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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 17 JUNE 2025 Vol. 51 No. 55

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Tuesday, 17^th June, 2025

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

PRAYERS

(THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER

HALF-DAY WORKSHOP TO UNPACK THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON STATISTICS AND THE AGREEMENT ON OPERATIONALISATION ON THE SADC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:   I have to inform the

House that all Hon. Members are invited to a half-day workshop to unpack the African Charter on Statistics and the Agreement on Operationalisation on the SADC Regional Development Fund scheduled for Thursday, 19^th June, 2025 at 8 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Hall.

         *HON. P. ZHOU:  Good afternoon Madam Speaker. My point of national interest is on a very pertinent issue in Zimbabwe concerning the illegal pirate taxis, mishikashika, zvipipipi especially the Honda Fit, Wish, Probox and Fun Cargo models. These cars are helping in the ferrying of people going to different destinations in public transport but now we are having a lot of accidents which are being caused by these cars. Madam Speaker, the cars are small but you find that in front there will be three people, four in the middle and four more passengers in the boot, adding up to 12 passengers in those small vehicles. They also carry luggage on top of the cars and the cars will be overloaded.

Madam Speaker, I can give an example of a recent accident that happened in Kwekwe, Midlands when one of the cars collided with a fuel tanker.  Even if they are the ones who are in the wrong or in the right but the way they pack passengers is a challenge. When the car is involved in an accident and when you hear that 12 people perished, it sounds like it was two cars whilst it was one car.  It is very painful because when they are involved in those accidents, the accidents are declared as national disasters.

In my prayer, Madam Speaker, I would like to say that inasmuch as they help in the transport system, I think they should just carry the designated number of passengers.   In our big Prados, we only carry six passengers.  Also, the police should be able to do their work properly so that these cars abide to the law.  In the urban areas, these cars should be used as shuttle buses, like coming from Showgrounds to town or from the town to the Showground.   In the rural areas, they should be inspected for roadworthiness.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I implore the Hon. Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to favour the august House with a Ministerial Statement on the statistics of accidents involving these small vehicles.  He should inform us about the measures that the Government is putting in place to curb these accidents.  I thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you Hon. Zhou, your prayer has been heard.  I will take it further to the minister responsible. Thank you.

 HON. MUROMBEDZI:  Thank you very much Madam Speaker.  Madam Speaker Ma’am, yesterday we joined the rest of the region in commemorating the June 16^th Anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising. This is not just a South African memory but it is a shared African legacy. The image of those unarmed school children confronting armed oppression, struck a chord across our continent, including here in Zimbabwe where our own youth were rising against colonial rule.

Madam Speaker, the Soweto Uprising was about education, language and dignity. It reminds us that the youth are not just leaders of tomorrow but they are the conscience of today. As we honour their courage, we must ask ourselves, are we truly advancing their legacy? Madam Speaker, today some of our universities have gone silent, not because of exams but because lecturers are striking for salaries that reflect their professional worth.

In the rural parts of our country, learners are still dropping out of school due to poverty and unpaid BEAM fees. Madam Speaker, these are not just isolated administrative challenges, they are deep questions about whether we are fulfilling the promise of independence for the young. Madam Speaker, June 16^th must not just be more than a date on the calendar. It must be a mirror that reflects how we treat our learners, our teachers and the very system meant to uplift them. Let us move beyond ceremonial remembrance and recommit to an education system that empowers one that no longer asks our youth to march or protest for the basics, but offers them dignity by default. I so submit.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. TOGAREPI:  Thank you Madam Speaker. I move that Order of the Day Number 1, be stood over until Orders of the Day Number 6, 10 and 23 in that order have been disposed of.

HON. C. MOYO:  I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON KAROI TOWN COUNCIL’S AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 2020

HON. G. K. SITHOLE:  Madam Speaker, I move the motion standing in my name that this House considers and adopts the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on Karoi Town Council’s Audited Accounts (2020) in the 2023 Auditor-General’s Report.

HON. KANGAUSARU:  I second.

HON. G. K. SITHOLE:  Thank you Madam Speaker. I present the report of the Public Accounts Committee on Karoi Town Council’s audited Financial Statement for the year ended 31^st December 2020 as presented in the Auditor’s Report of the year 2023.

• INTRODUCTION

The Committee resolved to enquire into issues raised by the Auditor-General on the 2019 financial statements for Karoi Town Council (KTC), as reported in the Auditor General’s Report on local authorities for the years ended December 31^st, 2022.

2.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE ENQUIRY

The Committee sought to establish the progress made by Karoi Town Council in addressing audit findings mentioned in the 2022 Auditor General’s Report and the status of implementing recommendations made in the report.

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 The Committee received oral evidence and written submissions from Karoi Town Council and the information gathered enabled the Committee to compile a comprehensive report. 

4.0 Committee Findings

4.1 Council schools

The Council did not account for the revenue, expenses, some assets and liabilities for its six (6) schools in the financial statements contrary to accounting standards. As a result, the segment information did not include the education services segment. 

4.1.1 Committee findings

The Committee found out that Karoi Town Council had delegated the authority to School Development Committees which was an oversight on the part of Council. As a result, Council did not maintain accounting records for schools. To address the issue, Karoi Town Council informed the Committee that a clear roadmap had been developed to employ competent bursars to perform the accounting function at schools by January 2025. Furthermore, an installation of ERPs at schools that will be linked to the main server at the Council main office was indicated to be part of the efforts to address the audit findings. Council indicated that the cost of the ERP will be catered for in 2025 budget. KTC promised to submit monthly financials and carry out internal audits of schools from January 2025.

4.1.2 Observations

The Committee observed that Karoi Town Council was not considering schools as part of its assets and hence did not  consolidate school accounts into the council’s accounts. This error of omission was creating a smoke screen mystifying the true reflection of the financial statements of the town council.

Recommendations

Karoi Town Council must consolidate school financial statements into the Council accounts and by 31 March 2025.

• Valuation of property, plant and equipment

The Auditor-General noted that the Council did not revalue its property plant and equipment to reflect the current value of assets to comply with IPSAS 17.

4.2.1 Committee Findings

The Committee found out that KTC had not done any revaluation exercise of its property and plant equipment observed by the Auditor General. However, the Council has been working on ERP networking and clearance of audit backlogs to facilitate the gaps in the excellent implementation of the IPSAS matrix.  The Town Council submitted before the Committee that the revaluation exercise will be done during the 2025 financial year.

4.2.2 Observation

The work on ERP networking and clearance of audit backlogs is a welcome initiative by Karoi Town Council to make meaningful headway. However, it is paramount for the Council to address the revaluation of plant and equipment as noted by the Auditor General.

4.2.3 Committee Recommendations

1. The Committee recommends that Hurungwe RDC must continue with the current efforts of ERP networking and most importantly conclude the revaluation of plant and equipment by 01 May 2025.
2. The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment promotion must monitor progress on the adoption of IPSAS by public entities and report to Parliament biannually.

4.3 Registration of vehicles

The Auditor-General noted that the Council had seven (7) vehicles not registered in its name. Two (2) vehicles were not yet registered, and five (5) vehicles were registered in the name of third parties in contravention of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act [Chapter 13:14]. In addition, the Council did not provide registration books for six (6) vehicles.      

4.3.1 Committee Findings

The Committee found out that the vehicles in question were allegedly bought by Karoi Town Council from a third party by the name of Mr. Richardson, and had remained in the name of the seller. This was a serious oversight on the part of Council management which has since created a laborious process of registering the cars under Karoi Town Council. However further findings pointed out that, the vehicles were almost obsolete and Council intends to auction them. Efforts by Karoi Town Council were currently underway to get clearance from the CID for some of the vehicles.

4.3.2 Observations

The Committee observed that the delay in changing vehicle ownership was a serious oversight on the part of management. The matter that was raised by the Auditor General has not been addressed by Karoi Town Council.

4.3.3 Recommendations

The Committee recommends that the vehicles in question must  change ownership from the seller’s name to Karoi Town Council by 30 April 2024 before they can be disposed of.

• Fuel for Roads Projects

The Auditor-General noted that the Council did not maintain a fuel register or perform reconciliations for road project fuel.

4.4.1 Committee Findings

The Committee gathered that fuel was registered in fuel issue forms which did not state the purpose of the fuel. This was a major oversight that compromised the transparency process of fuel management. KTC acknowledged the observation. 

4.4.2 Observations

It was observed that the Council was not keeping proper records for acquittals and reconciliation.

4.4.3 Recommendations

The Karoi Town Council Chief Executive Officer must set up an investigation on the management of fuel and properly account for fuel used by 30 April 2025.

• Valuation roll

The Auditor General noted that the Council did not have an updated valuation roll contrary to the requirements of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15] and I could not determine the basis used in charging assessment rates. As a result, the Council was not billing ratepayers for stands sold between 2008 and 2010. 

  4.5.1 Committee Findings

The Committee found out that Karoi Town Council did not bill (9) rateable stands from a sample of (17) stands in Kubatana area. The Council had not been updating its valuation roll prior to 2024 which saw a draft valuation roll being crafted and now awaiting approval by the valuation board. Further findings by the Committee noted that some properties were left out from the billing platform as they were not properly communicated to the Treasury from the Housing department.

4.5.2 Observations and Recommendations

An updated valuation roll will assist in identifying properties that are not captured in the treasury billing database. Going forward, stands allocated by the Housing department must be communicated to the Council’s Treasury department for immediate billing of service charges.

• Billing of Properties

The Auditor General noted that the Council was not billing ratepayers for stands sold between 2008 and 2010.

4.6.1 Committee Findings

The Committee found out that significant progress had been made by KTC to rectify the findings by the AG. The properties sold between 2008 and 2010 were identified and have been incorporated in the billing system. Council had also procured the LAD's software to account for stand sales and the same information can now be accessed by the Treasury department.

4.6.2 Observations and Recommendations

Going forward, stands allocated by Housing department must be communicated to its Treasury department for immediate billing of service charges

• Beerhall Procurement and Sales

The Auditor General noted that the Council was operating beer halls without cash registers/ tills and cash was being utilised to buy beer before it was receipted and banked.

4.7.1 Committee Findings

The council admitted that cash from sales was being used before banking it. Karoi Town Council indicated that purchases were now done by the procurement management unit through requisitions. 

4.7.2 Observations

The use of cash for beer sales violated section 48(3) of Statutory Instrument 144 of 2019 on Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions) which instructs that all revenue received by collectors shall be deposited in the local bank. The use of cash directly from the cash register postulates the potential for misuse and abuse of cash received.

4.7.3 Recommendations

All cash received from beer sales must be banked within 24 hours of receipt as per the provisions of Statutory Instrument 144 of 2019 on Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions).

• PROGRESS TOWARD ADDRESSING PRIOR YEAR AUDIT FINDINGS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

        The Auditor General had observed that Karoi Town Council did not make progress in addressing audit findings raised in the 2022 annual audit report. The Committee found out that of the (ten) 10 Audit issues, Karoi Town Council addressed four (4).

• Asset Management Policy

Karoi Town Council has come up with an asset management policy which now awaits Council approval (Annexures attached)

• Unallocated Deposits

The finding was addressed. An accounts clerk was appointed to finalise allocating the unallocated deposits.

• Revenue from Stand Sales

The Auditor General found out that receipts from stand sales debtors are not yet linked to the respective debtors’ accounts due to the absence of the database.

4.8.3.1 Committee Findings

The Committee found out that Karoi Town Council has managed to compile a stands database from March 2024. The stands are now being accounted for on an accrual basis, and to this end, receipts are updated on accounts on every payment made by customers.

• Beer Levy

The AG had observed that the payment of beer levy by breweries was not up to date. To address this audit finding Council engaged the breweries and remittance forms were now accessible.

• Valuation of Land

The Auditor General had noted that Karoi Town Council had not done land valuation on where its assets are placed and this observation is still yet to be addressed by Karoi Town Council. Although the Committee was informed of the Council’s plans to engage the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to facilitate the valuation of land, no tangible progress had been made by Council to address the audit findings.

Recommendations

Karoi Town Council must engage the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to facilitate the valuation of land by 30 April 2025.

4.8.6 Assets with Nil Values

The Auditor General had recommended that Karoi Town Council must conduct a revaluation of assets.

Committee Findings

The Committee gathered that Karoi Town Council intended to complete the exercise in 2024, and had already started the process.

Recommendation

Karoi Town Council must complete the revaluation of assets exercise by 30 April 2025.

• Council clinics

The AG found out that the finding was partially addressed. The construction of Chiedza clinic was now in progress and the construction of Kubatana clinic was still on the cards and was expected to commence in 2024 financial year.

Committee Findings

The Committee found out that the construction of Chiedza Clinic was now 85% complete while efforts were currently underway to procure a mobile clinic for Kubatana.

