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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANSARD 19 MARCH 2025 VOL 51 NO 34

PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 19^th March, 2025

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

PRAYERS

(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER

HALF DAY WORKSHOP ON UNPACKING THE INSURANCE AND PENSIONS COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 7, 2024] 

THE HON. SPEAKER:  I have to inform the House that all Hon. Members are invited to a half-day workshop to unpack the Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill [H. B .7, 2024]. The workshop is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, 20^th March, 2025 at 8 o’clock in the morning, in the Multi-Purpose Hall. Please make sure you are punctual and that you are there by quarter to eight.

APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS

         THE HON. SPEAKER:  I have received the following apologies from the Executive, please can you pay attention: Hon. Vice President Gen. Rtd. Dr. C. D. G. N. Chiwenga; The Vice President, Hon. Col. K. C. D. Mohadi; Hon. T. Machakaire, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training; Hon.  M. Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Hon. K. Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage; Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. E. Moyo, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. E. Ndlovu, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South Province; Hon. J  Paradza, Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate and Wild Life; Hon. Jesaya, Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture; Hon. D. Phuti, Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; Hon. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement and Hon. Marapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

         HON. KANGAUSARU: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, good afternoon. My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement. We have seen unfavourable payment arrangements impacting on the decline of cotton production. To avoid a similar fate in the tobacco sector, would the Government consider ensuring that payments to tobacco farmers are made fully in USD given that they incur most of their production costs in foreign currency? I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): I thank the Hon. Member for the very important question. The payment modality for an export crop such as tobacco is determined by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe which then apportions a proportion to be paid in USD and a portion to be paid in local currency. In this instance, tobacco and all other export crops, perhaps other commodities too, are paid as a proportion of 70% USD and 30% local currency. To my knowledge, this equalisation across the sectors does not unduly prejudice growers. I had a meeting with the growers’ associations and the industry and requested them to submit their USD denominated cost of production and also the ZiG denominated cost of production. When they did, they were indicating that their USD cost of production was somewhere in the region of 85% and that submission is then made to the Reserve Bank which will consider that and if they deem it appropriate, they will adjust accordingly. I thank you.

HON. KANGAUSARU: Thank you Hon. Speaker. Mr. Speaker Sir, considering also myself as a farmer, the financial constraint caused by this partial ZiG payments, what concrete measures is the Government putting in place to guarantee a sustainable and competitive payment model that aligns with the USD best cost structure of tobacco farming?  I submit.

HON. DR. MASUKA: I thank the Hon. Member but I did not get the question. He seems to imply that a payment in ZiG disadvantages a grower. I do not see how there are payments that could be affected for various services including utilities in local currency.  Perhaps the Hon. Member has some very specific costing and requests for which I would gladly get the detailed costing indicating the US dollar and the ZiG component and perhaps an explanation of where the prejudice is likely to happen if they were paid that 30% in ZiG so that we can transmit this to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe so that they can consider that. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: I almost ruled the Hon. Member out of order but I tried to be happy and leave it to your indulgence.  You are right Hon. Minister, if you want cost benefit analysis of the arrangement, you better put your question in writing and the Hon. Minister has indicated that he will be pleased to respond accordingly.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I heard the Hon. Minister saying that he entered into some arrangement with the producers of tobacco and he understood that their cost structure is 85% US dollars. Maybe the Hon. Minister might favour the House why that cost is largely 85% US dollars in a country with a local currency which is allegedly very strong.  Why is it that the core structure of seeds and fertilizer can be obtained in local currency, can he explain why it is 85% US dollars, I thank you.

HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir and I thank the Hon. Member for he completely misconstrued my explanation. I never said I entered an agreement with growers.  I said growers submitted their costing which was indicating upwards of 85% of their costs which are US dollars denominated.  I think the Reserve Bank is on record as indicating that the current ratio of currencies in circulation is 80% US and 20% ZiG.   Therefore, the currency, in my view, is very strong and has stayed at a very stable exchange rate for a very long time and even strengthening as we see on the interbank market.  The local currency is usable, is strong and I urge farmers and all of us to accept it and utilise it. I thank you.

*HON. NYABANI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, my question is directed to the Hon. Minister of Industry and Commerce.  Mr. Speaker Sir, if you go down town, there are tuck-shops that sell goods from South Africa.  Those tuck-shops do not accept ZiG and swipe, they want US dollars cash.  I would like to know Government policy regarding people who earn ZiG and use swipe to be able to buy from those shops because that is where the people buy their goods from, especially imported goods.  I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. N. M. NDLOVU): Thank you Hon. Speaker, I want to thank the Hon. Member for a very important question Hon. Speaker.  We are operating in a multi-currency regime where the ZiG is a legal tender among other currencies and predominately the US dollars as well as has been alluded before. Mr. Speaker, in 2024, after we presented the state of Industry and Commerce Report to Cabinet, we then came up with what we call the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and growth plan, which is a transitional plan whose main aim is to address a lot of malpractices that are taking place in our economy, among them what the Hon. Member, Hon. Nyabani has highlighted, where we have a growing informal sector which is operating under its own rules. We have the growth of smuggling and selling of counterfeit goods. All these issues Hon. Speaker, have been prioritised by the Government and colleague Members might concur that starting from November last year, there is downward trending of smuggling where we have been able to substantially reduce the rate of smuggling.

If you follow the Monetary Policy Statement issued by the Central Bank, they have highlighted again that every registered business ought to have a point of sale machine.  These are attempts to make sure that everyone operating in this country, a business affords the consumer an opportunity to swipe or to use the local currency alongside the foreign currency as they wish. 

I might highlight for the comfort of the House that this is a matter we are seized with where we are coming up with a comprehensive system and as we speak, officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, from our ministry and from the security agencies have been assigned to go to India where they will understudy a centralised payment system where SMEs and industry are successfully formalised and are contributing to the fiscus. 

So, it is a matter that I commit to this House that will be resolved in the shortest possible time to make sure that every business operating in this country complies with the laws. I thank you Hon. Speaker.

*HON. NYABANI: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir, those tuck-shops are supplying goods to Bindura, Rushinga and Mt. Darwin but when ZIMRA goes to these areas, they arrest traders who do not have declarations. What is the policy with regard to people who order their goods from those tuckshops and do not provide the declaration? What arrangement do we have to ensure that people who purchase from those tuckshops that import goods from South Africa and other countries are able to protect their goods so that they are not fined?

HON. N. M. NDLOVU: Mr. Speaker, I hope I got the question correctly. The current programme, following the Budget Statement by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, highlighted that some of the goods will be presumed smuggled unless one presents proof that these were brought into the country legally. The policy that we are undertaking Mr. Speaker, involves our officers on the ground, inter-agency officers who then visit these businesses. If these are foreign products, they ask you to provide proof that these were brought into the country legally.

I might appeal again to Hon. Members in the event that maybe there are some in business who might not have gotten to be aware of this. Let us help our business people that it is very important when you are procuring your stock, that you verify if these are foreign procured and that there is proof that they came into the country legally. Our approach is that we all have a role to play in addressing the issue of informality and the issue of smuggling.

         I want to thank Honourable Garwe sitting next to me here, for again a passionate plea, especially to those who are risking our consumers who are setting up shops at night, avoiding all manner of compliance to then operate at night. It is these syndicates that we hope to break and bring order into our economy. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

         ^*HON. MAPIKI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for the operation on buses in collaboration with the ZACC. I wanted to make a follow-up on Honourable Nyabani's plea. Most of those people operating tuckshops are from DRC and some of them are from Zambia. They do not have point-of-sale machines that make it accountable even to ZIMRA.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mapiki, you address the Chair and you do not point at the Hon. Minister.

HON. MAPIKI: I am sorry about that Mr. Speaker.

HON. N. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I am now thinking that it might be appropriate to bring a ministerial statement on some of the measures that we will be instituting in a very short time.  Among them, is the enforcement of the reserved sectors.  The retail sectors where we have a lot of foreigners, most of whom are not even here legally, some came as refugees. This extends to other sectors including quarrying, brick moulding and sand mining which has been invaded by foreign nationals.

We will be enforcing the law fully.  We are just finalising on some of the statutory provisions which we were supposed to have instituted a few years ago when the amendments to the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act was done through the Finance Act of 2018. Once the Statutory Instrument gives us full powers to enforce the reserved sector laws, we hope that we will be able to address this scourge which is really giving us problems at the moment.  I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Supplementary Hon. Speaker.]-

THE HON. SPEAKER: How can you ask for a supplementary when the Hon. Minister has kindly indicated that he will present a ministerial statement on all the related issues and from there, you can ask for clarification.

         ^*HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My question is directed to the Minister of Finance, in his absence,  the Leader of Government Business may answer. What is Government policy with regards to money that was supposed to be paid to pensioners who were affected by the losses and it was supported by the Justice Smith Report? Where are we in terms of assisting the pensioners to recover their monies because most of them are dying? I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Government is obligated to pay its pensioners. The rest of Government will then ensure that the pension companies comply with whatever findings that are there. As for the specifics or modalities of the implementation of the recommendation, I think the Hon. Member can put that in writing so that the Hon. Minister can come and explain but the obligation of Government or policy is to take care of our pensioners. Those that are not employed by Government, Government can assist with policy directives if need be, in terms of the recommendations that came out of the Justice Smith Commission. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Honourable Madzivanyika, I am sure you are so guided. Put your question in writing and put all the details that you would like to know from the Hon. Minister. Thank you.

^*HON. S. TSHUMA: My question is directed to the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. Mr. Speaker, where we come from, in the shops, people are preferring to use the United States dollars to purchase because when they receive the local currency, they cannot use it anywhere else to buy in the same value. What is the policy with regards to ensuring that the local currency is accepted with the same value and traded in the same value in which you have received it and passed it on? For example, if the farmers are paid $100 using local currency, in big shops, prices have gone up and when one uses the United States dollar, it becomes cheaper to buy that way.

         *THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI):  Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I would want to think what Hon. Tshuma is saying and what we are saying from the Reserve Bank is different.  The Reserve Bank researches in shops, the rate is around 25 and 26 and those who were very expensive were at 33.  Having said that Mr. Speaker, as Government, in conjunction with the Reserve Bank, we put money on the market for anyone who wants to import.  The industry cannot purchase the money that we are putting on the market.  What is happening is that the problem is, our people have lack of confidence in our local currency.

