, thrived because local communities had control over wildlife revenues. If we take away clear ownership and management rights, we risk discouraging conservation investment, leading to more poaching and habitat destruction.

Furthermore, Madam. Speaker, the quota allocation system for hunting permits must be revisited. Stakeholders have expressed valid concerns about ZimParks' capacity to fairly and scientifically determine quotas. Instead of centralising control, why not adopt a shared responsibility model where landowners and local authorities collaborate with ZimParks under transparent guidelines? This would ensure that quotas are based on data and not discretion, reducing corruption and ensuring sustainable utilisation.

A troubling issue on governance - Governance and oversight remain areas of concern. The concentration of power in the hands of the Minister and the Head of State, particularly regarding board appointments and mining activities in protected areas, could lead to political interference. This undermines the independence of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. I urge that we introduce safeguards such as public consultations and the inclusion of independent environmental experts in decision-making processes. Transparency is key to maintaining public trust in the management of our wildlife resources.

Another troubling issue is the provision allowing mining in protected areas. How can we, in good conscience, allow extractive activities that threaten fragile ecosystems? We have already seen the damage caused by mining in places like Hwange National Park, where illegal activities disrupt wildlife corridors. Our regional counterparts such as Kenya and Botswana have imposed strict bans on mining in protected areas. Why are we moving backward when others are moving forward? The Bill must explicitly prohibit mining in national parks and conservancies.

Community participation is not just a recommendation; it is a necessity. The people of Tsholotsho, Nyaminyami and Mahenye should not just be spectators in the management of their natural resources. This Bill must legally recognise community structures, including the full integration of the CAMPFIRE programme, ensuring that local people receive a fair share of wildlife-related revenues.

The Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill [H.B. 1, 2024], marks a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts. It aligns with the global goals of 2030 Agenda for sustainable development by promoting sustainable utilisation of wildlife and empowering communities. However, with the proposed amendments emphasising transparency, sustainable funding, adaptive management and youth inclusion, this Bill can be even more impactful.

In conclusion, this Bill is necessary but it is far from perfect. If we do not address these issues - ownership rights, community benefits, compensation for human-wildlife conflict, sustainable conservation funding and the protection of national parks from mining, then we risk passing a law that serves neither the people nor the wildlife of Zimbabwe.

Let us pass this Bill with these improvements to secure a future where our wildlife thrives as well as our communities. I so submit.

HON. MASHAVAVE:  Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I stand before you to discuss a very important issue, an issue that transcends political divide, an issue that speaks to our responsibilities as the stewards of the land.  Our moral obligation is to protect the treasure of our nature that forms the backbone of our identity and heritage. I am here to advocate for the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, a legislative initiative that is essential for the preservation of our natural endowment and the protection of our wildlife and the enhancement of our recreational opportunities in the future.

Madam Speaker, the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill [ H.B. 1, 2024], seeks to enhance the protection afforded to our national parks and wild reserves, update management practices and improve our overall strategies for conservation.  This Amendment is not just a response to the ongoing degradation of our environment.  It is an anticipatory measure designed to safeguard our resources against the inevitable challenges posed by climate change, urbanisation and the pressure of a growing population.

One of the provisions of this Amendment Bill is the need to integrate management practices and align conservation efforts with community development. By enhancing one of the local stakeholders in the decision-making process, we will ensure that the voices of those most affected by wildlife policies are heard.   This amendment is essential for the people living adjacent to the wildlife reserves and often, the first custodians of our natural heritage.

Furthermore, the Bill introduces vital frameworks for ethical wildlife management. It includes provisions against poaching and illegal hunting, which have depleted our national resources.  By implementing stiffer penalties for such offences, we send a clear message that the protection of our wildlife is not negotiable. We must safeguard these animals, not for today, but for our future generations.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, investing in our parks is a smart economy.  The National Parks generate billions in revenue through tourism and these funds often flow back into local communities. Therefore, by enhancing our parks and wildlife reserves, we can create jobs, support local businesses and develop sustainable tourism strategies that align with the conservation goals. Consider the fact that every visitor to a national park contributes to the local economy by spending money on food, lodges and activities.

The Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill positions us to maximise these contributions while ensuring that our natural treasures remain protected. When we empower local communities to participate in wild tourism, we allow them to reap the benefits of conservation practices. This not only provides them with a source of income but also incentivises the protection of wildlife and habitats.

Additionally, Madam Speaker Ma’am, the establishment of educational programmes aims at increasing awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation. Education is the backbone of change. By instilling a sense of respect and responsibility towards our environment in the younger generation, we are laying the foundation for a sustainable future.

Madam Speaker, some may argue that the expanded protection could hinder economic development or restrict land usage. It is of paramount importance that we remember that protecting our environment is an investment in the future, one that brings far-reaching benefits. I therefore urge all Hon. Members, regardless of their political affiliation, to support this critical amendment. By doing so, we are acknowledging our shared responsibility towards the national wealth and each other. We collectively have the power to enact change, to invite future generations to experience the wonders of our past and to ensure the survival of countless species that enrich our planet.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, I feel that anyone who kills wildlife in defence should not be charged since failure to defend would cause loss of life.

In conclusion, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the Wild Flora and Fauna Treaty are detrimental to our nation. Every nation has its pillars that support its economy; if these pillars are weakened, it will undermine the economy of that nation.

 Diamonds are one of the pillars of our economy, hence they are not supposed to be tampered with. A few years ago, we struggled as a nation to convince the world to allow us to sell our diamonds.  Thank God, on November 11^th, Zimbabwe was given the green light to sell its diamonds.

 Madam Speaker Ma’am, coal is another pillar of our economy and cannot also be allowed to be tampered with.  However, today someone somewhere is struggling to ban the mining and usage of coal. Hopefully, you will not succeed.

Now, returning to the ivory issue. Ivory is another pillar of this economy, which is not supposed to be tampered with as it will adversely affect our economic stability. I therefore urge the Ministry to intensify its efforts to withdraw our signature from this treaty because it is harming our economy. Madam Speaker, with your permission, I appreciate the time. Thank you.

HON. BONDA: Thank you Madam Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to add flesh to the debate that is in motion, cognisant of the fact that I am a Member of Parliament for one of the areas that has tremendous wildlife capacity, which is Hwange East.

 Madam Speaker, the genesis of my debate will be anchored in the book of Genesis, the biblical text. The book clearly states that after God created heaven and earth, He also created animals and all sorts of natural resources before creating mankind and granting him dominion over all nature to manage. As such, I pray that the Wildlife Amendment Bill will not set aside or undermine the human dominion over the animals that God gave to humankind to benefit from.

 Madam Speaker, the repealing of the Bill has taken too long for the people living on the periphery of the National Parks. The old laws that governed their times of the colonial era are still enacted and in place.  These are the laws that were created to suppress and torment the natives in colonial times.

Over 44 years now into independence, Zimbabweans are still being charged under these colonial laws. These laws Madam Speaker, saw a native person as a poacher and a safari operator as an elite or a farmer. Owners of that time and professional hunters were actually termed to be the elite. They had the right to gun down any animal as they wished. The people living adjacent and living with animals do not have any ownership of their godly given resources, which are animals. They should also be granted concessions because empowering them and then actually trying to reduce the kind of poaching and the other blows that this Bill is actually citing, we will have to give concessions, employment and scholarships in the areas living adjacent to the parks so that they can feel the entitlement of the animals they live with and guard them jealously for co-existence.

