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SENATE HANSARD 01 APRIL 2025 Vol. 34 No. 39
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 1st April, 2025
The Senate met at Half-Past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE
INVITATION TO A HALF-DAY WORKSHOP ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I have to inform the Senate that all Hon. Senators are invited to a half-day workshop for the Portfolio Committees on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Energy and Power Development to unpack international agreements on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments between Zimbabwe and Belarus on the establishment of SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Thursday 3rd April, 2025 in the Multi-Purpose Hall. I encourage Hon. Senators to attend this workshop because you have to understand how it is going. You will be doing it on behalf of those whom you present. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: On a point of national interest Madam President.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: What is your point of national interest?
HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: Madam President Ma’am, I want to take this opportunity to applaud the people of Zimbabwe for their sense of nation-building and shunning unlawful demonstrations which were called through social media by a Mr. Blessed Geza. The people of Zimbabwe are peace-loving and hard-working that they ignored the calls to go into the streets to remove a democratically elected Government – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
Demonstrations cause loss of life, injury, destruction and looting of property and goods. The security sector of Zimbabwe should also be applauded for their readiness to maintain peace and order in the country. The country should remain resolute and respect the outcome of our elections which ushered in the Government of the Second Republic being led by His Excellency, the President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa. Madam President, Vision 2030 is attainable and we support Government efforts to make sure Vision 2030 becomes a reality. I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Any debate Hon. Senators?
Hon. Senators having not stood up to debate.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: You surprise me Hon. Senators, after having clapped hands and now I am inviting debate, people are quiet – [AN HON. SEN: This issue is not for debate?).
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: You can debate, I have opened it.
*HON. SEN. GOTORA: Thank you Madam President. Let me take this opportunity to support Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa for the words of wisdom he has raised. It is true that violence does not bring peace and development but death. We want to thank fellow Zimbabweans for their well-behaved manner and they do understand that fighting and noise do not build anything. I also want to take this opportunity to thank those who saw it fit to desist from violence. I want to take this opportunity to let the people of Zimbabwe know that we have already voted and there is no unvoting, hence what he was trying to do yesterday was trying to unvote. As Zimbabweans, we had already voted and we are now bracing for future elections. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. HUNGWE-SIPANI: Greetings to you Madam President. It has been long since I attended Senate because of ill health. I rise to support Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa. The truth cannot be overcome by lies, people can go and spread lies all over, even if your name is being dragged in the mud, the truth remains the truth. I want to thank Zimbabweans because they are peace-loving people. Let me say the God that we worship in this country loves peace and hates blood shedding. Even our ancestors do not like bloodshed.
HON. SEN. MANYENGAVANA: On a point of order Madam President.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: What is your point of order?
HON. SEN. MANYENGAVANA: Madam President, a very important issue was raised by Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa but our Standing Rules and Orders do not allow the Chair to disobey them. It is not allowed to debate a point of national interest.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I am not getting what you are saying.
HON. SEN. MANYENGAVANA: In terms of our Standing Rules and Orders, there are only two people who can respond, either the Chair or the Hon. Minister. On this aspect, the one that was raised by Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa, the Standing Rules and Orders do not allow Hon. Senators to debate because he raised it as a matter of national interest. For the sake of precedence, I think we should not debate this issue.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I allowed them, I ruled in favour of it since I am Chairing this Senate.
*HON. SEN. HUNGWE: Thank you Madam President. We are supporting the words said by Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa. We are supporting what Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa said, that our country, our ancestors and even the God which we pray in this country, does not like petty things, does not like bloodshed. So, I want to take this opportunity to thank the way people behaved. They decided to behave properly.
If you look at this issue closely, you can see that there is an enemy who is trying to destabilise this country, trying to incite people and involve them in violent activities. But I am happy that as Zimbabweans, we are learned and we understand the issues and we understand the war. We do not want to see bloodshed continuing in this country. I saw it fit to stand up and say thank you to the Zimbabweans who behaved. Let me also take this opportunity to thank all of us as Zimbabweans for behaving. I thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TETIARY EDUCATION (HON. DR. SHAVA): I move that Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 to 3 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 4 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
MOTION
REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND HERITAGE ON THE TRADITIONAL COURT SYSTEMS IN ZIMBABWE
Fourth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committee on Culture and Heritage on the Traditional Court Systems in Zimbabwe.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. NECHOMBO: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025.
MOTION
CONGRATULARY MESSAGE TO HON. MINISTER KIRSTY COVENTRY ON APPOINTMENT TO IOC PRESIDENCY
HON. SEN. CHAKABUDA: I move the motion in my name that this House-
FULLY EMBRACING the great achievement of our Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Hon. Kirsty Coventry on her overwhelming election to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Presidency on 20 March 2025 in Greece.
ENTHUSED by this momentous and historic achievement where Hon. Kirsty Coventry becomes the Youngest African Woman ever to hold the prestigious position of IOC Presidency.
ALSO COGNISANT of the hard work that culminated in achieving this unprecedented achievement which will serve to inspire the girl child the world over and, in particular, here at home where the sky is the limit for the girl child.
NOW, THEREFORE, resolves that Senate expresses its profound gratitude and congratulatory message to Hon. Minister Kirsty Coventry her family and the Nation at large.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
HON. SEN. CHAKABUDA: Thank you Madam President, for giving me this opportunity to debate my motion whereby I need to congratulate Hon. Kirsty Coventry for being elected President of the International Olympic Committee.
Madam President, the Olympic Games have a rich history dating back to ancient Greece where the first Olympics were held in 776 BC.
The games were held every four years until they were banned in 393 AD by a Roman Emperor. The modern-day Olympics were revived in 1896 and had 241 participants from 14 countries. Since then, the Olympic Games have grown and they have profound impact on sports development worldwide with a global reach of over 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries participating in summer and winter games.
Besides promoting the values of excellence, friendship and respect, the Olympics have driven the development of sports infrastructure which has benefited many marginalised communities globally. The Olympics have also inspired many young talented athletes to take up sports, showcase their talents and pursue their dreams. A shining example is our own Minister of Sports, Hon. Kirsty Coventry, whose achievements we are cherishing and celebrating as a country today.
Madam President, the Olympic Games have significantly impacted on sports and individuals' development in developing countries through programmes and initiatives such as;
Improving access to sport by providing opportunities to young and developing athletes from poor and developing countries;
The second one, Madam President, initiating and implementing sports development programmes through the provision of basic training equipment and other sports infrastructure aimed at identifying, nurturing and promoting talented young athletes.
Overally, the Olympic Games have had profound impact on sports development globally by inspiring young sports lovers, thereby driving social change in poor and developing countries.
Back home, Madam President, we stand tall as a nation today as we cherish and celebrate the achievements of one of our own, a child of the soil who has reached heights that no one from this side of the globe has ever reached. A daughter of the soil has defied all odds, ventured in unchartered territory – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] -
Hon. Kirsty Coventry is a youth who has been persistent, hard working and has proved over the years that she is capable of reaching great heights. Through discipline and consistency, she has done it. With her rise dating back on the time she competed in the Sydney Olympics of 2000, although she did not win a medal in the competition, her performance caught the eye of many. She remained consistent and disciplined and this saw her walk away with three medals in the 2004 edition of the Olympic Games.