People believe that as soon as they get the local currency, they panic and want to use it immediately thinking that something might happen.  That way, we feel that it is very expensive but what is happening now is, we have seen some big companies that are actually going to the Reserve Bank saying we have US dollars in exchange of ZiG. What we want to encourage the people is that let us not use or spend all our monies from the bank in terms of money or gold; if we want to buy the ZiG, it is not more than 23.  The 23 and 33, that is what we are saying is the panic rate amongst people who think something might happen.   Nothing is going to happen this time around, that is what we are saying. That is the panic rate amongst people who think something might happen but nothing is going to happen this time around.  I thank you Mr. Speaker.

         *HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I heard the Hon. Minister saying that people panic when they have the local currency.  He referred to confidence.  My supplementary question; is it not possible Hon. Minister, for us to remove that panic and allow the businesses to charge the prices that they want so that people may not panic that the money may lose value?  Is it not possible for businesses to be allowed to trade in the rates that they feel valuable to them so that we do not go back to this cycle again?  I thank you.

         *HON. Z. ZIYAMBI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker. Such a thought must be thrown away by the Hon. Member because what we are working out is to remove foreign currencies like Mr. Trump’s currency whereby tomorrow, he might wake up and say Trump first.  As a country, we want to use our local currency, which is what we want to internalise.

         *HON. G. CHIGUMBU:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for the clear response that there is a clear plan that we want to have on local currency.  When can we expect that currency which will be acceptable to other countries? 

         *HON. Z. ZIYAMBI: We do not wish to have money that will be accepted by other countries but our wish is to have a currency that is accepted locally.  If you want to go to South Africa, that is the role of Dr. Mushayavanhu; go to the bank, why do you want our money to be accepted elsewhere when there are banks that are dedicated for that? I thank you.

*HON. MAMBIPIRI:  Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir.  I thank the Hon. Minister that there are measures to strengthen the currency to ensure that we do not panic.  What strengthens currency are not words but measures. What measures is Government putting in place to ensure that the currency comes strong so that we do not panic?

*HON. Z. ZIYAMBI:  Thank you Hon. Speaker. What is important is, let us not have a view that our money does not work, nothing else is needed.  If you believe that our money works, you are good, you are correct that is the measure – [Laughter.] –

THE HON. SPEAKER:  I have no comment. 

*HON. MANGONDO:  My question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development, regarding the rural areas where the electricity goes out and takes a long time for the power supply to be restored.  We are talking about the falling of poles, sometimes they may be destroyed by termites and they spend a lot of time without being restored.  Sometimes transformers are brought down and they take a lot of time to be repaired.   What is Government policy with regard to ensuring that they do not spend a lot of time before they repair electricity supply?  In my constituency, there are schools and clinics that can spend a year without electricity. What is Government policy with regard to restoring power supply immediately?   I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. J. MOYO): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. There are a lot of problems that lead to breakdown of power supply which include theft of transformers. Right now, the number of transformers that have been stolen are 6 000 countrywide. We manufacture a few transformers in this country so, sometimes we will not have anything because of theft and vandalism which is going on.

Secondly, wooden poles that we sometimes use are affected by termites and Government now has a plan to make concrete poles so that we do away with wooden ones. We now have companies making those poles so you will realise that wooden poles are now being replaced by concrete ones. However, we cannot really tell how it takes because sometimes when those poles fall or there has been theft, was a report made because in the rural areas, sometimes there is quite a distance between ZESA and the affected community.  So we encourage people to report.

We also have programmes so that ZESA is equipped with transport to follow up on their power lines to ensure that they are strong enough so that we will not spend a lot of time without electricity. I thank you.

*HON. MANGONDO: I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for the response but I would like to know if Government has a policy that stipulates exactly how long it should take for repairs to be carried out if there is a report made to ZESA. Can Government not come up with a policy to ensure that ZESA quickly attends to faults within a specific timeframe? Does Government have such a policy to ensure quick repairs of faults?

*HON. J. MOYO: What Government does with agencies such as ZESA, there are what we call client charters were such policies are pronounced and they detail how long it takes to repair. What affects sometimes is because equipment such as transformers may not be available which is the most important. Even if there is no load shedding, people may not have electricity because the transformers may have been vandalised or stolen, yet we do not have them in stock to replace them. That may take more than the stipulated time according to the Charter.

The other thing is that we will still be waiting for the concrete poles to be availed to replace the wooden ones. So, right now we are encouraging those who are making concrete poles to assist in the Government programme to ensure that we help each other.

⁺HON. S. MAHLANGU: My supplementary is; what plans do you have in place since you have already indicated that transformers are expensive so that you can buy plenty of them because most of the times, we are told you do not have the equipment in stock? What plans do you have in place for citizens to recover their money?

HON. J. MOYO having started to respond in Shona –

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, but you are from Midlands, can you not respond in Ndebele?

*HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, in Midlands, when somebody speaks in Ndebele, the other one responds in Shona and we understand each other.

Most of the things that are bought by ZESA, I say people can purchase the equipment, so I will need specifications on exactly what you are referring to. I spoke about transformers which are bigger equipment but some other smaller equipment may be domestic and you are required to purchase on your own. A lot of equipment is supposed to be bought by ZESA to ensure electricity supply. Sometimes it could be the cables but most of the problematic issues that affect power supply are the poles and transformers. Some of the things about load shedding, as we all know, we still have low power supply in the country but we have plans to ensure that we boost availability of power. If you can put your question in writing to ensure that we find out from ZESA so we can find out which things can be purchased by the people. I can find out from ZESA.

         *THE HON. SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, you responded very well. The question on the other hand is, is it not possible to ensure that when you import transformers, you buy them in abundance so that when some have been stolen you can easily replace them?

* HON. J. MOYO: Mr. Speaker, I had responded to that question earlier that the transformers that we manufacture through (ZENT) Zimbabwe Enterprises, it manufactures transformers but there are not so many. Some of the companies that make transformers, there is another one, they are still few. If we were to import from other countries, we need foreign currency, but ZESA does not have adequate foreign currency because most of the people who buy electricity do so in the local currency, the ZIG, which is the one that they use in most of the items. They run short of foreign currency, that is why they use ZENT and other local companies. They do not have so many of those in stock, that is why there is a delay. Thank you.

*HON. J. SITHOLE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question is from his last words, where he says there is no adequate foreign currency to purchase a lot of transformers. Hon. Ziyambi earlier on responded that there is a lot of foreign currency, where he said some companies are going there requesting for foreign currency which is in abundance. I want to know what exactly Government policy is.

*THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, do you want to liaise with the Hon. Leader or you want to respond?

*HON. J. MOYO: If the Hon. Member heard me, I said that people pay in local currency and that is how they use more items, so they will not have supplementary local currency to go and purchase the foreign currency from the Reserve Bank because they spend it on other items. Thank you.

*HON. MATSUNGA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Good afternoon. My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government. Mr. Speaker, from our understanding, where we stay in high-density suburbs or in farming areas, where is Government in terms of title deeds? That shows that if you have property, it is yours because the whole country or the local authority houses do not have title deeds. The elderly are dying and orphans are facing a lot of problems because grandparents are leaving their grandchildren. What is the update from Government with regard to issuing title deeds that shows that indeed that is your house because it has been long since some of the people got these houses in 1965? Up to now, they do not have resources and they continue paying to local authorities.

*THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. DR. GARWE): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. There are about three ministries involved in the issuing of title deeds. We have the Minister of Housing, Minister of Justice and ourselves as the Minister of Local Government. Our duty is to ensure that services are provided such as roads, water reticulation and sewage. If those services are provided, we issue compliance certificates.

That one can be taken to the issuance of title deeds. I am glad to announce that two years ago, the President launched the Title Deeds Programme. President Mnangagwa ensured that all those areas that do not have title deeds must have them. That programme was launched in Epworth. That is where we are going to start from. We are going to go with such other areas.

I would also like to inform you that it is true that in areas before 1980 that were called high-density suburbs, those houses did not have title deeds although they were paying rates to local authorities. We are indeed confident that those people must be given title deeds. In rural areas or areas outside urban areas, we have had a programme on the issuance of title deeds. Hon. Minister Masuka, I am sure will be able to respond to that. We also have that programme for the four ministries, to ensure that areas that deserve title deeds, people should be given the title deeds.

However, we are encouraging developers not to rush to construct houses without ensuring that they follow the required processes of providing services like roads, sewer and water reticulation. Those are the documents that ensure that title deeds will be issued out. We cannot issue title deeds without ensuring that is done. Title deeds must have an address such as 20 Musasa Road, Mufakose. If there is no such road, we are not able to issue it because that address is the one that we require to ensure that Daniel Garwe has got a title deed of 25 Musasa Road, Mufakose.

*HON. MATSUNGA: Thank you Honourable Speaker Sir. I go back to the Hon. Minister. Local authorities where the rates are being paid, for example, Musasa Way, the example he gave, people have been paying for a long time now in Mufakose but there are no title deeds. Hon. Minister, since you are saying that there are three ministries involved, why do you not give out the correct information to ensure that the Minister of Justice is the one that issues title deeds? What is the plan in terms of decentralising those offices so that the elderly will go straight away where they are supposed to go because those who are dying are leaving behind a huge problem for their dependents or offspring?

         HON. GARWE: I thought I explained but let me say Government has enough knowledge that in the high-density suburbs, those houses have been paying rates to the local authorities, be it Mbare, Makokoba or wherever.  Those people that have stayed there for more than 40 years, Government, in 2023, led by President Mnangagwa, said such areas must be given title deeds but I am sure now people will know out there, they know that information.  Maybe what we need to do is to ensure that a lot of publicity is done.  We also want to warn local authorities not to chase away people who have been paying rent for more than 20 or 40 years.  We want those people who were there to be given the documents.  No Ministry works alone.  We work under a whole of Government approach.  All ministries work together until we come up with those title deeds and people are issued those title deeds.  We are coming area by area, town by town until everyone gets the title deeds; those who deserve them.  I thank you.

         HON. MATEWU: Thank you Mr. Sir.  We have over 1 900 wards in this country.  I find it very difficult that the Government is saying – like the Minister said, we started from Epworth and we are going round.  What is the essence of devolution because if they gave one ward in Epworth, that means we are going to be here for the next 100 years until we finish the whole Zimbabwe? Why can we not have this issue of title deeds devolved to provinces so that provinces manage their own affairs?  Empower the Provincial Ministers to ensure that the title deeds are given in their provinces accordingly.  Thank you.