Madam Speaker ma'am, this will drastically reduce poaching as villagers will be part and parcel of the programmes in eradicating trapping of animals. From these concessions proceeds, they will educate their children to become wildlife officers and managers of the park and so on. They will not be left out of the development happening in the country as most of them are actually uneducated and poor. The amendment of the Bill should address the inequalities that are there in wildlife conflicts as the current laws are too harsh on peasant farmers. For example, a baboon feeding on an orange plantation is shot down or gunned down by the elite farmer and if the peasant farmer hits the same monkey or baboon and eliminates it with a knob carry or a catapult, he is actually termed a poacher and will rot in jail.

Another true scenario is a lion called Frisky in Dete- Hwange Mambanje area, killed a little kid and feasted on him. Instead of putting down the lioness with a collar, a GPS which gives the location of where it is hiding was moved deep into the parks. The lioness came back and this time killed a national railway employee at the Dete Railway's Sighting Point. These lions keep posing a danger to the communities who live adjacent to the parks. Regardless of the collar with the GPS, they roam the villages as they like. All this does not pose any danger or worries to the parks authorities as some of the reports are that the numbers of lions are actually decreasing and they need to be raised to a bigger number.

Now coming to the point, the lion was then trapped and eliminated. Since traps were the only means to defend families in the villages and guess what Madam Speaker? The two men who eliminated the lion are rotting in jail for defending their families by killing the lion in a way that they could defend themselves. So, I plead that when we look at these laws, we should actually define and see where a snare is worked to defend someone's family and where it is worked for profit or for gains.

Madam Speaker, the question that I have got that will be carrying almost a million dollars on it is that, if this happened to a national parks compound, will this be ignored? Would the safari operator, for example, leave the lion roaming within his camp with clients after killing one of them? Would that safari operator go to jail after performing such an activity of protecting his clients as the peasants would be doing to protect their families with any kind of traps that the animals would have crossed into the villages? The amendment Bill on relief should consider the locals and youths in the Commission for Empowerment sake and conserves. The Royal District Council should receive their dividends in US dollars fully so that when they receive their dividends, the project that they do will be pronounced and will actually motivate the people who live along the parks or with the animals in harmony to actually continue with the good work of conserving the animals and thereby reducing the poaching. This activity will reduce poaching in the areas where animals are supposed to be protected. Looking at statistics in the Hwange area and surroundings, five men have been trampled by elephants every year. These are breadwinners and families are left suffering with no school fees and assistance from the Government since the Bill has taken long to pass. To give relief to the remaining families and the situation over the ages, as we can see the repealing of it was actually mostly done in 1975, which is about 50 years.

Once the Commission has been set, it has to be rolled out faster as our aim is to save lives. Let us have a few offices to reduce the time that one would take back and forth before help actually arrives to the people who would be the victims of the animals. Offices should be centred in the hotspots like Hwange, Binga and Kariba and many areas affected by animals where there is wildlife conflict. Situating the offices in Harare and in Bulawayo would prejudice the deserving citizens who may quickly need assistance to actually save lives. The relief fund should extend to the surviving families and educate the children as well as cover medical aid. I also find that those who lost life way back before the Bill passed or passes should also receive relief as long as the proof is there with police and registry that the cause of death was human-wildlife conflict.

On relief fund Madam Speaker, let us also not forget that the crop destructions being done by wild animals should be compensated as well from the wildlife relief fund. It is prudent that we also cast the net to cover domestic animals killed by carnivores from the parks. The peasant farmers are always at the receiving end when this happens. The relief fund will be funded from the fiscas since taxation of the industry benefiting from wildlife triples in the national Treasury. These producers include the Kariba activities and park fees including the Victoria Falls park fee which is actually sitting at USD50 per person to foreigners. I also suggest that the fence that used to be covering or being one of the peripherals of the parks, for example, in areas like Mabale and Joabe, for example, will help to deter animals like baboons, warthogs, hyenas, giraffes and many small animals even though we might have a few that can be destroying the fence and crossing over. However, the fence is really needed to try and control the small animals which are also a menace in the fields to the communities around. This will also help in the mitigation.

Coming to the mines in the Hwange District, mining in the national parks is actually going a little bit much into the park and disturbs the habitats of the wildlife and also let us not forget that some of these miners are actually poachers. They have been caught dealing in ivory and then they sort of masquerade as miners and at the same time they hunt in the park. We must not also see one industry destroying another as they all inject currency into our country. The Community Share Ownership Trust should be established in areas where human-wildlife conflict exists because the safari operators and the companies that are running in the parks tend to take all the proceeds that they make and do not leave anything for the community.

Vocational colleges of wildlife should be in such areas where human-wildlife conflicts are and this will make it easier for the affected people to attain relevant education and reduce poaching. They can attain learner guides, they do not need much qualification and professional hunter licences in their areas easily if they are established in the parks, for example, at Hwange National Park. I thank you.

HON. L. SIBANDA:  Thank you Madam Speaker for affording me this opportunity to proffer my opinion on this Bill. Human-wildlife conflict is a significant concern in Zimbabwe caused by factors such as agriculture, land expansion, urbanisation, the increased population for both people and wildlife, climate change which has resulted in a scarcity of resources such as water and grazing land. In the past, the Government engaged in a number of mitigation programmes such as community-based conservation initiatives, human and wildlife conflict mitigation committees through the Campfire initiative, wildlife and farming practices, electric fencing and corridor creation, National and Human Wildlife Conflict of 2019, wildlife based land reform programmes  and community-based natural resources management.

The Bill should include people living around the parks in the relief board to make it faster for the relief to be accessed. Offices should be established within areas with human-wildlife conflict zones. Chiefs of the areas should also be included as well as youth. Funding for anti-poaching programmes in the communities should be funded from these funds.

As we speak, one of the families in my constituency in Tsholotsho North lost a breadwinner. The lady was killed by a buffalo while working in the field. I, therefore, plead with the Minister to fast-track the process so as to give relief to the deserving communities. I so submit.

^*HON. ZIKI:  Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to add to this debate. This Bill was long overdue and people have been harassed by wildlife that they live adjacent to and their crops destroyed. I am glad that we are now talking about compensation for those people who lost their crops and lives due to wildlife.

After everything has been done, we expect the Committee, residents and business people to have a programme where they discuss wildlife. Giving back to people what was due to them was very difficult, especially for some operators who were not doing well. We expect that when this Bill is passed, no one will be allowed to mine in national parks. For harmonious living between residents and those who look after game parks, we expect the communities to be accorded opportunities to buy wildlife meat and do fishing. From what we gathered, the residents were not allowed to even buy meat.

The opportunity to amend this Bill is of paramount importance because when all is said and done, wildlife and human conflict will be reduced.

HON. MAPFUMO:  Thank you Madam Speaker and good afternoon. The Bill will bring sanity to human-wildlife conflict through the fund for victims. However, it must not only be limited to injuries or deaths but destruction of property and at large, agricultural produce and infrastructure. It is important to have this Bill in multiple languages so that it is understood at grassroots levels and everyone from marginalised communities who really understands the importance of the heritage we find within our wildlife.

