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SENATE HANSARD 17 OCTOBER 2024 VOL 34 NO 07
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Thursday 17th October, 2024
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE
SWITCHING OFF OF CELLPHONES
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. KAMBIZI): Hon. Members are reminded to put your gadgets on silent but it is even better to switch them off completely.
APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Today being a Thursday, we are supposed to have questions without notice. But meanwhile as we wait for the Ministers to trickle in, I have received quite a number of apologies that I will go through right now. We have Hon. Gen. Rtd. Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga, Vice President; Hon. Rtd. Col. K. C. D. Mohadi, Vice President; Hon. K. Coventry, Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture; Hon. E. Jesaya, Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture; Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. S. Sibanda, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development; Hon. A. