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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 17 SEPTEMBER 2024 VOL 50 NO 83

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Tuesday, 17^th September, 2024

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

PRAYERS

(THE ACTING SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING SPEAKER

NON-ADVERSE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE

         THE ACTING SPEAKER (HON. MACHINGURA):  I have to inform the House that I have received a Non-Adverse Report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Finance (2024) Bill [H. B. 8, 2024].

PETITION FROM THE MUTORASHANGA VOLUNTARY GROUP

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: I wish to inform the House that on 30^th July, 2024 Parliament received a petition from the Mutorashanga Voluntary Group represented by Samson Mugwagwa, beseeching Parliament to ensure that the Mutorashanga Green Pool is placed under protection in terms of the Protected Places and Areas Act [Chapter 11:12] or the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27]. The petition was deemed admissible and has been referred to the Joint Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs; and Environment, Climate, Wildlife, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  I wish to further inform the House that the Parliament of Zimbabwe will host its Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, 27^th September, 2024 at the Police Golf Club.  The proceeds for the event will be donated to Mazowe Old People’s Home.  All MPs are urged to support the event by sponsoring teams or taking up the various sponsorship packages available. 

         Those who are interested in participating in the event or taking up sponsorship packages should contact the Director, Public Relations, Mr. F. Makubaza on 0712 524 172 or Mr. N. Nyathi on 0775 331 987.  Let us all support this very noble cause.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that Orders of Day, Numbers 1 to 11 on today’s Order Paper be stood over until Order of the Day Number 12 and the rest Orders of the Day have been disposed of.

         HON. SEN. KARIKOGA: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         HON. MUROMBEDZI: On a point of order! Hon Speaker Sir, you were given a list with points of national interest so it has been skipped.

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: I do not have a list here.

MOTION

CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAMMES AND MODERN CANCER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT FOR MPILO AND PARIRENYATWA HOSPITALS

Twelfth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the need to raise awareness and invest in state-of-the-art equipment for cancer treatment.

Question again proposed.

THE ACTING SPEAKER: I would like to inform the House that there was a request for a point of National Interest from Hon. Murombedzi.  However, I have discussed it with the Chief Whip, we will do that tomorrow.  I thank you

*HON. ZEMURA: Thank you, Hon. Speaker Sir.  I want to thank the mover of the motion Hon. Khupe and the seconder of the motion on the issue of cancer.   No disease cannot be cured, no disease cannot be investigated and brought to an end.

I want to thank Hon. Khupe for bringing into discussion this menacing disease which is troubling a lot of our people. It is not that there is no funding, but the people responsible are not interested because they are not their relatives who are suffering from this disease. Those machines that are in India, America or Britain can be brought here but because they think that it only affects Khupe, then they relax.

 I am grateful to the mover for bringing the issue to this House.  It opened our eyes, and we see a lot of our women who have been affected by cancer.  Men also now move around with catheters, maybe I am the only one who sees it, but I have seen it in my neighbourhood and family.

Hon. Speaker Sir, I want to say that as Zimbabweans, we are now wise that we can talk of issues like cancer here in Parliament.  If people have been following the debates, I think our leaders should take action.  They should come up with solutions. 

I had my relative who was a headman and was sick.  He came to my house two weeks ago.  He was diagnosed with cancer. A doctor from Murehwa Hospital said that we should take him to Karanda Hospital, but to go there, you need a lot of paperwork for the disease to be further investigated.  However, the family members did not take it seriously.  As a daughter-in-law, I could also not raise my head much.  The relatives did not do anything about it so last week he passed away at Nhowe Hospital and we carried the burden cognisant of the fact that the relatives had not taken the illness seriously. 

Whenever we hear that someone has been diagnosed with cancer, we should act promptly so that people get treatment.  This disease is very difficult because you will be told the dates you will die.  It is not like an accident. Cancer will take ages and you will see it regressing bringing disharmony in the family and children when you see that this sickness is leading to death, it affects the whole family.  We should try by all means to have the leaders and the Ministry of Health take this debate seriously because there is nothing in hospitals to treat cancer but Zimbabwe is a very rich country.  The Government can import machines because it is able to give money to fund some other projects.

         I think this should be taken up to the leaders so that it touches their hearts because tomorrow it can befall any one of us.  Even me, tomorrow, you can hear that cancer has affected me and I will be in hospital. So, we need to encourage the Ministry of Health that they should approach the Ministry of Finance.  With the minerals we have, our country is wealthy. Our country has money which can buy machines anywhere in the world.  It is very painful for us to watch our people dying.

         Yes, it is a disease.  Those who have money can fly out and seek medication anywhere but many of us will die in our homes.  Many women have perished because of cancer.  Some of us, as women, are looked down upon because they do not take us seriously and they are not affected by the death of women. We have lived with this cancer for a long time and people have been dying. Our men die of prostate cancer but they are not ashamed of walking because if they were ashamed, they would raise their voices so that we could come up with a solution. If you see someone plumping on the side, it means they have a catheter there.

         Hon. Speaker, we are talking about this serious disease.  We hear people saying let us go to Karanda Hospital, but there is only one doctor who is able to cure the disease.  So, if you go there, there will be long queues.  So, we are urging our Government to look upon us so that all the big hospitals have cancer machines so that people will be cured of these diseases.  Thank you.

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  We are very sorry about your relative who departed because of this disease.  

         ⁺HON. R. MPOFU:  I thank the mover of the motion Hon. Khupe. Yes, we are debating about an emotional motion of a disease which has killed a lot of our people.  I feel pained Mr. Speaker, when people talk about cancer, a disease which does not select anyone.  I thank the President of the country for the way he helped our colleague, Hon. Khupe.  We are very grateful for our President because his actions are indicative that he represents everyone in the country without taking regard of one’s political affiliation.  It is painful to all of us even though it was not affecting us personally.  Cancer is a debilitating disease which kills people slowly.  It is a historical disease.

         As I think deeply about this disease, it can affect the women, men and children. My request is that the Government should find a way to put aside a resource envelope specifically for this disease as this disease is spreading. As I speak, I do not know my status but I could be having the disease. It starts small like a pimple and spreads all over the body. May the Government take action and buy the relevant machinery for the hospitals to enable our people to be examined on time. I will suggest that our girl-child be examined because this disease is not selective of age.

         I also applaud His Excellency for going around conscientising people about this disease. We are grateful to the First Lady who has actually shown concern towards the women of this country. Again, I thank the Lord for his intervention and for healing Hon. Khupe. I know that everyone here in Zimbabwe knows about what Hon. Khupe went through with this disease.  Cancer equipment should be in all hospitals but the big hospitals should have better machinery. I pity those who are suffering from this disease.

         We realise that there are some people who are dumped because they are suffering from cancer. Sometimes it is those who are staying with guardians. We know of people who have died from HIV/AIDS and there are a lot of orphans who might be affected and are kept at home. The effects of the disease continue to worsen especially when they are hard of hearing as there are a few people who can use sign language. It is then required that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare gives us the relevant statistics so that the Government can take care of them. The children should be examined and be able to offer assistance to those that can do so on their own.

I also request that all Hon. Members be the eyes and ears for such people and help each other without looking at how we are related. If you know of someone who is affected, let us go and see how we can offer assistance. This matter should be conscientised even in schools because our people are perishing. With those few words, I thought I should contribute to this emotional motion. As I speak, I have an in-law at Mpilo Hospital who was not aware of what was affecting him. Recently, it was said he had a wound in his lungs and most likely, it was cancer. I pray that in this country, people will not perish because of these diseases. I pray that the Lord intervenes such that we do not have a lot of people who are affected.

HON. CHIGUMBU:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for the opportunity to add my voice to the motion. In 2019, my mother started having bleeding problem. When we took her to a doctor, she was told that she just had fibroids. Three months down the line, she was then diagnosed with cervical cancer. Six months down the line, she passed away in 2020. To me, that happened because the doctors could not precisely diagnose what she was suffering from. I would like to thank the Member who brought this motion and to also focus on the issue of technology.

I would want to premise my debate on three pillars and it is my humble prayer that we treat this debate as a debate that should not be political. We will raise certain issues that might seem or sound to be political, but this is an important debate that we must engage in as a nation. There must not be any cacophony in how we share our views as far as this issue is concerned.

The premise number one is the issue of technology Mr. Speaker Sir. We have failed to harness the power of technology as a nation, to deal with cancer as a disease. If you check, in those countries that we all rush to when we are diagnosed with this disease, these are the nations that have understood the power of technology so that they can deal with this ailment. Mr. Speaker Sir, we have technologies that are being applied by other countries at the moment and these countries have leveraged on technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Mr. Speaker Sir, AI is a data hungry animal that cannot be of any use if we cannot feed it with data.