Allow me to quote importance of literacy to everyone understanding the Bill, the story of a poacher or villager who kills a rhinoceros and when questioned he says, “mhuka ndedzedu tese, ndauraya changu chipembere, zvasara hapasisina changu”. This is an issue of lack of literacy. They do not understand the value of our wildlife and this Bill is found in multiple languages and disseminated to grassroots levels who contribute towards the understanding of that. Much has been contributed towards the involvement of communities through the devolution in the wildlife conservation, which is a plus as it brings a sense of ownership and reduces poaching. This is a good takeaway from the amendment of the Bill. Madam Speaker, much has been contributed by Hon. Members who spoke before me and further debate will be a repetition of facts that have already been put across.

However, allow me to end by saying, the new dispensation led by His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa does not condone environmental degradation and it is important to differentiate between unauthorised illegal artisanal mining and other mining activities by unscrupulous individuals within conservation areas, not to be construed as being blessed by the Government but rather the appropriate legal authorities and law enforcement agencies should take lead and place to bring would-be perpetrators to book. I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Hon. Members for a very robust debate on the Parks and Wildlife Management Bill. The quality of the debate is very encouraging. You learn one or two things from the debate that was presented, starting with Hon. Mushoriwa, who was very much worried about the quality of drafting and other issues to other Hon. Members who have debated. I must start by saying this Madam Speaker. I met the players in the industry after the Bill had been tabled and the Committee had gone through doing public interviews after they had compiled their report.

The amendments that are proposed on the Order Paper are largely a collective effort of input that we got from the industry players that actually gave us very insightful ideas and issues that need to be addressed because they live with the animals, they are in the business of conservancy. So, when we go to the Committee Stage, you realise that there are some amendments that we are proposing, which is largely the work that we did by engaging those players that are in the industry. I am truly grateful to those who supported the Bill. The majority here supported the Bill. We had those who believed that there was still a lot that needed to be done.

We are coming up with these amendments, to deal largely with issues to do with human-wildlife conflicts. That is the reason why we are setting up that particular fund. I specifically want to address some of the issues like the quotas that have been issued and where Hon. Members queried the way the quotas are going to be issued. I just want to respond to say that, quotas should only be issued on a yearly basis because the hunt is for the whole year. So, in other words, you are given a hunting quota for the whole year. Also, it is the most effective way of monitoring populations since assessments are done after every hunt.

Again, on the issue of donations, this is an issue that we interrogated and we believe that this should only be done by the President because of the mischief that the Bill seeks to address. Some of the players in the industry were selling wildlife, conducting money laundering exercises under the guise of donations. We realised that some of the industry players submitted that they had donated wildlife, yet they were going to get money outside. I believe that that is part of the mischief that we want to address. I am not very sure about the alignment issues with the Mines and Minerals Bill because I thought this Bill is supposed to be aligned with what we want to do to deal with wildlife issues and then we deal with the issues with the Mines and Minerals Bill when it comes to see how we can align it with what we would have done now.

I was particularly impressed by some of the debates. Hon. Murombedzi debated eloquently that we need to strike a balance between conservation and economic activities. She expressed reservations on some of the shortfalls of the Bill. I believe that when we get to the Committee Stage, we can tackle some of those clauses and hear your ideas on how you feel we can improve this Bill. I think this Bill is largely apolitical. It is about us and our wildlife, how we want to interact with them, how we want our communities to benefit from the wildlife. So, I think there is a lot of convergence on all of us when it comes to this Bill. So largely, everyone's ideas pertaining to how we can come up with a very good Bill that will deal with our parks and wildlife are welcome. I believe that this is what we are here for.

I want to commend those that were in support. Honourable Njanji, you supported it. Hon. Mashavave, Hon. Bonda and Hon. Sibanda. I picked some specifics with regard to individuals who killed animals in the way of protecting their families. I believe that needs a lot of interrogation, whether the evidence that was brought before the court; I know that sometimes if you act in defence of your life, it is a defence in a court of law. I would not want to speak about that issue but I took note. I will find out but that is basically what we want to do, to ensure that we come up with a holistic approach to this human-wildlife conflict.

How do we resolve it? How do we protect both animals and human beings? I believe that this is what we are all here for. I want to thank all the Hon. Members for your contributions, your debates, which we believe will edify the Bill. I urge Hon. Members, those that have constructive ideas that they believe will strengthen the Bill, to carefully articulate them so that we can interrogate them with a view of ensuring that we improve the Bill and have an Act that we will all be proud of as a Parliament. Having said that Madam Speaker, I move that the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill [H. B. 1, 2024] be now read a second time.

Motion put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage: Wednesday, 11^th June, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA:  I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 2 to 4 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day Number 5 has been disposed of.

         HON. E. MOYO:  I second

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

         HON. MUTANDI: I move the motion standing in my name;

That this House considers and adopts the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development on Gender-Based Violence.

HON. M. C. SIBANDA:  I second.

HON. MUTANDI: INTRODUCTION  

Over the years, Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has religiously participated in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This initiative raises awareness about violence against women and girls as a human rights issue and creates a platform to advocate for change. It further showcases the importance of coordinated efforts from all governments to assess the ways in which structural and systemic gendered inequalities interact with community and individual-level determinants, to create both perpetrators and victims of violence. 

Albeit several initiatives have been put in place, gender-based violence continues to prevail in various communities victimizing adolescent girls, young women and people with disabilities. It has become even more pronounced among the socially hard-to-reach groups such as religious sects which have strong religious identities anchored on “perceived” doctrines. More so, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2019) presented that one in three women aged between 15 to 49 years has experienced physical violence whilst one in four women has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. As such it raises concern for the safety of women and girls in Zimbabwe. Accordingly, the Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development was prompted to conduct an inquiry into Gender-Based Violence in order to understand the dynamics behind its perpetual prevalence.        

OBJECTIVES

1. To assess the impact of Gender-Based Violence in communities;
2. To appreciate challenges faced in curbing gender-based violence;
3. To understand strategies being put in place to curb its prevalence; and
4. To come up with recommendations that can mitigate the prevalence of gender-based violence in communities.

         METHODOLOGY

This report is informed by oral and written submissions from the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MoWACSMED). The oral evidence meetings were held on 27 May, 2024 and 24 June, 2024, respectively.

In order to get better insight into the challenges being faced in curbing Gender-Based Violence, the Committee conducted verification visits to selected one stop centres (OSC) and safe shelters for victims of gender-based violence from 28^th July to 2^nd August, 2024. The Committee visited Mpilo OSC, Bubi Safe Shelter, Irisvale Safe Shelter, Gweru OSC, Gweru Shelter, Masvingo Province-Nemamwa, Bikita (Mutarara) OSC, Mutare OSC, Marange shelter, Mazowe OSC and Epworth OSC. 

COMMITTEE FINDINGS

Impact of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Communities

Economic Impact

It was shared that GBV had a negative impact on the livelihoods of both the perpetrators and victims. Both parties were deprived of adequate time to mobilise resources to support their families as the victims sought support services whilst perpetrators would be incarcerated. In some cases, victims ended up incurring unplanned expenses such as medical bills that would be required to tend to their injuries, in addition to transport and relocation costs to alternative safer accommodation. The prevalence of GBV also constraints public resources as they would be channelled towards prevention and response initiatives such as the construction of safe shelters, one-stop centres and awareness programmes, amongst others. Whereas these resources could have been channelled towards critical spheres such as health sector, transport sector, education sector, to mention but a few.  

         Social Consequences

In some cases, GBV contributed to family disintegration which promoted the decay of the social moral fabric. It also affected the psychological, social and physical well-being of both adults and children leading to issues such as school dropouts, high mortality rates, the contraction of sexually transmitted infections and to some extent drug and substance abuse.