Hon. Kirsty Coventry has been and remains a shining role model to all women that the sky is not even the limit. We can achieve higher as women. This achievement is particularly special having been achieved by a woman during the Women's Month.
As I end Madam President, you will notice that I started by giving a brief history of the origins of the Olympic Games. This was aimed at giving Hon. Members of this House information so that we understand the responsibility that has been placed on one of us so that we may all collectively render all the support that we can. I now therefore move a motion to convey this profound gratitude and congratulations to Hon. Kirsty Coventry on this tremendous achievement. I thank you Madam President.
*HON. SEN. GWATURE: Thank you Madam President for awarding me this opportunity to support and add my voice on the motion which was brought to this august House by Hon. Senator Chakabuda. I also want to thank the Republic of Zimbabwe, especially for accepting and welcoming Hon. Kirsty Coventry into our country. It might be troublesome to some people to understand why I am thanking the Government. I am going back to the colonial era when the whites were starting to settle in Zimbabwe. They came and settled and if they had lived with us harmoniously, right now maybe we were going to have more whites with prominent seats and more prominent leadership positions but they did not live in harmony and in peace with us. They really abused the Zimbabweans – [Laughter.] –
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order Hon. Members! May we behave and listen properly to the debate.
*HON. SEN. GWATURE: Thank you Madam President. I was mentioning the historical relationship between the whites and the blacks, that when the whites came to settle in Zimbabwe, they were relaxed and abusing the Africans but speaking of today, we were supposed to be celebrating more whites who have done a lot of developmental projects in Zimbabwe like what Hon. Kirsty Coventry has done. That is why I am taking this opportunity to thank the Government because it really gave me the idea that, why is it those who we have accepted properly in Zimbabwe did not behave that way?
Without further ado, I want to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Kirsty Coventry, considering the very pertinent jobs she is doing in this country right now. She has raised the Zimbabwean flag like in our national anthem where we encourage people to raise the national flag. Now it is up to us as Zimbabweans to do like what Hon. Kirsty Coventry is doing so that we can be celebrated and even our children will be celebrated because the history of Hon. Kirsty Coventry clearly shows that she is the first in Africa to have that important position. So how many people like her do we have? It was going to be a very good thing that even if, for example it was Hon. Sen. Tongogara's child who had achieved something. We were going to celebrate more, considering that Hon. Sen. Tongogara is someone whom we grew up with and we know her history.
We also expect other Zimbabweans to emulate what Hon. Kirsty Coventry has done in raising the flag of Zimbabwe. Even we, as Hon. Members in this august House, must go out there and educate our children and educate the members of the public and encourage them to do activities which raise our national flag like what our national anthem is saying, so that we desist from the idea of singing only but we must act upon it.
Every day when you go to schools the first thing, they do is sing the national anthem which is an idea or the ideology of instilling the beauty of raising the flag of Zimbabwe. Some of the people who sing the national anthem do not know the importance of singing the national anthem. Sometimes we, as parents, are the cause. We do not celebrate achievements in terms of sports or other activities besides academics. We expect our children to be the first academically. We have got a lot of children who are performing very well academically and we have more universities with many students who are doing well but you want the flag of Zimbabwe to be raised in Greece, like what Hon. Kirsty Coventry did. Right now, even in Greece, they now know that there is a country called Zimbabwe. Maybe they were looking down upon our country but now they are emulating the country because of what Hon. Kirsty Coventry did.
Let me emphasise and also thank the Government of Zimbabwe. The Government accepted the whites but they are now raising the national flag. Although some of them have already left, those who have stayed behind are raising the flag of our country. Let me thank you Madam President.
*HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: Thank you, Madam President for awarding me this opportunity and I also take this opportunity to thank the Senator who brought in this important motion about Hon. Kirsty Coventry who raised the flag of Zimbabwe worldwide. I also want to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Dr. Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa because he had already picked the talent and seen that she is fit to be given a ministerial post and right now, she managed to raise the flag of Zimbabwe worldwide. Hon. Kirsty Coventry was appointed a Minister from 2018 and she was appointed again in 2023. This clearly shows that His Excellency had seen something in her. He has seen that Hon. Kirsty Coventry is someone who is important and someone who is talented and gifted that she can take a ministerial post.
I also believe that the position that Hon. Kirsty Coventry was nominated on, she can manage it properly because on the issue of the Olympics, she herself managed to participate in the Olympics and she got gold, silver and bronze medals which clearly indicates or shows that she really understands the job she has taken very well. So, I want to congratulate Hon. Kirsty Coventry that she has gone and represented our country Zimbabwe and our African continent by being the first female and the first person to hold that very prestigious post which is being observed throughout the country. Hence, I congratulate her very much. We also have children who emulate the work which is being done by Hon. Kirsty Coventry. I have seen the athletics competitions that are being done, where we see guys like Makarau who has qualified and is expected to partake at the Olympics. We encourage and we are happy that our children must participate in the Olympic Committee, we can also have the opportunity to take over the post because they will be active in terms of Olympics and raising the Zimbabwe flag throughout the world like what Hon. Senator Gwature had alluded to.
Madam President, I rise to thank the support which has been given to Hon. Coventry by the Republic of Zimbabwe. I have seen that His Excellency also held a dinner to celebrate the achievements done by Hon. Kirsty Coventry and it clearly shows the good leadership and also the good idea of thanking those who have done well in different areas. Hon. Kirsty Coventry went and came back with a position and we are taking pride as a nation on this position. When the history of the IOC Presidents is being tracked , they will say she comes from Zimbabwe. I thank you.
+HON. SEN. NDEBELE: Thank you Madam President for giving me this opportunity to add on the joy that we are sharing, which was raised by Hon. Senator Chakabuda in this august House. Hon. Senator Chakabuda raised quite an interesting issue which is very important, especially to us as women. She has given us an issue pertaining to a Zimbabwean woman who has succeeded and who has risen to greater heights despite her age and being the youngest leader emanating from Africa. To us, this is good news and as women, we fight that we get such positions because most of the bad things like corruption are normally done by men and when we take over as women, we bring stability and we bring transparency as Zimbabwe, as Africa and globally.
This means that our daughter, Hon. Kirsty Coventry`s tenure is going to promote sports because she is a very good person, she is a decent woman who has her own family and this is a woman who has been honoured in Zimbabwe even by His Excellency, the President. As an individual, I appreciate President Dr. E. D Mnangagwa for raising a woman and giving her a big responsibility. This is also good because His Excellency also held a banquet to honour Hon. Kirsty Coventry. I am one of the people who attended that banquet and we ate and enjoyed ourselves, celebrating the good thing that has been done by Hon. Kirsty Coventry who has excelled even beyond other people who are competing with her.
So, to me race is not important, what is important is that we are Zimbabweans. Hon. Kirsty Coventry is well conversant in different Zimbabwean languages, so we are proud of her because she is Zimbabwean through and through. We are rejoicing and we are happy because we are celebrating a woman who has taken up a big responsibility. Whilst we are celebrating that achievement, you find someone coming from nowhere saying that go and loot, go and demonstrate. This is very offensive because whilst we are celebrating success, you find someone trying to draw us back with retrogressive actions, trying to satisfy selfish ambitions, not looking at the good things that are happening.