There is a time that we tried to do a certain project which wanted us to sort of carry out prognosis and diagnosis of cervical cancer. The project could not be completed because there was no digital data that was available for that model to work. I want to say, we need as a nation to have an integrated data base that can be accessed by those who have got innovative ideas and solutions to help in the treatment of cancer.

Like I have said, other countries have used technological agencies like AI to precisely diagnose and precisely cure the disease. When I went to Parirenyatwa on a leukemia project Mr. Speaker Sir, it was so sad that we are still using pen and paper to collect the patients’ data. This is the digital era and we need to digitalise our processes such that if a patient – [Power outage.] –

Let me proceed Mr. Speaker Sir. We need to centralise our database Mr. Speaker Sir such that if a person seeking medical attention in Murewa then visits a doctor in Harare, it should be easy for the doctor who is now treating that particular patient in Harare to track the patient’s medical record.

We need to integrate our database, even up to an extent that we get to know the kind of medication that this person will be taking and where they will be getting their medication. Those are valuable and important pieces of data that will help in offering precision treatment for these cancer patients. Also Mr. Speaker Sir, you will find out that we have got innovative and intelligent people studying in our institutions. We have failed to have what I would call an open source database that would give access to these young people to play around data and pick up trends that might help those in the health profession to offer precise medication.

By open source database, I would suggest that it is important for the Ministry to allow for the access to anonymised data set that would allow those people in colleges to use those data sets to train their models. Like I said Mr. Speaker Sir, when we did that project, we ended up using data from Finland. The problem is, the genetical make-up is different and the circumstances are different. We want to come up with a solution for Zimbabwe but there is no data for us to manipulate and hope to come with solutions that are within the context of our nation. I would then advise that let us have an open source database that contains all the necessary patients’ history which then can be used by those with ideas to manipulate that data and pick certain trends that is going to help those who are in the medical profession to offer precise medication.

Point number 2, Mr. Speaker Sir, I would want to touch on the issue of prioritisation. It is sad that as a nation we have failed to prioritise important things. We have failed to put our priorities in order as a nation. For example, there are a lot of projects that the Government has carried which are not even relevant given the circumstances that we are faced with as a nation. I would want to jog your memory Mr. Speaker Sir, to a recent issue which happened where we saw certain people being given around $87 million to buy goats. Yes, it is good for people to buy goats but the unfortunate thing is that the goats were never delivered…

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

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

HON. KARIKOGA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker. The Hon. Member debating is not sticking to the motion. He must understand the prayer of the motion first. We are talking about cancer; a serious disease and he brings issues of goats in this Parliament. Please, can he stick to the motion and the prayer of the motion? Thank you.

HON. MUGWADI:  On a point of order – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE ACTING SPEAKR:  Order! Order! Let the Hon. Member be heard in silence please – [AN HON. MEMBER:  On a point of order. He cannot raise a point of order when the previous…] – Hon. Mugwadi, please just sit down for two seconds. The first point of order is upheld. Please stick to the limits of the debate. Let us talk about cancer. Thank you.

         HON. MUGWADI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  This debate is a very emotional one and indeed we have opened our ears to listen to everyone who is speaking.  I am sure this side of the House is prepared to fully listen to what Hon. Chigumbu is saying but Mr. Speaker, it is a cardinal principle of our justice system that when a matter is before the courts of law, it cannot be subjected to bus stop argumentation, otherwise it becomes an affront to justice.  In fact, at law, they say the matter is sub judice.  Thank you.

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:    Thank you Hon. Mugwadi.  Hon. Chigumbu, please stick to the terms that are on the Order Paper. 

         HON. CHIGUMBU:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir.  I think, up to this stage I have tried to stick to the prayer of the motion that is why I also had to mention before I started debating that there are some issues that I trust may look like they are political which are not political – but I will try to stick to the debate.

         Be that as it may Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very important point in my debate, the issue of prioritisation.  Why is it important Mr. Speaker Sir…

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order, order, Hon. Chigumbu, we are not interrogating how the Government prioritises its projects when we are discussing the cancer issue.  Let us talk about the issue of cancer. 

         HON. CHIGUMBU:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  The reason why it is very important Mr. Speaker is because if you have been following speaker after speaker, they have been bemoaning the deplorable situation of our health institutions Mr. Speaker.  It goes down to the issue of financing and funding those institutions – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -  So, we cannot discuss this issue in isolation or in a silo being blind to the issue of funding.  I will try to stick to whatever you think is necessary that should be discussed. 

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Thank you.

         HON. CHIGUMBU:  So, my point Mr. Speaker is, we have cancer treatment equipment that costs just around USD1.5 million. You then ask yourself, why is our Government failing to put that equipment in our health institutions yet the very same Government Mr. Speaker, can do other things that are not, to my evaluation, very important given the circumstances.  

         A nation that can…

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order Hon. Chigumbu.  I just want a point of clarification from you. When you did the 2024 Budget, as Parliament, did you put aside money to buy cancer equipment and the Government has not done it? – [HON. MEMBERS: Yes!] -  Did you do that? 

         HON. CHIGUMBU:  Yes, Mr. Speaker, it happened but like I said Mr. Speaker, I think other developments…

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Okay, I need some facts.  So, for the time being, do not talk about it, it will be checked on the budget to see if indeed that money was apportioned. 

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: On a point of Order Mr. Speaker Sir. 

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:   What is your point of order?  What rule of procedure?

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Standing Order Number 65 Mr. Speaker Sir. It allows me to raise a Point of Order.

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:   Just hold on.  Okay, can you read Order 65?

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Can the Clerks assist me? – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] - Order 65 (1) – a Member who thinks that the rules of procedure have been breached by another Member may raise a point of order.

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: Yes.  So, I asked you which rule of procedure was breached when you referred me to Standing Order Number 65.

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Okay, let me go there.  The Parliamentary Privileges and Immunity Act Mr. Speaker, allows for Members of Parliament to debate freely on subjects of interest.  – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – So, I believe Mr. Speaker that you are continuously stopping the Hon. Member to express himself freely according to the dictates of the law.  Can you please allow the Hon. Member to debate freely? 

         THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Thank you Honourable, but the Chair and the Hon. Member debating have understood each other. Hon. Chigumbu, please proceed. 

         HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir.  I would like to reiterate and reemphasise Mr. Speaker Sir, that the point of prioritisation is very important - it cannot be ignored.

Like I said, Mr. Speaker Sir, I will not mention the names.  For instance, I had mentioned the issue of the goat project.  I am not going to mention that but just imagine, Mr. Speaker Sir.  We have around $87 million being given to certain people, they do not deliver and no one is accounting for that.  The very same country is failing Mr. Speaker Sir, to buy even the least of required medication for cancer patients… - [ HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -  These patients are even failing to buy Pain Stop tablets, we cannot be blind to that as the people’s representatives Mr. Speaker Sir.  This is a very important issue.

I would want to urge the Government to relook into how it prioritises its projects, given that we have lost many lives …

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order, order, Hon. Chigumbu, you are left with Five Minutes.

HON. CHIGUMBU:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir.  So, let me be quick Mr. Speaker Sir to say that it is very important for us as a nation, not to waste resources and also to curb corruption because those funds will be properly utilised to deal with the challenges that are being faced with our health sector in general and specifically cancer treatment.

The third aspect that I would want to hinge on is the status of our health system.  I think this is a point that has also been raised by many speakers who debated on this motion.  The health system of this country Mr. Speaker Sir, is in a bad state.  Our health system needs doctors to cure it because things are not okay Mr. Speaker Sir.  Imagine where you go to either Harare or Parirenyatwa Hospitals and you fail to access the least of things that you require to be treated.  Imagine a situation where a person that you expect or want to take care of your sick relative Mr. Speaker Sir, is earning peanuts.  How do you expect the person to offer care to sick patients?

Mr. Speaker Sir, I would also want to raise an issue about how things are being managed in those hospitals.  If you are to find time Mr. Speaker Sir, I just want you to pass through Parirenyatwa Hospital and you will understand what I am talking about.  It seems that the people who are managing these institutions are ignorant and do not care because when it comes to them to seek treatment, they do not get treatment in Zimbabwe.  They do not care about these institutions because they are not getting their services here.   Both the people on your right and your left will agree with me Mr. Speaker Sir that being sent to those health centres is like being given a death sentence – we all agree on that. 