Observations

The Committee observed that resource constraints were impeding the progress toward completing the clinic.

Recommendation

Karoi Town Council must complete all outstanding construction of Chiedza clinic and the procurement of a mobile clinic for Kubatana by June 30 2025.

• Registration of Motor Vehicles

The AG found out that there were five vehicles not yet registered in the Council name which Karoi Town Council had not addressed.

Committee Findings

The Committee was informed that the registration of the five motor vehicles had been delayed by the process of transferring the vehicles from the ownership of Mr. Richadson to Karoi Town Council.  It was further submitted that the vehicles were almost obsolete and Council intended to auction them once registration was complete.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that the vehicles in question must be changed ownership from the seller’s name to Karoi Town Council by 30 April 2025 and be disposed of.

4.8.9 Delivery of Refuse Compactor Truck 

The Auditor General found out that a refuse truck procured by Karoi Town Council had not yet been delivered by Solution Motors. The Committee was informed that the Council was engaging its legal advisor over the issue and the application for condonation with the Procurement Regulatory Authority (PRAZ) had been overtaken by events.

Observations

The Committee observed that Solution Motors had a worrying reputation for not delivering vehicles after receiving payment from public entities. This non-delivery of motor vehicles after payment

Recommendations

The Committee recommends that Solution Motors and all its rebranded companies must be permanently debarred from supplying vehicles paid by public funds.

4.10 Delivery of Goods

The Council procured an extension ladder and safety belts for US$1 100 on November 29, 2018. The procured items were not delivered, instead, 48 reams of bond paper were delivered on April 08, 2019. The supplier cited a lack of capacity to supply the ladder and 84 safety belts and opted to supply bond paper. There was no documentary evidence for the procurement of the bond paper or approval to swap for ladder and safety belts with bond paper.  

The Auditor General had noted that this finding was not addressed and that the Council had not yet applied for condonation with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ)

Committee Findings

The Committee found out that the then Karoi Town Council management which is no longer in place failed to take instructions from PRAZ to seek condonation for the direct procurement of goods and the unravelling of events overtook the application for condonation.

Observations

The Committee noted that the arrangement to purchase 48 reams of bond paper instead of safety belts was likely a cover-up for the misappropriation of public funds. The cost of the 48 bond paper reams does not add up to US$1100 paid for safety belts.

Recommendations

The Committee recommends that the issue be investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission by 30 June 2025.

5.0 PROGRESS ON BRINGING STATUTORY AUDITS UP-TO-DATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT ACT

5.1 Status of Submission

The Committee gathered that the 2022 financial statements for Karoi Town Council were now ready for audit, while the 2023 financial statements were in progress and expected to be completed by the end of November 2024. The challenges causing the delay in completing the financial statements were gathered to be stemming from the mixing up of USD and ZWG transactions, which the accounts clerks were working to resolve. Karoi Town Council further informed the Committee that its accounting system was now semi-computerised and Accounts clerks were engaged on a contract basis to assist in updating financial records. To further aid the staff compliment the Council was in the process of advertising to fill in the Billing Clerks.

5.2 Observations

The failure to submit a financial statement is a serious breach of public finance management regulations and Karoi Town Council must submit all its outstanding financial statements within the timelines set by the PFMA without fail. The Committee notes that the non-submission of financial statements is a worrying trend within local authorities. Chief Executive Officer of councils were not fulfilling their obligation of submitting financial statement on time. 

5.3 Committee recommendations

1. The Committee recommends that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works must initiate disciplinary measures for Chief Executive Officers of Councils who are not up-to date in submitting their financial statement by 31 August 2025.
2. The Committee recommends that the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works must not approve the 2025 budgets for councils that have not submitted their financial statements.

6.0 Conclusion

The Committee is optimistic that the issues identified by the AG’s report in 2023 on Karoi Town Council’s 2020 audited accounts will be addressed through consented efforts of implementing the Committee’s solid recommendations. In this regard, the Committee implores all the tasked stakeholders to take the recommendations made by the Committee seriously so as to ensure financial prudence, restore sanity, transparency and efficiency in the use and management of public funds by Karoi Town Council. I thank you.

         HON. KANGAUSARU:  Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.  Thank you for affording me the opportunity; greetings from Hurungwe, greetings from Karoi.  I need to add my two cents. Section 298 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe obliges all institutions handling public funds to do so with transparency, accountability and prudence.  What we are confronted with today is a disturbing portray of neglect, mismanagement and failure to uphold these sacred values; values upon which the trust between citizens and their Government is built. 

         This report is not merely an administrative postscript.  It is a wake-up call to restore discipline, integrity and professionalism in our local governance systems, particularly in a town as strategically positioned as Karoi, at the heart of Hurungwe, rich in human potential and public expectations. 

         The Auditor-General unearthed that Karoi Town Council had failed to include the revenue, expenses and assets of six council-administered schools in its financial accounts.  Madam Speaker, by outsourcing financial control to School Development Committees without any meaningful oversight, the Council abdicated its duty to account for public education resources.  This omission created a smokescreen, distorting the true financial position of the local authority.  I support the recommendation that the council must consolidate all school accounts into the main council ledger and complete the ERP installation by now.  We cannot talk of Vision 2030 or inclusive education when the finances of schools are concealed in bureaucratic obscurity. 

         Furthermore, the failure to revalue council assets and the revelation that several council vehicles remain registered in the name of a third party years after their alleged purchase reflects a management culture devoid of seriousness.  The Council is sitting on obsolete, unregistered vehicles while pretending to serve a growing urban population.  This is not inefficiency; it is negligence.  We cannot allow public assets to be reduced to private convenience or ghost records.  Hence, I fully support the Committee’s recommendation that all such vehicles be registered under Karoi Town Council by now before disposal. 

         Madam Speaker, the absence of a fuel register for road projects and the dubious procurement swap of US$1 100 worth of safety belts converted into 48 reams of bond paper without documentation, is not just poor record-keeping; it reeks of corruption.  I echo the Committee’s recommendation for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate this matter thoroughly.  Let us send a clear message that every dollar counts and every misused cent will be accounted for.

         Moreover, Madam Speaker Ma’am, the Committee found that construction of Chiedza Clinic is only 85% complete while Kubatana awaits a mobile clinic.  In Hurungwe, expectant mothers are walking for kilometres to access basic health services while construction delays and drags on.  Let Karoi Town Council complete both Chiedza and Kubatana health facilities by 30 June, 2025.  Public health cannot be paused because of poor planning and resource mismanagement, 

         Madam Speaker, additionally, the failure by Karoi Town Council to submit its financial statements on time is a blatant breach of the Public Finance Management Act.  Of the ten key audit issues raised by the Auditor-General, only four were addressed.  The inertia cannot continue unchecked. 

         I strongly support the recommendation:

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government must initiate disciplinary proceedings against any Council CEO who fails to submit financial statements on time.

         Councils that have not submitted up-to-date financial statements must not have their 2025 budgets approved.  What is happening in Karoi is symptomatic of a larger governance rot. If we allow this level of recklessness to persist, we are not just losing money, we are losing public confidence. Let us also demand that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development report to Parliament biannually on the implementation of IPSAS and other financial standards. Oversight without timelines is just a noise. Enforcement with timelines is action. Let this report not gather dust. Let it become a living blueprint for reform. I propose that this Parliament:

• Adopts this report in full;
• Directs Karoi Town Council to submit a progress report to Parliament by 30 September 2025 on the implementation of all recommendations;
• Urges the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to prioritise the investigation of procurement abuses and unaccounted funds as exposed in this report.

In conclusion, the misuse of one dollar of public funds is a betrayal of every citizen who toils to pay rates. Karoi Council must not just explain, it must reform. We owe it to the people of Hurungwe, and to the principles of the Constitution, to demand nothing less than full accountability. I so submit.

HON. MANGONDO: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I rise to contribute to the Public Accounts Committee Report on the Karoi Town Council, which was presented by Hon. Sithole and seconded by Hon. Kangausaru. The findings of the Committee clearly expose the weaknesses that are inherent in most of our local authorities. Karoi Town Council is not an exception. There is a trend in our local authorities which needs to be nipped in the bud, hence the serious recommendations which have been made by the Public Accounts Committee.

If you look at the issues of evaluation of properties, ratable valuations, the majority of our local authorities are being shortchanged because they are not practicing regular valuation of properties for purposes of charging rates to residents. That in itself, has a negative effect on the delivery of services to the residents of whatever council, be it a RDC or a city municipality. It is the same problem where the councils have been sleeping on the job without taking due cognisance of the fact that the values of properties do change. Therefore, in terms of their rates, that should also be reflected, which should enhance their revenue generation capacity. In the case of Karoi Town Council, there was a finding that clearly showed that out of a sample of stands that were taken, the council had not been reviewing or updating its valuation role. This clearly shows that where the council would have maximised on the value of the stands, this was not to be the case. That in itself also affects in terms of the capacity of the council to provide efficient service delivery to the residents.

Another important observation which has been made by the Committee, has to do with addressing prior year findings. While Karoi Town Council has made a concerted effort to try and clear some of the issues, it is quite abnormal for us to be talking about the 2020 financial year in the 2023 Auditor General’s Report. This makes the life of the Auditor General difficult, because one would have expected that in terms of meeting the AG’s statutory deadlines to submit the prior year’s finances by 30 June, they would in fact, be reporting 3 or 4 years in arrears.This is not expected particularly in this modern era of technology..

The councils need to invest in ICT, in Enterprise Resource Systems which will enable them to bring up to date their accounts, their finances and be able to meet their statutory deadlines on time. We have a situation where even big councils like the City of Harare, have had challenges with the Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPSs), just like we are having with Karoi Town Council. They do not have a viable and efficient enterprises resource planning system.

The Committee feels vey strongly that councils need to invest in Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, that enable them to function efficiently and effectively. If you look at the potential revenue that is being lost by councils due to antiquated systems, due to  old age systems which no longer enable the councils to collect their revenues efficiently. It is a major recommendation of the Committee that councils do, and must invest in ERPSs, in order for them to maximise on efficiencies and revenue collection.

Another important point has to do with the failure by the public sector to ensure most public sector organisations, MDAs is included, do have challenges in ensuring that when they pay for goods and services, those goods and services are delivered timeously, so that they are used for the purposes intended. Karoi was not an exception hence, the observation where an extension ladder and safety belts were then replaced by 48 reams of bond paper. That is a serious weakness.

I have already touched on the issue of bringing statutory deadlines in line with the Public Finance Management Act. I think what is critical to observe is that this should be a key result area for all the accounting officers in the public sector. You will see accounting officers, be it of Rural District Councils or those RDCs being rated favourably in terms of their performance, yet they would have failed to submit their financial statements on time. I cannot over-emphasise the importance of submitting statutory financial statements in accordance with the law, in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act and in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic.

The Committee recommended that councils that would have failed to submit their finances should not have their budgets approved. I concur with that recommendation, but I think that as a House, we need to go further and ensure that the responsible authority, in this case the accounting officer is made to pay for that transgression. Yes, we can recommend that the Ministry withhold approval of budgets, but it is the residents who will be suffering. I think the accounting officers in the public sector as a whole, should be conscious of this need to fulfill a statutory requirement as a key result performance measure. I thank you for affording me this opportunity to contribute to the report of the Karoi Town Council as presented by Hon. Sithole. I thank you.

HON. MUROMBEDZI: Madam Speaker, today I am not only rising before you as a representative of the people, but as a watchdog against the rot, impunity and the quiet collapse of accountability in our local governance structures. Madam Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee report on the Karoi Town Council reads like a catalogue of corruption, masked as incompetence, excused as oversight and prolonged under the guise of reforms.

Madam Speaker, how do we explain a council operating schools without maintaining financial records? Six schools, public institutions, where fees are collected from struggling parents, yet no record of how the money is used. This is not just negligence Madam Speaker, it is a deliberate concealment of public funds.

Worse still, how can a town council fail to register vehicles it claims to own? Vehicles worth thousands and thousands of taxpayers' money. Seven vehicles, Madam Speaker, two unregistered, five still in the name of the seller yet they are being used, fueled and probably serviced at the council's expense. Is this not just a classic asset laundering through bureaucratic apathy? If this House does not call this corruption, what will we call it? The Auditor General flagged fuel irregularities, no register, no reconciliations. The Committee found out that fuel was issued with no clear purpose. In a country where citizens are struggling to pay taxes, where citizens are struggling to pay rates, we cannot account for litres disappearing into thin air. Who is benefiting from this leak?