There are a lot of things that are being said which are being done by people but you find a detractor not celebrating together with us. Madam President, such people are retrogressive. Our President is saying that let us go forward and forward ever. Hon. Kirsty Coventry has done a good thing and she is succeeding. This is what we are doing in Zimbabwe. So, let us celebrate the goodness and the good things that are happening. This is a Zimbabwean woman who is successful. I am happy and I rejoice because of the success of another woman. This is a decent, dedicated and committed woman who is committed to Zimbabwe and Africa. May God bless us.
Our President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa should continue supporting women and women should continue rising and excelling in different fields because women are very transparent people. There are no more carpet interviews. As women, we are qualified and we get positions on merit and Hon. Kirsty Coventry excelled on merit. She is qualified and His Excellency allowed Hon. Kirsty Coventry to compete in the Olympics and we celebrate that. I am quite disturbed by people who want to destabilise Zimbabwe through bad deeds. This is because of selfish deeds and selfish desires of one or two undesirable elements.
As Zimbabweans, we are celebrating the rise of a woman or the excellent deeds of this woman. We want to continue in the same trajectory and we want to succeed as Zimbabweans. We want women to continue excelling. We do not want people who just say bad things about Zimbabwe, just because of a selfish individual. As an individual, I am someone who belongs to the opposition but despite that, I support people who are doing good things, who are excelling like Hon. Kirsty Coventry. We do not want detractors. We do not want people who stand against constitutionalism. We need to respect that.
The President should continue according to the Constitution and according to the will of the people, not because of selfish people who are interested in their own interests. I am sorry because I am talking a lot. I wanted to say just a few words but I became emotional. Thank you for affording me this opportunity.
*HON. SEN. KAPFUDZA: Thank you Madam President for according me this opportunity. I also want to thank the mover of the motion and congratulate Hon. Kirsty Coventry for bringing dignity to our nation and worldwide. What I have learnt from Hon. Kirsty Coventry as the President of IOC, is that when she got the presidency, she left the seat vacant and it has been filled already. It means when there are openings worldwide, like the World Bank, we should grab the opportunities so that people would come and fill in the vacant places. Even Madam President, you can go so that we fill your place as well and as Zimbabweans, life goes on.
Looking at the history of Hon. Kirsty Coventry, it shows that she was an expert when it comes to swimming. She started at an early stage from their swimming pool at home. It is our desire that we have children who have passion in swimming but the rivers wherein they practise swimming are dangerous. They are infested with crocodiles and they end up losing their lives. We are encouraging our Government that swimming has taken people a long way. I think Government should also focus on the rural areas so that our children there have safe places to practise swimming.
Our desire is also that those who source for swimmers should also visit the rural areas. As we were growing up, when it comes to soccer, there was a boy called Shamu, who was talented and teachers at school were impressed but no one recognised his talent in the rural areas. It is our desire as Zimbabweans that our leaders also extend their nets to the rural areas so that their talents and gifts do not just go to waste because we have seen that it is not only about being academically gifted but some were gifted differently. We need supporters.
If our Government and our leaders support them, it will be well with them. I heard that the papers for Hon. Kirsty Coventry, when they were submitted, our President sent the Vice President to accompany her and she arrived there with dignity. That is why she ended up doing well. If we have such support, like if we have the Vice President in Chivi watching local soccer, it also helps even those who are looking for talent that they can be serious when they see that the Vice President is there. I do not want to go further. We should congratulate her. We should not be jealous and I wish her well. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA: Madam President, I rise to support the motion of congratulating Hon. Kirsty Coventry, the former Minister of Sport for her achievement and also raising the flag of Zimbabwe and Africa as the President of the IOC. All those people whom I have mentioned are proud of her, especially the descendants of Africa, especially being a woman. If we see women occupying those highest positions in sport, it shows that the glass ceiling which was there before, which was promoted by colonialism, has been broken and women are in the right place.
Going further, I want to say that she did well in Greece and Beijing and brought many medals from the Olympics. For her to get the position where she is, there was someone who had a vision when it comes to leadership. The person is His Excellency, Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa. When he assumed his presidency in the Second Republic, he recognised that our expert in sport did well and rewarded her with a ministerial position. Whatever she was doing for her to be recognised is because of her ministerial position. So, the vision of the President has been recognised worldwide.
It is good for Zimbabwe because her accolades are coming because of her recognition by the President who does not like protests. As you can see, we do not want to emulate what happened in Mozambique. The one who was causing unrest in Mozambique ended up talking to the incumbent President. I will say to Kirsty Coventry, go well with our blessings and show them that in Zimbabwe, we have wise people like our leadership and Africa is capable, just like any other country. Thank you.
*THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Thank you Senator Mutsvangwa for the wise words which are uplifting.
HON. SEN. BVUMO: In soccer, when we talk about Dembare, we say the whole country is happy. The whole country is jubilant for what Kirsty did.
Firstly, I have a conscience that has made me stand up to congratulate Hon. Kirsty Coventry. I am one of those people who used to complain during our Question and Answer session that we do not see the Hon. Minister in the House. However, what has made me happy, some have talked about it but I will repeat it and elaborate on it. It is the vision of His Excellency Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa to be able to identify talent in Hon. Kirsty Coventry. Not only in Hon. Kirsty, but you can see that with the ushering in of the Second Republic, as opposition, we had problems, that since 1980, we knew that if a minister were just changed, but we have seen the emergence of young ministers from the Second Republic. Not only young ministers, but capable ministers. I cannot name them, but I can just mention one.
In the last few days, Hon. Felix Mhona was named the best performing Minister. He is the product of His Excellency E. D. Mnangagwa, who was able to identify the talent. So, I want to thank him for that and wish that he would continue in that trajectory because generations come and go but I want to thank him for that vision.
Secondly, if we look at this motion, I want to thank Hon. Senator Chakabuda because of our polarised environment in this country, it is very rare to find an opposition member tabling a motion giving credit to an opponent. Hon. Kirsty Coventry has shown us that there is nothing that you can do to spoil a good thing. A sane person should encourage people so that they continue doing good. What made me happy, I think there is someone who said that we create vacancies when people are being uplifted.
In the same vein, I also want to congratulate Hon. Lt. Gen. Sanyatwe for his appointment as the Minister of Sport. If we look at the condition of our sports, especially soccer, you find that this Ministry needs someone disciplined and someone who can push for resolutions that have been put forward especially when we look at the state of our stadiums. From the history of Hon. Sanyatwe, I have confidence in him that the stadiums will be refurbished. It is very rare to come across a soldier who lies because they have been taught discipline during the war.
Again, in the same vein, I have observed one thing, by the recognition of Hon. Kirsty Coventry, you find that for a child to excel, their background plays a pivotal role. If we look into this nation, it is a lesson that we have been given that we should start nurturing our children at a tender age, for them to excel further.
If we look at the background of people who are succeeding these days, you find that their talent was recognised at a tender age.
For example, if we look at the boys who are British Brigades, those who are playing outside the country, you find that they grew up from academics and they were taught at a tender age. Even the likes of Khama Billiat are a product of Aces Youth Academy, which was under Mark Dullivard. They were nurtured from a tender age.