         *HON. GARWE: May I ask the Minister of Justice to respond since we work together?

         THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  Indeed, the Minister of Local Government has explained the policy thrust of Government to ensure that we issue title deeds to everyone in the urban areas and move to farms.  More specifically, in urban areas, Epworth was a pilot so that we appreciate the process, then we would decentralise to other areas. When we started, we were very excited, we thought it was easy but giving a title, it is a document that confers rights to the exclusion of everyone else. Hence, we had to be thorough. 

What the Minister of Local Government was saying is, we needed to ensure that we do all the processes.  I will give an example of Epworth, there are people who are there.  So, you needed people to go on the ground, to physically identify the occupants and match them with what Epworth Local Authority has in their records, then you process all the other processes so that at the end of the day we have a title deed that speaks to the actual person who is supposed to be there.  So, indeed, we started with a pilot, now we know what is required of us, we are going to decentralise.  Very soon you will see us putting offices in high density areas, in several locations, inviting people so that we can get information about them, then we will start processing it.

However, it is not a straight forward issue that you could say we can rush it and do it in no time.  I am sure you heard the Minister of Local Government appealing to local authorities not to manipulate the system because we want the actual beneficiaries to benefit.  I thank you.

         HON. JAMES: Thank you Mr. Speaker.  Through you, can I ask the Minister of Local Government, if his Ministry would push the property developers because in many cases, these developers have walked away from their contracts without completing what they signed in their contracts?  This could be one of the problems why there is delay in title deeds to recipients of land.  Moreover, in these areas there are no proper roads or water connections.  Councils are fighting with the property developers.  Would his Ministry chase up on these property developers and assist local authorities on this issue?  I thank you.

         HON. GARWE: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.  I also thank the Hon. Member for the question.  The Government entered into various agreements with various developers on the provision of onsite infrastructure for purposes of housing development.  Government’s contribution was in the form of land.  We did not automatically transfer the land to the developer.  The land was going to be transferable at the end of issuance of the compliance certificate.  Those that ran away did not run away with the land, the land is still there.  We have a policy of regularisation, which is now correcting all those wrongs that took place to ensure that the people that were duped will still come back to the Ministry of Local Government to ensure that all the processes are followed.  I thank you.

         *HON. HAMAUSWA: Thank you Mr. Speaker.  My question is, somebody in this House said that the title deeds would go to other areas.  Some of the areas that were mentioned was Warren Park, the one that I represent.  They said thousands of people will be given title deeds in Warren Park but as they respond, they are going back to Epworth, yet we heard them saying that the programme will be moving on to other areas.  When is it then going to get to Warren Park because the programme was talked about two years ago?  People of Warren Park are continuously asking me, saying we heard an announcement on TV that the programme of title deeds was going to come to Warren Park; when is it getting to us?  We have waited for a long time.

         THE HON. SPEAKER: I think the Minister indicated that at the beginning, now that they are experienced, the process should cascade with speed to all areas that deserve to have title deeds.  I think that was covered by both Ministers.

         HON. CHINODAKUFA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My question is directed to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement. What is Government policy to ensure that we re-stock the cattle that have died, that we have lost in this country?

         THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, we have a big number of ministers.  I think if you can spread your questions accordingly because we have several issues in other ministries so that the Hon. Ministers feel that they deserve to be here.

        

 

^*THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Last year, we had a problem of drought all over the country. Some of the cattle died because of drought and there are some cattle that died because of poor nutrition. When we did the first round of crop and livestock fisheries assessment done by ZimStats and other Government agents, we realised that the country has 0.2% more population, which is 5.7 million. But, if we look at the problem that we faced last year of drought, this country lost 45,000 cattle. Amongst the cattle that we lost, Matebeleland South as well as Matabeleland North had the highest number of cattle that died more than other provinces because there was totally no water at all.

But there is another disease that is killing cattle, it is January disease. It is affecting 25 districts. They are the ones that we focus on, and that is why we are giving teak grease. Right now, we are also giving out pour-on dip. So, if the Hon. Member has noticed an area where there is an outbreak of a disease, may the Hon. Member give us that information so that we rush to that place in order to ascertain what the problem is? Is it because the cattle failed to go to the dip tank due to lack of chemicals or lack of water? Or to ascertain the actual cause. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

^*HON. T. ZHOU: My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is the districts where we come from, our dip tanks are very few, especially in wards. In some instances, one dip tank covers two, three or four wards. So, what is the policy with regards to ensuring that dip tanks are put nearer to communities? Thank you.

^*HON. DR. MASUKA: The dip tanks that we have are 4,009 and 3,600 are the operational ones. Some of them are still not operating and we are working hard to ensure that we resuscitate them. That is why we came up with the Presidential Blitz Teak Grease Programme to ensure that every household is given teak grease for them to apply the teak grease on their cattle. Recently, we were going around inspecting how they apply the chemicals behind the ears and also below the tail. We noticed that households that are led by women may not be able to hold a bull.

So, right now, we are using the pour-on method because the teak grease would be difficult to apply. So, the Government is busy reviving all the dip tanks. We also know that in resettlement areas, the dip tanks are very few, but we are looking at that. But if the Hon.  Member knows a specific area where people travel long distances to go to dip tanks, the Hon. Member should give us that area to ensure that in the shortest possible time, we seek funding from the Treasury to assist them. I thank you.

^*HON. TOGAREPI:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I would want to check, let us say our cattle are affected by diseases, does the Government have efficient medicines to cure theileriosis? I asked that question because I went to Uganda. I saw there is a medicine called Zimbabwe Theileriosis. I also bought that medicine and showed it to the Permanent Secretary. That medicine is 25 cents per sachet. When I used that medicine, no cattle died. So, what are the plans to ensure that the Government purchases such medicines as we ensure the dipping programme is okay? However, we also need treatment. I thank you.

 

^*HON. DR. MASUKA: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to thank Hon. Togarepi with regards to January disease. It is now being called January to December disease because it is now affecting cattle any month. It used to affect cattle from grazing areas where they would pick the ticks. That is why we had said cattle should be dipped five days and then after four days during the rainy season. The medicine that he is referring to was issued out by local people. It is called BOLVAC, local expert. We have since started administering that medicine in the districts that I have mentioned, it is an injection. We are using it too as a preventative medicine. So, we saw that it is very effective and we are looking for resources to ensure that we produce it abundantly so that we use it in the whole country. But right now, we are mainly targeting the hotspots.

But recently, I heard that Chikomba was affected as well as Seke. So, we went there quickly to administer these vaccines. So, if there are such areas, we can go and administer the vaccines before we cover the whole country. Thank you.

 

         *HON. S. TSHUMA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary question is, what is the Ministry's programme in terms of allowing individuals to purchase the medicine that Hon. Togarepi was referring to so that if they import that medicine, they can easily cross the border and that they are not stopped? Thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. TSITSI ZHOU): Order, before I give the floor to the Minister, may I remind Hon. Chikombo and Hon. Hamauswa that we are still in the august House and we request you to behave honourably.

* HON. GARWE: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Most of the medicines for livestock is imported but for the medicines to go through the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, they are the ones that look at the chemical compositions of the medicines to ensure that they are effective and protect our livestock as well as protecting the consumers of that meat. I thank you.

*HON. MAPIKI: My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Child Care. What is Government policy in ensuring that the data of people who seek treatment can be digitised instead of having people carrying huge volumes of cards because if they are swept away by water, that information is destroyed? Also, what is Government doing in terms of computerising such information instead of people walking around with cards? I thank you.

         *THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE (HON. DR. MOMBESHORA): As the Minister of Health, we are moving around with the President and according to the President's mantra, we have to adopt information communication technology. We have advanced. We have a programme and we now have a platform which we call Impilo. It has been there for some time now. It started with data capturing.

Right now, we are seeing that 70% of our clinics are now able to capture information of the patient as well as information on the cards. Some of the challenges are that in some areas, there is no electricity. So we have a solarisation programme where we are trying to install solar power in clinics, especially the remote ones.

Secondly, the information of the diseases that can be captured in the Impilo system, we are calling it telemedicine. We have not done a lot on that. The company that we gave the contract has taken too long to work. Right now, they are at 30% on the work that we gave them. So, as we go towards Independence in Gokwe, we are saying we want them to give us a demonstration of ensuring that there is a link between Impilo Hospital as well as Gweru and districts in Gokwe and also decentralise it to five clinics in Gokwe so that we know whether that system is now working.

It is a trial. If we see that it is moving well, then we can spread it to the rest of the country. Yes indeed, the progress is very slow because the problems also have to do with the resources that are required for us to move according to the desired speed but that is where we are aiming to go. We have since started and it is now at an advanced stage. I thank you.

*HON. MAPIKI: My supplementary question is in terms of data capturing. If somebody buys medicine from a pharmacy, there is data that is supposed to be given so that if they go to a Government system, that system can pick that on such a time this person purchased medicine so that there is a correlation between what they do from Government departments as well as private.

*HON. DR. MOMBESHORA: As a Ministry, that is where we are aiming to get to. We said we are starting with the basic information of the patient. The second stage will be to capture information on diseases and the medication for chronic patients such as HIV/AIDS patients. We have not got to that stage where they can all be captured in this data. We have a company that we have given this tender and they are now at 30%. So finally, we are saying everyone must have a card.

We have started making those cards. Wherever you go to any medical facility, that card will be able to give information on all the diseases that you have as well as medication because people get medication from here and there. We are not able to ascertain whether yesterday you went to any clinic to get medication so that we prevent people from getting medicine for resale and we are able to tell that yesterday you got medication for a month or two months, which means you have adequate supply.

We will be saying in order for us to issue you with more medication, you need to justify where you put other medication. I also like to inform Hon. Mapiki that this afternoon we were going to meet with the experts who are doing that. So, I actually requested them to allow me to come to Parliament because we want their expertise. I requested them to meet me again on Friday. I thank you.

*HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  I heard the Minister talking about the history of patients, why not introduce that system in hospitals because we saw nurses recently demonstrating that there is no medicine. Can you not put this system in clinics and hospitals so that they will be aware of the level of stocks in order for them to be able to timeously replenish medicine supply instead of having them demonstrating?