Humanitarian Crisis and Vulnerability

According to the submissions from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in the context of Zimbabwe’s multi-hazard humanitarian crisis such as climate change-related issues, women and girls were disproportionately affected. They faced increased risks of sexual violence while performing their gender roles such as fetching water in drought-affected areas. More so, the existing unbalanced power dynamics embedded in the cultural norms also encourages sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls. In most cases, men are economically empowered, which presents an opportunity for them to exploit and abuse women who are dependent on their support.

Strategies being Put in Place to Curb Its Prevalence

Legal and Policy Framework

It was submitted that there was comprehensive legislation in place to address GBV. These included; the Constitution of Zimbabwe under sections 25, 26, 51, 52, 78 and 80 (3) that provides for the protection of the family from domestic violence; prohibition of child marriages and non-consensual marriages; right to human dignity; right to human personal security, permissible marital age; and protection of the rights of women. The Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16] provides for the protection and relief of victims of domestic violence. There was also the Zimbabwe National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (2023 – 2030) which provides a guiding framework on preventing and responding to Gender-Based Violence in a comprehensive way. The Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] provides for the prosecution of offenses relating to rape, marital rape, aggravated indecent assault, sodomy, incest and mandatory sentencing for rape. The new Marriages Act [Chapter 5:15] which sets the age of entering into marriage at 18 years and criminalises child marriages.

In addition to the above, the National Disability Policy (2021) embraces preventive and response measures for Gender-Based Violence in different spaces and provides for the identification, investigation and prosecution of violence and abuse against persons with disabilities, including children and women. The promulgation of Statutory Instrument No. 2 of 2024, Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Criminal Laws, Protection of Children and Young Persons) Regulations on the 12^th January, 2024 criminalised the initiation and sexual or indecent relations with anyone under the age of 18 years. An Act had since been passed by Parliament at the expiry of the Statutory Instrument and signed into law.

Other legal provisions also include the strategy for the elimination of sexual harassment and Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace in Zimbabwe 2021 – 2025. This was developed by ZGC in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in alignment to the ILO Convention 190 to eliminate sexual harassment and gender-based violence at the workplace. 

The Government and other key stakeholders also recommitted to end violence against women and girls through the High-Level Political Compact (HLPC). This strategic initiative strengthens the work that Government and stakeholders have done around prevention, response and coordination of Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices programming.

Community Engagement

During the oral evidence meeting, the ZGC highlighted that it was conducting awareness campaigns on GBV by engaging communities in dialogues that spotlight the causes and consequences of GBV. It also made use of the media platforms such as radio, television and social media as well as facilitated road shows during the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV.

The ZGC also managed to encourage survivors and the community at large to report all forms of GBV for justice and redress. It rolled out male engagement programmes and interface with traditional, religious and political leaders as well as boys’ clubs in several schools. The traditional leaders were engaged to participate in the drafting of by-laws on ending child marriages.

Prevention and Response

It was explained that there were prevention and response services implemented to assist GBV victims or survivors. These included; facilitating access to post-GBV care services at one-stop centres and safe shelters for victims/ survivors; a referral support system for health services, psycho-social support, legal aid, safety and protection and police services. Additionally, there was an established call centre at ZGC that was dedicated to attending to victims that would be requiring assistance. 

The Ministry submitted that there was a need to promote prevention and early identification of GBV by addressing associated legal, policy, social, cultural and/or traditional, religious, political and economic drivers of GBV. Efforts to prevent GBV were expected to transform gender discriminatory or stereotypical laws, cultures, attitudes and behaviours. Over and above, targeting communities with vulnerable groups such as women with disabilities, women located in rural and hard-to-reach areas, poor women, women belonging to religious groups with high child marriage prevalence and women in humanitarian and disaster situations.

Capacity Strengthening

The Committee was informed that the Ministry continually capacitated national, sub-national and community actors who were involved in the national GBV response to ensure efficiency and effective response. This was also in line with the GBV Strategy which stipulates the need to enhance the capacities of key service providers, such as the police, health and social workers, legal and judiciary officers, civil society organizations and the media, who play a key role in GBV prevention along with the provision of quality and comprehensive GBV services. Capacity strengthening efforts was targeted to also focus on issues of leadership, governance and coordination in the national GBV prevention and response.

Strengthening Coordinated Efforts between Partners

During the oral evidence, it was emphasised that GBV could be mitigated and managed through the multi-sectoral approach. GBV is a complex and multi-dimensional problem that requires coordinated and collaborative efforts to prevent and respond to it. To this effect, the Ministry was focusing on strengthening partnerships among and between multi-sectoral stakeholders to promote effective GBV prevention and response. These stakeholders include the Government, civil society, experts, researchers, development partners, private sector, the media and the community. 

Likewise, the Ministry was leveraging resources available from different funding sources to identify and build on best practices, scale up promising interventions, conduct research and reflect on lessons learnt and challenges. The ultimate aim was to reduce the risk of GBV for all persons of concern and ensure that all survivors of GBV had adequate and timely access to quality services that meet their needs.

Resource Mobilisation

The submissions from the Ministry clarified that the success of GBV strategies was hinged critically on the availability of adequate resources for implementation. The Ministry continually engages donors through round table meetings, conferences and submission of documented evidence on the GBV situation in the country. It has begun private sector engagements to enable them to participate in GBV prevention and response.

The institutionalisation of gender-responsive budgeting across all government institutions responsible for the national GBV response further encourages the implementation of the programme-based budgeting model adopted by the Government. 

State of Affairs at the One-stop Centres and Shelters for Gender Based Violence Victims 

Geographical coverage

The table below provides a summary of the locations and administrators of one-stop centres and safe shelters:

 

LOCATION	TYPE	ADMINISTRATOR
Mpilo	One-stop centre and safe shelter	Government of Zim, Family Support Trust and Japanese government
Bubi	One stop centre and safe shelter	Musasa Project,	UNFPA
Irisvale	Safe shelter	Musasa Project
Gweru	One stop centre	MoWACSMED
Gweru	Safe shelter	Musasa project
Masvingo-Nemamwa	OSC and safe shelter	MoWACSMED
Bikita- Mutarara	Safe shelter	Musasa project
Mutare	One stop centre and safe shelter	MoWACSMED Project	and Musasa
Marange	Safe shelter	MoWACSMED
Mazowe	One stop centre and safe shelter	MoWACSMED
Epworth	One stop centre	MoWACSMED

 

Mpilo OSC 

The OSC is found in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and was constructed in November 2020 by the Family Support Trust in partnership with the Japanese Government which funded it to the tune of USD91 000. It was handed over to the Government of Zimbabwe in 2022. During the inquiry, it was 98.8% complete and the outstanding work included a portion of paving, furniture for the administration and equipment for survivors’ rooms as well as treatment rooms. It was targeted to be commissioned by September 2024. The staff establishment would consist of 1 administrator, 1 nurse, 1 Victim Friendly Unit police officer and 1 counsellor. It has 2 rooms to accommodate survivors. 

The facilities were designed to be disability compatible including their ablution facilities. At the time of the inquiry, survivors were being treated and assisted at Mpilo General Hospital. The main causes of GBV were identified as economic incapacitation, drug and substance abuse as well as infidelity. It was recommended that resuscitation of recreational facilities and increased funding to Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation, Community Development Fund and Women Development fund could help reduce cases of GBV. 