Therefore, the recognition of Hon. Kirsty Coventry is a big lesson to us that our children will not excel if we do not recognise their talent at an early age because it is easy to nurture talent at an early age. I am very thankful for that. There is an issue that has been talked about by Hon. Kirsty Coventry, firstly she is a woman and it is very important. If we want to talk about the history of the Olympics, we see that as a nation, we have eight medals, if I am not mistaken. Three gold medals, one bronze, four silver. Of the eight, seven of them, we got them through Hon. Kirsty Coventry. The other one we got it just after Independence, we got that one through the women's hockey team. It makes us see that as women, we are not limited and we cannot excel as much as our male counterparts. So, I want to really thank you. I am thankful because you are rising.
*THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: It looks like the women are not happy because they are not showing that we have talked about them. They are not appreciating your recognition of them.
*HON. BVUMO: In conclusion, Madam President, we see that Zimbabwe received a lot of criticism worldwide. It was being portrayed in different ways, which may be one of the reasons why we have sanctions. On a personal level, I condemn the sanctions because they are not good for us. But Hon. Kirsty Coventry has surpassed all those considerations and she came up with her history. She was nominated against all odds. So, I want to thank you for putting the nation of Zimbabwe on the map and uniting the people of Zimbabwe. Everyone is happy. I thank you.
THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Thank you Hon. Senator Bvumo. We have seen that you are knowledgeable and you love sports. We need that from our leaders.
HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: Thank you Madam President. I want to ride on the previous speakers who have spoken extensively before me and also to thank Hon. Senator Chakabuda who has raised this important motion.
I will put it in a different context maybe to recap before I get into the centre of my contribution. Just to remind this House that Kirsty Coventry was in an election with about six contestants. One of them was Johan Eliasch who got two votes. This was one of the most transparent elections. David Laffertient got four votes. Prince, this is the son of a king and where money is. Prince Feisal Hussein got two votes. Sebastian Coe got eight votes. The closest was Juan Antonio Samaranch who got 28 votes. Our one and only queen on the international stage got 49 votes. That gives a resounding 62%.
There are about five confederations. It is just to highlight the importance of this position. There are about five confederations in the world and they are ranked in order of importance. The first one is the Federation of International Football Association, which is commonly known as (FIFA). It is ranked number one in terms of popularity, revenue and its membership is about 211. On revenue, you are talking about 6.4 billion.
The International Olympic Committee is ranked number two in terms of global influence and reach. Its membership is around 206 and revenue 5.6 billion. Then the other one is Federation of International Basketball (FIBA). In terms of popularity it is ranked number three in participation. Its membership is around 213 and revenue is 100 million.
Number four is the Union of European Football Association (UEFA). It is ranked number four in terms of revenue and influence. Membership is 55 and revenue is 3.9 billion. The last one is the International Cricket Council, (ICC). In terms of popularity and participation in cricket, it is number five. Its membership is 126 and its revenue is 1.4 billiobn. This is how these federations are ranked.
IOC is number one in terms of influence and reach. If you are talking about these federations, it is number one in terms of influence and reach. Let us take it further into the global political stage because this is a political institution. When you are talking about influential organisations in the world, you are talking about the United States of America, the European Union, UK, because of their influence. IOC in terms of influence globally, it is number five among these institutions that I am talking about. Kirsty Coventry is not only going to be chairing for the President of a confederation, the IOC which is ranked number two, in terms of revenue it is number one, number five in terms of all these global influential organisations. She will be competing like the United States of America. She will be sitting down with Trump. So, she will be able to attend to the political issues; one of the most critical things that she has to attend to. This is why you saw the Russian President congratulating our queen. Remember Russia was disqualified on three occasions in the Olympics. One of the most important things that our queen has to address will be the readmission of Russia into the Olympics. That is not an easy task to do. It means she needs the skill but Kirsty Coventry, like previous speakers have said, has been nurtured. The reason why she won is not that she is decorated with all these medals that you see. People never saw those medals they were not there. It is the skill that she possess, which was nurtured by the Government of Zimbabwe. That is what they saw there. She will be able to execute the views and the skill that you use in the Cabinet to engage and influence globally, this IOC has a huge influence globally. You cannot talk about institutions and organisations that are influential without pointing out the IOC. So, I thought Hon. President, I should bring this into a picture so that our Members here understand what IOC means and what this award is that has fallen to our daughter of the soil and what she means in the global matrix Mr. President.
I am one of those, in my small way, who has criticised her Ministry. I am one of those in this Chamber who has raised a motion criticising her responsibility in discharging the essence and matrix of her Ministry. With all that in place Mr. President, this has strengthened her, the motion that was debated here gave her the spirit, the wisdom, vision and the courage to go and compete on the international stage. In our small way, we have contributed towards Kirsty Coventry. It is constructive criticism which matters at the end of the day. I am so proud that I stand here today having criticised her constructively, it is that constructiveness that today we are proud of and associate ourselves with her. I am so happy for the young lady who grew up, perhaps not really in a sophisticated family but who has managed to rise to that level. I thank you.
HON. SEN. CHAKABUDA: Mr. President, I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MLILO: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday 2nd April, 2025.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. SHAVA): Mr. President Sir, I move that we revert to Order of the Day Number 2 on today’s Order Paper
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
BROADCASTING SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 10A, 2024]
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, (H.B. 10A, 2024)
Question again proposed.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. J. MUSWERE): Mr. President Sir, I move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
BROADCASTING SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 10A, 2024]
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 to 10 put and agreed to.
On Clause 11;
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: Thank you very much Madam Chair. I notice that this intends to dilute shareholding of locals to the extent that foreigners can get up to 40% directorship and control of licences.
In view of the importance of broadcasting and the need for sovereignty in that area, why have we moved to 40%? I would think that we should maintain a much lower percentage so that we are in total control of the messaging around this country.
THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE): Thank you Madam Chair. In terms of foreign ownership, I might not know where perhaps he is getting that from? We had said we are not amending that particular area. We want 100% ownership by the locals because it relates to media sovereignty.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (HON. SEN. A. DUBE): Hon. Senator, which clause were you debating?
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: Hon. Chair, I am looking at Clause 11 which is very specific that it amends part of the Act. The amendment of section 22 allows 40% of foreigners to be directors of licencees. The current Act, prohibits foreigners to be directors in licences. Am I reading the wrong clause?
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: I think you are mistaken Hon. Senator. This is Clause 11, amendment of Section 37 of [Chapter 12:06].
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: Sorry Chair, my apologies. Perhaps staff sent me a wrong document altogether, which makes debate in this House meaningless.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Chair. The Hon. Senator should read from the Bill not from the memorandum. His concerns are also addressed in terms of the Bill in that 100% ownership will be by the locals and there is no participation of foreigners in terms of the licencing framework. I thank you.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: Are you satisfied Hon. Senator Zvidzai?
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: I think if I am reading a wrong document – staff has given me this document, I have not had time to peruse but for the sake of progress, I notice the Hon. Minister concurs with me that this is an area which we must fully control ourselves. So, I am happy with that.
Clause 11 put and agreed to.
Clause 12 put and agreed to.
On. Clause 13:
HON. SEN. KUNAKA: I also think maybe I am just reading from the wrong page but I also see that the Bill here seems to be forcing people to pay ZBZ licences before the vehicle licences which becomes very retrogressive.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCAST SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE): Madam Chair, the clause does not force anyone to buy a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation radio licence but the clause is about compliance in terms of the particular motor vehicle owners who own radio receivers and in this particular case, this is to enhance compliance, boost revenue collection, ease pressure on the fiscus and also to enhance the creative economy and attractive content to the media industry. It is about compliance. If a particular motorist owns a radio receiver, then they are expected to pay for the radio licence.
HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: It is a supplementary question. I need to understand the Minister’s theory of having that as a practice because you have a receiver that does not even serve you to receive the same waves that you are paying for. So maybe the input of the theory, why should it be now mandatory because it means for me to get a licence for my vehicle, I first have to pay a ZBC licence? Without a ZBC licence, I am then not entitled in terms of law to get my vehicle licenced but the question is, the ZBC that I am paying for, what am I paying for because I do not receive coverage? Let us say I am coming from Tsholotsho where we do not even get reception. So why are you making it mandatory? Should it not be by choice?
Again, Minister, I know it is not gazetted because we did not have much time to go through this Bill because we thought you were going to send us this Bill last week but the fees, again, they are quite on a higher scale. I do not know whether this Bill speaks to the fees or you are going to gazette the fees outside this Act. So, if it is going to address it, which I have not seen, they are quite on a higher scale. Why not maximise, why not build on the number of vehicles? Why not build your capacity revenue on the increased base instead of saying this is so much? By so doing, you are reducing the number of people who are going to be tempted to come and pay for that ZBC, now this is law and we are forcing people.
Surely, are there no other mitigation measures that can be taken? Why should I be forced to pay the ZBC licence? Why are people not given a choice to choose? Like, for example, there are quite a number of insurance companies. I choose that I want to be covered by this party, I want to be covered by that party but if you come here and say because you have got one regular authority which is ZBC and which has got a monopoly, then you say I should pay that ZBC. Please, can I be schooled a little bit?
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Madam Chair. The pricing structure in terms of the fees and the prices is dealt with in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act in that ZBC is an institution working in consultation with the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. They have got the latitude in terms of the law to review the prices. The current circumstances are that consultations are taking place including input from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee in charge of media for us to be able to review the prices downward but on this particular clause, we are not debating about the fees structure but at the same time, there is a huge difference in terms of the licencing framework. You have the public broadcaster ZBC, a national broadcaster which has a responsibility in terms of informing, educating and also entertaining the nation. Such magnitude of responsibility requires the public to be in a position to be able to pay for radio licences as long as they possess radio receivers.
I want to expand much on, the case that a particular motorist does not own a radio receiver, they can apply for a ZBC exemption certificate in order to ensure that the particular motorist does not pay for the service that they are getting from ZBC. At the same time, in terms of these amendments as well, with a clause that would deal with the declarator which I am sure is Clause 21, in order to ensure that it does not become punitive if a particular individual or institution does not possess a radio receiver. So, you have two ways in order to deal with that particular challenge, either through signing of a declarator or through a ZBC exemption certificate.
So the national broadcaster has national responsibilities and in terms of the Act, every motorist who owns a radio receiver is supposed to pay for the service that they receive from the national broadcaster but as I have indicated, you have two avenues to deal with if the particular person does not own a radio receiver. You go either through the declarator which you sign and submit or you go through the route of a ZBC exemption certificate. I hope I have responded well. Thank you.
HON. TSHABANGU: A follow-up question. Thank you very much for that submission Minister but here is my import or here is my theory. We have gazetted. This Bill is going to pass as it is, let us assume as it is. That makes all motorists to have ZBC licence mandatory and it is not under your domain to regulate the fees. It is done by ZBC as an authority.
Now, there is going to be manipulation because the authority can escalate the fees willy-nilly. There are no checks and balances and then there is a law because laws cannot be changed every day. We do not make laws so that we change them tomorrow. We make laws for the future. Now we have made a law and we do not control those who regulate these fees. So, there is no synchronisation between those who are regulating and those who are making laws. There is no balance. One can abuse the other and what happens if that happens?
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Madam Chair. ZBC on its own does not have the legal authority to review the prices. All the prices or the fees will be reviewed in consultation with the Minister and the Minister is also accountable to the Senate. So, in terms of that framework, ZBC cannot change the fees. Thank you.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: Thank you very much Madam President.
I seem to be confused. At one stage, the Minister is talking about owning a radio and at the next stage, he is talking about a service. When you pay a tax, you must have a service. That is the Constitution. If I do not receive ZBC, that means I am not getting a service. Why therefore, by virtue of owning a radio transmitter in my car and I am somewhere at the back of the country, where is the logic here? You are talking about a service and at the next stage you are talking about equipment. What exactly are we paying for? Are we paying for the gadget or are we paying for the service because there are areas in this country which do not receive ZBC?
That is my number one observation. My second observation Minister is that some of us drive vintage vehicles where there is not even a space to put a radio. For instance, my wife goes to her workplace every day driving a vintage. There is no space to put a radio. Even though she is in Harare where ZBC is receivable, the car has no place where to fit the radio. What do we do? Also, you are saying you get the exemption certificate from ZBC. Someone in Bulilima, there is no ZBC office in Bulilima. We expect them to come to Bulawayo or to go to Harare for the exemption certificate. Thank you.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you, Madam Chair. My knowledge and experience tells me that vintage vehicles do not even pay for motor vehicle registration licences. Number two, the fact that, the particular vintage does not have space to insert a radio automatically means that the particular motorist can then apply for a ZBC exemption or the particular motorist can sign a declarator to say, I do not have a radio in my vehicle. Then they will not be complied to pay for a ZBC licence certificate. Now, in terms of ensuring that there is coverage, we are rolling out Zim Digital Phase 2 project and we are now utilising satellite services in terms of signal.
At the same time, we emphasise the importance of a digital economy. We can now pay for services online. So, there is no need to travel to Bulawayo and at the same time, a motor vehicle is not like a fixed asset in a particular jurisdiction. It is very mobile, the declarator will also be available on the internet in terms of the websites of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and at any point of sale, be it at ZimPost or be it at ZINARA offices. So, I am sure it will be available online and also at every other office. I want to emphasise, Madam Chair, that it is very simple to fill in a ZBC exemption application and get it approved and at the same time, it is very simple to fill in a declarator to say I do not own a radio. Thank you.
HON. SEN. NCUBE: Thank you Madam Chair. I think it is very important to realise that ZBC has an important role to play in terms of informing and educating as the Minister said but this would be the first time that it would become compulsory to buy a ZBC licence in terms of riding on ZINARA licencing. My question is, ZBC is supposed to improve in terms of content so that people appreciate what they are actually paying for. If people are then forced to say you buy whether or not you like it, then the component of informing and educating loses weight. We are in a competitive world.
If it is important that we as Parliament, have got to set aside a budget for ZBC, then it should come under the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion or through the Minister's Vote. Then we can question when we approve the Vote to say there are certain things we are not getting from ZBC. Then it becomes easier to actually improve. It is important that we interrogate this a little bit more Hon. Minister. It is not that we resist but we see that there are certain things we need to look at so that there is no fallout in terms of the general public because forced taxation without coming through the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion has got certain repercussions. Thank you Madam Chair.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON: Hon. Minister, you can write down the questions so that you respond to all of them.
HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA: Thank you so much Madam President. My words have been pre-empted by the immediate past speaker. We really need to look at the implications of this tax in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Normally, taxation is related to a service which is being delivered. So, if a taxation has no relation to a service,
it can have implications whereby one can go to court and challenge as to why he is being taxed. We have behavioural responsibilities as the House to those people who voted us, to look closely at the implications of what the Minister is requesting, notwithstanding the reasons he himself may be adjusting as to why it should be that way. Our obligation is to the people who vote for us and the taxpayers. I want to support the position taken by Senator Gotora. I thank you.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: Thank you Madam President. The Minister has verbally added a few things on the Clause which are not on this Clause. For completeness, why is this Clause not saying, provided that you can get an exemption certificate or a declarative, so that we are informed before we visit the Minister in his office. Secondly, assuming that I have got four cars, why should I compulsorily pay four licences because the service is just one. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. BVUMO: Thank you. I wanted to say I think we are starting at the end. We should start from the roots. What I am seeing here is that we should firstly look at how ZBC works so that you will be attracted to pay taxes. I wanted to be on record that if I had the powers, I would propose that it should be a choice of our listeners whether they should pay instead of forcing people. Looking at the bureaucracy on what has been talked about that there will be exemptions and everything, with the number of cars, that process would not be accomplished. We know that if you have not paid taxes for a long time, there will be penalties, so it will take time and ZINARA does not wait for us because every month they would be charging interest. That is what I wanted to say and my proposal is that it should be a choice that I should pay ZBC. It is my responsibility to do what I like as a listener. Thank you.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Madam Chair. In terms of the Broadcasting Services Act and in terms of Section 38 (b), it is already mandatory for motor vehicle owners to pay for radio licences.
I can read through Section 38 (b) (1), the licencing of listeners of the existing law so that Honourable Senators can appreciate. “No listener shall have in his position in Zimbabwe, a receiver otherwise, than in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence issued by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation or by agents of the Broadcasting Corporation appointed by it in terms of Sub-Section A of section 38 (d)”. Sub section 2 says, “the fees payable on the issue of licences referred to in sub-section (i) shall be fixed by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation with the approval of the Minister, in this case the Minister of Information by Statutory Instrument and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation may fix different fees for different prescribed classes of licences, provided that the Minister may, after consultation with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, exempt any class of listeners payment of all or any of the fees referred to in this sub-section.
Secondly, Madam Chair, in terms of content improvement, today the Cabinet approved the first integrated media policy which has got six pillars which speak to:
- economic sustainability of the media sector,
- media sovereignty in terms of the decoding and encoding of information by broadcasters,
- local content promotion and production.
Madam Chair, all content producers in Zimbabwe have had a difficult time before given the financial difficulties because of lack of compliance by a number of motorists receivers of the electromagnetic signals. They have had challenges and I can assure you Madam Chair that what we need to develop is heritage-based broadcasting but which heritage-based broadcasting, we should be in a position to support by paying the required fees.
So, in this particular case, if a particular musician produces music, be it Leonard Dembo, Simon Chimbetu, or Sandra Ndebele, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation should have an opportunity to pay for the content that has been generated and to pay for the content that the listeners enjoy. This is how we should be in a position to create or to rejuvenate an industry in the arts, culture and sports sector in order to improve in terms of inclusivity.
We have had a broadcasting sector that had not been performing well, not having capacity to be able to pay ZIMRA and the musicians but what we need to do is comply with the act in the case that the particular motorist owns a radio receiver.
One of the key pillars in terms of the new media policy is to generate content. Most senators will agree with me that the United States of America or the Europe that we envisaged before we travelled there, we saw it through television, all those filmmakers, musicians, directors and producers, were being paid adequately. Over the years, due to the financial challenges which ZBC had because of lack of compliance, the national public broadcaster had not had capacity to be able to expand their services and also to pay for the content. I believe this is a very noble clause because it is already well taken care of in terms of the existing legislation which is Section 38(b).
I will then move Madam Chair, to the Honourable Senator who owns four vehicles. He was asking that he receives one service but he owns four vehicles but my question is, would the Honourable Senator be driving all the four cars in one go? The answer is no. Does the Honourable Senator pay for insurance for the four vehicles or he pays for one vehicle and it insures for the three vehicles? We can go further to say, when they pay for motor vehicle licence registration, does he pay for one and it covers the four? I think Madam Chair, we have to pay licence fees for each and every vehicle. We have to pay for insurance and motor vehicle registration for each and every vehicle. Then I will move to the legality. I have already emphasised Madam Chair that the current legislation takes care of...
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (HON. A. DUBE): Order, Hon. Senators! Can we listen to the response? Please, I request you. Hon. Minister, you can continue.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Madam Chair. The question in terms of the legality, in terms of court processes, in terms of judicial precedence, there is already judicial precedence on several issues. Landmark cases in the highest courts in our country, including the Constitutional Court, which ruled that ZBC listeners' licence fees should be paid. I will refer the Hon. Senators to one of the cases, which is Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) versus Jessy Majome and others.
Madam Chair, I have already elaborated that the licencing framework that we have provides for a public broadcaster, which has a national mandate to inform each and every citizen about what is taking place right now in Senate. Who pays for that service? The listeners, as you debate, as you contribute to national legislation. Such services, honestly, should be paid for by the particular motorists or by any other individual who owns a radio receiver.
Madam Chair, the public needs to be able to know what we debate, the national discourse, the economic development activities across the country and what takes place in our daily lives. The media is a mirror of our society and it is prudent for us to be in a position to be able to comply with the existing law. We are seeking to enhance revenue collection by aligning the motor vehicle registration licence legislation with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Licencing Framework, which is the Broadcasting Services Act.
So, the licencing framework is different. You have the public broadcaster with a national mandate to cover heroes' burials, parliamentary proceedings, senatorial proceedings and what takes place in our constituencies across the country. You also have the commercial radio and television stations which have a commercial responsibility to generate money.
We also have the community radio stations which cover a particular jurisdiction and support our values. However, at the same time, a lot of great work is taking place in terms of the Zim-Digital Phase two. We have a content creation hub in Gwanda, another one in Matabeleland North, another one in Midlands and across the country for us to have content that relates to our values, for us to have content that reflects to our heritage as a people.
The moment we allow other jurisdictions in terms of radio and television coverage from across the borders or internationally, we will be compromising in terms of our values and in terms of our media sovereignty. We can build a Hollywood in our form, it could be a Zimbollyhood but we need to be able to support content creators and to be able to pay for their services.
We also should be able to pay for the musicians and the artists that contribute to our entertainment. We should be able to pay licence fees for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. It informs us about what takes place. There has been COVID, there has been an earthquake. This is what is taking place in the country and I believe we should support this particular clause. The law is already in existence, which mandates every motorist to be able to pay for the particular motorist who owns a radio receiver.
I want to expand more on the declarator Madam Chair. It is part of the clauses that we are going to debate. This should be the last Clause 21, which talks about the declarator. We can play around with that. We can put some more additions if you want to but the ZBC exemption licencing framework is already in existence. All these transactions can be done online. Let us support the national public broadcaster. Thank you, Madam Chair.