* HON. DR. MOMBESHORA: Thank you Hon. Member for asking that question. NATPHARM is the one that procures all medicines and supplies them to Government hospitals up to the level of local clinics in rural areas.  That system started last year. A pharmacy must be able to be accountable before it runs out of medicine. The problem that we saw of those who were demonstrating at Sally Mugabe Hospital has nothing to do with that system.  It is all about their thoughts.  They were complaining about lack of stocks in medicines. Of course, the stocks level may be low but right now the stocks levels are at 49%, we are not happy with it but this year our target is at 60%. We want to increase the levels gradually but we cannot do it immediately. 

What surprised me is that when I went to Sally Mugabe Hospital on Monday when they were demonstrating, most of the things that they were talking about were things that they knew were being looked at.  Some of the things they complained about are syringes. We went to pharmacies and saw the syringes.  So, we now do not know whether they were demonstrating because of lack of syringes or they are doing it for something else. 

We want to ensure that the health of our people is safe.  As we speak, we have 14 containers of medicines being loaded in Mutare.  We face challenges as a Ministry when we are not allocated budget funds on time to procure medicines. We are discussing with the Ministry of Finance and the medicines that we are receiving now were ordered in December.  If we order a lot of medicine, it takes time for the medicine to be made or manufactured because if the demand is high, sometimes they run out of stock, so they have to manufacture upon demand.  The demonstrating nurses knew that we were working on that.  What they did was illegal because they were supposed to give us two weeks in advance before they started demonstrating.  We told them to come and talk to us in time so that things may be worked out properly.

*HON. MALINGANISO: We are glad that we are now receiving medicines but on the streets, we do not know where they are getting the medicines which they are selling.  If you go to other countries, medicines are not allowed to be sold in streets.  What is Government policy to make sure that those who sell medicines have the necessary qualifications and expertise?

*HON. DR. MOMBESHORA: Thank you Hon. Speaker and Hon. Malinganiso. We have MCAZ (Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe where we have experts who look at the quality of the medicines that we are receiving if they meet all the required standards and if they are registered. We start from where the medicine is manufactured so that we receive good quality medicine.  Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe is on level 3 and in Africa, there are only six countries that have that expertise to monitor medicines and vaccines.  I believe that Zimbabwe is good at monitoring its medicines.

We know that there are some people who smuggle medicines. You have read in newspapers that street medicines have been impounded, so they work in conjunction with the police to ensure that fake medicines do not flood the streets.  They carry out regular inspections in pharmacies and they are empowered to ensure that they inspect all the medicines on the shelves to see whether they are genuine.  If they find anomalies, they are empowered to confiscate the medicines and destroy them. They are also empowered to cancel the licences or close the pharmacies.   We must know that unscrupulous business people are always there although we have measures to ensure that we do not have side effects from medicines.

*HON. KUKA: Thank you Hon. Speaker. My question is directed to the Ministry of Local Government and it is about clean cities. We realise that there is a lot of chaos, municipal police officers are running after vendors; what is Government policy to ensure that the vendors get properly designated places to conduct their business because chasing them away will lead to people being thieves?  We know that these days vending is the most common source of livelihood. I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. GARWE): Thank you Hon. Speaker and I would like to thank the Hon. Member. It is in line with what we discussed last week with regard to small businesses without calling them vendors.  There are vendors that are selling during business hours.  We are saying they will not be chased away wherever they are vending from.  We are working with local authorities to provide shelters that are in line with Government policy.  We have to take into consideration that vending has to be in line with health and sanity at vending sites.

         So, this august House may want to know that after fire gutted the Mbare market, the President asked us to come up with a new place which is in line with Vision 2030. You may want to witness that Phase 1 that we are constructing, that will start working in the next two or three weeks. It is speaking to that policy.

         We spoke to the City of Harare as well as Mutare and other towns. We said shelters and such vending places must be constructed. That is what we are working on. We have realised that some are conducting night vending. The Constitution of this country does not have a provision for someone to come at night when others have gone home. We do not have a provision for night vending.

         The problems that we are facing from night vendors, the first problem is the lack of ablution facilities. That is what is contributing to diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid because they do not have toilets. You want to know that most of those people who are coming to sell into Harare at night are coming from Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East. Some of them are coming from outside the country - that is causing a lot of problems.

         You heard the Minister of Health and Child Care yesterday saying that there is an outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases in Mashonaland Central. Such a person may come from that area and leave that disease here.

HON. MATEWU: On a point of order Hon. Madam Speaker.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order Hon. Minister! What is your point of order Hon. Member?

HON. MATEWU: Madam Speaker, the question was very clear, it has nothing to do with thigh vendors in the evening.  It has everything to do with vendors that are selling their wares on the streets in the afternoon. Now he is speaking of thigh vendors – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order, Hon. Matewu!  Your point of order is overruled. Allow the Hon. Minister to finish– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order! Can we have order in the House? This is the time that the Hon. Minister has got to explain what is happening and we are going to allow him to do that – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Hon. Minister please proceed.

^*HON. DR. GARWE: Thank you Madam Speaker for protecting me. I was explaining about diseases being caused by people who are working at night. You may want to know that businesses that are operating legally, when they close, that is where these vendors are operating from, in sanitary lanes as well as verandas, you find a lot of faeces as well as urine. Local authorities’ janitors are now busy cleaning human waste and that is not in line with the Vision 2030.

         Secondly, during the selling of goods and wares, there is also what we call drug and substance abuse.

^*HON. ZVAIPA: My point of order was about the police – the ZRP as well as the local authority chasing after vendors. This is happening during broad daylight. It is not happening at night. We want to know what is happening during the day, not at night. We do not know about that.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Zvaipa, the Honourable Minister responded to that but we cannot stop him from elaborating. Hon. Minister, please wind up.

^*HON. DR. GARWE: Thank you for protecting me Madam Speaker. There are a lot of illegal activities that are taking place at night. Some of the things that I spoke about like drug and substance abuse, we have a serious problem with that. Some people are coming at night selling that, people hiding behind night economy or night trading.

         You may also want to know, Madam Speaker, that expired goods that were referred to by the Minister of Industry and Commerce are also being sold at night. That is the other problem that we are facing. That is why we are saying people who are working at night are not allowed, even those who are operating after business hours.

         During the day, we are saying the police will implement the law, people must work legally. I thank you.

         ^*HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. We have noticed that in many areas people were harassed by the police. We also saw people retaliating and that led to chaos in urban areas. What is Government policy to ensure that those who are supposed to be operating in areas that they are legally supposed to do so are not harassed by local authorities as well as the ZRP? What is happening? If they are being removed, they are supposed to operate from designated places. I thank you.

         ^*HON. DR. GARWE: I am now repeating myself; I am saying we are constructing designated areas working together with the City Council. It is not allowed to operate or sell in front of a legal business. That is illegal. It is also illegal to throw litter everywhere, they then have to be allocated places to operate legally.

It is illegal to buy beer or alcohol from shops and you just open the boot of your car and you sell from undesignated areas. That is what I refer to as illegal. I thank you.

HON. MUROMBEDZI:  Thank you Madam Speaker. Given that the Ministry or the Government is chasing away parents and youth who are unemployed from vending, what alternatives or opportunities has the Government put in place for the vendors being removed from undesignated areas?  I also want to know how the Ministry ensures that they can still provide for their families without being pushed further into poverty, I so submit. 

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: That question should not be directed to the Minister of Local Government, I am not going to allow that?

HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  I would like to thank the Hon. Minister for the response.  However, Hon. Minister, the law must be a product of common sense under the circumstances.  Under our circumstances, is it correct common sense-wise, to chase away those illegal vendors under the current economic circumstances? 

 HON. GARWE:  I do not think we need to engage ourselves in an academic debate or philosophise on this issue.  We must stick to compliance.  Let us respect our laws and make sure that we trade in a more organised, coordinated and whole-government approach, that is all we are asking for.

HON. MUTIMBANYOKA:  Good afternoon Madam Speaker Ma’am.  My question is directed to the Leader of Government Business.  We want to know our state of preparedness for the RAMSAR Convention that is actually taking place on the 15^th June, 2025.  I thank you.    

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  I am going to allow this question to be answered by the Hon. Minister of Information as we are surely expecting the RAMSAR Convention to be held in Victoria Falls. 

THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTNG SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE): Madam Speaker, we are more than ready to host the conference. We have all the conference facilities ready in order to ensure this becomes a successful function.  Thank you Madam Speaker. 

HON. JAMES:  Thank you Madam Speaker, can I ask the Minister if the RAMSAR conference is all about wetlands.   Is the Government confident that their actions with wetlands and the destruction of them in the country will not come under too much scrutiny? 

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  This question is best responded to by the Hon. Minister of Environment. My request is for you to put the question in writing so that we can get a comprehensive response Hon. James. 

HON. P. ZHOU:  Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am.  My question goes to the Minister of Tourism. What strategies or initiatives is our Ministry undertaking to promote tourism development and growth in our rural areas?  Thank you.

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (HON. RWODZI):  Thank you Hon. Speaker Ma’am and I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question.  As Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, we have a mandate to administer the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund and we have to amend our Bill so that the Tourism Fund is rightly administered from where it is supposed to be.  It will be administered according to our Act, Chapter 14: 20 because it is not what it is at the moment.  From that Zimbabwe Tourism Fund, the strategy is to get money to develop tourism everywhere across the country including the rural areas, I submit Hon. Speaker. 

*HON. BATITSA:  Thank you Madam Speaker and good afternoon.  My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.  What is Government policy to ensure that there is increased assistance to streets kids as well as people with disabilities noting that they are increasing in this country? 

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs having not quite understood the question.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Minister Ziyambi, it is very important to pay attention to the question as you are the Leader of Government Business.  I would like to request you Hon. Batitsa to ask that question again, thank you.

*HON. BATITSA:  Thank you Madam Speaker and good afternoon.  My question is directed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.  What is Government policy to ensure that there is increased assistance to streets kids as well as people with disabilities noting that they are increasing in this country? 

*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. With regards to people with disabilities, there is a policy that we are working on to ensure that we alleviate this problem.  The ones that the Hon. Member is referring to as street kids, it is a manifestation of a failed family system where children end up on the streets.  Government cannot finish that problem alone but we encourage that in our families as well as in churches, we encourage families to live together. 

Madam Speaker, as Government, we would like to thank the First Lady who is going around taking those children living on the streets and give them accommodation as well as providing food.  She is also working hard to try and give advice on the families to live in harmony.  I thank you. 

Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order Number 68.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: May I remind the Hon. Ministers in the House that we do have 112 questions that are directed to different ministries. We expect these questions to be responded to. Please stay behind, do not leave as you normally do so that you respond to these questions. We are going to defer for reasons best known by the Government Chief Whip. Hon. Minister July Moyo and Hon. Minister Garwe have requested to respond to their questions first, then we move on to other questions.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

COMPLETION OF THE GWANDA SOLAR PROJECT

100. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to inform the House the Government's strategies on ensuring a consistent power supply to Chiredzi Town Council waterworks especially during power outages.

THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. J. MOYO): I want to thank Hon. Makumire for asking me to inform the House the Government's strategies on ensuring a consistent power supply to Chiredzi Town Council waterworks, especially during power outages. Madam Speaker, the Chiredzi Town Council waterworks is being prioritised on energy supply.

Local shedding is being carried out to prune all non-critical loads so that water pumping can be supplied. The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company is committed to supporting the Chiredzi Town Council in ensuring that the waterworks are adequately powered and operational. I thank you Madam Speaker.

         HON. JAMES: My point of order is that we are jumping to these questions here. Minister of Finance, my questions have been waiting four months for an answer. I would like to point out that the Minister of Finance and his Deputy have not been in the House for pretty much all this year, giving the impression that perhaps he is trying to avoid these questions. Can the Minister doing Government business here please convey to him that he has a dozen questions here and it appears that he could well be avoiding some of them? I do believe the nature of my questions; the legally mandated representatives of the farming bodies have been trying to meet with him and they have been sidelined to a certain extent. So again, I would like to ask if the Minister doing Government business can convey to the Minister of Finance to please be more receptive to their overtures to meet with them. Thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I do not think the Hon. Minister and the Deputy Minister can take that as reason to absent themselves from the House. It is not correct Hon. James but however, we are going to request the Leader of Government Business to communicate to the Hon. Minister of Finance and the Deputy so that they come to the House and respond to all these important questions.

RENOVATION OF CHIREDZI GENERAL HOSPITAL

 

27. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works the plans regarding the renovation of the dilapidated Chiredzi General Hospital. THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): In response, let me start by thanking the Hon. Member for asking such an important question. Every year, Public Works jointly with the hospital leadership, submits bills for hospital maintenance but have not been getting any meaningful resource allocation from Treasury.

All hospital maintenance financial resources are resident with the Minister of Health and Child Care just like any other hospitals in the country, with Public Works being involved solely as a contractor to carry out the funded maintenance projects. Currently, the Provincial Public Works Office for Masvingo has waiting space from the hospital to maintain laundry and machines and booster pumps.

The financial resources allocated for 2025 are still pending release by the Treasury, delaying the commencement of the scheduled maintenance activities for the year. I so submit Madam Speaker.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: My supplementary question is that the hospital that I am referring to, the Chiredzi General Hospital’s iron sheets are about to fall on the patients. The electricity and water supplies must be refurbished but right now, the patients are at risk of contracting diseases that they may not have had before they went to hospital. I want to know what Government's policy is to ensure that things that do not require a lot of funds may be worked on immediately. I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. Like I said earlier on, the budget to do with the maintenance of hospitals is under the Minister of Health. What we do is to carry out maintenance works at hospitals. Like you said, there are some things which we expect can be repaired or worked on a small budget to spruce up the hospital. We will try to send the department of Works’ inspectors to ensure that such work can be repaired immediately. I thank you.

DISCHARGING OF DUTIES BY TRADITIONAL LEADERS

28. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works what measures Government has taken to ensure that traditional leaders (chiefs, headmen and village heads) are not partisan in discharging their duties.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Honourable Member for asking such a pertinent question. The ministry conducts regular training for traditional leaders, which starts with basic orientation on the date of installation. The district development coordinators also conduct regular meetings with the traditional leaders at district level to ensure policy guidelines in discharge of their mandates. Follow-up capacity building initiatives are conducted based on identified needs and gaps. I so submit Mr. Speaker.

*HON. MAKUMIRE: Mr. Speaker, you realise that some of the local kraal heads who are working were actually registering cells and were accompanying people to the polling stations to the extent that even headmasters were voted for by kraal heads. What is the policy to ensure that is not repeated, whereby headmasters are purported to be illiterate and they are voted for by kraal heads? I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: I thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. Like I said, as Local Government, we ensure that when a chief is installed, there are orientation programmes so that they know how to conduct their work. We also have district coordinating workers who are found everywhere and conduct follow-up courses to ensure that headmen, kraal heads and chiefs work properly. But I think the supplementary question, we do not know what is happening. May the Hon. Member give us the information on where that is happening? Our office is very free so that we can assist each other.

*HON. MAPIKI: My supplementary question to the Minister of Local Government IS; for the kraal heads who are working apolitically and doing national duty, what is Government doing to ensure that the allowances are increased because they are doing a sterling job? I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the Hon. Member for the follow-up question. I think that is a new question but I will try to respond to the question. The village heads are doing a very good job in protecting the local areas where they are taking care of the culture as well as grazing areas. So, I am glad to announce that Government is looking at the allowances of the chiefs as well as the kraal heads. Government is doing a lot of programmes to revise, to look at their welfare. So, Government is also embarking on programmes to install solar systems at the homesteads. So, there are a lot of projects that are happening. We have chiefs, headmen and kraal heads. So, we started at the level of chiefs and then we will be going down according to my hierarchy. I thank you.

*HON. MAKOPE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to start by professing that, confirming what the Minister has said. They are elevating or improving the welfare of our traditional leaderships in the form of chiefs and village heads. The problem that I have is we have resettlement areas and we have village heads in those areas. They seem not to be equal to the ones that are found in the original rural areas. How far has the Government gone in ensuring that they become substantive village heads so that they also benefit, as is the case with their counterparts in the communal lands? I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would also like the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. If you all recall very well, in our lifestyles or in our areas, we have rural areas where we have original village heads. We then had resettlement areas as a result of the late reform. We do have village heads and men who are not yet substantive village heads. It is true the Ministry is alive to the issue and they are still looking into the matter and we hope to quickly resolve the matter and as soon as possible. Those village heads will then become substantive village heads. I thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir.

*HON. ZEMURA: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question is that those chiefs, when they die, the Ministry or the Government is not assisting by providing food or the coffin? What measures have been put in place to ensure that the chiefs are given decent burials by the Government?

HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I believe that if you watch television, whenever a chief has passed on, as the Ministry of Local Government, we are doing our best to ensure that the chiefs are given a decent burial. First and foremost, we provide food at the chief's funeral. Furthermore, we also assist in other funerals by the provision of coffins. It is a practice that is in place at the Local Government Ministry. However, if it is on a case-to-case basis, I may not be certain about it and I would have missed this one out. It is Government policy to ensure that we do this as the Minister of Local Government. I thank you.

CRITERIA USED ON THE ALLOCATION OF ZUPCO BUSES

30. HON. V. MOYO asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House, the criteria used to allocate ZUPCO buses plying Milonga, Jambezi and Ndlovu routes, considering that these areas are not prioritised in terms of the allocation.

         THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. GARWE):  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  Allow me to inform the House that ZUPCO is one of the companies that is now under Mutapa Investments.  Such issues relating to operations of ZUPCO should be directed to Mutapa Investments.  The Ministry’s mandate remains as direction on policy and regulations relating to urban-public transport.  I so submit Mr. Speaker Sir. 

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: On a point of clarity.  I want to find out which Ministry will be readily available to answer questions relating the Mutapa Investment Fund?

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. NGULUVHE):  Is it on the question list?

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: That one that he …

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I mean the question you are asking, is it on the questions listed?

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Yes, they are many, number five.  My point of clarity arises from his response.  He said ZUPCO is now under Mutapa Investment Fund and he did not have authority to comment on ZUPCO issues.  My point of clarity is, which Ministry is readily available to answer on behalf of Mutapa Investment Fund to which ZUPCO is stationed?

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Unfortunately, the Leader of Government Business is not available.  We will direct that to the Leader of the House.  I am sure we are in agreement that we will direct that to the leader of the House.

APPRAISAL ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES MASTER PLANS

31. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to appraise the House the progress made by local authorities in coming up with master plans.

         THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. GARWE):  All the 92 local authorities prepared master plans, with Bulawayo and Mutare having operative master plans already.  Norton and Ruwa were already at an advanced stage of preparing their master plans when the call to action started, hence they are already finalising preparation.  Almost 95% of all the remaining local authorities have completed the public display process. After preparing draft master plans as required by Section 15 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 29:112 of 1986 now awaits submission of the reports, determination and approval by the Minister in terms of Section 16 of the same Act.  Once approved, the master plans become operative, with onward training of local authorities in preparation of local development plans for implementation of provisions of the resultant master plan.  I so submit.

         *HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My supplementary question is, I believe that the experts that were sent by the Ministry to assist the Local Government authorities to do these master plans are not happy that they have not yet been paid to date but the Ministry has promised that as soon as the work is done, devolution funds will be used to pay the consultancy for doing this work.  What measures have been put in place to ensure that Local Government authorities pay the experts?

         HON. GARWE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I would like to thank the Member for the supplementary question.  It is true, that was the arrangement in place last year that the experts that assisted in the drawing of the master plans were supposed to be paid from the devolution funds but the Hon. Member would agree with me that last year we had the hosting of the SADC Summit.  A lot of resources were put in the assisting issues to do with SADC as well as the drought, so a lot of the resources were depleted as they were used for SADC preparation and drought alleviation programmes.         What it then means is, this year this issue will be addressed so that the experts who assisted in helping the drawing of the master plans are paid.  I thank you.

         HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I hear the Hon. Minister’s response. However, the Ministry of Finance reserves an amount called an unallocated reserve which will be put to use in case of contingency and liabilities or for contingency circumstances such as the issue of SADC and whatever he is talking about.  Can the Hon. Minster confirm to this House that the non-payment of those contractors was a result of SADC and drought? I just want the Hon. Minister to make a confirmation in this House.  Thank you.

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I think your question is best answered by the Minister of Finance.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SPATIAL PLANNING DEPARTMENTS BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES

32. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to appraise the House on progress made by local authorities in establishing spatial planning departments.

         THE MINISTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. GARWE):  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  Following the promulgation of the Call to Action Blueprint, all the 92 local authorities have planning departments or units depending on their size.  Citizen municipalities have fully-fledged planning departments whereas town councils, local boards and RDCs have now town planning units.