Madam Speaker, there is this most scandalous beerhall operations where the council was running a cash-based beerhall with no tills, no banking and no records. Money from alcohol sales was being used before being banked. Are we now funding public offices from the proceeds of unaccounted and untraceable liquor sales? Madam Speaker, what is equally alarming is the procurement fraud. In 2018, the council paid US$1 100 for safety belts and an extension ladder. What did they receive? They received 48 reams of bond paper. No documentation, no procurement records, just paper. This is not just an accounting error but this is theft, and let us name it as such.

Solution Motors, a notorious company that delivers vehicles after receiving payment, was once again implicated in this report. The council paid for a rescue truck. It was never delivered. How many more councils have lost funds to this same supplier? Why is it still allowed to operate in public procurement? Where is PRAZ (Procurement Regulation Authority of Zimbabwe)? Where is ZACC? Now we learn that the council failed to submit financial statements in 2022 and 2023 on time. This is not just a paperwork problem. It is a deliberate refusal to allow scrutiny, this is financial sabotage.

Madam Speaker, we must stop treating corruption as an accounting anomaly. This is economic violence against the people of Zimbabwe. These delays are not benign, it means mothers cannot access clinics and schools go without textbooks. Roads remain pothole-ridden while money is siphoned through ghost assets, fake procurements and cash-based scams.

Madam Speaker, let me say this loud and clear. Karoi is a microcosm of a national crisis. If we audited all councils thoroughly, we could find the same skeletons. Some cash deals, unregistered assets and phantom procurements. The culture of corruption is metastasized Madam Speaker.

On the recommendations, I would like us to adopt the recommendations that were put forward by the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts as well as to have the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption investigate the misuse of the beerhall cash, the US$1 100 procurement scam and all vehicle purchases and registration inconsistencies.

2. PRAZ must blacklist Solution Motors and any rebranded entities for perpetual non-performance.
3. All permanent secretaries must enforce strict budget approvals only for councils that submit complete audited financials.
4. Madam Speaker, this Parliament must urgently push for digital publicly and accessible dashboards of all local authority budgets, procurements and assets.
5. Madam Speaker, corruption is no longer hidden. It is on the balance sheets, the fuel logs, the missing trucks and the ghost safety belts.

If we continue to treat this as irregularities, we will remain a captured State run on receipts of looted hope. The time for political will is now; this Parliament must rise or risk becoming complicit. I so submit.

*HON.  NKANI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I want to add a few words on what has been debated by those who spoke before me, concerning the public accounts of Karoi Town Council. Firstly, Madam Speaker, what we refer to as audit or the office of the Auditor General, is that the office has been put in place by the Government to supervise Government funds, council funds and everything that has to do with councils.

This office, after auditing councils' books, produces an audit report which is brought to this House and to our Public Accounts Committee so that we see how Government funds are being used

how things are being recorded properly in the books. Here is the challenge Madam Speaker. What we are saying is that this year, the Office of the Auditor-General identifies that books are not being recorded properly like the stands or vehicles. Then they write a report and give it to the council and they do not work on it, they just read the report and put it aside. The same applies year in, year out. The Auditor General will be pointing out that we do not know how these funds were used. Certain cars are not recorded in the council books. They are given the report and the report is also given to Parliament. We are given the report, we read it, then we shelve it. It is now a challenge now that we want to hear that the council officials, the accounting officers being jailed and relieved of their duties for this to end. The Minister of Local Government should be worried about the way that the work is being carried out in these councils.

They say that they do not have competent personnel to record financial statements. Every year they say they do not have personnel. Why are they not advertising and getting competent staff? Our universities are channeling out accountants year in and year out.

Madam Speaker, I do not have much to say. What I want to say is that we have a challenge in ministries that the auditors keep focusing on one thing with no progress. What I am saying is that this august House should put laws that those who do not rectify what the Auditor General has pointed out should be prosecuted, blacklisted and named and shamed or they can retire. The accountants are being trained in accounting standards, which means things that are expected for a person who is an accountant, what they are supposed to look at according to their associations. They are aware of that but they are not following the procedures.

Madam Speaker, let me say in conclusion, we want to hear that the Karoi Town Council officials have been prosecuted because money that is being misappropriated belongs to the public. Thank you.

HON. MAPOSA:  Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this issue. Audit Financial Statements in the Auditor-General’s report for the year ended 2021-2022, the Public Accounts Committee in Zimbabwe or outside Zimbabwe, is a post-audit committee of the National Assembly that examines the financial affairs and the accounts of Government departments, State-owned institutions and local authorities for accountability. Madam Speaker Ma’am, this committee plays a crucial role in reviewing the Auditor General’s reports and other financial reports for statements. It is so disheartening when we hear local authorities and other departments that are failing to account for what they have learned at school.

Public Accounts Committee conduct post-audit public funds ensuring that they are spent according to their intended purpose. If not, we can come to the House and report how the money has been spent and give some recommendations for adoption in the House, to monitor that monies will be recovered.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, the Public Accounts Committee examines the reports from the Office of the Auditor General who is responsible for auditing the accounts of various State entities, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations and following Government policies related to public finance.

Public Accounts makes recommendations to Parliament and the Government regarding financial management and accountability through the audit reports and findings. The Public Accounts Committee works closely with the Auditor General's Office who provides experts and reports to the Public Accounts Committee and also monitors expenditures, unlimited oversight power over all the State revenues and expenditures to see and align with Parliament approval and legal frameworks.

The Public Accounts Committee audits, examines, analyses and interprets accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice and correct what needs to be done. In accounting, an auditor is an independent professional who examines and verifies the accuracy of an organisation's financial records and reports by doing audits and gives corrections where people are taking shortcuts.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, Public Accounts Committee audits, verify financial statements, presents a true and fair view of the company or public financial position, audits the effectiveness of the national control and design to ensure the integrity of financial reporting.

The Auditor look for potential fraud or other irregularities that might be present in the financial records of any one organisation or any local authorities like Hurungwe as per the report. Auditors do their accounting audit then after, they are given issues on opinion or on the financial statements stating whether they are fairly presented. Here in Zimbabwe, we have many types of auditors. We have internal auditors, independent auditors, Government auditors, specialised auditors and forensic, even tax auditors who audit and give a report.

In all these local authorities in that organisation, it does not mean they do not know what they are doing. I think they are doing it deliberate and we are leaving them to just go without being arrested.  So, I submit.

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity. Firstly, I would like to applaud Hon. Members who debated before me. I am sure it is now clear that the Tenth Parliament is patriotic in ensuring that state resources are used efficiently. Let me also put my input Madam Speaker with regards to the 2020 Karoi Town Council audit report in line with the report produced by the Committee of Public Accounts.

First and foremost, there is this issue which has been recurring over time. The issue of non-adherence to International Public Sector Accounting Standards, IPSAS. First of all, it is the issue of non-compliance with IPSAS No. 4. IPSAS No. 4 talks about reporting in terms of situations where exchange rates are changing. On February 22, 2019, the Central Bank of Zimbabwe issued the directive on foreign exchange, to the effect that the RTGS dollar and the US dollar were won 1:1 in line with S.I.33 of 2019.

Karoi Town Council was supposed to use the spot rate or the interbank rate after the February 22 directive. Unfortunately, in terms of valuation of its assets, Karoi Town Council continued to use 1:1 regardless of the fact that the exchange rate moved from the 1:1 as set by the exchange control directive of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. So, this is surely a fundamental issue that affected the material misstatement in the accounts of Karoi Town Council. They failed fundamentally in this regard.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, they also failed to address IPSAS 17. IPSAS 17 talks about the valuation of assets in general. Actually, what it means, it that you should continuously revalue assets when there are changes in terms of value. Under normal circumstances, Karoi has failed substantially to deal with this issue because the value sitting on the balance sheet of Karoi's assets did not reflect the true value of such assets.

Thirdly, Karoi Town Council failed also to deal with IPSAS No.12. IPSAS No.12 talks about the valuation of inventory. When we are talking about inventory, we are referring to stocks. The stock of a city council depends on the programmes which it offers. The Council of Karoi has got stock of inventory in terms of stands because those are its products in their line of business. The Council of Karoi has got stock in terms of medical supplies because it has got medical clinics which are under its jurisdiction. Those clinics become a stock. So, we are saying, the medical supplies, the reporting in terms of stocks, they were not accounted for. Then you also look at the issue of drugs, the issue of building materials and office supplies. If you look at this Madam Speaker, whenever there is non-accountability in this kind of situation, it is clear that the risk of fraud was evident under Karoi Town Council.

Let me talk about the issue of failure by Karoi Town Council to do what is called segment reporting in line with IPSAS 18. IPSAS 18 says if you have a separate item like schools, clinics, you must report them segmentally. Unfortunately, the Karoi Town Council has also failed substantially in this regard. There was no accountability in terms of school revenue, there was no accountability in terms of the schools which they operate, in terms of expenditure and there was no accountability virtually in terms of anything. So, in that regard, corruption is evident.

Madam Speaker, let me talk about governance issues which affected Karoi Town Council. Whenever the Auditor General says, the Auditor fails to get supporting evidence or there is a risk of fraud, it is actually a polite way to say there was outright corruption. As Politicians and Members of Parliament, we do not have to shy away from the reality of what is happening on the ground. It is the truth that there is corruption in Karoi Town Council. How do you explain a situation whereby the Town Council acquired six vehicles, two years down the line, six of them are still yet to be registered under the Vehicle Licencing and Registration Act. So, this is very clear that if those vehicles are not registered, there is a higher risk that one can take the vehicle with him to his home. Who can do anything about it? There is nothing, there is no follow-up. Therefore, it is easy to take those vehicles if they are not properly registered under the name of Karoi Town Council.

Madam Speaker, there is an issue of abuse of fuel allocated by ZINARA. What happens is ZINARA collects toll fees and licence fees. They then actually allocate to these Town Councils to say, for the development of your Town Councils, you can use this for a particular road, to develop this particular road and they also give you fuel coupons for that matter. What is coming out from Karoi Town, Madam Speaker, is an indication that the fuel coupons given by ZINARA were abused. How can Parliament keep quiet and behave as if everything is normal when it is very clear that there was not even a single record of how these coupons were used? This is a serious cause for concern.

On the issue of beerhall procurement and sales. It is a common cause, that in the majority of councils, they have got their own assets like beer outlets, which they then use as income-generating projects. What is happening in Karoi Town, is clear that the sale of alcohol to individuals or to the general citizens was done without any record. So, there was no record of sales, expenses and profit. To make matters worse, Madam Speaker, income collected from this beerhall was being used before it was banked. So, how are we going to account under normal circumstances? How much exactly came from the beerhall? We often complain that the councils do not have money, councils are under stress but the problem that we are seeing from councils is blatant corruption. That must be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, you will find that in this case of beerhall procurement, the manager also went on to collect cash and buy from outlets without any record of how much was bought. So, I actually wish to add a recommendation to the report of the Public Accounts Committee, to say that a further investigation must be done in this regard, to go and collect all records, to get an audit on all records of the beer that have been bought from Delta and other outlets so that we see how much exactly was collected from these beerhalls. This forensic audit is very important, so that we see how much was misused, how much of our national income was misused.

Chapter 17 of the Constitution is very clear. It mandates Parliament to ensure that all Government revenue, including councils, is properly accounted for. It mandates Parliament to ensure that all Government expenditures are properly incurred. It mandates Parliament to ensure that all limits in terms of borrowing are properly adhered to. For that matter, Madam Speaker, I actually move to say that our recommendations to have ZACC take effect or take action on this one, is commendable. I hope our recommendations will take effect because it is so bad, fundamentally bad, for Parliament to sit and make recommendations that are not going to be used. Can we, at least see the future change? Every recommendation by Parliament must be enforced. It must not be by choice. All those recommendations must be enforced without any choice or without any decision to say ZACC - because if it is a recommendation, ZACC may choose to act on the recommendation or not. I do not know how best we can do about it so that we make sure that all recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee are enforced without choice. I submit.

*HON. MAPIKI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Looking at what happened in Karoi, Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Gweru, these issues are similar. If it were someone who is dancing, people would say, whose child is this who cannot dance? So, I want to appreciate the good work that was done by the Committee. It is not because councils do not know what they are supposed to do, nor is it because they are uneducated; rather, they pretend to know so that they can loot properly. For us to say that they do not have accounting standards, they know what they are doing but because they want to loot, they just do that.

 I believe that the responsible ministry should expedite the issue of ICT so that they will be able to track the activities and the issue of reports of things that transpired in 2020, coming out in 2025 when you find that the perpetrators have died. I believe that things should be done on time so that Parliament takes decisive action and you find that the issue of stands where councils declare just a few stands and pocket the rest, is an issue that needs to be looked into.