*HON. SEN. CHAPFUDZA: Thank you Madam Chair. From the explanation from the Minister that it is mandatory, yes, it is true. However, what we are not agreeing on is that the licencing of ZBC should be put together with the ZINARA licencing because if we agree to that, it means that we have always been charging licences for radios in offices and houses. This means those in offices, if they do not have a receiver in their offices, should pay for the exemption because they will not be able to pay for the taxes on the buildings. Wherever we have receivers, we should have a licence because they are saying every receiver should work together with that of the ZINARA. I think people should just continue paying the way they were paying. We see you even getting to the offices because people cannot pay taxes for their businesses when they cannot prove that they do not have any receivers in their offices. I think this should be separated.
What are we paying for? The receiver or the reception? I can have the receiver but I do not want to listen to ZBC. So, what am I paying for? Why should I pay for ZBC which I am not listening to?
There is one thing that you said Minister, you said you are going digital. So, if you are going digital, I think you should be able to have to go for prepayment because you are going digital. You cannot just have a digital device for accessing the satellite but you also have cell phones. If you have not paid, you cannot use it. So ZBC should also follow suit so that if we have not paid, we will not listen to ZBC. Thank you, Madam Chair.
*HON. DR. MUSWERE: I want to thank the Hon for his question. Hon. Chair, I want to give worthy to the Constitution in terms of 194 (1) (g). It says all the ministries, all the departments, the companies and Government departments are supposed to work together at all levels, including compliance and also that they should work together for the ease of doing business.
We can say that with the whole of Government approach, we should have a one-stop shop. These taxes should give us an opportunity for ease of doing business. I want to ask the Hon. Senator as I am answering his question that all those companies that are involved in the food industry that use oil and sugar are now paying what we call sugar tax. Does it mean that everyone who works there consumes that kind of food?
Secondly, as we are in this House, we pay AIDS levy tax. It does not mean that we are HIV positive. We are coming up with a fund.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (HON. SEN. A. DUBE): Order, order Hon. Senators! If you have got your own question, you can ask the Minister. He is ready for you.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: This is on tax basis. This is not the first time institutions in Government have to cooperate together. In the same framework in terms of revenue collection and taxation systems, we also have to go through a payment system in terms of income to pay for NASSA, pay for AIDS levy and pay for other taxes.
This is not the first time. I have referred to Section 194 subsection 1(g), which is very clear that institutions and agencies of Government at all levels must cooperate with each other. The same applies in terms of taxation and fee modalities for every farmer when they deposit their tobacco output at a particular auction floor, they are supposed to pay for a tobacco levy and they are supposed to pay for the support in terms of the reforestation efforts which go to EMA and the Forestry Commission.
I wanted to expand and elaborate that this is not the first time Government institutions have worked together in terms of ensuring that we have compliance. I have already explained that the other clauses that the Hon. Senators may be interested in are already provided for, in particular, the Eighth Schedule which speaks to the declarator. If the Hon. Senators believe that it is not adequate, we should then be in a position to work around it in order to ensure that those who do not own radio receivers do not pay for the ZBC licence fees.
Then for now the focus had been on motorists not on cell phones. I understand there is a convergence now between ICT and broadcasting. We thought it is necessary for now to focus on this. I also want to thank the Hon. Senator for that point, perhaps we could work around how best we could also bring into the net cell phone owners. Now, the focus in terms of this clause is the alignment of the Motor Vehicle Registration Licencing, Legislation and the Broadcasting Services Act, which legislation already exists in terms of the law. I have already elaborated in terms of the judicial precedence. The judicial precedence that relates to the highest courts in our country, which have already ruled that each and every motorist or individual who owns a radio receiver and receives an electromagnetic signal must pay for the service that has been provided.
I have already provided and elaborated in terms of a framework that ensures that in the case that the particular motorist does not own a radio receiver, then we should be in a position to process the application and get it approved or we can utilise the declarator which is the Eighth Schedule. That should be Clause number 21.If you want us to fine tune it we can fine tune it.
HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: Maybe to put it differently, now my argument is going to be different from my previous argument Minister. I appreciate and I have been reading through that. Even in the SADC Region, it is mandatory to have a radio licence. That is the standard international practice. Having that in mind, it speaks to the fees even if they are not really provided and they are not provided here. You go to places like South Africa, the annual fee for a radio licence is about USD 18 annually. In Zimbabwe the licence now is USD 20. So by the end of the year, we will have about USD 80. It does not equate at all. You go to neighbouring countires like Botswana, we share these airwaves. It costs USD 10 to pay for a radio licence. That was my question earlier, if you reduce the fee then more people are going to appreciate and pay for the licence.
In addition, it does not speak to the elderly above 70 years. They should be exempted. This is the practice again in the SADC Region that those who are 70 years are exempted from paying for the radio licence. Those who are disabled again, it is the standard practice in the SADC. South Africa, Zambia and Botswana are doing it. Why can we not be in the same ranges so that we do not have to rely on the declarator but it has to be the law? Section 13 that those who are above 70 are exempted. Those who are disabled are equally exempted. Hon. Minister, I think even if this House approves, fees are on a higher scale. All these Hon. Senator’s arguments are on the fees. We are paying higher fees and there is no service. When we reduce, it will not even cause you to generate the number of vehicles that will be registered. You get your money, it will come efficiently. Some of us avoid paying. It is not that we do not want to promote and support our national broadcaster. It is not that we do not have a national interest in that broadcaster and that we are not Zimbabwe enough to promote our national institutions. In these same national institutions, the fees are quite steep Minister.
We pay and the fees are more or less the same as the licence. So Hon. Minister, that is my argument and that is my appeal. I hope even if the Members of the Senate approve or disapprove it, address the question of fees and reduce them.
*HON. KATUMBA: Thank you Madam President, this issue on fees has been debated by a lot of people. When we were growing up, we used to enjoy watching ZBC. Hon. Minister, talking about exemption, you said that you have a board which will sit and see whether that person is qualified for exemption.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you. We have recognised that the fees structure is quite high and we have discussed with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee as well as media to review the prices. The second item that I want to assure Hon. Senators is that, I want to thank Hon. Senator Tshabangu in that he has made it much easier. All countries in the region, it is mandatory to pay and even internationally for public broadcasting. So, this is not a new case and as I have already indicated the law already provides for that. What we are just doing is aligning the legislation in terms of section 194 subsection 1 (g).
I want to also relate to Section 38(b) of the Broadcasting Service Act, the current one, that the fees payable sub-section (II) on the issue of licences referred to in subsection (I) shall be fixed by the ZBC with the approval of the Hon. Minister, on Statutory Instrument but the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation may fix different fees for different prescribed licences for listeners. Provided that the Hon. Minister may, after consultation with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, exempt any class of listeners from payment of all or any of the fees referred to in this subsection.
So, the first issue that I want to address is that a review process is taking place, a consultation process including also getting to know internationally, regionally and consultation with the Portfolio Committee and also through a survey in order for us to come up with a sustainable fee. What I can assure is that, the fees structure will automatically change on the downsize that is going to reduce the pricing.
The second issue is that the Minister in consultation with ZBC can exempt any class of listeners, the current circumstances in terms of Statutory Instrument 264 of 2021 has already an exemption for senior citizens so that is well taken care of. As we amend these laws, we could also expand much to say if we want the chief, war veterans, parliamentarians or senators then we could include them as part of a consultative process. So, I want to assure you that there is a review of the pricing structure.