HON. MAKUMIRE: Mr. Speaker Sir, my supplementary is that the call to action had a deadline of 30 June 2024 but to date, there are some local authorities that do not have fully-fledged planning departments. I am sure the Minister is aware of such local authorities that have not complied with this directive. What measures are being put in place to ensure that those who have not complied, comply to the call to action?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. NGULUVHE): Thank you very much. I will allow the Minister to respond but maybe you could have brought the names of those who have not complied.

*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA) Thank you Mr. Speaker. Let me reply to the supplementary question by the Hon.  Member. It is correct that we do have some local authorities that have not complied by having such planning departments in place. We are working hard to ensure that each local authority complies by having a functional planning department. I so submit.

 

COMPLIANCE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO AUDIT REQUIREMENTS

33. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to appraise the House on the Government plans to ensure compliance of all local authorities to audit requirements.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Mr. Speaker, allow me to inform this House that compliance level to statutory audits has slightly increased from 25 to 29. Furthermore, by September 2024, 35 local authorities had been audited but we are waiting for final reports, which is also an improvement from 12 the prior year. The Ministry has come up with the following interventions to ensure compliance with the audit requirements:

Number one, is the introduction of the general performance management system which monitors the performance of councils, council mayors, chairpersons, town clerks, town secretaries and CEOs. Mandatory ERP usage as the reports will be system generated and audit compliance monitoring and capacitation programmes across local authorities. The IPSAS, a new reporting framework adopted by the Government in 2018, requires local authorities to produce dual reports, one using the previous reporting framework and submitted for audits and the other being IPSAS compliant. Full IPSAS compliance is expected in 2025, that is when the dual reporting will stop. I so submit.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTEGRITY AND ETHICS COMMITTEE

34. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the progress made towards the establishment of the Integrity and Ethics Committee provided in Section 287 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Integrity and Ethics Committee was set up on the 3^rd of April in 2024. It has undergone induction and capacity development. This year, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission will assist the ministry to set up sub-national structures of the same. I so submit,

HON. MAKUMIRE: The Constitution clearly spells that there should be an Act of Parliament that governs how this Committee is going to operate. So, my supplementary question to the Honourable Minister is, how is it possible to establish that Committee before an Act of Parliament that operationalises it has been formulated? Thank you very much.

HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you and I also want to thank the Hon. Member for that supplementary question. Mr. Speaker Sir, I request the Hon. Member to put the question in writing so that I verify the facts before reporting. I thank you.

UPDATING OF VALUATION ROLLS BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN LINE WITH THE CALL-TO-ACTION BLUEPRINT

35. HON. MAKUMIRE asked The Minister of Local Government and Public Works to apprise the House of progress made by Local Authorities in updating valuation rolls in line with the 30 June 2024 deadline of the Call-to-Action Blue Print of 2023.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Pursuant to the Call-to-Action Blueprint, the Ministry engaged all 92 local authorities in the preparation of valuation roles. And below is a summary of status of the task.

The status of valuation roles is as follows; Councils with local authorities with approved valuation roles are 42. Those that are under public display are 29. At the report compilation process, it is 15. Then at budget stage, it is one. And still under inspections, they are five. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works prepared valuation roles for the 70 local authorities while its private valuers did 22 valuation roles. I so submit.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION BETWEEN CHIREDZI TOWN AND CHIREDZI RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

36. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the progress made in resolving the dispute between Chiredzi Town Council and Chiredzi Rural District Council over the disputed 750-hectare housing project located in Ward 29 on the outskirts of Chiredzi Town that had been stalled since 2023.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to inform this House that the matter is before the courts and hence, deliberating on the same is sub judice. Thank you.

HON. MAKUMIRE: Supplementary question Mr. Speaker.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I think the Minister is very clear that this case is in the courts, so there is no need to have a supplementary.

ALLOCATION OF SERVICED LAND TO RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS

39. HON. BAJILA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House whether the Government has plans to allocate serviced land to religious organisations for the construction and establishment of infrastructure that does not compromise hygiene and the environment.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): As the House may be aware, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works imposed a moratorium on the allocation of urban State land on the 12^th of June 2024 until further notice. The moratorium was put in place to allow the Ministry to strengthen and establish new urban State land administration and management systems. The envisaged strengthened systems seek to curb land maladministration, close space for baronism, as well as promoting environmental protection among other things. The land allocation and servicing will therefore be informed by the new land administration system and shall prioritise the groups including the religious organisations. I so submit.

HON. BAJILA: Thank you so much Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for the response. I would like to find out that, at the present moment there are conflicts that are ongoing on these issues of religious organisations occupying pieces of land. Some of them claim that they were allocated those pieces of land by the Holy Spirit. These conflicts are currently ongoing in communities at the present moment. Does Government have a way of saying before we have this system that the Minister is talking about of administration of land, at the present moment, how can we prevent these conflicts because the religious organisations are occupying pieces of land? Some are claiming that from some institutions called VED, they are getting authority to do so and some are saying they are getting them from the Holy Spirit. At the present moment, before the system that the Government proposes, what is it that can be done to prevent these conflicts on land occupation by religious organisations? I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: I believe we all understand the issue that has to do with the stands allocation. It is local authorities that have the mandate to sell such land or Local Government through this ministry. So those that are going to occupy open spaces in resettling themselves is what I explained as one of the problems or challenges that we are facing with the land barons. These are grabbing pieces of land where they have not been allocated stands or to occupy the piece of land, neither by the Government nor by the Local Government authorities. So, these are the steps that are being taken. We put a moratorium in terms of land allocation that it should stop and we identify the open spaces for the Local Government and councils. Once there is that database, allocations can then start. I thank you.

REMOVAL OF A COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON AND COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON FROM POSITIONS HELD

40. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to provide the House with information regarding the procedure used to remove a Council Chairperson and Committee Chairperson from their positions, with specific reference to the Hwange Local Board?

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Section 278 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with Section 114 of the Urban Council Act, is amended by the Local Government laws. Amendment Number 8 of 2016 sets the conditions for removal of a mayor or a chairperson from office as follows;

1. the mayor, chairperson or a councillor of a council shall only be removed from office on the grounds of inability to perform the functions of his or her office due to mental or physical incapacity.
2. the gross incompetency or the gross misconduct.

• conviction of an offence involving dishonest corruption or abuse of office.

1. wilful violation of the law, including a local authority by-law.

Subject to this section, if the Minister has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a mayor or a chairperson or a councillor is unable to perform the functions of his or her office due to mental or physical incapacity or is guilty of any misconduct referenced in subsection b, c, d and e, the Minister then, by written notice to the mayor, chairperson or the council, may suspend the mayor, the chairperson or the councillor from exercising all or any of his or her functions in terms of the cited legal provision. I so submit.

HON. MAKUMIRE: In asking my question, I expected the Minister to respond to the issue related to the Hwange National Board that people sat in the local board and removed the chairperson unprocedurally without having the Minister having so directed. So, my question was on what the Government policy says in terms of that action. Is it lawful or unlawful?

HON. KABIKIRA: I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. On the incident of Hwange, no one was dismissed from work. The committee chairpersons were merely reassigned.  No one was sacked. It was a reshuffle of the committee chairpersons. Thank you.

HON. MAKUMIRE:  On a point of clarity, the situation at the Hwange Local Board involves the removal of the chairperson from his office and as I am speaking now, there is a new chairperson. Then on the procedure for the removal of committee chairpersons,

 

I think the Hon. Minister is also supposed to clarify on what procedure must be followed for the reassignment that he has said. Thank you very much. Procedure reassignment.

*HON. KABIKIRA: I thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. Since this is a specific question, I have done the research based on the specific question. If possible, may the Hon. Member put the question in writing so that I can come with a specific answer? I thank you.

INTEGRATION OF THE HWANGE CONCESSION AREA INTO HWANGE LOCAL BOARD

41. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister Local Government and Public Works to apprise the House on Government’s intentions to integrate the Hwange Concession area into the Hwange Local Board authority.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Thank you so much Mr. Speaker Sir. In response Mr. Speaker Sir, there is no declaration by the Government of an intention to integrate Hwange Concession into Hwange Local Board.  However, the Ministry is looking at applications for revision of the warrant of 1974, which established the Hwange Local Board.  I submit.

PARTICIPATION BY HWANGE RURAL DISTRICT COUNCILLORS FROM HWANGE CONCESSION AREAS

42. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to clarify the rationale behind the participation by Hwange Rural District Councillors from the Hwange Concession areas given that they fall outside the local board's jurisdiction.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Let me also thank the Hon. Member for the question. In response Mr. Speaker Sir, there is no declaration by the Government of an intention to integrate Hwange Concession into Hwange Local Board. However, the Ministry is looking at applications for revision of the warrant of 1974 which established the Hwange Local Board. I thank you.

HON. MAKUMIRE: On a point of clarity, Mr. Speaker the Hon. Minister has repeated his response for my previous question. He has given the same response to this other question. Maybe he has mixed up his answers.

HON. KABIKIRA: Question 42.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Yes. you asked about the Hwange Concessions.

HON. KABIKIRA: The answer I have given is for question 41.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: But it is more or less the same. 41, you were saying, when are they going to be integrated into Hwange Local Board, is it not it? It is the same thing.

HON. MAKUMIRE: Can I clarify Mr. Speaker? The situation in Hwange Local Board is that 10 wards are in these concession areas. Administratively, they should be under Hwange Rural District Council but for election purposes, ZEC put these 10 wards under the Local Board. As we are speaking, the councillors that are supposed to be sitting under the RDC are the ones making decisions in the Local Board. So, I want the Hon. Minister to give us a justification for having the RDC councillors sitting on a Local Board.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, if you do not have the answer now, you can bring it later.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: I have a point of order.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

 HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you, Hon. Speaker. My point of order is, I am sure these questions were written in advance so that the esteemed Hon. Minister will be able to do research through his secretariat. The expectation is, answers were supposed to be provided.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  I have taken note that Hon. Member, from the look of things, the two questions are a bit confusing. That is why I have given time to the Minister to go and do more research on them so that he can give us a detailed response.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: Much obliged Hon. Speaker. Thank you.