The issue of ZINARA and the issue of fuel that is given to councils is not unique to Karoi but many councils do the same thing. This is part of the money that they divert to salaries instead of using the money for constructing roads and service delivery. The challenge then is that ZINARA employees and council employees connive and work together so that they cover up. This is organised chaos where you find that everyone is implicated and I believe that the Government should look into these issues. I was so happy with the debate that was done by Hon. Madzivanyika who spoke about empowering councils and empowering Parliament so that they have the power to deal with the issues.

Sometimes you find that there are a lot of projects like agriculture, they have commercial farms, like in Karoi, they have campfires but they cannot run such projects successfully. Instead, they concentrate on looting. As a nation, I believe that we need adequate laws, especially the ministry should be empowered to deal with errant councils. When we were growing up, we saw a lot of councils operating bars. I used to drink beer with an Hon. Member who was in the House when it was referral marketing. These bars were operating well but now, you will find that the younger generation is greedy, so the younger generation is looting instead of running successfully. We do not need to look at each other as members of different political parties because these issues affect all of us – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]- After all, Karoi for a long time was not paying council workers, but you find that many council officials were driving luxury cars and the rest of the workers were suffering.

 The Government should look into these issues and limit the number of years that are saved by company or council executives. There should be two-year contracts or so. When council executives overstay, they end up looting. I believe that as the Ministry and as Parliament, the Chief Executives should be like police officers who are moved instead of spending a lot of time heading one organisation. So as a Government, it is our responsibility to look into these issues because you will find that in terms of allocation of stands, for example in Harare, in wetlands and other areas, these council executives are doing that.

 I believe that there must be a limit to the term that is given to council executives. They must be given contracts to curb looting and corruption in companies and councils. We complain that things are tough in Zimbabwe and you find Chief Executives of councils enjoying. When you go to the highlands, you go to the mountains and you will find that there are some houses that are constructed on these mountains. You are told that this is someone who is earning USD600 working for council in Karoi but that person can afford to build a mansion. We need to look at these issues so that there is a lifestyle audit to determine the sources of funds for council officials. With these few words, I want to thank you.

HON. JAMES: Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to support this report in its entirety and I concur with everything that has been said up to now but I would like to go further. No doubt we will hear more reports of other cities in a similar situation. We hear from time to time that recommendations from the Auditor General's Office are not carried out or local authorities have to be pushed into implementing them. I would like to make a recommendation that perhaps the Local Government Ministry, the Auditor General's Office and the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts, insist that local authorities submit a bi-monthly report on the progress of implementation of these recommendations. These reports are done by the elected Finance Committees and Ratepayers' Associations, and these reports are published in the local newspapers, so ratepayers can get a better understanding of what is happening within their Finance departments.

I think this will go a long way in allowing ratepayers to know exactly what is happening and to put pressure on making sure that these issues that we have heard today are not happening the whole time. Thank you.

         HON. TOGAREPI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I also rise to debate on this motion. It is so painful when I hear Hon. Members from both sides saying that when they went for this investigation, they discovered that there was rot and the rot seemed to be with a lot of impunity where public funds can be used by somebody recklessly without consequences.

Madam Speaker, I feel the Committee must call in the Minister of Local Government in this case and get from him why there has not been action in many of these local authorities. It is not only urban councils, even the rural councils. These people are corrupt.  They have the courage to keep vehicles, such a big asset without registration. When that car disappears, who can follow up? How do you follow up because the car is not owned by anybody? They can just register it in another person's name anytime.

How many other things have been taken from the public by these characters? Madam Speaker, I think that as Parliament, we need especially the Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance, PAC and Local Government, to have a joint process to deal with this rot. We cannot have a service delivery breaking down in all our local authorities, yet the Auditor General is telling us where the money is going, where there is rot and we just keep quiet.  We come here and lament. I think the people of Zimbabwe may not be happy with us. We need to make noise as Members of Parliament and I am happy we are united on this one.

We have a lot of areas where revenue, Government income must be spent. Our health, our schools, salaries for civil servants and everywhere but that money is taken to go and support local authorities who are stealing clearly during the day and we see it and we keep quiet.

I think the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts Committee (PAC) must take the Minister of Local Government to task because we want to know, not only Karoi which we are debating today but we need to request an audit for all local authorities.  We know it is happening everywhere. If they cannot run, it is not about commission, it is about firing those who are involved.  If you bring in a commission, you are masking, you are covering for a person who is a criminal. Why not just fire those, take them to jail, then bring new people? When people know that if you do this, you will be fired.

However, I am shocked that we have a local authority that has six schools and they have no record of these schools' operations, no financial statements about these schools and it is a business. For how many years has this been happening? If you look at the Auditor General's report, you will find that this has been mentioned many times and nothing has been done. What are we trying to do?

 People go to tender and he tells you that he is going to supply this and you give him that tender, he decides to bring you bond paper. My God! What is this? Even the Chief Executive Officer of this local authority, how did he receive the bond paper? Please, I think we need something better than this.

As MPs, because we have gone there and witnessed the rot, we need more noise to this and that noise can only come from the Committee responsible for this investigation.  I think I should pray that if there are no lawyers who are in this House to help us, that if we discover something is going wrong at a local authority, we should be allowed by law, as Members of Parliament, to call in the police and even the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to come there immediately and we show evidence.

As we debate here, cover-ups are starting somewhere and you see these people tomorrow morning, they are in the streets, they are in the same offices and continue with the looting. So, this local authority must be our test case.

Let us call in the police, let us call in the Minister and say, the Committee on Public Accounts, can we all go to Karoi and show you evidence? As people of Zimbabwe, we want to see what you do so that others will learn from that.

 Madam Speaker, I feel bad that we have such a type of report, and these people would feign ignorance and claim that they do not have competent people. They then say it was an accounts error and so forth.  We cannot have a local authority with 10 000 to 20 000 people being run by incompetent people, uninformed people and we allow it to happen like that. Maybe somebody is getting an advantage out of keeping incompetent people in that local authority.

So, Public Accounts, Chairperson, through you Madam Speaker, we request that we bring it back to this House if we do not see action on Karoi. We do not want it to end with Karoi; wherever we come from, we know stories about stands. We know they are working in complicity with land barons and nothing is done to rectify that. We want every local authority to be investigated, audited and action taken. We want that money to support service delivery.

Council beerhalls have been rented out, people rent out those council properties and do the same job and make money, yet the local authority cannot make money. What is happening? This corruption is not a political issue.  We just want the Government public funds to go where they are supposed to go.

Madam Speaker, local authorities, rural and urban are corrupt. Everyone is aware of that. Vehicles are being bought, government funds or public funds are being paid, yet there are no vehicles delivered and we just keep quiet. Why should we keep quiet? It is fortunate now that as Parliament, we have discovered this and therefore, let us push the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

         I hope the Public Accounts Committee will go to the Speaker for him to write a letter to ZACC and show them the report of our observations and we see action. If we do not, we call ZACC here to say, what is happening, we got this evidence and these people accepted before us that it was an omission or commission.  However, for us, it is a total omission. They did wrong and they must be arrested.

Madam Speaker, that is my feeling. I did not want to debate on this one, but I saw the emotions from the Members that we need to insist on action. These criminals must go to jail. I thank you.

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

HON. NYANDORO: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18^th June, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. TOGAREPI:  Madam Speaker, I move that we move to Order of the Day Number 23 on today’s Order Paper.

HON. NYANDORO: I second Madam Speaker Ma’am.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO EMBRACE THE IDEOLOGY OF PATRIOTISM

Twenty-Third Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the need to embrace the ideology of patriotism in the country.

Question again proposed.

HON. KANGAUSARU:   Thank you Madam Speaker Ma'am. I rise today not merely to support this motion, but to champion it as a critical national imperative.  At the core of Zimbabwe's development puzzle lies not only infrastructure or economic policy but a more profound and often overlooked element, the ideological infrastructure of our people.  The transformation of Zimbabwe's mindset from one preoccupied with survival to one orientated toward national prosperity must be deliberate and institutional-driven.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, the other focus on the roads we build

and the policies.  I submit that vital infrastructure must be constructed in the human mind.  Nations do not develop, people develop.  People infused with patriotic consciousness think differently, act differently and achieve differently.  Patriotism is not an abstract sentiment; it is a practical force multiplier for development.

Madam Speaker, let us ask why some communities thrive while others with equal resources falter?  The answer lies not in their material holdings, but in their mental posture.  The proposed National Institute of Ideology and more so, the capacitation of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology would serve as a strategic tool to systematically re-engineer our national consciousness.  It would re-orient our thinking from scarcity to abundance, from individualism to collective progress.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology is not just a symbolic institution.  It must be a strategic pillar of our national pride.  It should be strengthened, well-resourced and fully mainstreamed into our national development agenda.  More importantly, a nationwide awareness campaign must be launched to popularise its relevance, especially among the youth, students, public servants and the broader citizenry.  Zimbabweans must come to understand that the ideology is not just the preserve of textbooks, but the blueprint for nation building. 

We often lament a brain drain, but if we reframe it as unrealised patriotic investment, our diaspora sends back billions in remittances.  Imagine if they sent back billions in patriotic capital, investment in communities, schools, technologies and ideas because they were raised to view Zimbabwe not as a place to escape, but as a platform for utmost wealth creation.

The institute must cultivate what I call ‘brain circulation’, where Zimbabweans go abroad to learn, not to flee, but to return and build their Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe that we want.  This requires more than technical training Madam Speaker Ma’am.  It demands ideological formation. 

Madam Speaker Ma’am, Silicon Valley was not built by people fleeing America, but by people committed to American excellence.  Similarly, Zimbabwe’s innovation hubs will only flourish when our citizens begin to view entrepreneurship as a patriotic duty.  This is what I call, patriotic entrepreneurship where business alone is not only for profit but for national progress.  Every enterprise becomes a declaration of faith in Zimbabwe’s future. 

Madam Speaker Ma’am, true patriotism is the greatest antidote to corruption.  Law punishes, but love restrains.  A citizen who loves their country will not rob it.  A patriotic civil servant will ask, how does this decision build the Zimbabwe that we want?  A patriotic entrepreneur will ask, how does this idea advance our national agenda?  This internal compass multiplies across the citizenry, creates a self-regulatory society. 

Madam Speaker Ma’am, productivity does not come from exertion alone, but from purpose.  Japanese workers did not rebuild post-war Japan with machinery alone but with an ideological commitment.  The proposed institution would ignite Zimbabwe's productivity by linking every job, every sacrifice, and every act of service to a larger national vision.

Patriotism also empowers culture. Indians monetised Bollywood; South Koreans leveraged K-pop; Jamaica strives on reggae. These were not commercial accidents.  They were ideological triumphs. With the patriotic consciousness, we too can view our culture, music, our literature and tradition not as nostalgic relics, but as exportable intellectual property. The Heritage Temple School of Ideology and the Institute would instil this vision.

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, wealthy families think in generations, so must nations. These institutions would instill intergenerational thinking, where every decision is made not just for today, but for the grandchildren of tomorrow, our children. This transforms farmers into stewards, business people into legacy builders and professionals into mentors.

         Moreover, patriotism fosters trust between citizen and between citizen and the State, where trust thrives, cooperation blooms and development accelerates.

Madam Speaker, in today's globalised world, patriotism is a competitive advantage. Investors are drawn to stability, unity and national confidence.  Tourists seek authenticity.  Diaspora communities take long to reconnect with pride.  Patriotic institutions enhance our global brand by creating citizens who are proud ambassadors of Zimbabwe. Let us conclude with evidence.

Nations with strong patriotic foundations demonstrate low capital flight, high domestic investment, strong innovative metrics, improved governance and sustainable economic growth.  This is the transformation the National Institute of Ideology and the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology can ignite if we invest wisely.

Madam Speaker, the implementation must be robust, yet inclusive. The programme must be accessible via schools, workplaces, community platforms and digital media. The curriculum must be practical. Citizens must graduate not just with ideological clarity but with the skills to contribute to national development. 

Madam Speaker, we stand at historic crossroads. We can either continue to patch up the present or we can engineer a new national future by investing in our greatest asset, that is our minds, our people's minds. Let us strengthen the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology and let us build the National Institute of Ideology. Let us rise and raise a new generation that believes, dreams and that builds the Zimbabwe that we want. So, I submit Madam Speaker. 

HON. CHIWANZA:  Good afternoon Madam Speaker. I rise to support the debate on patriotism. Madam Speaker, the issue of patriotism starts within the mind. A wise man once said, emancipate yourself from this mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds. If our children are raised not understanding the history of this country, not only the liberation history but the liberation of our culture, the history of our culture, who are we and where are we coming from? Patriotism is not only an act of doing.  It is an act of behaviour. We do not want to raise children who do not understand who we are as black people. 