Bubi Safe Shelter

The safe shelter, located in Matebeleland North Province, was established in 2014 by Musasa Project in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It occupies 2 hectares of land provided by the community leadership. At one point, the demand for the safe shelter reached a peak of 21 victims at a time. This was a result of response by the community to the mobile one stop centre awareness campaigns on GBV which were being conducted. UNFPA helped construct accessible walkways, ramps, and bathrooms for persons with disabilities. The victims were permitted to stay for a maximum of three months and could only accommodate girls and women. Male GBV victims were not accommodated at the shelter but could access services such as counselling. At the time of the visit, it was reported that 56 men had accessed services since 2014. The shelter also works hand in hand with PaDare, which is a male GBV champion in the province.

The shelter has a fowl run which accommodates 400 birds and a nutritional garden. These projects were established as a means to sustain it and also provide a training platform for victims to prepare for life after the safe shelter. During the time of the visit, the Committee discovered that the garden was not functional because the borehole had broken down. 

It was explained that most GBV cases were due to child marriages, unwanted pregnancies and drug and substance abuse. The matron highlighted that there was lack of witness protection in cases relating to rape. In some cases, perpetrators escaped to South Africa and some caregivers concealed cases of rape.

Irisvale Safe Shelter

The shelter is located in Matabeleland South Province and was established in 2020 by Musasa Project in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe supported by UNFPA. It is situated on an old farm house and has the capacity to accommodate 30 survivors. Since its establishment, it has offered services to 1733 women, 1070 being new shelter admissions, 150 walk away clients and 69 being Persons with Disabilities. It was clarified that most cases of GBV were mainly due to sexual abuse being perpetrated by illegal gold miners in the area. Since 2020, the shelter had recorded 24 cases of rape. It had also managed to reintegrated 88 minor victims into their families whilst 35 minors had been put in care homes. The facilities at the shelter were disability friendly. The safe shelter conducts awareness campaigns together with the MoWACSMED through the department of social development and works with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) for treatment of GBV survivors.

The safe shelter is solar powered and has a clinic with the radius of 1.5km as well as police post nearby. There are toll free facilities for network providers and playgrounds for children of survivors. The Committee learnt that the shelter faced water challenges because the borehole that supplied water ran dry. As a result, survivors could not use the existing fish ponds for projects. Over and above, there was a poultry project which accommodated up to 50 birds. Survivors also received training to prepare them for the life after the shelter and around 105 survivors had received Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) training by the time of the inquiry. 

Gweru OSC

The centre is located at Gweru Provincial Hospital and established by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and other partners. The building was donated by the Gweru Provincial Hospital and renovated to be an OSC. It commenced operations in January 2015 with support from UNFPA. Its services are consolidated into one place and uses a survivor-centred approach to guarantee anonymity. It has managed to assist around 7329 survivors and 4014 being the highest prevalence of reported sexual violence cases. The staff establishment consists of a Victim Friendly Unit police officer, counsellor, legal personnel, an administrator and a nurse. The OSC’s catchment area covers the whole of the Midlands province ranging from Gweru urban, Shurugwi, Kwekwe, Gokwe, Chirumhanzu up to Zvishavane. 

The facilities at the centre were designed to be disability friendly and it has assisted around 121 Persons with Disabilities. However, the centre faces challenges and these include; inadequate disability facilities such as wheelchairs and ablution facilities; inadequate trained personnel such as nurses in forensic testing; lack of toll-free lines. The centre also lacked funding for community awareness programs as well as salaries for employees who were once sponsored by UNFPA.

Gweru Shelter

The shelter, located in Gweru urban, is the second urban facility of its kind after Harare. It became operational in 2014 and has since provided services to over 3545 survivors. The shelter has a capacity to accommodate a maximum of 20 survivors. It also provides accommodation to rape victims when they come to attend court cases. It provides services to the whole of the Midlands Province and has toll free lines. 

In September 2019, due to a growing demand for services, the shelter relocated its operations to the front office, previously used as a walk-in centre. The Committee noted that survivors of rape, physical, desertion and rejection as well as victims of child marriages were the major clients of the shelter. The shelter had a wheelchair even though the facilities were not disability friendly. 

Additionally, the shelter offers counselling services for men, which accounts for approximately 33.3% of its clientele. Due to inadequate living space, the shelter could not establish large-scale projects such as poultry farming or gardening that would help to support the welfare of survivors.

Masvingo Province-Nemamwa

The provincial one-stop centre includes a safe shelter built on approximately 400 square meters of land donated by the local council. Several service providers such as Musasa Project, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (Victim Friendly Unit), Adult Rape Clinic and Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) provide security, psycho-social support and legal services to the survivors. The Zion Church is also an active member at the centre and regularly assists with money and other services.

The centre provides life skills training in poultry, sewing and gardening as a means to empower survivors. In some cases, survivors are assisted with financial resources to encourage their independence and reduce the re-occurrence of GBV.

The centre is conveniently located near a safe market in Chesvingo, Masvingo urban, which serves the local community. It also provides preschool services to children of those working in the market and surrounding areas, along with clean ablution facilities to ensure a hygienic environment.

Bikita (Mutarara) OSC

The centre was established in 2017 and has the capacity to accommodate 20 victims. In the event, of an overflow of victims, they are referred to district shelters such as Nemamwa. The land in use was donated by the Zion Church. 

The survivors at the centre were empowered through life skills training in sewing, poultry farming and gardening.  The Maud Muzenda Training Centre was being used to train women. At the time of the visit, approximately 6000 women had been trained in business management, agriculture and detergent production. This initiative was aimed at addressing economic dependence which made women prone to GBV.

Bikita minerals and Chikuku business centres were identified as hot spots for GBV and the practice of polygamy in the area contributed to the continued prevalence of GBV. It was also reported that, the centre had an inadequate budget for victims with children or those who were pregnant. It was also situated in an area with poor road terrain whilst it lacked service vehicles to transport victims to essential services in areas such as Buhera.

Mutare OSC

The OSC is a private-public partnership between the Government, Musasa Project and Mutare City Council which is located on land that was donated by the Mutare City Council. Skills training in sewing, poultry, gardening and detergents making were being offered to empower the survivors of GBV. During the visit, the Committee was informed that there was need for adequate funding to cater for the needs of the victims who would have come for services. There was also need for Government to fund Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing required as evidence during a court proceeding. It was submitted that child marriages were prevalent in the area as a result of perceived doctrines from white garment churches that constituted around 52% of the population in the community. Rape was also prevalent in the district.

Marange shelter

It is a community/Government initiative with traditional leadership such as the headman and village head being actively involved in the day to day running of the shelter. It was established in 2014 to respond to the rise in GBV cases. Services offered included; basic legal services, counselling and skills training in gardening, baking, cooking, poultry and fish farming.

During the visit, the Committee learnt that the fish-pond was not being used due to water challenges. The victims at the shelter were also failing to access legal and medical services because there were no service vehicles for transportation. The shelter was also located in a remote area which was further from requisite services and had poor road terrain. The nearest police station was reported to be within a 10km radius whilst the nearest clinic was within an eight km radius.

Mazowe OSC

It was reported that the centre had a capacity to accommodate 28 survivors. Physical violence, early marriages and rape were widespread in the area as a result of illegal mining and farming communities. Awareness campaigns were held regularly to educate the community about the adverse effects of GB. The Committee was informed that the community was being engaged in the day-to-day running of the centre. The Committee also learnt that centre was faced with challenges such as water shortages due non-functional borehole, limited land for agriculture, shortages in power supply as the solar system could not support the whole centre and lack of service vehicles.