CLEARANCE OF STORMWATER DRAIN FROM CHIREDZI GENERAL HOSPITAL TO MAKONDO

 

43. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the Government’s initiatives to clear the storm water drain from Chiredzi General Hospital to Makondo.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA): Thank you Mr. Speaker. In response, it is understood Hon. Members, that the drain in question is an issue of concern and is being attended to. Chiredzi Town Council has started making inroads vis-a-vis the clearing of the drain will be done under the ZINARA Routine Maintenance Programme. The reason is that the rainy season started late, hence Roads Maintenance Programme was delayed a bit but the drain clearing is already on Chiredzi Town Council Programme of Works. Moreover, there have been remarkable efforts being steered through ward initiatives whereby in this case, the Council Chairperson and the Health Club utilised the National Clean-up Day and started at Chiredzi General Hospital where the drain starts. Hence, this is work in progress. I so submit, Mr. Speaker Sir.

       HON. MAKUMIRE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. The drainage that we are talking about is used by crocodiles. The crocodiles got to the hospital last year. This year, the crocodiles were moving into people’s homes. How long is it going to take for the drain to be sorted out so that it will not cause problems for the residents? I thank you.

HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and I also thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question. I am glad you have observed that as a Government, we have taken initiatives to ensure that we assist in the clearing of this particular drain. In terms of timeframes, I am not in a position to divulge timeframes. I promise that it will be attended to as soon as possible. I thank you.

         Questions With Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER, in terms of Standing Order Number 68.

         HON. MAPIKI: I move that time for Questions With Notice be extended by 30 minutes because there are too many Ministers in the House.

         HON. KAMBUZUMA: I second.

 

PAYMENT OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR SERVICES NOT RENDERED

         44     HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House on the Government’s position regarding the payment of local authority service charges for services that have not yet been rendered.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Councils Act provide for the functions of local authorities which in general revolves around the provision of efficient and effective municipal services to residents and ratepayers.  In the same vein, residents are also mandated to pay in order to finance the provision of public goods and services.  However, the Hon. Member’s question is not clear on which services are being paid for and not provided given that intermittent supply does not imply non-provision.

         However, in order to circumvent such scenarios as supposed by the Hon. Member, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has managed to set up Minimum Service Delivery Standards for all local authorities in all service delivery categories.  In addition, the Government also created an Inspectorate Department that will be responsible for monitoring service provision in local authorities.  The performance of local authorities from now on will be measured using Minimum Service Delivery Standards Performance Assessment System and inspected by the Inspectorate Department.

DIFFERENCE IN CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND REMUNERATION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER MINISTRIES

         45     HON. MADZIVANYIKA asked the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to inform the House whether the Ministry has different conditions of service and remuneration policy for directors under the Ministry as compared to other ministries.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS (HON. KABIKIRA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to inform this House that conditions of service for Directors in Government are set by Public Service Commission (PSC) and they are uniform.  I so submit.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Supplementary Mr. Speaker Sir.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Before we move on, I would want to appeal to you Hon. Members to try and reduce the number of supplementary questions so that we can cover a lot of your questions since most of the Ministers are here.

*HON. MADZIVANYIKA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My supplementary question pertains to the findings that were done by the Commission that was sent by His Excellency the President in the Commission of Inquiry where we found evidence that the city directors and the Town Clerk were receiving USD30 000.  But when you look at other directors in various other ministries, their salaries are extremely low.  May the Hon. Minister clarify why there is such a disparity because you are the responsible authority as Local Government in this same country.  I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir, I would also want to thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question.  However, he pointed out very well that His Excellency the President, put a Commission of Inquiry to the City of Harare issues and I believe that the process is still under consideration and as a result, I cannot comment on that issue because the process has not yet been completed.  I thank you.

*HON. CHITINDI:  Let me thank the Hon. Minister for the response that he has given.  I am talking about the salary discrepancies.  What steps are you going to take to ensure that the lower grade employees are paid as they have not been paid for the past three or four months?  I thank you.

*HON. KABIKIRA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I want to thank the Hon. Member for the supplementary question.  I believe this is a specific question that pertains to Harare, so I kindly request the Hon. Member to put the question in writing.  I thank you.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE IN CHIREDZI DISTRICT

49. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training to inform the House what Government plans are regarding the establishment of a Vocational Training Centre in Chiredzi District considering the need for such a facility.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING (HON. MUPAMHANGA):  In a bid to expand the vocational skills training initiative, the Ministry is currently engaged in the establishment of new Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) whilst also upgrading the existing centres.  The Ministry bid for establishment of new VTCs in eleven districts in the year 2024.  Chiredzi is among the eleven districts which were earmarked for new VTCs at Nyangambe in Chiredzi North.  However, the financial resources that were availed by Treasury were limited, thus leading to only five VTCs being funded in the year 2024.  With the funding availed in 2024, the Ministry was not able to complete the projects, namely Sivorno VTC in Nkayi, Umguza VTC in Umguza District, Insukamini VTC in Vungu, Sizinda VTC and Kadoma VTC.  Funding for this year has been directed towards completion of these projects.  The Ministry, upon accessing more funding, has put Chiredzi among the top eleven priority districts for the establishment of a VTC.

         Through Mushagashe VTCs, the Ministry has been carrying out Community Skills Outreach Programmes in Chiredzi at Nyahanga Primary school, Chikovo Primary school, Chibwedziva Primary school, Mupinga Primary School and Old Boli Primary School.  Some funds have been directed this quarter to train at least 300 youths in March through Community Skills Outreach Programme (CSOP) at a venue to be determined in Chiredzi.  The Ministry, in collaboration with Public Works, has embarked on making preparatory work of developing designs for VTC structures including Chiredzi.  The Ministry is looking for alternative funding to augment the Treasury funds such as:

• ZIMDEF
• Devolution Funds
• Constituency Development Fund and
• Development Partners

PROVISION OF ADEQUATE LEARNING FACILITIES TO UMGUZA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE  

50. HON. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training to inform the House on the Government's plans to provide Umguza Vocational Training Centre (VTC) with adequate learning facilities to ensure the centre's effective operation.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING (HON. MUPAMHANGA): The Ministry is in the process of transforming all Vocational Training Centres. The transformation agenda aims to equip Vocational Training Cenres including Umguza VTC with other training facilities to modernise VCT facilities and to provide high quality training and skills development programmes that meet global standards by 2027.

This will be achieved through infrastructure development, modernisation of facilities, building new infrastructure and upgrading existing structures. The process was kick started by the construction of Sivhomo VTC and Kadoma VTC which are currently almost in completion. 

• Expansion of capacity, increased the capacity of VCT as to accommodate more trainees and provide a wider of training programmes.
• Accessibility and inclusivity – ensure that VCT facilities are accessible and inclusive for all trainees including those with disabilities.
• Equipment and technology – state of the art equipment provide VCTs with state-of-the-art equipment and tours to support practical training and skills development.
• ICT infrastructure – establish robust ICT infrastructure to support E-learning online assessments and digital literacy programmes. Mushagashe VCT in Masvingo province and Magamba VCT in Manicaland province managed to construct state-of-the-art computer laboratories. 
• Industry standard software – provide English standard software and applications to support training programmes for the Ministry to come up with the centralised database.
• Human resource development – provide trainers with ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• Twenty-three skills trainers are in India currently for professional development.
• Staff capacity building; VCT staff to manage and administer training programmes effectively by implementing these transformations. Umguza VCT will provide high quality training and skills development programmes that equip trainees with skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the work force.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: We are deferring question 1 up to question 26. We go straight now to question No. 62.

PROVISION OF DRIVERS’ LICENCE DISKS FOR THE PERIOD 2018-2020

62. HON. MADZIVANYIKA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to the House the progress made in the provision of drivers licence disks for the period 2018-2020 in view of the fact that those tested in 2022 and 2023 are already getting their licence disks.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO): Mr. Speaker Sir our Ministry through the Department of the Central Vehicle Registry the CVR has managed to capture and verify all driver’s licence documents for the period 2019 to 2020.  However, the new driver’s licence system requires driver to present themselves for biometric capturing that is the capturing of the face, the finger print and the signature.  The same applies to those that were tested in 2022 and 2023 before the launch of the new drivers licence on 19^th June, 2023.  In view of the above, those that have not presented themselves for biometrics are encouraged to visit the Vehicle Inspectorate Directorate (VID) for capturing of the said biometrics in order to obtain the driers licenses disks.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Hon. Minister for the good response, however my supplementary question is; are these drivers aware that they need to present themselves to the nearest VID centre for the submission of those documents, I think it is very important, have you popularised that idea so that they are aware of what is happening. I thank you.

HON. SACCO:  I would like to thank Hon. Madzivanyika on his follow up question and I agree with him that publicity needs to be improved and will task the VID and CVR to run publicity exercises so that this information can get to all the recipients of the drivers licence wherever they maybe in Zimbabwe through radio, print media and social media. I thank you.

HON. MUROMBEDZI: On a point of order Hon. Speaker.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

HON. MUROMBEDZI: I see that the Hon. Minister of Transport is here and the questions that are before question 61 have been skipped, question 55 from Hon. Murombedzi to the Hon. Minister have been skipped and you went straight to question 61. I do not know if there is some cherry-picking.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: I am aware Hon. Member, I thank you.

ESTABLISHMENT OF DOMESTIC FLIGHT ROUTES

63. HON. MAKUMIRE: To ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House about Government's plans regarding the establishment of the following domestic flight routes: (a) Robert Gabriel International Airport to Buffalo Range International Airport, (b) Joshua Nkomo International Airport to Buffalo Range International Airport, and (c) Victoria Falls International Airport to Buffalo Range International Airport.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO): Mr. Speaker Sir, the aviation sector requires substantial capital investment and airlines meticulously evaluate passenger demands between particular destinations to ascertain whether there is sufficient traffic to justify regular flight operations.  To facilitate this growth, the Government through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development is implementing the open skies policy which aims to eliminate operational restrictions.  I would like to add that Zimbabwe is highly commended in the African continent for having open skies policy which allows private players to participate. 

Additionally, an increasing number of domestic airlines are being granted licences to operate on domestic regional and international routes. Presently, the Government is assisting Fast Jet Zimbabwe in launching the following routes in the near future, likely before the year end;

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International to Buffalo Range, Buffalo Range to OR Tambo International and Buffalo Range to Nelspruit Kruger, Mpumalanga, where the Kruger National Park is. This development marks a significant achievement as it is expected to enhance passenger traffic at Buffalo Range Airport, resulting in positive spill-over effects for other domestic airports. I so submit Mr. Speaker Sir.