I will move to whether we can also include the disabled that is very simple to know because generally in terms of our taxation laws, when a disabled person imports a particular vehicle it is clearly marked and designated that this vehicle is for a disabled person. We could discuss that in consultation with ZBC, Senators and Members of Parliament and see how best we can do it, and see how many vehicles have. Should they pay the same fees structure as everyone else or they should be a different fees structures or we could exempt them altogether. Discuss and agree on how best we can have modalities to say perhaps war veterans or ex-detainees and Senators should not pay. This is not part of this particular Clause that we are debating. We are open to any suggestion.
We do not believe with the monopoly of knowledge and experiences we believe we should brainstorm and share ideas on how best we can take our country forward as a people. So, we have a shared responsibility to develop our country together through compliance as well in order for us to support our artists in order for us to support their widows, and support anyone who could be having the music rights or Mukadota rights or Lovemore Majaivana’s music. Whenever that original content is utilised by the public broadcaster, the broadcaster should have capacity to pay for that music, should be able to pay for those music rights and for that content. Therefore, we can then create a sustainable new arts industry.
When I grew up in Bulawayo, we used to have Amakhosi theater generating a lot of content. We need to revive all that. The South Africa that we know we know it through the television. The America that we all know; we know it through the television because they pay for the content that their producers or creators or their musicians produce.
At the same time, we need to strengthen our values and heritage so that we support the young and older people who are into content production. As I have already indicated we have one of the most important pillars in the new media policy which speaks to local content generation and part of the matrix in terms of local content production and promotion is the recognition of the 16 languages. The current circumstances are that work is underway before the end of this month, we have 10 new studios at Montrose to take care of all the languages in our country. We now have content hubs based across the country in order to support that local talent and to support our heritage.
I will move to the other Hon. Sen. but also to underline what Hon. Senator Tshabangu said that in the region it is mandatory. In terms of this law it is mandatory, what we are doing is alignment. Madam Chair, there was an issue about local content which I am sure has done justice to that most former musicians or most of the people who generated so much content in our country have not heard an opportunity to benefit from the music that they generated which speaks to our culture.
This platform will provide for ZBC to be able to pay for the fees, for it also to contribute to nation-building and also the 16 recognised languages in our country. So, an expansion drive has already taken place, we have tv 2, ZBC tv 1, 2 and three. The same applies, that by the end of April we will have 10 studios at Montrose fully functional to take care of Sotho, Venda, Tonga, Ndau and every other language in our country in order to ensure that we build and diverse united nation. I thank you.
HON. KUNAKA: I also want to appreciate the Hon. Minister in his effort to upgrade ZBC especially in the internet column. I think Hon. Senators have invested much on entertainment. I also want to confirm with the Hon. Minister on the issue of state media ZBC especially during election times. I think as representatives of people, we come from different political backgrounds and I think it is very disturbing during this time. We also see that the State media does not provide a balanced coverage to all diverse players.
I think this is disturbing and also, we see that ZBC during this is used a vehicle for preaching propaganda and also for moving some people interest instead of sticking to its core business of being informative to the nation. I think this is quite disturbing so I will end up seeing people not willing to pay their licence. It is not because we do not want to pay but it is because of the content provided by ZBC.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Madam Chair. I do not think I will be in a position to respond to that. We are not debating that right now. We are not debating anything about propaganda. This has nothing to do with propaganda. Here we are debating and contributing to the alignment between ZINARA and ZBC, in terms of the Vehicle Registration Act and also in terms of the broadcast itself.
At the same time, I would like us to discuss what happened in the past. The Hon. Senator might have specific details about the coverage that the Hon. Senator is relating to but at the same time, as we cover Senate and the House of Assembly proceedings, there are generally live broadcasts. ZBC does not look at which particular political affiliation the particular Hon. Senator or Hon. Member of Parliament comes from. Their business in terms of Section 61 of the Constitution and Section 62 of the Constitution speaks to editorial independence. I am sure that going forward, we will be in a position to continue to work together if there are any specific cases that the Hon. Senator might not have been happy about.
I am happy to be able to respond to any of those issues if they appear within the framework of the clauses as we discuss about that. The new media policy speaks to one united nation, which sees no tribe, no colour, no political affiliation but which speaks to a shared responsibility that we all have as Zimbabweans, as Hon. Senators, as Members of Parliament, for us to build our country towards an upper-middle-income society, with the role of media and the public broadcaster playing a key role in terms of nation-building. For an informed and knowledgeable society, it is very important for nation-building. I thank you Madam Chair.
+HON. SEN. F. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Chair. I realise that the Hon. Minister is trying by all means to convince us to pay the licence and no one is refusing to pay that licence. Firstly, is that people pay licence because there is a benefit - people are getting the service. Our problem is, for us who are from the rural areas - from Bulilima, whether you like it or not, in Bulilima there is no ZBC. We try to search for it and we cannot find it.
As the Hon. Minister is asking for the people to pay, I think it is upon him that he makes sure that the service is reachable to everyone. We are getting broadcasting services from South Africa and Botswana, which we do not pay for because we do not have ZBC. In the near future, we hope you will try and broadcast in all languages on the radio stations.
Why do not you come to this House and find out why is it that all people do not pay the licence? In most cases, people in the rural areas are not getting the services from the State broadcaster. Right now, they are trying to find out what is happening in the nation and they cannot access the information because of non-availability of the media. We suggest that we have to wait a bit for this clause until we have everything.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you Madam Chair. Everything I have said will be delivered in terms of Zim-Digital Phase 2 programme and project which is already underway. We have done the calculations. We require 75 million for publicity requirements, for the infrastructure, which includes transmedia and bars. I can assure you that there will be total national coverage. Now it is much easier because of satellite technology. We are in a position to be able to broadcast across the country.
Then I want to respond to one of the issues that you highlighted in terms of content, that we want content coming from as far as Bulilima because the media strategy is that we should leave no one and no place behind - every district. Bulilima is not far, it is in Zimbabwe. We have an inclusive approach in terms of content creation.
Then, yes, I understand in terms of coverage that the licencing framework in terms of this Act also includes licencing of international broadcasters such as DSTV, where perhaps the Hon. Senator is referring to, that they pay for content for SABC and Botswana because it covers part of the content that relates to our particular district in Bulilima. I want to assure the Hon. Senator Madam Chair, that the content that will be generated, including from Bulilima, will relate to our heritage and it will relate to our Zimbabwean nature.
I will move to the 16 languages. These are constitutional and are recognised in terms of the constitution and the people of Zimbabwe. Part of the 10 studios at Montrose – I am in a position and willing to even invite the Hon. Senator to be part of the tour that is taking place, perhaps next week as we go back to Montrose Studios to see the progress that has been achieved.
The training is already taking place to include all the national languages and this is also a directive from the President. I want to assure you Hon. Senators that the 16 languages should relate to the content that we broadcast, to the music that we listen to, to the information, to the education. Part of the 10 studios includes two studios that we are working on together with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for us to be able to broadcast lessons in all the 16 languages as well. That is part of our 100-day plan. Today we also introduced this subject to Cabinet and it was approved. Work is going on extremely well. I can assure you that we should work together to achieve an informed nation in all languages. I thank you.
Clauses 13 to 21 put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
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. President, 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 Senate adjourned at Nineteen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.