Mr. Speaker Sir, we cannot talk about improving our health system and health delivery without mentioning the need for us to relook at supporting our health sector.  So, as far as our health sector is concerned, I would want the Government to focus on the issues of remunerating those people who work in those institutions.  Imagine a doctor Mr. Speaker Sir, who spent seven years at a college, earning peanuts, yet a small boy is walking, roaming the streets of Harare puts tenders, gets millions and he has a house full of shoes. It does not make sense Mr. Speaker. Let us learn as a nation to reward our intelligent health practitioners. To them it is better to become hustlers instead of being health practitioners. We have to look at that Mr. Speaker Sir. We cannot deal with this problem without addressing the status of our health sector. As I sit down…

         THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. please wind up.

         HON. CHIGUMBU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  As I am about to sit down, I would want to encourage each and every Member who is in this House to prioritise the issues of our health sector. It is very important. I know there are some sectors which you can use your political muscle to circumvent but when it comes to health, we all go down the same way. I would want us when we discuss this issue, it must be an issue that we should all discuss as Zimbabweans. It must not be an issue viewed through political lenses. I thank you.

         HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, may you allow me to present this report seated.

THE ACTING SPEAKER: Yes Honorable.

HON. P. ZHOU: Thank you very much. I would like to support the motion raised by Hon. Khupe on cancer awareness programmes and modern treatment equipment for Mpilo and Parirenyatwa Hospitals. In Zimbabwe, cancer has become a critical public health issue, a pandemic to say the least. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and related cancers are ravaging Zimbabwe and women are bearing the brand of the problem. According to the Zimbabwe HPV and related (Cancer Fact Sheet 2023), over 3043 women are being diagnosed with cervical cancer alone in a year and deaths are reported to be around 1976 in a year.

This is a very emotional topic. You have seen how the previous Hon. Member become emotional, Hon. Mpofu Rossy All of us have to be strong and not cry. When I am talking like this, I am thinking of my grandmother. I was in grade 2 that is in 1970, she succumbed to breast cancer Agnes Dhewa Moyo. I also think of a great musician who comes from my constituency Kwekwe in Midlands Province Tongai Dhewa Moyo. He succumbed to non- hodgkin’s lymphoma at St. Annes Hospital on the evening of Saturday 15 October, 2011 in Harare. We were devastated. He was a musician a very good one, an icon in Midlands. I also think of Colleta Mutambisi who was the Deputy Chief Whip in the last 9^th Parliament. May their dear souls rest in peace.

The Constitution guarantees the right to healthcare in Section 76 (1) of the Constitution, it states that every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to access basic and adequate health services throughout Zimbabwe. In terms of Section 76 (4) the State is then obligated to take reasonable legislative and other measures available to it to achieve the progressive realisation of health rights set out in Section 76 of the Constitution.

It is unfortunate to note that despite the clear provisions of the Constitution, cancer patients particularly women are failing to access basic and adequate cancer treatment. There is lack of radiotherapy and chemotherapy equipment in the country. The available treatment equipment is from private entities who charge exorbitantly beyond the reach of many women and men. This presents significant challenges to the health system and impacting women’s health disproportionately. In contrast, existing funding mechanisms such as the Zimbabwe National AIDS Trust Fund have established frameworks for support and management for HIV/AIDS pandemic. What a good move.

Against this background of a cancer pandemic that seems to be getting out of hand, I seek to urge this august House to speak in one voice on the need for specific policy framework that will provide for an innovative and domestic finance model to expand the fiscal space for Cancer Treatment Management and Prevention Programmes in Zimbabwe. As a country, we have so much to learn from the Zimbabwe National AIDS Trust Fund, our local resource mobilisation initiative for the country’s HIV/AIDS response. This fund has been one of the pathfinders in domestic financing for HIV/AIDS response and treatment and its existence and success have been as a good example in Africa for increased domestic financing for health. AU Commission 2016 Report on health funding. It presents a resourceful approach to ensuring self-sustainability and reducing aid dependency in the Cancer Pandemic Response Management.

I implore this House to speak with one voice and consider urgent strategies and measures to the cancer pandemic including the following;

Develop a policy framework that provides for specific domestic financing that is a cancer fund of cancer management prevention and control activities including compulsory and increased HPV vaccines, education and educational campaigns. HPV vaccines are being given to girls 9 to 12 years, we heard this from the gurus of health in the Ministry. This should be extended to young boys as well.  

Secondly, setting a capacitated Food Inspectorate collaborated by Ministry of Commerce and Trade and Ministry of Health. If you remember well the past drought, we bought mealie-meal some of it from South Africa but some of it was actually written not for children under 9 years. We should ask why? So, we should have these inspectors who check on our food and some food should be labeled if it has some cancer-causing agents.

The setting of the necessary governance structure that is maybe a board or a council to oversee the implementation of the policy and period strategies and reports on progress. The introduction of specific policy on Cancer Management Control and Prevention is now more urgent than before. It is not my idea that a new levy be introduced to support this proposed cancer fund, no, as this may exert an unbearable strain on workers or on us whose incomes are already heavily taxed. Mr. Speaker Sir, cognisant of the existence of the AIDS fund and the strides that have been made in our country in HIV and AIDS response and prevention, it may be necessary at this juncture to explore the possibility of dedicating part of that fund towards addressing the cancer pandemic the country is facing.

         Research has shown that women living with HIV are more susceptible to breast and cervical cancers as their immunities are already suppressed. I would want to suggest that 20% of the AIDS levy be channeled towards the cancer fund.  Just as Hon. J. Tshuma said in his support of this motion, we have a good start in the sugar tax introduced in the 2024 National Budget as the country intensifies efforts to fund health care through home-grown initiatives.  Furthermore, an airtime tax was introduced in 2014 to augment health financing.  We can also have may be 30% of this.

In conclusion, earmarking and refencing these funds for modern techniques on cancer control management and prevention is a step in the right direction.  I therefore emphasise the need for a clear policy framework on cancer related issues, which policy will provide for financing and governance structure of that fund.  The fund will cater for patient’s access to affordable treatment.

         Finally, I want to thank the Government of Zimbabwe for the strides and effort it has made in trying to equip our major hospitals with the necessary cancer machines and other diagnostic machines but more can be done.  I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir

         HON. MACHANGU: I would like to take this opportunity that has been rendered to me, to put my voice on the motion raised by Hon. Dr. Khupe with regards to the treatment of cancer.

Cancer has been a disease that has affected almost every household. I need to say that in every family one or two people have suffered with this pandemic.  This puts me to my memory; I have lost three close relatives due to this cancer and l am just wondering why it has not been declared a pandemic like what we saw with the AIDS when it came into our midst.  

Hon. Dr. Khupe explained the hardships that she met in regard to trying to find out or to diagnose what was really eating her body.  Lack of high-class machinery could not afford her right treatment until she had to go abroad. So, Zimbabwe, it is a wake-up call for us to invest in high technology machinery.  We are talking of innovation.  I would propose that the innovation hubs should also consider innovation as regards to high standards machinery.  

Some people die because of wrong diagnosis of the cancer.  I recall my aunt had cervical cancer and she died in 1996, but after undergoing such a traumatic event, the memory cannot forget. You could see the body being eaten.  Day by day she was reduced to something that you cannot call a human being.  She would go to Mpilo Hospital.  There is an area called Esagogwane where she would receive radiotherapy, and can you imagine being a lady after undergoing that process, they would tell you not to bath because it will damage the body.  Can you imagine it as a woman, but up to now, our state of machinery is in a mess.

         Hon. Dr. Khupe, thank you very much for that motion.  Mr. Speaker Sir, Zimbabwe needs to invest in a fund.  If it was according to my will, I would propose a levy like what happened with the AIDS levy.  We are all contributing towards 3% of AIDS levy, why not contribute something towards cancer levy that would be channeled to the purchase of high-class machines?

 Mr. Speaker Sir, there are so many types of cancer.  We can talk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia and all those types but in Zimbabwe, it has proven that before they diagnosed what you are suffering from, you would have travelled a long mile for them to get it correctly, then you wonder where we are going as a country.  Should we just wait and watch people perish?

         This topic raises eyebrows and goose bumps to every Zimbabwean.  Section 29 of the Constitution emphasises the importance of ensuring the highest attainable standard of health care for every person.  Furthermore, section 6.1 guarantees the right to healthcare including the right to receive medical treatment.  Inaction on cancer care would be a grave failure to uphold these constitutional rights for we cannot achieve quality healthcare if our people are succumbing to preventable or treatable conditions due to inadequate facilities.