Epworth OSC 

The Committee was informed that the centre was established in 2021 by the MoWACSMED. It collaborates with key stakeholders such as ZWLA, ZRP VFU, Musasa Project, Childline and the Adult Rape Clinic. The centre serves both male and female clients, though it was reported that male clients found it difficult to share their experience due societal stigma. It also accommodated clients with disabilities.

The Committee was informed that the centre was strategically located to a clinic for health services. A magistrate’s court had also been established in March 2023 which allowed for effective monitoring of cases. 

The staff conducted regular awareness campaigns on GBV. They also conducted outreach campaigns occasionally through a mobile one-stop centre to ensure access for victims who were situated far from the centre. However, there were challenges associated with shortage of human resources, withdrawal of cases by female survivors and resource constraints.

Challenges Faced in Curbing GBV

Limited Access to Health Services by Victims

It was reported that GBV survivors lacked resources for transport, medication, hospital fees, food and accommodation necessary when seeking health services that were located far from their homes. Consequently, some of the survivors ended up forgoing the services. Due to resource constraints, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2019) depicted that only 14% of survivors of sexual violence sought help from health centres or health personnel.

         Additionally, free medical services were only limited to survivors of sexual violence while survivors of physical GBV were expected to pay for the services. Yet, most of them could not afford the services. Over and above, the health centres were understaffed, particularly doctors, nurses and social workers. As a result, it affected the quality of GBV health services provided to survivors.

Limited Access to Legal Services

The Ministry bemoaned that GBV survivors had limited access to the formal justice system owing to limited awareness of laws related to GBV and limited understanding of the work of the judiciary. Additionally, some of them were unable to access legal services because the Legal Aid Directorate (LAD) was not decentralised to the district level whereas there were limited civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations offering such services. Furthermore, the survivors could not access the justice system due to prohibitive costs and an adversarial justice delivery system. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2019) results showed that only 0.5% of GBV survivors had access to legal services.

Limited Resources for Implementation

The Committee was informed that there were insufficient domestic resources allocated for the implementation of gender equality policies and plans particularly human, technical and financial. Around 80% of the funding for GBV programming was from development partners which was not sustainable in the long term. Moreover, inadequate funding had crippled key institutions such as the Anti-Domestic Violence Council, mandated to spearhead the campaign against domestic violence. 

During the inquiry, the Committee noted that the Government was providing approximately 10% of the estimated USD80 million budget for prevention and response. Therefore, there was need to explore ways to increase the domestic funding for GBV programming given that, Government committed to funding 90% of the GBV budget by 2030 at the High Level Political Compact on Ending Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices in Zimbabwe.

The operation of the safe shelters was also hamstrung by limited financial and human resources. Most shelters located in the rural areas such as Bikita Mutarara, Mazowe and Marange lacked service vehicles to transport survivors to access essential services such as legal, health and police. Victims were forced to board public transportation which they could not afford and they could not travel by foot because of the distance. In some cases, victims had to rely on Musasa Project to provide money for transportation. These shelters also lacked adequate food and amenities to accommodate victims that came with their children as they had a budget that could cater for one person only. Employees under OSCs such as Gweru had gone long without receiving their salaries and in some cases, employees at OSCs such as Epworth had left the centre. Additionally, the existing safe shelters were exclusively for women and girls. As such that the security needs of men and boys who were survivors of sexual and Gender-Based Violence were not being met under the current GBV response interventions.

The Commission lamented on the resources allocated for GBV programme. It was indicated that in 2024, ZGC received ZWL 48,535, 060,000 (ZIG 19,818,317.00) budget allocation that translated to 0.08% of the national budget which was inadequate to reach out to communities. The resources could not permit it to also conduct follow ups and thorough investigations on sexual harassment and GBV cases as well as continuous awareness campaigns. 

Limited Geographical Coverage

It was explained that GBV was widespread throughout the country. However, the limited resources could not permit the roll out of programmes such as Spotlight Initiative and GBV 365 to all districts. As a result, areas that were likely to be experiencing high cases of GBV were lagging behind.

Short Project Life Cycle

The Committee was informed that changing harmful norms and practices required time. As such, long-term and consistent interventions were required for a positive outcome. However, most GBV programmes in the country were time lined between 1 and 4 years. Even though, the implemented GBV programmes had contributed to some significant impacts, efforts at changing norms and societal and individual attitudes could be more effective with a longer lifespan of implementing the project.

COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In light of the above findings the Committee made the following observations and recommendations:

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU: Order Hon. Mutandi! Hon. James and Hon. C. Hlatywayo, can you please take your discussion outside the House? Hon. Mutandi, can you please continue?

The Hon. Members left the Chamber.

HON. MUTANDI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker Ma’am. The Committee found that there was limited geographical coverage for GBV response initiatives such as provision of safe shelters and one stop centres. Most provinces had one stop centres. As a result, GBV victims in communities that were situated far from those established centres were not able to access services. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the MoWACSMED should decentralise one stop centres and safe shelters to all districts in line with the Government’s goal to “not leave no one and no place behind” by December 2025.

The Committee observed that most centres and safe shelters were constructed by development partners rather than the Ministry. It also observed that the shelters and centres that had been handed over to be administered by the Ministry were not being well maintained and rehabilitated. For example, Nemamwa Provincial One Stop Centre had no ceiling. As such, the MoWACSMED should come up with innovative ways to generate resources to fund construction of OSCs and shelters as well as rehabilitate existing infrastructure by December 2025.

The Committee learnt that the turnaround time of resolving GBV cases were slow and, in some instances, the perpetrators would end up being exonerated due to lack of adequate evidence. The delay in resolving these cases also resulted in some perpetrators evading the crime by migrating to other communities or countries. In that regard, the MoWACSMED should engage the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to establish physical or virtual courts designated to attend to GBV cases by May 2025.

The Committee observed that the private sector was excluded from participating in the coordinated efforts to address and mitigate GBV. The Committee recommends that the Ministry should engage and strengthen its partnerships with multi-sectoral stakeholders such as the private sector and other resourced individuals that can assist in formulating effective strategies that address the gap in responding to the needs of GBV victims and survivors by June 2025.

The Committee learnt that some of the employees at the centres and safe shelters were not receiving their remunerations from the development partners. For example, most of the employees at Epworth One Stop Centre had left. Accordingly, the MoWACSMED should coordinate with development partners to address the grievances relating to the welfare of employees at the centres and shelters in order to retain the employees by December 2024.

The Committee also learnt that the centres and safe shelters were under staffed. For example, Masvingo Province has one legal officer from Zimbabwe Women’s Lawyers Association who is expected to cover all the districts. Therefore, the MoWACSMED should employ adequate personnel to serve at centres and shelters by June 2025.

The Committee found that there was no security at the safe shelters which made the victims vulnerable to their perpetrators. The Committee recommends that the Ministry should invest in security measures such as installing secure perimeter walls and security guards as a matter of urgency. This would protect the victims from further aggression from the perpetrators.

The Committee observed that GBV survivors obtained life skills but lacked resources to implement the skills. In some cases, the Committee found that the safe market established as an income-generating project for GBV survivors was occupied by non-survivors, for example, the Chesvingo Safe Market. The Ministry should ensure projects are accessed by the intended beneficiaries in order to support the empowerment of survivors.