Zimbabwe is a particular country which was formed or derived from a history of colonisation. In other words, our history is distorted. It was told and written by the wrong people. It is time that we as black people start to straighten up and write our history the way it happened. In Shona Madam Speaker, vanoti kuziva mbuya huudzwa – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I was explaining in Shona Madam Speaker…

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MAUNGANIDZE): Order Hon. Hlatywayo Gladys, may you please allow him to be heard in silence? You may proceed Hon. Chiwanza.

HON. CHIWANZA:  Thank you Madam Speaker. The Oxford Dictionary of patriotism says, the quality of being patriotic, devotion and vigorous support of one's country. In other words, the Oxford Dictionary has already told us that our country is supreme. It comes first. It is the ultimate definition of what patriotism is.  I also believe that even in primary schools, things or institutions like Chitepo School of Ideologies must start even in pre-schools for them to know where we are coming from.

In primary schools, Madam Speaker, the issue of patriotism is non-partisan. It has nothing to do with which party you belong to. We are Zimbabweans and we will forever be Zimbabweans. Our country comes first. Madam Speaker, there is a statement by a professor in India who said, a colonised mind is socialised in a colonised way and it can only imagine a future that is colonised. For as long as we do not decolonise our thinking, we do not have the sense of patriotism in our minds, we will forever live with a colonised mind and we will never broaden our future and we will never broaden our economy. Our President says, nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. We will never build it for as long as we do not know who we are. Thank you Madam Speaker. 

HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Thank you Madam Speaker. I wish to highlight what I understand by the word ‘patriotism’. Patriotism is a deep-seated emotional connection with one's country. It is actually a personal feeling of love and devotion to one's country. The issue of patriotism is inherent in every Zimbabwean who was born in Zimbabwe by birth or even by descent.

Let me give a good example, to put things into perspective Madam Speaker, have you watched Zimbabweans watching their national team playing against Zambia, Angola or any other country? All Zimbabweans from all walks of life converge with the nationalism spirit. They converge with loyalty to their team. They converge with allegiance to their team. They converge with the highest level of chauvinism. They converge with the highest level of jingoism, that is patriotism. It cannot be legislated. It is something that comes naturally if we do good to each other in every sphere of life. 

Madam Speaker, we can make laws in life generally. Laws can regulate behaviour and laws can establish boundaries.  Laws can punish some acts but laws cannot change someone's internal belief or internal feeling. What is important in terms of patriotism is the behaviour of us as leaders at this level. If we behave mutually differently or as an example, the whole community or the whole nation will follow suit Madam Speaker. 

Let me say this as a matter of fact; if we are patriotic, we all fight corruption at all levels. I would like to thank today's Members of Parliament, the 10^th Parliament. Today's debate was so robust, the debate on the issue of Karoi Town Council, that is an act of patriotism. What else do you want Madam Speaker? Why do you want to make a law? Why do you want to have a motion on that yet that is something that is inherent within us?  It cannot be forced. It cannot be pushed Madam Speaker. 

Madam Speaker, a patriotism bargain will ensure that the correct meaning of patriotism comes from the Government itself. Among all its three arms is Parliament which is the legislative arm, the Executive as well as the third arm of Government. You will find that if we do not demonstrate as Government – we should demonstrate patriotism rather than legislate it and talk about it. Let us demonstrate it. How do you do that? 

Firstly, we must fight corruption at all levels of Government if we are true to patriotism. Go to China, if you are involved in any kind of corruption, you are dead. You will be killed instantly. As long as it is proved beyond any reasonable doubt, you go. That is an act of patriotism. However, in some instances Madam Speaker, you see politicians celebrating zviganandas who milk people's income which is supposed to benefit the national individuals. That man will celebrate and say, I got a car, I got this, I got that.  That is so embarrassing. That is shallow-minded and it is a sign of lack of patriotism for our country.

Let us start from there Madam Speaker. Let us correct the issue of corruption in this country. Once that is done, everyone will be happy about their own country. Everyone will be so willing to partake of their country. Everyone will be happy to defend their country. How can you defend a country which is benefiting a few? The real patriotism is one who fights corruption. That is very important. 

How can one be patriotic and when you go to our hospitals, there are no X-ray machines.   There are no CT scanners, diagnostic machines, surgical gloves Madam Speaker. So, if one says that there are no gloves, people say you are being negative, you are not patriotic and you are not speaking good of your country. That is not correct Madam Speaker. It is fundamentally correct to tell the correct position as it is.  It is also important to take action as leaders to correct it and that way, we become patriotic.

Madam Speaker, I have noted with concern that the mover of the motion is seeking the establishment of the National Institute of Ideology.  Some Hon. Members in their debates also gave an example of the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology. Let me be very clear Madam Speaker. The Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology in its current form is directly partisan.  We cannot have that kind of partisan ideology as a name for the national ideology. It is not national in any way - [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -  Let me justify it Madam Speaker.  I will justify it in this way; if you graduate from the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology, you are given a certificate.  That certificate, at the bottom of it, is signed by a political party, the ZANU PF Party Political Commissar, who is a Cde. Machacha.  I have seen that Madam Speaker.  So, whenever you bring this kind of situation to Parliament, to say we want all MPs and all leaders in Government to have this, it becomes fundamentally flawed from the beginning. The Government of this country is made up of people from all walks of life.  We have got various political parties with various beliefs. We should be united by a single national ideology that represents the interests of every Zimbabwean, not this kind of ideology that we have under the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology.

For that matter therefore, Madam Speaker, if this ideology persists and Parliament ratifies this, to say we are going to continue with the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology, I wish to categorically make it clear that count me out of that and I am ready to face the consequences. Madam Speaker Ma’am, a patriotic Zimbabwean - I was hearing Honourable Members talking about our history, to say we must know where Zimbabwe came from. I one hundred per cent agree with them.  We are talking about patriotism in 2025 yet the people who brought independence to this country are getting a meagre pension of US$153 per month. Imagine that kind of level.  Then you come here and say we want to be patriotic but we cannot as a Government mean our words. Patriotism must be an act; it must be an internal conviction.  Where are we as a Government? Alright, fine, if it means we are rewarding those who fought for this country, giving them US$153 per month, how are they going to pay for their medical bills? Most of them are becoming old. When we talk of patriotism, it is something that we earn through our behaviour. Let us practice it first before we teach others.

Madam Speaker, there is the assertion that patriotism is achieved in schools by teaching our kids our history. We already have our history being taught in schools Madam Speaker. I do not see which kind of patriotism we need in schools.  We teach history from where we came from, the First Chimurenga, the Second Chimurenga, African grievances and everything. It is well documented, so I am trying to figure out what kind of patriotism; what else do we want to teach our students?

Madam Speaker Ma’am, the people who fought for this country, the war veterans, fought for the one man one vote principle. They fought to ensure that all Zimbabweans are treated fairly. Madam Speaker, how do you explain a situation where even if one is guilty of anything, how do you explain a situation whereby someone stays in prison before trial, in pre-trial detention for over 500 days in prison? Can we honestly talk about patriotism under the circumstances? I do not think so Madam Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] -Let us love one another first. When we love one another, we become naturally patriotic and naturally connected to each other. We build our country together. For that matter therefore, Madam Speaker, I submit. Thank you very much.

*HON. MUNEMO: Thank you Madam Speaker, for allowing me to air my voice on the motion raised by Honourable Mapiki. Madam Speaker, let me reiterate patriotism and ideology.  Patriotism or the love and devotion to one’s country can be a powerful force for shaping the next generation's legacy. It can foster a sense of shared identity, responsibility and commitment to the nation's future. Madam Speaker, by instilling a strong sense of patriotism, society can encourage civic engagement, promote social cohesion and inspire individuals to contribute to the well-being of the country.

Here is how patriotism can shape the next generation's legacy. Madam Speaker, fostering civic engagement, patriotism can motivate young people to participate in their communities and contribute to the democratic process. By understanding their rights and responsibilities as citizens, they are more likely to engage in political discourse, vote and advocate for positive change.

A strong sense of patriotism can inspire them to work towards improving their society and ensuring a better future for all. It also promotes social cohesion. Patriotism can unite people from diverse backgrounds under a shared national identity.  When individuals feel connected to their country and fellow citizens, they are more likely to cooperate, support one another and work towards a common goal. This sense of unity can help overcome social divisions and create a more harmonious society. Patriotism inspires a sense of responsibility.

Madam Speaker, patriotism can instill a sense of responsibility toward the nation's future. Young people who feel patriotic are more likely to take ownership of their country's challenges and work towards solutions.

This sense of responsibility can motivate them to pursue education, develop their skills, and contribute to the economic and social development of their nation. Patriotism preserves cultural heritage. It can evolve a love for one's country, culture, traditions, and history. By valuing and preserving these aspects, societies can ensure that future generations inherit a rich and vibrant cultural identity. This can strengthen a sense of belonging and provide the foundation for national pride and unity.

Patriotism can build a sustainable future. It can inspire individuals to work towards a sustainable future for their country. This can involve promoting environmental protection, responsible resource management, and sustainable development practices. By instilling a sense of stewardship towards the environment, societies can ensure that future generations inherit a healthy and thriving planet.

In conclusion, patriotism can be a powerful force for shaping the next generation's legacy by fostering civic engagement, promoting social cohesion, inspiring a sense of responsibility, preserving cultural heritage, and building a sustainable future. When patriotism is combined with commitment to justice, equality and progress, it can create a positive and lasting impact on society. I thank you.

*HON. SHONGEDZA: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. I would like to thank you for the opportunity accorded to me, to support the motion which was raised by Hon. Mapiki and seconded by Hon. Mutimbanyoka in this august House. Hon Members were debating an issue to do with Karoi. If all councils had undergone the Chitepo School of Ideology, people could actually desist from corruption because people would have been taught to like their own nation and desist from the habit of looting.

I would like to commend the Chitepo School of Ideology that will make sure that all these youngsters, will love their own country. The unity which was shown on corruption which was being discussed on issues to do with Karoi, I think that is a good idea. Some Hon. Members are saying Chitepo belongs to a certain political party, it does not belong to any political party. It is a school of ideology which teaches people to love their own country. I went for the liberation struggle when I was young. I went to liberate all these citizens by committing myself and by so doing, God discovered that I have to come back alive while others died in those foreign lands.

God decided to protect me up until I came back to this country and then came up with the Chitepo School of Ideology, which will be there to teach people to like their own country and enjoy their heritage. The school is not only for those who go abroad to ask for sanctions to be imposed on these old aged people but for some who want to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle. So, if they agree, it would be good for them to acquire knowledge so that people belong to the culture of our country.

Patriotism actually means you must be proud of your nation and all the minerals and everything that we find in this country. I do not have much to say, but I feel touched by the age when I went for the liberation struggle. I came back and discovered some of these people are against the idea of imparting knowledge to these youngsters because they do not know anything. If they undergo the Chitepo School of Ideology, they will come out with knowledge. I am kindly requesting for all the Councils, all those who are in this Government, they have to undergo the Chitepo School of Ideology before being employed. They must be taught to be proud of their own country. I thank you.

         HON. G. K. HLATYWAYO: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me an opportunity to debate the motion put forward by Hon. Mapiki. Let me pose it from the very onset of my debate that I am vehemently opposed to this motion and the idea of legislating patriotism for the reasons that I am going to outline. The first one is that legislating patriotism can be a tool for abuse of power and suppressing dissent through punishing individuals who express opinions that challenge the status quo or the Government of the day in a competitive authoritarian context such as Zimbabwe, where there is party state conflation.

Terms such as national interest are often euphemisms for advancing party interest and the interest of the ruling class or ruling elite. In this case, legislating patriotism might be legislating the zanufication of the State. There is also a danger that legislating patriotism can erode civil liberties and restrict freedoms of speech, assembly and association. These civil liberties are at the heart of any democratic society and encoded in our own Bill of Rights, in our own Constitution, and must therefore be protected and protected rather than taken away by opaque, divisive and undemocratic laws under the guise of legislative patriotism. The proposed prayer by the mover of the motion also has a chilling effect on public discourse Madam Speaker. Open, honest public debate that is so instrumental to democratic development might be discouraged as fear grips the country.

In an era where efforts are being made to re-engage the international community, as enunciated in the National Development Strategy among other police blueprints and in the context of globalisation Madam Speaker, legislating patriotism risks further isolating the country as other nations may view such laws as violations of human rights and democratic norms. As Zimbabweans, we must reject the acerbic, inward-looking dispositions that led to our isolation and failed attempts at Otaq. Patriotism Madam Speaker, can also be very subjective.

The definition of patriotism can be very subjective and any attempt to define it risks being arbitrary and unfair, more-so in our context. If you are to ask me what patriotism is Madam Speaker, I will probably tell you what it is not based on my lived experiences. I will tell you that it is not the syphoning of national resources into individual pockets.