         The current cancer treatment infrastructure in Zimbabwe is insufficient.  Our hospitals are equipped with outdated machines resulting in long queues and waiting periods.  Damaged windows are resulting in the untimely loss of lives.  Can you imagine you will be in a queue, you are ill and suffering, you are on the verge of death and they tell you to come next week because there is a long queue in front of you?  This reality is a stack of controversy to what is happening in other African countries that have made great strides in modernising their cancer care system, need to say the cancer issues are not new in our modern society, even in the Bible they are there.  According to Luke 8 verse 43, there was a woman with the issue of blood and the Bible tells us that she had exhausted all her resources trying to get treatment but she failed.  That was cervical cancer.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, we need to rise and propose stringent measures as far as people with cancer are concerned.  In other places like Rwanda, the country that was just like us, they once struggled and lacked healthcare infrastructure.  There has been a strategic focus on collaborating with international partners; the Bufaro Butaro Cancer Care of Excellency is a result of a public-private partnership that brought in advance diagnostic and technology for treatment.  I implore Zimbabwe as well to endeavour to copy that.  What is good can be copied.

Mr. Speaker Sir, an immediate investment in modern radiotherapy and machines, linear accelerators, and advanced diagnostic tools will not only save lives but also build the capacity of our healthcare workers by equipping our medical professionals with the best tools available.  We will ensure that Zimbabwe becomes a leader in cancer treatment on the continent. 

         Furthermore, public awareness campaigns should be launched nationwide like what the First Lady is doing now that every woman and man should go for cancer screening.  Wherever we are as Legislators, let us bring that awareness to our constituencies.  Let us tell our rural folk that cancer is real and cancer is here to kill.  It will kill you gradually. 

         Cancer has an economic bearing on those who are even looking after you.  It has an economic impact even if you go overseas for treatment.  How many people can afford that economic burden? Most people will die in silence.  They will be eaten by the disease.  Some of them will not be known in our rural areas. 

Some claim to be herbalists who treat cancer; they claim to know how to treat this cancer but alas, that knowledge is not shared.  No one will be able to know the measurements or the dosage of the herbs prescribed.   Therefore, we cannot talk of something that has no record, something that we cannot follow.  We need to have some measures put in place and invest in science and technology and research teams to investigate and analyse those so-called herbs so that we gain as a country if ever herbs cure cancer.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, to wind up, we need, as a country, to invest in state-of-the-art machines so that we will be able to detect these diseases at an early stage.  I have realised that by the time you are diagnosed with this disease, it would already be at an advanced stage but if we have diagnostic machines to detect it whilst it is treatable, as a nation, we will be a shining country.  I thank you.

         HON. O. SIBANDA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir, for sharing the motion which was put before this House by Hon. Dr. Khupe on cancer awareness and treatment.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to emphasise that the cancer pandemic is a rising health concern in Zimbabwe, affecting thousands of women and placing an immense burden on our health system.  According to the report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Zimbabwe is amongst the top five countries with higher incidences of cervical cancer, with 61 over 100,000 being diagnosed annually.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, I support the motion raised and would like to present the following arguments for the House to consider: - women in Zimbabwe are presenting themselves late with advanced cervical cancer due to lack of access to cancer screening services, limited diagnostic facilities, poor health-seeking behaviours mainly due to misconceptions in our communities about cervical cancer and cancer in general.

         More women are being affected by cancer because of lifestyle options.  Women do not usually carry out physical activities like men and mostly end up being affected by obesity.  Women who suffer from obesity are at high risk of developing cancer.

         The problem is worsened by the type of food available on the market which is mostly unhealthy, processed and drinks that are brewed illicitly in homes.  As a result, most women need lifestyle changes that include a safe gym.  Currently, gyms are places of social amenities dominated by men.  However, there is a need to expand the campaigns on healthy traditional food consumption that are being spearheaded by the First Lady Amai Mnangagwa.  Therefore, there is a further need for affordable and modernised health facilities that offer prevention management, and control of cancer.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to applaud this august House for pushing for the Government to adopt the following strategies: - Developing a policy on cancer management control, and prevention and setting aside resources to specifically respond to and address the treatment lifestyles of cancer patients.

         The cancer policy must set up the cancer levy which must be financed from the existing taxes specifically, the sugar tax and the airtime tax that is already existing and being collected from the taxpayers.  The fund can be channeled towards improving cancer treatment and making treatment available to vulnerable women and women with disabilities.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, I commend the Government on the rolling of compulsory Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines for girls under the age of 9 to 13.  HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, particularly in women. Introducing compulsory HPV for young girls can substantially reduce the incidence of this preventable cancer in future generations.  These preventative measures align with global health standards and reflect our commitment to safeguarding the health of our youth.

         Therefore, I implore the Government to increase and expand the vaccine to all women and girls in Zimbabwe.  I thank you.

         *HON. MASHAVAVE:  Thank you Mr. Speaker sir.  I stand up to support the motion raised by Hon. Dr. Khupe.  This is a very important subject for this august House.  I also do not expect it to be politicised because it affects all families that are in this House. However, let me explain to the House what I came across two days ago.  I was called by a certain family and they said Hon, please come here.  We are suffering, this woman has cancer.  I was so disturbed but what really troubled me is she said, ‘I did not want this little child to know that I am about to die.  So, I tried to conceal my suffering that I am bound to die.  My young sister then told me that she was asked why we conceal that information to her.  So, I was so disturbed’.

         So, we need to put all our heads together including Government leaders especially the health budget which includes hospital equipment.  This disease, it is not that it is not curable but if you are diagnosed with this disease and you have adequate resources, you can get treatment in other countries.  So, I think this august House must urge Government to ensure that hospitals are adequately equipped with machinery and technology so that they can treat this disease and it is not regarded as a fatal ailment the moment you are diagnosed with it.

         I kindly request that as a country, we have a programme similar to what the First Lady is doing encouraging each and every one beginning in this August to get screened.  So, if you do not know whether you have this ailment or not, you may not be able to encourage your neighbour to seek diagnosis or examination so that they know they are affected by this disease or not.  The problem with this ailment is seeking medical attention late.  I also hereby request this august House for a start, to say the diagnosis or the initial examination must be free of charge. 

Secondly, the medication for this ailment should be accessed for free.  Anyone diagnosed with cancer must be treated for free including painkillers or any other tablets or medicine that is meant to alleviate pain.          I also have something that is disturbing me.  The last time we spoke in this House, we heard that there are some doctors who divert medicine from public institution to their private surgeries.  If that is true, as a country, we must never allow that to happen.  We must put very strong legislation to ensure that if there is anyone caught doing that, their licence must be revoked because that person is a state security threat.  I also request that as Government, if somebody is diagnosed with cancer, that person must be put on social welfare to get free food because that will help the patient as well as those who are taking care of the person so that they may then assist with other items instead of looking for food. 

I also request that Government should take the responsibility of paying for the fees of the children of that patient until the person has fully recovered.  I am very disturbed because I have a brother who was diagnosed with that disease.  Fortunately, his child left after leaving the University of Zimbabwe and went to India.  They then were invited to go to India to be treated by someone educated here in Zimbabwe at Mt Pleasant.

         So, what it means is as a country, we should be able to harness and benefit from the education that we so much invest in.  With these few words, I strongly support the motion raised by Hon. Dr. Khupe.  Let us all put our heads together and ensure progress in our country.  I thank you.

         *HON. CHOKURURAMA:  I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for giving me this opportunity to add my view on the motion brought by Hon. Dr. Khupe.  It is very sad because whilst in this House we must put all our heads and our views together and call upon God to intervene because all of us, one way or another, are affected by this disease.

         Government should invest in the prevention and treatment of this ailment because it can lead to death in a very short space of time. If that person is affected, they will be really in a sorry state. I wish patients could be treated for free in the hospitals because the treatment at the moment is exorbitant so they just die if they do not have money. This disease is a very big problem such that Government should set aside a fund to deal with cancer. Indeed Hon. Dr. Khupe, from this motion you gave the country an opportunity to realise that there is a disease which is much worse than COVID.

Some families lose bread winners or mothers because of this. Let us emulate the First Lady. Her efforts may not be enough to sufficiently cover the whole country so there is need for funding to ensure that even doctors work hard to eradicate it. It is a very difficult disease and only a few can afford to seek medical attention outside the country but most of us can not afford that.  We need to have strong prayers for this disease.  People who suffer from cancer are supposed to be taken care of as much as those suffering from HIV and AIDS.  If we lose a leader or a child, we will never get them again, be it a house mother or something else.  So, as a country, we need to set aside funding especially for machines for early diagnosis.
Indeed, Mr. Speaker, this is a very sad issue. Even when we discuss the National Budget, Government should set aside funds to ensure that machines are procured.  It is very sad to hear that people spend thousands of dollars going to India.  How much does that machine cost? Why do we not buy that machine so that somebody does not need to spend that money but just pay fifty cents from home to the hospital for diagnosis?  That may greatly alleviate and solve this problem.  With those few words, may God be merciful on us so that these people may receive treatment in peace.  I thank you.