The Committee further observed that GBV survivors at the OSCs and shelters lacked reliable public transportation to access legal and health services. Most survivors were relying on transportation money from Musasa Project to board public vehicles. The MoWACSMED should ensure the OSCs and shelters receive service vehicles for convenient transportation of the survivors and limit dependency on donor support by June 2025.

The Committee further observed that some of the centres and shelters had limited space. Therefore, the MoWACSMED should engage the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to provide adequate land that can also be used for establishing income generating projects such as poultry and pig rearing that would be used to take care of the survivors.

Some of the victims or survivors were pregnant and also brought their children. However, the OSCs and safe shelters lacked appropriate facilities to cater for those children. The Committee recommends that the Ministry should construct OSCs and shelters that are child-user-friendly by December 2025.

CONCLUSION

Zimbabwe subscribed to Sustainable Development Goal 5 which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It further targets to end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere and eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. Yet, women and girls continue to be subjected to an environment which overlooks complex socio-economic, political and cultural contexts within which violence is embedded. As a result, multiple forms of domination and inequality render some women more vulnerable to violence and less able to gain protection or support. In that regard, the Committee is expectant that the relevant authorities will consider the above recommendations proffered for the purposes of mitigating the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence and promoting a secure and equitable Zimbabwe for both women and men. I thank you.

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

         HON. P. MOYO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         Debate to resume: Wednesday, 11^th June, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 6 to 35 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 36 is disposed of.

         HON. P. MOYO: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE 56^TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM HELD IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

         Thirty Sixth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the report of the delegation to the 56^th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. MUGOMO: Madam Speaker Ma'am, thank you for this opportunity. I rise to thank all Hon. Members who contributed to this important motion. Hon. Mudenda alluded to the strategic role of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), particularly AI, in bridging global development gaps. He pointed to established frameworks such as the ICT policy, national digital technology, strategy and education 5.0 reform, all geared towards fostering innovation in education. I would also like to emphasise the importance of ICT and encourage Honourable Members to make full use of it.

Madam Speaker Ma'am, therefore, with the indulgence of the House, I move for the adoption of this motion. I thank you.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU): Hon. Mugomo, this is a take note motion. Can you move for the withdrawal of the motion from the Order paper?

         HON.  MUGOMO:  Hon. Speaker, I seek leave of the House to withdraw my motion. I thank you.

Motion put and agreed to.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: Madam Speaker, I move that Order of the Day, Numbers 37 and 38 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 39 has been disposed of.

         HON. MAKUMIRE:  I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEDICATED FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE GOVERNMENT TENDERS ARE RESERVED FOR YOUTH LED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

         Thirty-ninth Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the Promotion of Youth Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Growth.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. CHIDUWA:         Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I rise to support the motion on the Promotion of Youth Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, which was moved by Hon. Maunganidze.  The motion seeks to promote youth employment and also find ways to utilise youth talent in driving economic growth. So, looking at the motion, I found out that the motion is focusing on creating opportunities and embracing the talent that is in the youth to drive the economic agenda of the country. We have Vision 2030 and under Vision 2030 the policy blueprint that we are currently implementing is NDS1.  Under Vision 2030, we have got about six pillars that are there and under NDS1 we have got 14 priority areas.  Those 14 priority areas, one can categorise them and try to juxtapose the talent that is in the youth and how best that talent can be harnessed to achieve sustained economic development.

So, at the centre of youth economic empowerment is the provision of the necessary skills, resources, the opportunities to create sustainable livelihoods. Just looking at the recent policy developments that have been pushed by His Excellency, the President Dr E. D Mnangagwa on youth employment programmes, all these are meant to harness the skills and the resources that will enable the youths to bring out the best in them.  In order to achieve this, we are also looking at the interventions that are needed in vocational training, access to finance, mentorship programmes, entrepreneurship programmes and our colleges and universities have also been tailored to make sure that we get the best out of the youths.  This will ensure that we get the youths to drive the economic agenda of the country.

Then in terms of promoting youth entrepreneurship, it is also crucial that entrepreneurship is fostered as a way of promoting economic growth, thus creating employment and developing a generation of innovative problem solvers. It also empowers young people and enhances their skills and contributes to broader societal benefits like poverty reduction and community development. Then, again looking at these opportunities, nurturing youth entrepreneurship is vital for fostering innovation, job creation and economic growth.  By embracing innovative processes and providing the right support, we can unleash the entrepreneurship potential of young minds and this is where again as a country we are bringing in the role of the national venture capital company that is promoting youth development.

Vision 2030 particularly, within the context of Zimbabwe, prioritises youth economic empowerment as a key pillar of achieving an Upper- Middle -Income status by 2030. This is achieved through mainstreaming of youth development economic empowerment international policies and on this Hon. Speaker, you have seen that literally in all the ministries, the policy of the Government is to make sure that there is a youth desk in every Ministry. This is very critical again as a way of empowering our youths.

Zimbabwe has the National Youth Policy, which is critical as it aims to empower the youths by creating an enabling environment and thus providing resources that are critical for development. In NDS1, the critical facets are fundamentally looking at the increased participation of the youth in economic development. I already alluded to NDS1 which is under Vision 2030. Under NDS1, the policy is to increase the participation of youth in decision-making. This is why even when you look at the august House here, there is again the deliberate policy to make sure that the youth are part of the legislative agenda of this country. Skills development and entrepreneurship, again are embedded under NDS1. This dovetails with the thrust to make sure that the youth fully participate in economic development.

There are quite a number of challenges that are there. The challenges that the youth are facing include limited access to financing. I appreciate that we have got the Empower Bank but the Empower Bank has got its own challenges, especially on the issue of collateral security. Various submissions have been made to make sure that the Empower Bank is in line with the policy thrust. Again, we still have headwinds and challenges on that.

On vocational training institutions, the submission that has been done by the youth is, if it was possible to have vocational institutions in all the districts, this will ensure that youth have access to vocational training skills. What is critical for Zimbabwe now is not theoretical education. What is critical are the skills. We are looking at the youth that are builders, the youth that can do plumbing and electrical fittings. All these are necessary skills that are needed to empower our youth. So, going forward, it is very critical for us as a country to ensure that education is going to focus on the impartation of skills, not necessarily the theoretical education that may not add much in terms of what you want to achieve as a country.

Universities have also been drawn in to make sure that the youth are able to come up with the relevant skills and also be innovative. We are looking at the university hubs that we have. Midlands State University, Chinhoyi University of Technology and Great Zimbabwe University all have innovation hubs. All these innovation hubs are very critical in ensuring that our youth are in a position to horn the skills that are necessary for job creation, that are necessary for them to be full participants in the economic development and agenda of this country.

As I conclude, Madam Speaker, I support the call for a transformative policy that recognises youth as the cornerstone of our economic future. The call to reserve 30% of Government tenders for youth-led enterprises is fully supported. Youth affirmative action will not compromise the formal registration of businesses, due diligence, taxes and other requirements. What we are saying here is, as a country, we need to promote a culture of formality. As much as we are supporting the 30%, the youth should also abide by the minimum requirements that are needed for one to participate in Government tenders.

Catching them young promotes a culture of formalisation. Youth economic empowerment is not just a social issue. It is a key driver of economic growth, social stability and national development in Zimbabwe. By investing in the potential of its youth, Zimbabwe can build a more prosperous and equitable future for all. I submit Madam Speaker.