I will probably tell you Madam Speaker, that it is abducting citizens in broad daylight, including parliamentarians and opposition leaders because they belong to a different political party. Patriotism is not extrajudicial killings of opposition members because they have not voted for your party. It is not weaponising of the judiciary against political opponents.

It is not dismantling of State institutions, including Madam Speaker, the whole Parliament, into commissariat departments of one political party. It is not targeting an ethnic group for massive killings under the guise of national interest. It is not plunging the country into chaos through attempts to change the Constitution and extend one's term of office.

It is not that Madam Speaker. Patriotism can never be blind. It can never be blind to flaws in your own country. I will quote Mark Twain Madam Speaker and tell you that patriotism is supporting one's country all the time and one's government when it deserves it.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker Ma’am, I wish to reiterate my strong opposition to the motion under debate. Legislating patriotism is a slippery slope that might end up breeding authoritarian consolidation in this our country and suppression of fundamental rights of suburban citizens.

Hon. Speaker, patriotism must be nurtured and never legislated, focus on Government and indeed this very House, must be on prioritising the interests of ordinary citizens through the protection of human rights, provision of potable water, electricity, good hospitals, education, jobs, plaguing revenue leaks and ending corruption and patriotism would develop organically Madam Speaker.

Seeking provision of citizens, seeking provision of services to citizens and protection of their rights and everything else will be added unto you. I so submit.

HON. MUKOMBERI: Thank you. Hon. Speaker Ma’am, I want to appreciate this opportunity that allows me also to add my contribution on the topic of embracing the ideology of patriotism. Madam Speaker, I want to start by defining patriotism in similar terms.

Simply put, patriotism can be defined as the deep-rooted love, loyalty and devotion towards one's country. So, the deep-rooted love, loyalty and devotion Madam Speaker, are actions but actions are always and everywhere driven by the mindset. As was said by Mahatma Gandhi, ‘a man is just but the product of his own thoughts, what he thinks he becomes’.

So, embracing the ideology of patriotism is very fundamental for a country such as Zimbabwe, for ideology is teaching the mindset. In this case, for the mindset to think of one's country first and put it first before anything else. The ideology of patriotism plays a pivotal role in shaping societies and nurturing a strong Zimbabwe as a nation.

It therefore implies, Madam Speaker, that the ideology of patriotism is more than a mere sentiment but an essential ingredient that binds individuals together and propels collective progress as postulated by Zimbabwe's number one patriotic citizen, His Excellency Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa. In his mantra, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’, that is to say, when it comes to building an economy or a country, a nation is best built by its own patriotic people through the crystallisation of collective wisdom but wisdom is derived from a patriotic mindset. Hon. Speaker Ma’am, understanding the importance of patriotism is the beginning of all nation-building wisdom and hence is crucial for the well-being and prosperity of an economy such as ours.

Allow me at this juncture Madam Speaker, to elucidate on specific benefits to Zimbabwe that are potentially brought about by embracing the ideology of patriotism. Firstly, Madam Speaker, patriotism fosters unity and social cohesion. In a world characterised by diversity, patriotism serves as a unifying force that transcends differences of race, religion and ethnicity, even differences in the political parties that people are actually under.

To this end, patriotism creates a shared sense of identity and purpose among citizens, promoting social harmony and solidarity. Madam Speaker, when Zimbabwean people are united by a common love for their country, they work together towards common goals, paving the way for a stronger and more cohesive society.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, patriotism nurtures national pride and identity. It actually instils a sense of appreciation and reverence for a country's history, culture and achievements. It is therefore key to note that the ideology of patriotism should be embraced in our country such as Zimbabwe. Hon. Speaker, it must be noted that by valuing and preserving cultural heritage, patriotism helps in maintaining a unique national identity.

To this end, citizens become ambassadors of their nation's values and traditions and in the process, they promote such values and traditions domestically and internationally. A strong sense of national pride Madam Speaker, inspires individuals to strive for excellence, making significant contributions to various fields of innovation. That will also build our own country.

Collaboratively Hon. Speaker, patriotism encourages civic engagement and responsibility. When individuals are deeply attached to their country, they actively participate in the democratic processes, exercise their right to vote and engage in community services. To this end, citizens understand that their actions have a direct impact on the development of their nation.

Thus, patriotism instils a sense of, I want to quote, ‘My country, right or wrong’? If it is right, it should be kept right and if it is wrong, it should be set right by its own people and this goes back again, to the ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’ mantra.

Moreover, Madam Speaker, patriotism drives national progress and development. A society that cherishes love for its country encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth. Patriotism fosters a sense of collective responsibility towards the well-being of the country, spurring initiatives that enhance infrastructure, education, health and sustainable development.

In a nutshell, Madam Speaker, the ideology of patriotism is of paramount importance in fostering a strong nation. It strengthens unity, preserves national pride and identity, encourages civic engagement and drives progress and development. So, by and large, it is key to note that cultivating and nurturing patriotism within individuals is vital for building a prosperous, harmonious and resilient Zimbabwe.

Thus, it is through the collective devotion to one's country that nations can strive towards a brighter future for all the citizens, independent of their political associations. With these humble submissions Madam Speaker, I rest my case and I want to thank you.

         HON. KARENYI: Thank you Madam Speaker, for affording me this opportunity as I want to add my voice to the motion. The ideology of patriotism as a State-enforced urgency, especially through a national ideological institution, as a legal framework, making it compulsory, is not going to benefit the nation. Until it is going to be taken seriously without politicising it, I am going to focus on democratic principles, human rights, national unity and policy priorities.

Patriotism by its nature is a personal and emotional commitment to one's country, not something that can be legislated to human concerns. When the State starts mandating ideology, we move dangerously towards authoritarian rule. Compulsory patriotism is not patriotism, it is indoctrination. We must move away from violation of constitutional and human rights.

Our Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, opinion and expression. To enforce patriotism legally would infringe upon these basic rights, Madam Speaker. Creating a legal framework compelling ideological loyalty undermines democracy and pluralism through thriving on diversity of opinion. The dangers of institutionalising ideology are as follows: An ideology institution sounds disturbing. History has shown us that once States begin controlling ideology, State abuse, censorship and suppression of dissent follow. Decisiveness and weaponisation risk, it is going to be also one of the challenges.

This motion risks creating a decisive notion, patriotic versus unpatriotic citizens. Who defines patriotism? Will also critique of Government policies be labelled unpatriotic? Will opposition voices be silenced under this legal framework? Misplaced priorities, Zimbabwe is facing economic hardships, high unemployment and poor service delivery. Should not our efforts and public resources go into rebuilding education, health, infrastructure and job creation instead of building ideology enforcement mechanisms? The patriotism is built, not imposed. True patriotism is cultivated through equality education, national dialogue, transparency and equitable development, Madam Speaker. We should focus on teaching national history, promoting civic responsibility and celebrating our cultural heritage, not enforcing loyalty.

I have got a few recommendations. Rather than forcing patriotism through law and State institutions. I recommend the following: strengthen civic education, incorporate balanced, inclusive civic and historical education in schools that encourages love of our country while respecting diverse perspectives. Promote national unity through development. We must foster patriotism through inclusive development, equal opportunities and public accountability.  A few minutes ago, we were all contributing and supporting the issue of no to corruption. This is what we are supposed to focus on, not to focus on nations which will also create opposition of views, especially in our country. We must establish a national dialogue platform. We must create voluntary spaces for civic dialogue, youth engagement and cultural celebrations that build belonging organically.

Lastly, Madam Speaker, we must safeguard democratic rights. We must promote media freedom. We know very well in our country, that we have got so many journalists or so many people who come from media fraternity who always face harassment through opposition of views. I believe that if we focus more on promoting media freedom, our country will have development and peace will prevail. We must also focus on academic independence and I know very well that if we focus on this one, obviously we are going to stop the issue of saying who is going to be at Heroes Acre and who is not ongoinging. We must also run away from the fact that if anyone is opposing the Government, whether they have gone to war or not, especially those who have gone to war, they are now enemies of the struggle. As a nation, if we continue to promote such kind of behavior, we will not go anywhere. Let us not confuse patriotism with blind allegiance. Let us not sacrifice freedom in the order of loyalty.

Zimbabwe's greatness will come not from compulsory ideology but from a shared vision Madam Speaker, built on justice, opportunity and mutual respect. I respectfully, urge this House to reconsider this motion. I know very well it is going to be very difficult because it will be more like those from my side are opposing. However, the true factor is that we really want to build this nation. We want this nation to walk on a path where we also invite even developers to come and develop in our country. I strongly feel that this motion is going to create a lot of noise because we are not correctly explaining or unpacking patriotism as patriotism. We are more like if you have got any different view, you are fighting the struggle, which is wrong.

May I close by saying that I do not agree with compulsory ideological institution of patriotism because muchishona tinoti chakachenjedza ndochakatanga . Recently, those councilors who managed to attend the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology, their certificates were written ZANU-PF on it, which clearly shows that it was a political ideology, not a national ideology. We must agree to disagree. Honestly, if Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology was going to be taken as a national ideology, obviously everyone was going to support it. However, the moment those certificates were having the logo of another party, everything zvakabva zvapinda musango. People were there to support the Hebert Chitepo, the moment it was politicised, zvakabva zvapinda musango. Let us continue to unite as a nation. Let us continue to also bring even opposition ideas because it will also help our nation, rather than destroying our nation. I thank you Madam Speaker.

         HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity. I would like to thank Hon. Mapiki for bringing this motion into this House. I also want to appreciate all the Hon. Members who have contributed towards this important debate that we have in this House. Be that as it may, I feel that this House must engage less in theoretical addressing of the issue of patriotism. Rather, we should be focusing more on being practical about the term patriotism. That is what I believe.

The whole country must be looking at us and understand what is patriotism by what we do, not by what we say. I can see that we are trying to go out of our way as Members of Parliament to try and explain the concept of patriotism because most of the things that we are saying, are the things that we do not do or we do not practice. If we want this idea of patriotism to be understood by the entire nation, we must start to practice patriotism. I am happy that when other Members were debating about patriotism, they also tried to define what patriotism is. One of the Hon. Members defined patriotism as unconditional love to one's own country. The Hon. Member had to write or he had to predicate his entire debate upon that particular definition. That was a very good definition but I would want to say the definition, as much as it is a good definition, the Hon. Member did not define what we call a country.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Chigumbu. Can you please stick to your debate and your facts and not analyse what has been said before? You may proceed.

HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you Madam Speaker. So, I am just trying to create a launch pad for my debate but that is why I did not mention the name of the Hon. Member who said what I am referring to so that it does not seem like I am responding to that particular Hon. Member. I heard what you said.

My point is that, if we define patriotism as unconditional love to one's country, we must also be able to define what we call a country. If we define patriotism as unconditional love to one's country, we must also be able to define what we call unconditional love. A country is simply its people. Unconditional love in as far as patriotism is concerned, is to love your own people. That is what I call patriotism. I will predicate my entire debate on these two definitions that I have given.

Lastly, Madam Speaker, to say what is a country, what is to love one's country unconditionally. A country is not the borderline that we see every day. A country is just an abstract means that we try to understand what we call a nation. For me, it is just an abstract but what a country is, is the people that reside in that country. It is the cultures of those people who reside in that particular geographical area. It is the values that are upheld by the people who stay in that particular piece of geographical location or area that we call a country. If we talk of patriotism, we should not talk or discuss about patriotism as if it is a distant thing that we are talking about. Patriotism must bring back or point us back to the citizens of that particular nation. If we talk of unconditional love for one's country, I would want to say, in this entire planet, there is no way a human being can love unconditionally. There is no way.

Madam Speaker, the point I am trying to make here is that patriotism is a two-way thing. The way we treat our citizens...

HON. MASVISVI: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, Ma'am.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order? HON. MASVISVI: Thank you Madam Speaker, Ma'am.

I want to correct my colleague about the definition of population. Yes. Let me put it very straight. We cannot be misled by a wrong definition.  So, may you allow me to put the correct definition of a country?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You may proceed.

HON. MASVISVI: Madam Speaker, Ma'am, a country is a distinct territory with defined borders, a permanent population, a Government and the capacity to enter into relations with other countries. That is the definition of a country. I so submit.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Thank you. Hon. Chigumbu, you may proceed with your debate.

HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to disappoint the Hon. Member. I am not going to take his definition.

We have got so many distinct territories but they are not called countries. He must know that. I am not going to entertain him.

Madam Speaker, like what I was saying, there is no way human beings on this planet can love unconditionally. There is always a possession for one to love. For example, if we say one is to love his country unconditionally, the condition that is there for one to love that country is that because it is his or her country. That is the condition. So, when you are talking of patriotism, it is a two-way thing. It is a two-way relationship. It is how the state treats its citizens and then it is also about how the citizens respond to that treatment from their country or Government.