         *HON. MAKUMIRE.  Firstly, I would like to congratulate Hon. Khupe for conquering this war.  Secondly, I would like to applaud the assistance she got to travel everywhere to receive treatment.  The problem with cancer disease in Africa shows that more than 1.1 million people are suffering from this disease.  It also shows that in 2022, 712 000…

         *THE ACTING SPEAKER:  I thought after saying that more than 1.1 million, you were going to translate it into vernacular since you are speaking in vernacular.

         *HON. MAKUMIRE:  Thank you.  Here in Zimbabwe, statistics show that people affected by this disease or newly diagnosed patients are more than 20 000 which shows that it is a very big problem.  So, I am so worried why we are failing to solve this problem. Then I realised that we have not allocated enough funds to address the health sector in this country.  If we look at the rural hospitals, the distance that people travel to the hospitals, shortage of nurses and shortage of medication shows that we are still very far away from winning this war.

         People in this country are traveling very long distances.  They travel from Chipinge where you come from, Chiredzi going all the way to Karanda, sometimes they are turned back and advised to come at a later date.  All the money that they may have reserved is spent on travelling.  So, as a country, we need to do a lot to develop the health sector.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, we have a problem of funding, equipment and other problems that we do not have people who should be assisting or working.  You heard another previous speaker saying that somebody got treated by someone who was educated in this country but only treated outside the country.  Why are people running away from this country? It means there is something that needs to be addressed as a country.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, we realise that corruption is a very topical issue in this country.  This country is endowed with so much wealth.  If it was utilised correctly, the hospitals would be full of medicines as well as retaining the medical staff that we trained in this country. If you look closely, you realise that even a Minister can be found to have syphoned funds from the Ministry.  So, that means we are still a long way from addressing this issue.  Anyone who steals funds meant for cancer as well as other diseases must die in prison.  You realise that our country was on a downward trend for the past 20 years.  The hospitals never got any change.

         The third thing that is taking us to this level is because there is no political will amongst all of us to address this problem.  Mr. Speaker Sir, there is a saying literally translated - if the father does not take any meal at their homes, it means the mother will not receive the money for food.  Most of the African Heads of State go to developed countries to get medical attention which shows that we are still a long way to go in order for us to solve this problem.  I am glad that Hon. Dr. Khupe got medical assistance from outside the country because that is where it is better.  Here, we have not done anything in terms of research – we have not allocated any funds.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, we realise that so many African leaders were diagnosed with cancer – some of them even died outside their countries.  How does that help us?  Where is the promise that the health delivery system will improve in the country when Government officials are treated outside the country while we remain here?  Where will villagers get money to seek medical attention, either in the United Kingdom or India?  Those people in cells who were dancing to mai Welly during the campaign periods, where are they going to get money for medical attention outside the country?  It is a very serious issue and we must prioritise people who elected us to Parliament.  We must ensure that our resources are channelled to the health delivery system so that our people get better lives.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, if only as a country, we could stop any other programmes/projects and focus only on health.  I was not happy at all with what happened a few years ago when one of our citizens was harassed in South Africa. It erodes on our dignity – that was bad publicity.  The programme must be publicised all the way to the villages and all corners of the country.  I do not have any more words Mr. Speaker Sir but to say, let us prioritise the people out there because sometimes, maybe Government may take pity on us as former Members of Parliament or Government officials who need assistance.  Who will help the ordinary people?  Ordinary citizens are contributing funds to try and assist each other, it is not supposed to be like that.  The Government must channel all the resources to solve these problems.  I thank you Mr Speaker.

         *THE ACTING SPEAKER:  I heard you Hon. Makumire.  I am equally surprised by something. In a few days to come, we will be given an opportunity, as Parliament, to scrutinise the budget.  During the scheduled meetings with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, you will realise that most of the Members of Parliament will be absent.  So, if we exhibit such behaviour and you do not present your views in Parliament, we need to take this issue seriously so that we ensure that people in the rural areas are assisted instead of missing out on all their needs. I thank you.

*HON. MUNEMO: Thank you Mr. Speaker, good afternoon.  I am very grateful for this opportunity to contribute to this debate tabled by Dr. Khupe on cancer. Mr. Speaker, I realise that this is a very important issue that we need to debate on as a united country.   In the past, when such important discussions were held by wise men, you would realise that if you lose focus, you would be asked to go and skin goats.  I realise that the previous speaker was a bit lost, especially Hon. Makumire – those were such people who were asked to go and skin goats. 

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: On a Point of Order, Mr. Speaker!

THE ACTING SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker. Standing Order Number 98, restricts Hon. Members to use derogatory statements when speaking in Parliament.  I am of the view that, the word, “kuvhiyiswa mbudzi” is derogatory Mr. Speaker Sir because it reflects a situation whereby people who are worthless are taken to cheap tasks, that is derogatory Mr. Speaker.  I wish the Hon. Member to retract his words so that we proceed together in harmony and unity – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - I thank you Mr. Speaker.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Munemo, do not use derogatory words – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-   Hon. Members, I am the Speaker, I have not even concluded my ruling and you are now telling me what to do.  Hon. Munemo, withdraw the words that you said about Hon. Makumire.

^*HON. MUNEMO:  I withdraw Mr. Speaker. What I was trying to say is that looking at cancer, it is true that we need to find ideas of how to win and eradicate it. So, I was looking at how other countries are doing it, especially where some people rush to get treatment.  Sometimes I realise that they are only ideas – other people’s thinking. 

Looking at other countries like China, amongst 100 000 people, you realise that 126 will be suffering from cancer.  If you go to India, amongst 100 000 people, 63.1 will be suffering from cancer and if you go to Europe, we have 1.1 million who succumbed to cancer in 2021. 

From that, you will realise that even the wealthy die from cancer. It is not even about money or wealth. So, what we are looking for here is, are we getting any ways to remedy and alleviate the pain that we get from this disease where people like Jimmy Simons and Steve Jobs who were billionaires died of pancreatic cancer?  They were very wealthy people and where are they?  Where we think as Zimbabweans, that people get better treatment but that is where these people died. It is not even about a country - it is all about trying to find ways of curbing the disease.  Even very wealthy countries, if you look at Europe, China and India where most people go for example Pretty Xaba who was an actress in Studio 263, may her soul rest in peace.  She went to India to seek medical treatment but she failed to make it. 

People tried to contribute to assist her including faith healers who could not heal her.  It means cancer is a very strong disease, so we need to put our heads together to curb this disease.  Cancer has always been there even in the past.  Some where treated and some never made it.  So, we need to unite as a country.  I would like to appreciate the bravery of Hon. Dr. Khupe.  When this disease affects even a very strong person, they lose weight in a very short space of time because they will be afraid of death.  Hon. Dr. Khupe is very strong and we pray to God that he blesses her with many more years.

We have churches in our communities and when a person gets sick, they are made to believe that the Holy Sprit will treat them.  Because of this, we are assured that the disease will end yet the disease will be progressing. There is a woman who was told that if you go for operation you will die immediately.  The disease was in its infant stage by that time but as we speak now, if that woman would have gone to the hospital, she would be alive now. 

I lost very close relatives, my father died of colon cancer, my bloody sister also died of cystectomy cancer, that is cancer of the womb at 19 years.  She only saw her O’ level results in hospital but never did anything because she was undergoing a lot of operations.  What really troubled me is that all of us including the community, we accused her of being pregnant yet it was cancer.

In our local communities, instead of accusing of our loved ones, let us take them to hospital for them to be diagnosed correctly.  We only realised after her death that she left a note saying she was a virgin even if we were accusing her of something she did not do.  Each time she used to go for an operation, doctors could drain 7 litres of fluid from the stomach and that is what was making her tummy to look pregnant.

I would like to thank Hon. Dr. Khupe for giving us an opportunity to share ideas on this.  She is a living testimony that indeed someone can live with this disease until God’s will be done.  We have had very strong people like the late Prime Minister of this country, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai who died because of cancer, may his soul rest in peace.  Let us share ideas instead of accusing each other that this country does not have money, or does not channel resources the right way because that is what people think.  Someone will be saying in Chipinge they are very good native doctors, yet people from Chipinge will be leaving Chipinge going to other areas, it is only human and that is how people think. The local communities will not value that person but they are valued by other communities who live far away.

Hon. Speaker, looking at the caliber Hon. Members who are here, I think the country is well represented.  So, because all of us will take the message back home and educate and give them a message of hope.  If anyone is diagnosed of cancer, if they meet people discussing they are afraid that people now know that they are left with very few days to live. If people are encouraged and given hope, this hope  will be of benefit to all. 