HON. ENG. MHANGWA:  Thank you so much Madam Speaker for indulging me. I yearned to debate on this topic and I am happy that finally I get a chance. It is indeed a topic that resonates so much with the youth and I feel duty-bound as somebody who has not left his youth for far too long. With the benefit of hindsight, having been a youth not very far back, I would want to also weigh in with my points. Madam Speaker, in 2008 when I was a 26-year-old man, having left university and done my postgraduate traineeship at ZESA, I was left with the same dilemma as the youths who brought this motion.

I am thrilled by the audacity that has been shown by Hon. Maunganidze and her team to bring such a motion. It is indeed a cry for attention, a glaring encounter and something that mentions the fact that the youth out there are looking for something to sustain their living. Madam Speaker Ma’am, in the generation of our fathers, this would never have come to the august House because employment was not as scarce as it is today.

As they bring up their point, it speaks to wanting opportunities. My fear is that they look for opportunities but this motion in its current state speaks to benefiting only a few of the youth. The youth by their nature are the majority in this country. Being the majority, giving them 10%, 20% or 30% is not a panacea to what the youth generally are facing in this country.

 I have had the privilege of being involved in tenders. I have gotten to realise that entrepreneurship is a very good thing and should not be limited to tenderpreneurship. Madam Speaker, as I looked at the motion and the prayer, I was heartened but at the same time, I looked at a few opportunities that could go hand in hand with what the Hon. Member seeks to achieve. Not far back, Statutory Instrument 197 of 2024 sought to extend the retirement age in this country. What does this do to the youth? It delays entry of the new entrants into the job market. Giving attention to such may give better benefits than merely having a tenderpreneurship.

If we allow our people to retire early, it would be an opportunity first for those who have been in industry long enough and have experience to start companies, to get a lump sum from their pensions.

With the lump sum, they can start businesses that can employ more youths than they would when they are coming fresh from college.

Secondly, the other youths would take up the positions of those who retire. What I looked at was beyond wanting to give an opportunity to the youth through tenders without capacitating them, we are merely making them fall down and palpable to be used as fronts by those who are older and are more experienced in this industry. Before this is done or as complementary to such empowerment drives, it is important that we have a comprehensive skills development plan.  Once upon a time, this country through ZIMDEF, had a very comprehensive skills development plan. It is important that we really look at the skills that our children are getting. We look beyond merely giving them an opportunity to become ‘tenderpreneurs’, we equip them with the skills.

Hon. Chiduwa was very emphatic in terms of the blue collar skills that people talk about. If one becomes a plumber, for argument's sake and the plumber is doing his work daily within the domestic areas;,within the commercial areas, within the mines, this person may not rely on the next tender that is advertised in the newspaper. This person will earn a living, employing a couple of other youths with a career that moves from one place to another, without needing the mercy or the grace of those that dish out tenders.

Beyond this capacity building, for argument's sake, we have in our tendering, an incubation clause that speaks to every big project that comes and insists on a portion being sub-contracted to youths. It ensures that the youths get mentored on projects that are happening. For example, in the town that I come from, Chinhoyi, there is a road that Hon. Mhona always talks about, Harare to Chirundu. If Harare to Chirundu is a multi-million-dollar project, for example, 100 million dollars and we have youths that want to bid for that project, they may not necessarily have the equipment, the funding and the expertise to do the work. However, if packages are taken out of this project, let us say, to do slow motor management and it is insisted upon that as these youths are doing their projects as sub-contractors, there is a clause that compels the big contractor to subcontract these youths, it gives an opportunity for the youths to grow first before they take up a bigger project.

Again, with insights, I propose that if such preferential treatment is given, it should not be limited to youths. It should go beyond and have women-owned enterprises getting preferential treatment in tenders. I further propose that people with disabilities also get preferential treatment. Therefore, it speaks beyond merely ageism, it speaks to a comprehensive framework for procurement that has preferential procurement clauses that are not just percentages but seek to grow industries that are locally based, industries that can compete with the best.  I also think that beyond the world, the world is moving and there are future jobs that we think of. When we think about, for instance Artificial Intelligence, when we think about renewable energy and about the various areas that we can have emerging careers coming, this is an area where we should put our thrust as a country.

As I conclude and encourage the youths to look beyond mere tenders, I want to bring to their attention these emerging industries.

In renewable energy, there are careers in solar, wind and other renewable sources that can be done. In Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, there are careers that can come out of that. Cyber security, healthcare technology, skills, data analysis and interpretation, digital literacy, creativity and problem-solving, these are careers that require innovative thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills that are highly valued everywhere in the world. There are future-proof careers such as sustainability and environmental careers.  Careers that focus on sustainability, environmental science, conservation, are growing in importance that we can encourage the youths to be looking at.

If we go to STEM education, there is a lot that the youths can do beyond merely wanting to be tenderprenuers. If you go into digital marketing, into E-commerce, there is a plethora of careers that we can encourage our people.  As responsible legislators, if we push in that direction, we can allow the youths to go beyond merely trying to fight for the small cake that is available. I so submit.

HON. MAUNGANIDZE: I rise to conclude this vital debate on the inclusion of youths in Government tenders.  Allow me to start by thanking His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa for a successful Youth Fund Launch that was aimed to fuel the youth to ignite their future. I want to also express my profound gratitude to everyone who contributed to this motion. Your insights, experiences and perspectives have demonstrated the urgent need for youth involvement in tender processes, not limited to Government but to all other sectors. Including our youth in Government tenders is not just a matter of fairness, it is a matter of harnessing untapped potential and driving our nation forward. By granting them access to tenders, we empower them to contribute to the economy and foster an environment of entrepreneurship and creativity. This is not only about their future but about the future of Zimbabwe itself.  It is our responsibility to ensure that young people are not merely spectators in their own future but active participants, shaping their destinies and contributing to the upliftment of our nation. Having said this, I move that the motion be adopted.

Motion that:

 MINDFUL that Zimbabwe’s supreme law emphasises youth main

 streaming, participation and empowerment as being very vital for the economic development of the country;

      DISTURBED that youth-led enterprises are confronted with a  plethora of challenges, among them being failure to access Government contracts thereby negatively impacting economic growth;

      NOTING that increased youth participation fosters innovation, job

 creation and economic development:

 NOW, THEREFORE, calls for the establishment of a dedicated framework that ensures that 30% of Government tenders are reserved for youth-led business enterprises as a way of promoting their economic empowerment and entrepreneurial growth,  put and agreed to.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that Order of the Day, Number 40 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 41 has been disposed of.

HON. C. MOYO: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REDUCTION OF LATENCY AND PROVISION OF DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE REGION

         Forty-first Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the absence of neo-technology ground stations in the country.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. TIMBURWA: Thank you Madam Speaker.  I would like to thank all the debaters who debated this motion pertaining to Starlink and ground stations. I move that the motion be adopted.

         Motion that;

         CONCERNED at the absence of neo-technology ground stations in the country owing to the lack of a comprehensive legislative framework to regulate the operation of emerging technologies in Zimbabwe;

COGNISANT that His Excellency, the President licenced Starlink to boost internet connectivity in the whole country hence the need for the establishment of ground stations that will revolutionise the entire SADC region:

         NOW, THEREFORE, calls upon the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services to urgently come up with measures aimed at the reduction of latency and position Zimbabwe as a key player in providing digital infrastructure in the region, put and agreed to.

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