MARKETING OF THE COUNTRY TOWARDS THE HOSTING OF THE RAMSAR WETLAND CONVENTION

72. HON. NKALA asked the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to inform the House the Ministry’s plans to alleviate the shortage of STEM teachers in Gwanda North where some schools have not had Science teachers for more than three years.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. GATA): Thank you Honourable Nkala, for your thoughtful enquiry regarding the critical matter of recruiting and retaining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers.

This issue sits at the heart of our efforts to strengthen education quality and accessibility across Zimbabwe and I appreciate the opportunity to address it in detail. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education operates a systematic quarterly recruitment process to address staffing gaps created by attrition including retirements, resignations, health-related departures and other unforeseen circumstances.

         In 2023 alone, we recruited 10 011 educators nationwide to ensure continuity of learning in communities across the country. However, as you rightly highlighted, the unique challenge of replacing STEM teachers persists due to the high demand, both regionally and globally. Our skilled STEM educators are increasingly sought after within SADC nations and beyond, from Europe to Asia and America, which intensifies competition for these specialised professionals.

To counter this, the ministry has prioritised strategic capacity-building initiatives. Central to this effort is the Teacher Capacity Development Programme designed to upskill existing educators and align their expertise with evolving demands. For instance, primary school teachers with STEM specialisations are pursuing advanced degrees to transition into secondary-level instruction in subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and computer science. Similarly, diploma-holding secondary teachers are upgrading their qualifications to teach advanced-level STEM subjects.

         While this approach may temporarily strain staffing, it represents a sustainable, long-term solution to elevate the quality of STEM education nationwide. Collaboration with academic institutions further strengthens our strategy. Through an MOU with Zimbabwean universities, we are expanding pre-service enrolment for STEM-focused teacher trainees while simultaneously enhancing in-service training for current educators.

         This dual focus ensures a steady pipeline of qualified teachers while empowering existing staff to meet higher curriculum standards. Regarding a specific concern about Gwanda North secondary schools, particularly Simbumbumbi Secondary School, I acknowledge the historical challenges in deploying agriculture and combined science teachers.

Records indicate that two pairs of educators were assigned to the school in 2023 and early 2024, but regrettably, neither reported for duty. Such incidents disrupt learning and underscore the complexities of rural postings. However, I am pleased to confirm that as of January 2024, qualified agriculture and science teachers have been successfully deployed Simbumbumbi, resolving the staffing gap. Your vigilance in highlighting constituency-level challenges is invaluable.

         Feedback from leaders like you enables the ministry to identify systematic bottlenecks and refine our strategies for equitable, inclusive education. We remain committed to addressing disparities, particularly in STEM fields to ensure every learner, whether in Gwanda North or Harare has access to quality instruction. Rest assured that the Ministry will continue to monitor recruitment outcomes, invest in teacher development and strengthen partnerships to safeguard Zimbabwe's educational future.

Your advocacy for this cause is deeply appreciated. We welcome ongoing dialogue to process together. I so submit.

         HON. NKALA: Thank you so much. I would like to convey my gratitude to the Hon. Minister for her response. However, my concern lies in the fact that in the three years that there has been no science teacher at a school, it means we have a complete three streams that have not learnt science in the three years that we are talking about and we are saying science is the backbone of our education where every child must have Science, English and Maths.  So, if we are allowing this to go for such a long period of time, are we certain that we are going to achieve any of our targets that we have set in our development goal? 

         THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Members, the extended time has expired. 

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

REHABILITATION OF ROADS IN BINGA CONSTITUENCY

 

54. 54. HON. CUMANZALA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House on plans in place to rehabilitate the following roads in the Binga Constituency which are impassable: a) Cross -Dete to Binga b) Nakapande turn off to Lusulu and to the Grain Marketing Depot in Lusulu and c) Tinde- Pashu Road turnoff.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO): The roads in question raised by Hon. Cumanzala are significant roads in the Binga Constituency and my ministry has a routine maintenance scheme in place which includes grading, pothole patching, bush cutting and drainage clearance. However, in terms of timelines, the periodic maintenance operations are subject to availability of resources.  Cross Dete proposed loan facility is under consideration by Treasury. Negotiations are underway to finalise term sheets to reconstruct Karoi to Binga and ultimately to Cross Dete.

RESURFACING OF THE ROAD THAT LINKS BEITBRIDGE-MPHOENGS AND PLUMTREE BORDER POSTS

55. HON. M NDEBELE asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House on the progress made in the resurfacing of the road that links Beitbridge- Mphoengs and Plumtree Border posts.

         HON. SACCO: The link in question is a series of roads linking Beitbridge, Gwanda, Maphisa, Mphoengs and Plumtree Border Post which are Masvingo- Beitbridge Road and Bulawayo- Beitbridge Road. I am pleased to inform the House that the Bulawayo- Beitbridge Road and the Gwanda-Maphisa Road will be rehabilitated this year, 2025 and will commence after the rains, after completion of the procurement process. Furthermore, in terms of the Bulawayo- Beitbridge Road, processes are underway in negotiating a PPP and the project is expected to kick-start as soon as possible. Moreso, the road linking Plumtree Boarder Post, Bulawayo- Plumtree is trafficable and undergoes routine maintenance from time to time. On Maphisa -Mphoengs and Plumtree-Mphoeng routine maintenance works are under WRRPT, with funds permitting.

REHABILITATION AND UPGRADING OF THE BULAWAYO-TSHOLOTSHO ROAD

57. HON. L. SIBANDA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the House on the Government policy regarding rehabilitation and upgrading of the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.

           HON. SACCO: One of the priority roads in Matabeleland North Province, Government policy under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme is leaving no one and no place behind as pronounced by His Excellency, Dr. E. D Mnangagwa and the Bulawayo- Tsholotsho Road is part of that rehabilitation scheme. Further, with the recent developments of Tsholotsho attaining a town status, Government recognises the need for upgrading the road to a minimum of eight metres wide matte paved surface. To date, at least 14km have been upgraded and plans are underway to continue with the works with the upgrade of 10km planned for this year. 

 REHABILITATION OF THE BULAWAYO-VICTORIA

FALLS ROAD

58. HON. V. MOYO asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to update the House on the progress made towards rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road.

     THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO): The procurement are underway in respect of the Bulawayo- Victoria Falls and at an advanced stage. Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is coming up with necessary Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in order to expedite the rehabilitation of the crucial road which is a strategic trade route corridor. In the meantime, Government is conducting routine maintenance on the parts of the road which are not trafficable at the moment, which include sections such as Hwange, Halfway and Insuza.

REHABILITATION OF INYATHI ROAD

 

60. HON. L. MAKUMIRE asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development on the Government plans on the rehabilitation of Inyati Road which was under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme for the past four years.

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO):

The road in question is one of the roads were taken from the councils under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. Currently, the road has been included on the routine maintenance plan by Chiredzi Town Council and minor works will be carried on you road whist we wait for full rehabilitation works from the Ministry of Transport and infrastructural Development.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BHILA BRIDGE IN BINGA SOUTH CONSTITUENCY

61. HON. M.C. SIBANDA asked the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inform the house when the Bhila Bridge South Constituency which was swept away by floods in 2021 will be reconstructed.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO): The bridge is found on the Gwayi-Binga road and the necessary procurements plans are underway. However, in the meantime we have since deployed personnel to assist with making the section passable while we wait for the internal processes aforementioned.

PROVISION OF DRIVERS’ LICENCE DISKS FOR THE PERIOD 2018-2020

62. HON. MADZIVANYIKA asked Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to explain to the House the progress made in the provision of driver’s license disks for the period 2018-2020 in view of the fact that those tested in 2022 and 2023 are already getting the license disks.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. SACCO): My Ministry, through the department of Central Vehicle Registry has managed to capture and verify all the driver’s license documents for the period 2019-2020. However, the new driver’s license system requires drivers to present themselves for biometric capturing (capturing of the face, the finger print and the signature. The same applies to those that were tested in 2022 and 2023 before the launch of the new driver’s license on 19 June 2023. In view of the above, those that have not presented themselves for biometric are encouraged to visit the Vehicle Inspectorate Directorate (VID) for capturing of the said biometric in order to obtain their driver’s license disks.

MITIGATION OF SILTATION OF SAVE RIVER ALONG CHIPINGE SOUTH

99. HON. MAZHINDU asked the Minister of Energy and Power Development to inform the House when the Gwanda Solar Project is going to be completed.

         THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. J. MOYO): Following the Supreme Court Judgement of December 2023, which upheld a prior High Court decision affirming the validity and binding nature of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Gwanda Solar Project, both ZPC and Intratrek are required to fulfill their respective obligations under the original contract. Consequently, the parties have been engaging to facilitate the project’s resumption. To date, a Joint Contract Review Committee, comprising representatives from both the contractor and ZPC, has convened multiple times to address the following key issues;

• Contract price – given the significant decline in global solar PV costs due to rapid technological advancements, the parties are nearing an agreement on a revised contract price.
• Updated feasibility study report – due to the prolonged delay in project commencement, as well as new connections to the nearby 132 kv transmission line and other network developments in the vicinity, the Committee is reviewing an updated feasibility study to refine the project’s implementation framework.
• Grid impact study – a study assessing the project’s impact on the grid has been completed and the Committee is currently reviewing the data. Once these processes are finalised, the EPC contract will be amended to incorporate the revised contract price, updated technical specifications and provisions addressing the project’s environmental and social impact.

A critical aspect of the project remains the achievement of financial closure. The contractor is required to secure funding based on the revised contract price. A funding proposal has been submitted to the Committee and is currently under review.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE):  I move that Orders of the Day Numbers, 1 to 26, be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 27 is disposed of. 

         Motion put and agreed to. 

 

CONSIDERATION STAGE

BROADCASTING SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 10A, 2024]

         Amendments to Clauses 2, 5, 7, 13 and 19 put and agreed to.

         Bill, as amended, adopted.

         Third Reading: With Leave, forthwith.

THIRD READING

BROADCASTING SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL [H.B. 10A, 2024]

         THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE):  Mr. Speaker Sir, I now move that the Bill be read the third time.

         Motion put and agreed to. 

         Bill read the third time. 

         On the motion of THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE), the House adjourned at Eight Minutes to Six o’clock p.m.