Hon. Speaker Sir, this disease is increasing because of the food we consume.  We need to go back to our traditional foods because it is good for our health.  After carrying research on cancer and understanding it, I discovered that it is very similar to diabetes. Cancerous cells thrive on sugar foods that we consume daily.  Each time we consume these foods the disease will worsen but once one stops consuming sugar foods the cancer cells will stop to grow. So, it means we must cut on sugary foods.

I thank you Hon. Speaker, I continue to pray for Hon. Dr. Khupe who is a living example to all of us.  The lesson to each one of us is that there could be some of us who have not been diagnosed yet there is need to seek that diagnosis early. We also like to thank the First Lady for her efforts as well as encouraging the consumption of traditional foods that reduce such diseases.  I wish Government would adequately fund our traditional leaders to ensure that we get traditional medicine that can be used to reduce cancer.  Funding should also be put in universities for research purposes so that we may find a solution.

         We cannot run away to any other country because they are also dying.  This is our only country as Zimbabweans and we need to take care of our problems.  I thank you.

         HON. MALINGANISO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  Often when brilliant minds have already spoken, it is difficult to come up with something different as a result, I will not take much of the House’s time.  I will try to talk only on issues that have not already been raised.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, Mother Theresa argued that yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today, let us begin.  In that spirit, I would like to thank Hon. Dr. Khupe for realising that the more we wait, the more people we lose.  I am reminded of a historian who once intimated of his Theory of Evolution whose name was Charles Darwin. Whilst his theory may have been wrong in trying to explain where we came from and how we ended here, there is a sense in which his proposals challenge us to think progressively.

         The question to our rise is; what are we teaching our children, what are we teaching not only our doctors in our tertiary institutions but also our chemists? Are we equipping them in a manner that would assist them come up with solutions to our challenges among which lays cancer or theirs is simply prescribing medicines whose properties even themselves are not aware of?

         I am submitting to us that it is time we deliberately relook into our curricular from the primary school to tertiary institutions. Why I say so Mr. Speaker Sir, if one would read the writings of Cater G. Woodson,  The Miss Education of the Nigro, you will realise that the whole purpose of our education is to create people that are able to remember, people that are certificate bearers, which people are void of skill.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, it is time we deliberately employ efforts so that from early childhood those that are gifted in the way of treating these non-communicable diseases are not only funded but they are supported in a manner that would land us to the status of India where we all rush should we be victims of cancer.

         Our ancestors were great innovators.  Sometimes it is about rediscovering our cultural compass.  How is it possible that we do not have people that are renowned for innovation in the medical area when we have people that were able to come up or to build the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, the Khami Monuments.  Perhaps, the problem is this failure to actually support people with ideas that matter.

         What was the structure of the Ndebele state, what was the structure of the Mutapa state in which these monuments housed?  You realise that they had a deliberate social structure where those that are healers had their schools.  They were called cults by the English man, but I would want to call them schools where values and skills were entrenched in our people whilst they were young. That was the system where knowledge was being passed, not knowledge that is irrelevant but knowledge that was relevant to specific sectors of the social structure.  Perhaps, it is time we also try and gather those that are said to be able to heal or to cure these diseases using our traditional medicines.  Mr. Speaker Sir, that would guarantee a scenario where those that will come after us are aware of the same medicines that are being used today because one of our biggest weaknesses is failure to write.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, our own national hero, may his soul rest in peace, Oliver Mtukudzi, once sang a song Tsika dzedu dziya dzakaendepi, kudya kwedu kuya kwakaendepi, but what was our kind of food?  Oliver Mtukudzi would say munyemba, mufushwa, munyevhe, et cetera.  Even if you go into the holy book, the Bible, the Book of Daniel, Chapter 1 verse 8 says “but Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way”.

         I am trying to underscore here that the way and manner in which we embrace everything western, in a way negates our cultural heritage and may also lead, as Hon. Munemo said, to some other cancers which we are suffering from. In Shona, growing up, we used to eat what we call mugaiwa. Issues of colon cancer could be minimised by actually redirecting ourselves towards eating such rough foods, but our problem today is, everyone wants Parlenta, so fine and the result is mainly colon cancer.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, a juxta position of the price of morphine and salary of civil servants, our salaries Mr speaker Sir - once cancer arrives and you do not have relatives abroad like Hon. Dr. Khupe, it could become a death sentence. Perhaps, there is a manner in which a relook into the remuneration of our people may also assist Government removing the burden of having to take care of those that are befallen by this disease.

         The need for free medication and social protection cannot be over-emphasised given that the effects of cancer normally ravages the whole family and challenges livelihoods.  Those that are to take care of the one that is ill would actually abscond their responsibilities.  I am trying to picture a scenario where people are subsistent farmers.  Should the disease pounce in the season we are approaching, it means their silos will be empty.  So, l agree with those that suggested that once cancer approaches, such a family must be treated together with populations at risk, and that social protection must be extended their way.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, the Ministry of Health and Child Care ought to be allotted the 15% to which Zimbabwe agreed to.  I am talking about the Abuja Declaration and from that allocation, a certain percentage must be put aside for non-communicable diseases among which lies cancer.   It is not enough just to talk of the ring-fenced sugar tax.  We need to arrive at a place where the sugar tax is directed towards cancer research, development and the idea of equipping our medical facilities.  For example, it is not proper that when one has to go for chemotherapy, they either go to Mpilo or Parirenyatwa.  In the spirit of devolution, it is time maybe at least we avail such machinery at district levels.

         Mr. Speaker Sir, a question maybe posed as to how much we are investing the way of cancer research.  It is not enough to just make statements.  It is important that where we invest $10 this year, we should be able to tell in the next budget cycle that the $10 we allocated here, we managed to attain this and that so that we have a track record of where we are going as a people.

A lot has been said as l said in my opening.  I do not have much to say.  I thank you.  

         *HON. MAKAZA: Thank you, Madam Speaker.  I would also like to contribute to this motion on cancer.  It is very difficult to treat and it is harassing us as a nation regardless of whether you have a lot of money or not. I had a nephew who had a lot of money but when he was diagnosed with cancer, he lost his life.  So, we need God’s intervention.

         This disease is wreaking havoc mostly in women.  In our rural home, at least every month, a woman is buried who would have succumbed to cancer, especially cervical cancer.  Once diagnosed, the person cannot be healed to the point of death, whether breast or cervical cancer.

         I would like to thank Hon. Khupe who suffered a lot from cancer, but God intervened and she recovered very well.  Hon. Dr. Khupe then remembered to bring such an important motion in Parliament so that awareness is spread country-wide. If Hon. Dr. Khupe had not suffered to that extent, perhaps this issue would not have been debated like this.  So, we thank God that she suffered and was healed. 

         However, now that this issue has been brought to this House, we should find solutions.  Some women have lost their breasts because of cancer.  The traditional healers have named it after an animal - nhuta.  So, there is a need to ensure that everyone in the country contributes towards the eradication of this disease.  A lot of diseases have come up in the past but through God’s intervention, treatment was found.

         There is a need for the procurement of drugs and equipment to alleviate this cancer disease.  We appreciate the efforts by the First Lady, Dr. Amai Mnangagwa on championing cancer awareness programmes. Amai encourages women to seek examination and screening for cervical and breast cancer.  Therefore, let us join her and encourage women in our constituencies to go and get screened for cancer so that if they are diagnosed earlier, the cancer may be treated otherwise if the problem is diagnosed late, people will simply die. 

         My prayer is God’s intervention for the reduction of this disease otherwise so men will remain without wives because cancer is mainly targeting women.  As a nation, let us put our heads together to ensure that the disease is eradicated or at least reduced.

 As Legislators, let us encourage our church leaders to pray for the reduction of this disease because on our own, we will not conquer this disease; we need God’s intervention.  I thank you.

         HON. NGULUVHE: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker Ma’am.  I just want to add my voice to the motion which was moved by Hon. Dr. Khupe and also debated by other Hon. Members.

         I will just give a few remarks and a testimony.  I believe it is better to prevent the disease before it occurs.  However, the best way of preventing that disease is information dissemination, in other words, education and awareness of the disease.  Do we know the signs and symptoms of this disease so that we can be in a position to have it tackled earlier?

         I will give you a testimony from my own experience of my mother.  Because of a lack of knowledge, in 2016, when she got sick, we took her to Parirenyatwa Hospital and she was operated, but they did not diagnose her with cancer in the colon.  After a year or so, again, because they told us that they would cut one intestine, in 2017 they brought her back and this time it was serious.   I want to confess that the treatment of cancer is very expensive, it is not easy.  As a family, we paid a lot.  Chemotherapy is very expensive and a person who is under chemo normally does it once and waits for two weeks.  During those two weeks, that person will be sweating.  Her bedding would need constant changing.  It was a very bad experience for me.