What is a Government- it is just other citizens acting on behalf of other citizens. That is why it is very important for us now when we are discussing this issue of patriotism, we must not forget about the state actors themselves - what they do in terms of contributing to the ideology of patriotism. With this, let me get into my debate then try to define the key elements that we must focus on when we discuss or debate about patriotism.

Firstly, true patriotism, Madam Speaker, is loyalty to the people, not loyalty to party or individuals. This is a very important aspect. If you listen to many debates that were flying in here, you can tell that we are trying to be partisan with how we are debating this matter. Let me also hasten to say, it is wrong for us to launch debate on patriotism by thinking that there is a certain group that monopolises patriotism. No one in this House can claim to monopolise this important ideology, this important animal called patriotism. The moment we start to think that there is a certain group, organisation and political party that monopolises patriotism, then we have a problem. Patriotism must be regarded as something that should be desired by every citizen of this country. We do not discuss patriotism, to appease our political leaders from our political parties or to use patriotism topic as a way of bootlicking certain leaders so that we get certain benefits. We cannot do that.

Secondly, Madam Speaker…

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Chigumbu. What is your point of order Hon. Dhliwayo?

         HON. DHLIWAYO: Thank you Madam Speaker. I just wanted to get clarity because he seems to be lecturing. He says we, we. Who is he?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Tobaiwa and Hon. Mhangwa.

HON. DHLIWAYO: I wanted to hear whether the “we” represents this Parliament or what. I think he must debate on his behalf and maybe on behalf of his constituents, not the Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear]- I thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Chigumbu, stand guided. This is your debate, so you should refer to yourself. You may proceed.

HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you Madam Speaker. I will try not to continue saying we, we, like what the Hon. Member is asking but I am also referring to my colleague who is standing next to me. Let me continue Madam Speaker.

Point number two, true patriotism Madam Speaker, requires accountability not blind allegiance. There are some moments where I sit here in pain hearing some other Hon. Members sanitising unspeakable things that are being done by certain officials here; they will be clapping their hands. After that, those same individuals stand up here and say they are patriotic - that is not it Madam Speaker.

When we say we are patriotic citizens, we must demand accountability. We must push for accountability and we should also be accountable ourselves. That is what patriotism is all about. I expect in this House, if we are discussing issues that have something to do with the welfare of the people or the citizens of this country, I would expect all of us to unite and speak with one voice. More often, this is not the case. We are always debating according to party lines and after that, we raise and say we are patriots. I have heard other Members of Parliament who have been victimised for saying things that are affecting the people they are leading. They would have said things that are out of line in terms of what their party believes or stands for. We have met many people in this House who have been victimised but they would be standing up for the citizens that brought them into this House. True patriotism is about accountability. It is very important.

Point number three, patriotism builds, it does not divide. Madam Speaker, at this juncture, as a nation, we are seriously divided. The people who are at the forefront of dividing the entire nation are the same people who are rising and saying we are true patriots. It worries me. If we are for true patriotism, we must do all that we can to make sure that the entire country is united. As long as the people who are at the forefront of pushing division in this country are the ones who are then crying loud to say patriotism, we are going to have a problem. It will remain a milestone, a dream that we will never achieve as a nation.

 With patriotism, we must be united. I have seen that in this House. Sometimes it is difficult for us to relate. I like what was once said by the Government Chief Whip when he said, when we are in here, we are friends but when we are out there, we want to portray a picture that we are enemies. When we are here, we share a lot of things, regardless of whether you are from the opposition or ZANU PF. The moment you go out there, we start to divide the people and that is why I said in the introduction of my debate Madam Speaker, that Parliament must demonstrate patriotism. Parliament must not talk about patriotism.

Point number four, patriotism should be shown through service, not slogans. I feel that there is a lot of serious confusion, especially from my other colleagues. I am not going to mention their names, who always mistake political slogans for patriotism? It is not like that.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! You are left with five minutes.

HON. CHIGUMBU: Okay, Madam Speaker. Let me be quick. With patriotism, we should never think that our slogans should define patriotism. Patriotism, like I said, must be real.

Number five, patriotism upholds the Constitution and the rule of law. That is what patriotism should do. In this country, we have had a situation whereby there are people who are currently driving to push for unconstitutional Acts. After that, they would come here and tell us that they are patriotic. It is not supposed to be like that. Patriots must push for the rule of law and the upholding of our Constitution.

Point number six, patriotism must think about the future generations. The corruption that is happening in this country is unspeakable. We have stolen the entire future for the next generation and the same people who are doing this, after stealing from the future generations, they will stand up and say we are patriotic. We must be able to say as a nation, that is wrong and we must condemn that – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-  

Lastly, Madam Speaker, patriotism rejects political victimisation. In this country, on three or four occasions, we have had people being killed for political differences. The people who performed those killings will stand up and say we are patriotic. We have had massacres in Matabeleland in 2008. We had people being killed on 31^st August, 2018, people were killed.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Chigumbu, that has been said already by the previous speaker.

HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you Madam Speaker.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: So, if you have a new point, you can raise it. This one has been said already.

HON. CHIGUMBU: I am happy Madam Speaker, that this has been said already, it is a sign that this is an important issue.

 THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: You cannot repeat what has been said by another Hon. Member.

HON. CHIGUMBU: I am not going to repeat Madam Speaker but what I am going to say, as I close, we should not have a problem as a nation when it comes to patriotism, to be a protagonist, in rhetoric and be an antagonist in practice. If we are to be patriotic, we must act like patriots. We must do like real patriots. We should not be talking about patriotism.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order, Hon. Mananzva?

HON. MANANZVA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Our Hon. Member is mentioning as if he knows where exactly corruption is happening. We cannot just come into this august House and discuss. Since he knows where corruption is rampant, let him bring it in black and white. He has to write down, not only to say, in this country we have a lot of corruption, saying such things and it is a wrong perception of the whole nation. He is missing patriotism. I thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Chigumbu, you can wind up.

HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you Madam Speaker. As I wind up, let me be quick to criticise or point out the bad things that are happening, that are being done by the State agents of your country, it is not in any way unpatriotic. That is the highest form of patriotism. If a mother or father loves their children, there is a moment when we have to beat them so that they do not do bad things. There is a moment when they are supposed to criticise them but it does not mean that they do not love their country. If we love our country, unlike my other Hon. Member, we must stand up for the things that are right. We must all condemn the wrong things despite our political affiliations. We must condemn everything that is not right, everything that is derailing our country without fear or favour. That is what we are doing and what we are hearing is coming from the heart of a true patriot. I thank you.

         HON. MALINGANISO: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma'am. I rise with trepidation, remembering the words of the son of the soil, President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. May his soul rest in peace. Madam Speaker, President Nelson Mandela said, our deepest fear is not inadequacy but the power we wield beyond measure to the extent of asking ourselves, who am I to be talented, brilliant, gorgeous, when the actual question should be, who am I not to be?

Madam Speaker, I rise with trepidation because there is a failure in us. There is a misconception, deep misconception amongst us, where people rise and present lengthy speeches without understanding the prayer before the House. As a result, fellow Hon. Members are shooting in the dark and when you shoot in the dark, there is always a chance that you might shoot even your child.

It is not so wrong to seek to legislate patriotism because this has happened in the past, in the United States of America where fellow Hon. Members who are debating here, lampooning the fact that such legislation is proposed, sort of get even their sponsorship. It sort of pains my heart.

 I grew up in a rural setting where we were herding cattle. In Shona Madam Speaker, hakuna muchero unowira kure namai vawo – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] -

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Gladys Hlatywayo, no one disturbed you when you were debating. Can you please respect other Members and let the Hon. Member be heard in silence?

HON.  MALINGANISO:  Thank you Madam Speaker. Robert Elliot, an Australian said, “If you only visit two continents in your life, visit Africa twice”. There is beauty Madam Speaker, about Africa of which Zimbabwe is a part that you do not get elsewhere. Sometimes it is so painful that, maybe because of our circumstances, we might fail to travel around the world, to learn of circumstances elsewhere and because of good advertisements Madam Speaker, and patriotism, especially on the part of America, those who have never been there will glorify it. However, those who happened to be there know for certain that in certain aspects, a lot of them, we are better but the good thing about America is that they know how to advertise their nation.  Here, we know how to say Zimbabwe is full of corruption, which we cannot prove and that is wrong marketing altogether. Lack of patriotism. Without fear or favour, that is a lack of patriotism.

The Prayer before the House is to enact the ideology…

*HON. HAMAUSWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker Ma'am. I am failing to understand what is being said by Hon. Malinganiso. He is saying that if people from outside hear that we do not have corruption in this country, we have just received a Karoi report which had corruption issues. May he kindly withdraw what he said.

*THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Hamauswa, I encourage you to listen carefully to what is being said by Hon. Malinganiso. It shows you did not understand what he was saying.

 HON. MALINGANISO: It is so Madam Speaker Ma'am, when one climbs without stopping, they normally fall and say wrong things. Madam Speaker, if I were to live twice, my choice in the next life would be to be a Zimbabwean, a proud Zimbabwean.

Madam Speaker, the majority of our debaters have sought to define patriotism and I agree with their definitions but it is true that patriotism borrows from the heart and that we are fruits of a certain tree, which is our motherland, Zimbabwe to whom we owe loyalty because of all that we are, including the forced ingenuity, we somewhat break off the opportunities we have, regardless of whether we are on point or not, the right to dissent and of course, the right to be lost in more ways than one.

The only price we can pay is to love her with action and reward her with purposeful direction. Ours must be to nourish her, that she keeps feeding us. Ours is to look after her, that she may continue to bless us. Now, we do not reward her by adulterating her spirituality, deep diversity and history to the satisfaction of foreign gods. Madam Speaker, the holy book rightly says, “kudza baba namai vako mazuva ako agowedzerwa panyika ”.  Our spiritual and traditional roots are inseparable from our history, one I believe fellow Hon. Members have aptly chronicled. Madam Speaker, from that history, we get direction and we must waver not. 

Why do I say so?  I have heard some suggesting that the money being paid to all veterans is meagre. Madam Speaker, understanding our history positions us rightly to understand our circumstances, to understand our role. What is it that we must do to attain the Zimbabwe that we want? There are two choices, one is of John the Baptist, where you go into the agora and shout, ‘You Harold’, etcetera. Normally, the prize is death because someday one will dance and they demand a prize, which is your head.

Then Madam Speaker, the second is of Nathan the Prophet, where if a wrong has been committed, he goes to King David and says, ‘King David, there is such a one in your country who has taken from one who does not have’.  King David would say, ‘who is that person? Bring them to me so that I may deal with them’.  I am saying there are two ways of attaining a conclusion.

If indeed, as I have heard from Hon. Members from the other side, what they are against is not the ideology of patriotism but that they want it as a national something that is not from a certain party, as they have alluded to, what I would have thought is that one would have posited a solution that let us sit down. What is it that we need in the curriculum so we co-create our future.  We co-create a future of Zimbabweans that speak from one voice, not because they seek political scores but because we seek progress.

Madam Speaker, whilst Moses was on Mount Sinai in the wilderness the Israelites he had liberated, through divine intervention, saw it fit to construct a god of their own.  Maybe that was the genesis of misguided democracy.  Upon descending God used Moses to pronounce punishment and plagues on the people he had chosen in the wilderness.

Now, this is a story we may all be conversant with but what lessons for patriotism do we draw from such a story?  Madam Speaker, there is no freedom outside of the law.  You cannot be free outside of the law and how do we attain patriotism if we do not have the confines within which it is defined?  That begs an answer.  Madam Speaker, the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, as amended, criminalises wilfully injuring the sovereignty and the national interests of Zimbabwe and the national interests of Zimbabwe are housed in the Constitution.  So, for one to say legislating patriotism is wrong when the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land has such, I think we will be lost.

Madam Speaker, to sway aside misguided conceptions that such a law is misplaced what do those of that persuasion say, not only of the Bible but of the American Constitution because they are your bearers?  Madam Speaker, the Israelites did not stop in the wilderness.  In the times of Amos, Prophet Elijah and Prophet Hosea the Israelites conjured uprisings, yet they all were met with one end, punishment.

Whilst Prophet Hosea was called to live a symbolic life, signifying religious apostasy and whereas Prophet Elijah slaughtered the malcontents at Mount Carmel, it is Amos 2:6 that stands out for me where he says, ‘Thus says the Lord, for three transgressions of Israel and four, I will not revoke the punishment.’  Madam Speaker, the Holy Book has demonstrated times without number that stepping out of the way is punishable, not only punishable but actually punishable by death.  Did they not murder Jesus Christ saying he is not the Messiah?  Is there not a chance that today's Pharisees may still see themselves as present-day Messiahs?