         I want to say that Hon. Dr. Khupe, you are brave like my mother; she is now 89 years old and still strong but friends and family told me that I should not waste money because she was only going to last for five months.  When I took my mother to the current Permanent Secretary, Dr. Maunganidze, to operate her, the then C.E.O of Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals told me that by the Grace of God, she was going to survive.  He made me sign a document that if she dies during the operation that was it, and I signed.

         All I am saying is the issue of your fighting power Hon. Dr. Khupe, has made you to be where you are today.  I said treatment is very expensive. I am happy that the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion is here. I recommend that once someone is diagnosed with cancer, let that person be treated free. Many people cannot afford the fees especially if you are coming from Binga to Harare, unless if we are saying we have decentralised this treatment, it is very expensive. 

My recommendation is that Minister, let us find a way of how we can treat these people freely.  Minister, we have kind of a small island Cuba, yes, it is under sanctions but they invested heavily on the medical health field.  Cuba is actually exporting doctors.  I recommend that in this country we have specialists, well trained doctors but they lack having the necessary equipment and medicine.  So, Minister please, let us look at those issues of equipment and the drugs. We will defeat this disease. 

I encourage our Government to put more funds because if I am not mistaken, I heard last week they were saying our doctors have discovered treatment of cancer.  So, I encourage that we put more funds on research so that we do more research on this disease.  Our people are well-educated that we can have treatment found in this country, otherwise I just want to get my voice that we thank God that Hon. Dr. Khupe you were open.  Very few people come up and stand up here in the House and say ‘yes, I have cancer or fighting cancer, they rather prefer to die in silence.  Thank you.

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

HON. KAMBUZUMA:  I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

Debate resume: Wednesday, 18^th September 2024.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I move that we stand over Order of the Day, Number 13 until Orders of the Day Numbers 14, 28 and 29 have been disposed of.

         HON. NYANDORO:  I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ON THE BILATERAL VISIT TO MOZAMBIQUE

        Fourteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Parliamentary Delegation Report on the Bilateral Visit to Mozambique.

        Question again proposed.

        HON. CHINANZVAVANA:  I would like to thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on this motion.  Let me thank Parliament for the initiative of the Bilateral Visit to Mozambique on an endeavour to strengthen the existing cordial relations between the nations, explore possible areas of cooperation and share parliamentary best practices between the two sister Republics. 

        Indeed, it was an eye opener and it was encouraging to note that there is a lot to emulate of our sister Republic as they also learn a lot from us.  Mozambique having a unicameral parliament system comprises of 250 MPs from three political parties, FRELIMO, RENAMO and MDM.  Of note and quite interesting, in the bid for transparency Madam Speaker, in the system of leadership in the committees of parliament where both the ruling party and opposition parties lead interchangeably in the committees whereas when the committee Chair is from the ruling party there is a rapporteur or deputy Chair from the opposition and vise-versa.  There is no committee is unilaterally led by a single party which we may need also to consider. They say all resolutions of committee business are thus reached by consensus.

        The nine committees of the National Assembly of Mozambique carry oversight role in all 21 ministries, meaning every committee can call any ministry for oral evidence as it sees fit in relation to committee business.  It is heartwarming to note that the sister Republic Parliament has an appreciation of our own Zimbabwe Parliament as they feel through MOUs with Zimbabwe Parliament, they will have room to learn a lot from us.

The Chairperson the Gender Committee proposed a benchmarking visit by the Mozambicans committees to Zimbabwe in order to share best practices and improving efficiencies.  The Chairperson of the committee on Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change confessed that her committee benefitted immensely from such a benchmarking visit to Zimbabwe.

The delegation visited the port and had a feel of its business in Maputo to realise that there is a lot of potential on what Zimbabwe can gain if we put our cordial relations to good use and manipulate the corridor of business through the port of Maputo.  Of note and highly recommendable Madam Speaker, from the Bilateral visit to Mozambique is the issue of the diaspora vote.  Note only do Mozambicans in the diaspora vote, but they elect their own House of Assembly representatives in the diaspora who come to sit in Parliament back home in Mozambique to attend to diaspora concerns, nothing could be more democratic. I for one personally went green with envy at such a system.  It is a best practice of note that is worth our consideration.  It improves diaspora remittances and aids to the economy of the nation as the diasporians would be rest assured their concerns are well looked into and taken care of back home.  Above all, let me harness to say, it was a worth exchange bringing with us a lot in lessons learnt that are worth for emulation.

Another impressive take note from the bilateral visit in Mozambique which is worth emulating is the way the Mozambicans Parliament and Government has place value on the legacy of their departed heroes.  We toured the rural home of the revered veteran and founder Eduardo Mondlane which has been turned into a liberation war shrine.  It is worth copying Madam Speaker Ma’am to give value to the names of the founding heroes and enact monuments and historical shrines in their names. For instance, back home, we can have a shrine in the name of our revered fathers, Cde. Josiah Magama Tongogara, father J. N. Nkomo, Cde. Ndabaningi Sithole to mention but a few.  Just a few can be made into a national memorial place in tribute to the immense respect we have for those who sacrifice for the independence of this nation.  With those few words, I thank you.

         *HON. MAPIKI:  Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this debate on the delegation that went to Mozambique.  I appreciate very much especially on what was alluded to but I realise that Zimbabwe is a bit more advanced on that. 

Mozambique is our friend since the liberation struggle. It is so good to realise that buddies continue to hug each other.  They also spoke about agriculture that Mozambique can learn something from Zimbabwe.  Indeed, I believe that SADC countries must co-operate in agriculture. Mozambique is very strong in the production of rice.  So, they need to improve their education and technology on that production working in collaboration with Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe can learn a lot from Mozambique and Mozambique can also learn a lot from Zimbabwe. 

         Issues that are on plan include production of citrus fruits and rice which is natural and healthy.  Zimbabwe and Mozambique must co-operate strongly on that. We need to strongly co-operate as well on economic ties.  Working together as parliamentary committees is also a good thing.  We also have such committees.  In Mozambique, there is Cabora Bassa. We have Kariba Hydro Power Station and I think we can learn a lot from that.  According to Hon. Shamu’s presentation, there is a lot that was alluded to on tourism and many other sectors.  In Mozambique, the diaspora community can elect their representative but as Zimbabwe, we should follow our Constitution because we cannot accept selecting those in the diaspora to be their representative.  We are supposed to have ministries, which means we must have a Minister who deals with such issues.  According to our Constitution, that may not be possible because the diasporans must remit what they get and we can also give them what we get here.  If they have ideas, we may represent them.  So, I would like to applaud the delegation to Mozambique.  Indeed, it was a good tour. 

Talking about the respect according to national heroes, indeed it is a good thing. Just like what we have in Zimbabwe, the National Heroes Acre, the likes of Tongogara, Ndabaningi Sithole and the late President Mugabe are the ones who spearheaded the liberation struggle that led to our independence.  In Zimbabwe, we have such a very important shrine.  So, it is good for us to collaborate with such countries where we have similarities. 

With regards to elections, I am sure a lot of people can learn from what we are doing.  We have the opposition that are well represented in Parliament.  So, I still appreciate the tour of the delegation. 

         The other thing that we are supposed to look into is the military side because we depend very much on the Beira Corridor that is supposed to be well defended and protected.  Mozambique wants a lot from us with regards to security since there are security threats at Cabo Delgado as a result of America that is helping the rebels to syphon oil for free because that place has a lot of oil.  So, wherever there is war in Africa, it is mainly to do with abundant resources in that area.  I thank the delegation leader, Hon. Chinanzvavana who brought a very good report. I remember Radio Maputo, for those who were born by that time, it was broadcasting around that time and Hon. Shamu is one of those people who were broadcasting during the liberation struggle; the touring around shrines like Chimoio where there was a massacre of Zimbabweans.  So, indeed this is a unifying factor.  I thank you.

         HON. MAPONDA: I stand to share the insightful and impactful outcomes of the recent bi-lateral visit to Mozambique led by our esteemed Speaker, Hon. Advocate J. F. N. Mudenda from the 29^th of April to the 4^th of May 2024. This visit was at the gracious invitation of Her Excellency Esperança Laurinda Francisco Nhiuane Bias, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique marks a significant step in reinforcing the long-standing bonds of camaraderie and cooperation between our two sister republics.

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, the visit to Mozambique is deeply rooted in the shared history of our two nations.  This relationship forged in the crucible of liberation struggles is epitomised by figures such as Eduardo Mondlane and Samora Machel.  Eduardo Mondlane ignited Mozambique’s liberation movements and our visit to his memorial shrine in Mwajahali Village was a reminder of his leadership.  This visit echoes Samora Machael’s visit when he paid homage to Mondlane before he took office at the onset of their independence.  Samora Machel’s unwavering support for Zimbabwe’s liberation and Mozambique’s sanctuary were crucial in our fight against colonial rule.  His death united us in mourning and reinforced the solidarity that continues to guide our relationship today. 

         Madama Speaker Ma’am, the engagement with Mozambique from laying a wreath at the Heroes Square to discussions with our counterparts brought these historical ties to life.  The examples set by Mondlane and Samora Machel, leadership, unity and commitment to liberation should guide us today.

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, let us draw from this shared history to build a future of corporation, vision of stability and mutual prosperity.  Let the legacy of our fore bearers inspire our path forward towards enduring partnership and shared success. 

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, the visit to Mozambique comprising of a delegation led by the Hon. Speaker, Advocate J. F. N. Mudenda, Hon. Shamu, Hon. Chinanzvavana and myself, embarked on a clear set of objectives to fortify the existing political and economic ties; to explore avenues of collaboration and to exchange Parliamentary best practices. The shared struggle for liberation from colonial rule; from the bedrock of our solidarity and this visit was a testament to our enduring fraternal relationship.  During the visit, the Hon. Speaker Mudenda and Hon. Speaker E. L. F. N. Bias highlighted the historical and contemporary bonds between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.  Hon. Speaker Bias recounted the pivotal role Mozambique played during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle providing a strategic rear base for our freedom fighters. This historical context underscores the unbreakable bond between our two nations.

         Further evidence by the robust bilateral relations between our two leaders, his Excellency Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa and His Excellency Cde. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi. Speaker Bias also acknowledged Zimbabwe’s timely humanitarian support in the Cabo Delgado Province due to the insurgency that had wreaked havoc in that province as well as during the devastating cyclones that Mozambique has suffered in the recent past.  Despite these challenges, Mozambique’s economy demonstrated resilience with a GDP growth rate of 4.8% last year and an expected growth rate of 5% this year, a remarkable achievement under trying circumstances. 

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, the discussions between our delegations culminated in the proposal of a Parliamentary cooperation framework aimed at promoting growth and stability within the context of SADC’s regional integrated economic development.  Hon. Speaker Mudenda emphasised the shared African identity and common ancestry dating back over nine hundred years to the reign of the revered Munhumutapa kingdom.

         These historical connections save as a foundation for strengthening Pan-Africanism and renewing our shared bonds.  The delegation toured the Port of Maputo, highlighted the critical role of this infrastructure in facilitating regional trade, particularly under the African continental free trade area.  This visit underscored the importance of enhancing connectivity and trade facilitation between our two nations.

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, the delegation engaged with various Mozambican committees discussing oversight functions, challenges and best practices.  Notably, the commitment to peace and security in the Cabo Delgado region was reaffirmed with Zimbabwe’s support being crucial in curtailing the insurgence.  The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between our legislatures was prioritised with emphasis on signing before the Mozambique general elections scheduled for 9^th October, 2024.  During the meeting with His Excellency President Nyusi, the importance of regional cooperation was reiterated.  President Nyusi expressed gratitude for Zimbabwe’s support in maintaining peace and security, highlighting the necessity of such visits to bolster bilateral relations. 

         Madam Speaker Ma’am, to cement the progress made during these visits, several recommendations have been put forward: -

1. the Parliament of Zimbabwe should officially invite Hon. Bias for a reciprocal visit to finalise the MoU aimed at enhancing Parliamentary cooperation;
2. relevant Portfolio and Thematic Committees should actively engage with their Mozambican counterparts to finalise agreements on infrastructure development and trade facilitation, focusing on the Beira Corridor and cross border trade;
3. Committees should facilitate benchmarking visits and mutual interactions to share the best practices and enhance their operational efficiencies;
4. the promotion of student scholarships, joint research projects and cultural festivals to foster deeper people to people ties should be fostered;
5. we should establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the progress of bilateral economic initiatives ensuring accountability and effectiveness.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, the visit to Mozambique was not a

ceremonial journey but a profound reaffirmation of our shared history, our mutual aspirations and our unwavering solidarity.  The historical ties that bind us are not just echoes of the past, but vibrant threads weaving a future of collaboration and mutual growth.  As we reflect on the insights gained and commitments made during this visit, we are reminded that the true strength of our relationship lies in our ability to turn these shared visions into concrete actions.  The proposed MoU emphasises on infrastructure development and the commitment to peace and security are not just plans on paper.  They are the pillars of the future where both Zimbabwe and Mozambique can thrive together.  

         Madam Speaker, imagine a region where the Beira Corridor seamlessly connects our economies; where ports and railways facilitate an unstoppable flow of trade and where collaborative efforts in areas like agriculture, technology and environmental conservation set a benchmark for the continent. This is not a distant dream but an achievable reality provided we take precisive steps. Let us draw inspiration from the resilience of the Mozambican people who despite facing insurgencies and natural disasters continue to push their economy forward. Let us emulate a spirit of innovation as we work to modernise our own infrastructures in trade systems and let us remember that every agreement signed, every Committee formed and every visit exchanged is a step towards a future where nations stand together stronger. Hon. Members and Madam Speaker, the time for action is now. Let us act with the urgency and commitment that are shared history demands, let us ensure that recommendations from this visit are not just noted but implemented with vigor and dedication. By doing so, we honor the legacy of our forebears and pave way for a future where the bonds between Zimbabwe and Mozambique are unbreakable and ever flourishing. Together we can achieve remarkable feats, together we can build a legacy of cooperation, peace and prosperity that will be celebrated for generations to come. Let us embrace this vision with all our hearts and make it a reality. I thank you.

HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker, I think just before I wind up, we should underscore an element that was displayed by the Speaker of Parliament Adv. J. F. N Mudenda when we were in Mozambique. That to me, was a very rare gesture in that having noted the economic needs of the people that leave around the Eduardo Mondlane Foundation, the Speaker of Parliament, came back home thought about those people and through his own money, he bought two peanut butter making machines that are now on their way to Mozambique. I feel Madam Speaker, we should really express our sincere appreciation. On that note, I thank all the Members who contributed to this very important motion on the Report of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on our Bi-lateral visit to Mozambique and I now move for adoption of the motion.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. MAUNGANIDZE):  Hon. Shamu, please can you move for the withdrawal of the motion.

HON. SHAMU:  Thank you Madam Speaker, I move for the withdrawal of the motion as set on the Order Paper that …

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Sorry Madam Speaker, I may want to understand - what do you mean by withdrawal of the motion? Is it being withdrawn completely or what exactly is happening? I think we need clarity on this one. Thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:   Order, a take note motion does not require a resolution of the House, so it has to be withdrawn at the end of the debate. I hope you are now answered Hon. Madzivanyika.

Motion, With leave, withdrawn.

MOTION

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF MOZAMBIQUE FOR ATTAINING FORTY-NINE YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

Twenty Eighth Order read: Adjourned debate on the Independence of Mozambique.

Question again proposed.

HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker, I would like to once again express my appreciation to all the Members that did contribute to this very important motion which always reminds us of this very important day when Mozambique gave all its in support of our liberation struggle celebrate its independence.  On that note, I move that the motion be adopted.

Motion that:

RECALLING with great pride and appreciation that every 25^th of June, since 1975, is forever imbedded in our hearts as a milestone and a massive defining moment in the history of our comrades, brother in arms in Mozambique and the region as a whole, as the country celebrates its popular holiday which is affection and clearly referred as the “Dia da Independencia Nacional”. 

INSPIRED by the sacrifices, solidarity and unflinching support to our gallant ZANLA forces throughout our ferocious liberation struggle against the white minority rule in our country which ushered our own independence.

ACKNOWLEDGING that no other selfless and committed sacrifice surpasses the heroic exploits of our well weather friends and brothers in Mozambique.

NOW, THEREFORE, this House conveys its warmest heartfelt congratulations to the Government of Mozambique and the entire nation as our brothers and sisters in Mozambique enjoy and celebrate their forty-nine years of independence from the shackles of colonialism, put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE DELEGATION ON THE BENCHMARKING VISITS TO SWEDEN, LATVIA AND FINLAND

Twenty Ninth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the delegation report on the benchmark visits to Sweden, Latvia, and Finland.

Question again proposed.

HON. SHAMU: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am, once again Madam Speaker Ma’am, I want  to express my sincere appreciation for the various contributions that were made by Hon. Members and various points that they raised with regard to the issues that were raised in our report and seek withdrawal of the motion

Motion; With leave, withdrawn.

On the motion of HON. KAMBUZUMA seconded by HON. NYANDORO, the House adjourned at Sixteen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.