 Madam Speaker, laws must be strengthened as is consistent, not only with the Holy Book but our unique circumstances, as it is in America.  Those found on the wrong side of the law, particularly seeking to undermine the gains of the revolution, must face the wrath of the law.  The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also has lessons from which we must draw – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] -  

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order!  Hon. Malinganiso you are left with five minutes.

HON. MALINGANISO:  Thank you, Madam Speaker.  When Jesus got to Gerasene’s, Legion shouted no, no, shalom.  I see it happening also here.  If Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could endure the heat of a consuming fire to remain in the right why, should we not understand that a revolution is not an event but a process in which we are warriors of economic struggle, winning which will liberate future generations off the hooks of neo-colonialism and neo-liberalism?  

Madam Speaker, His Excellency rightly says a country is best built on its own. Who among us has ever built a home of which they are not fond?  That said, Madam Speaker, I know the majority of my brothers here and outside will agree more that sometimes persistence turns even hearts.  That of course, is true of those of us that are in heterosexual relationships.  A love affair takes convincing and initiative.  I am therefore submitting that the National Youth Service and the Chitepo School of Ideology must be made mandatory.  If there are those of us that believe there is a need for amendments, we should submit such to nurture the spirit of patriotism in our young children to move together as a people.  I so submit, Madam Speaker and I thank you.

HON. MAKOPE:  Let me take this opportunity to add my voice to this very important motion raised by Hon. Mapiki and seconded by Hon. Mutimbanyonka.  I have been also reflecting on an individual, Madam Speaker, who is not patriotic and I perceive that individual as someone who is a danger to his or her society.

Let me justify my claim, Madam Speaker because this is the individual who can lament for sanctions against his or her people.  This is an individual who can go to the global north and talk of abuse of human rights as if the global north has the template of human rights.  So, this is how dangerous this person is in the society.

Madam Speaker, the colonisation of our minds has been the cause of all this.  This is where we are today because of white supremacy.  Yes, we have been taught at different levels that our colonisers are superior to us.  So, in our mental capacities today, we always regard our colonial masters as superior to us.  That is why we go there and start to report the claims that I have just mentioned personally.

         We have numerous examples where Africa is regarded as a black continent. If any transactions are done among Africans, it is called the black market. It is unofficial and unprofessional. All those derogatory names are given to our food, attire and songs to the extent that we value the Western culture more than our own culture. It is true that the way we have been taught from early childhood to university, our mental capacities have been taught the way we are reflecting today. So, we have numerous impacts on this colonisation.

Even at any negotiation forum, we negotiate as inferior because of that inferiority complex that has been instilled in our minds. Instead of having a give-and-take situation, we are always being junior partners in all the deals. Whenever we face any challenge, we believe all those problems should be solved by other people other than us. We believe in violence, we believe in disturbance because......

         HON. CHIGUMBU: On a point of order. I think recently there was a ruling by Madam Speaker when she said that when we are debating, we must not refer to “we”. I would also want the Hon. Member to withdraw that because he cannot make us be part of whatever he is talking about, especially his violence. We are not violent, he is violent.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. J. TSHUMA): Order Hon. Members. Hon. Makope, I believe the previous Speaker directed that we avoid using the “we” phrase in the debate, so you may carry on with that guidance. Thank you.

HON. MAKOPE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, for that guidance. I have been talking about the symptoms or the impacts of the neo-colonialism. People have been made to understand or to believe that local donors are not donors but those who come from abroad, especially the global north are the true donors who can support their communities. It is something that has been instilled in our minds.

Recently, Hon. Togarepi has been talking about the local well-wishers who are assisting our communities but derogatory names are given to such important people. It is because our minds have been taught that local donors are not important, rather respect those who come from abroad and support us.

I have been looking at the issue of the market of our products, the Zimbabwean products which come from our own innovations. They are not being supported abroad because they come from the dark continent. So, I am just reinforcing the idea that the education that we have received from early childhood to tertiary institutions is the one that makes the individual whom we see today.

As a resolution, I think that the same education can also be used as a route to correct all those anomalies. The Chitepo School of Ideology that has been talked about is a way to go. To me, if all those partners or other stakeholders feel they have new ideas that can be put in the syllabus or in the curriculum, they should come on board and present their ideas.

We used to have the National Youth Service. It has been implemented in countries such as Cuba and Libya. Those people are proud of their products and nation. So, this is where we should also go as a nation. All our institutions should have the flavour of our history, challenges and solutions.

In conclusion, let me reinforce the issue that patriotism can build someone who is more patriotic. A patriotic person is someone who can solve problems and can come up with new ideas. In addition, someone who can come on board to support and anchor the institutions of authorities of his or her own country. I thank you.

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

HON. NYANDORO: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

Debate to resume: Wednesday, 18^th June, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that we revert to Order Number 10 on today’s Order paper.

HON. C. MOYO: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS ON CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE FOR THE YEAR 2020

HON. HWENDE: I move the motion standing in my name that this House considers and adopts the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) on the issues raised in the Auditor-General’s Report on State-owned Enterprises and Parastatals for the Financial Year ended 31^st December, 2020 (S.C. 9, 2025)

HON. NYANDORO: I second.

HON. HWENDE: Thank you very much Hon. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to present the Public Accounts Committee Report on Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) on the issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report and Parastatals for the financial year ended 2020.  I will go straight to the objectives of the inquiry.

 

1.0 Introduction

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) examined the audited financial statements of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) for the financial year ended December 31, 2020, as part of the Auditor General’s Report on State-Owned Enterprises and Parastatals. CAAZ received a qualified audit opinion due to concerns about its going concern status. This prompted the Committee to analyse CAAZ’s financial and governance practices.

2.0 Objectives of the Inquiry

The key objectives of the inquiry were:

1. Scrutinise issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report.
2. Assess challenges faced by CAAZ.
3. Proffer recommendations to address the issues identified.

3.0 Methodology

The Committee conducted oral evidence sessions with CAAZ officials to assess progress on implementing the Auditor General’s recommendations.

4.0 Committee Findings

4.1 Management of Cash and Bank Balances

Issue: The Committee noted the observation by the Auditor-General that the authority’s controls over the management of cash and bank balances were not adequate. As a result, there were a number of unreconciled items at year-end, some dating back to 2016 which had not been resolved.

CAAZ Response: Officials submitted that bank reconciliations were now being done on a monthly basis and any reconciling items were being investigated and cleared as they arose.

Committee Observations:

         The Committee noted with concern that CAAZ failed to institute monthly bank reconciliations without valid reasons during the period under review.

Committee Recommendations:

1. Reconciliations for the period under review should be completed and submitted to the Committee within 60 days after this report is tabled in Parliament.
2. CAAZ should submit evidence that monthly reconciliations are now being conducted within 60 days after the tabling of this report.

4.2 Going Concern Challenges

Issue: The Committee noted that the Authority did not service overdue long-term legacy loans amounting to ZWL$18.59 billion and domestic loans amounting to ZWL$111 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, the authority’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by ZWL$18.29 billion as of December 31, 2020. These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the authority’s ability to continue as a going concern.

CAAZ Response: The authority inherited the legacy loan in 1999. CAAZ had been split in July 2001, leading to the formation of the Airport Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ). The legacy loans amounting to US$75 million and China Exim Bank loans amounting to US$28 million were transferred to ACZ on August 1, 2021. The assets financed by the loans were also transferred to ACZ at the same time. Officials acknowledged that the current liabilities exceeded current assets by ZWL$18 billion as of December 2020. They explained that the authority still faced a going concern challenge due to legacy loans that were not transferred to ACZ. Efforts were being made to transfer back loans amounting to US$48 million to the Government, which if successful, would address the going concern issue.

Committee Observations:

1. The Committee noted with concern that the failure to transfer both the assets and liabilities cast aspersions on the financial and accounting acumen of CAAZ’s accounting officer.
2. The Committee observed that the liabilities were weighing heavily on the authority as evidenced by the current liabilities exceeding current assets by ZWL$18 billion as of December 2020. This threatens its overall financial stability and sustainability.

Committee Recommendations:

1. The authority should engage their parent Ministry to get assistance in transferring the legacy loans to the Airport Company of Zimbabwe by July 30, 2025.
2. The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion should consider taking over the legacy debt to alleviate the financial burden on CAAZ and ensure its long-term sustainability.

4.3 Non-Compliance with Accounting Standards (IAS 21)

Issue: The Committee noted the observation by the Auditor General that the prior year's financial statements did not comply with the requirements of IAS 21 (“The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates”), as the authority had been unable to use an appropriate exchange rate on the change of functional currency. The authority translated its comparative financial statements using the interbank rate, which came into existence on February 22, 2019, through Exchange Control Directive RU 28 of 2019 issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

CAAZ Response: Officials apprised the Committee that the authority resolved to comply with the laws of the country, even if they were at variance with the requirements of international accounting standards.

Committee Observations:

         The Committee noted with concern that the issue of non-compliance with accounting standards was being experienced by many government departments due to Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 33 of 2019, which mandated the valuation of RTGS assets to USD on a one-to-one basis. This created significant discrepancies and challenges in financial reporting and compliance.

Committee Recommendations:

         The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe should take into consideration International Standards (IAS 21) when drafting statutory instruments to ensure that financial reporting is aligned with internationally accepted practices, thereby enhancing accuracy and consistency in financial statements across all sectors.

4.4 Progress on Governance Issues

Issue: The authority made progress in addressing audit findings raised by the Auditor General in the 2020 annual report. Two findings on the board and key management and concessionaires’ management were raised and addressed, as the board was appointed in 2020 and the Director General was appointed in 2021.

CAAZ Response: The Board Chair, Ms. Ncube, submitted that there were no gaps in the board of CAAZ and the current board was focused on addressing the governance issues that the authority faced in the past. She submitted that the board was confident that all governance deficiencies, particularly the lagging behind in the audited financial statements and the related Annual General Meeting (AGM), would be addressed by June 30, 2025.

The board has the following Committees in place: Strategic and Technical, Human Resource, Financial, Audit, Integrity and Risk. The Committee was further informed that CAAZ’s substantive Director General was on leave pending retirement. The authority had completed a shortlisting process for the Director General, and the process was at the security clearance stage.

Committee Observations:

1. The Committee noted with concern that, while the current board claims to be working to address the governance issues that the authority had faced in the past, there remain significant deficiencies, particularly the delays in finalising audited financial statements and holding the related Annual General Meeting (AGM).
2. Taking cognisance that the board and committees were filled, the Committee noted that there was a need to ensure that the board and the committees were in place at all times.
3. The Committee noted with concern that the substantive Director General was on leave pending retirement. This situation may temporarily pose threats to good corporate governance and might negatively influence the direction to be taken by the authority.

Committee Recommendations:

1. The board should adhere to the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31], which provides a framework for the governance of public entities by July 30, 2025.
2. The authority should ensure that the board is fully constituted at all times by filling vacant positions whenever they arise.
3. The authority should expedite the recruitment and security clearance process for the shortlisted candidates by July 30, 2025.

         4.5 Status of the Submission of Financial Statements for Auditing

Issue: The Committee noted that CAAZ did not meet the statutory deadlines for submitting financial statements.

CAAZ Response: The 2021 financial statements were submitted, audited and finalised by the Auditor General.

The 2022 financial statements were submitted and audited by the Auditor General but finalisation awaited a closing meeting with the management.

         The 2023 draft financial statements will be submitted to the Auditor General by March 31, 2025 and finalised by June 30, 2025.

Committee Observations:

1. The Committee observed that CAAZ did not meet the statutory deadline of February 28 for submitting financial statements for auditing as stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19]. Public entities are required to submit their financial statements for auditing within two months after the end of the financial year (that is, by February 28 of the following year).
2. The Committee noted that failure to meet the deadline is a violation of the Public Finance Management Act and a serious breach of the financial discipline and governance.

Committee Recommendations:

1. The authority should comply with the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] in the submission of financial statements for auditing for the year ending December 31, 2024 and should submit proof of submission within 30 days of the tabling of this report in Parliament.
2. The Accounting Officer for CAAZ should be liable for disciplinary proceedings, offences and penalties for failure to submit the financial statements for auditing as prescribed in Sections 87 and 91 of the Public Finance Management Act.

5.0 Conclusion

The analysis of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) audited financial statements revealed significant governance gaps, non-servicing of legacy loans, going concern challenges, and financial management issues. The Committee acknowledged some of CAAZ’s positive steps, such as addressing governance deficiencies, instituting monthly bank reconciliations, and streamlining financial reporting. However, the Committee emphasised the need for continuous improvement and vigilance in governance and financial management to achieve long-term sustainability. I thank you.

         I move that the debate do now adjourn.

         HON. TOBAIWA:  I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         Debate to resume:  Wednesday, 18^th June, 2025.

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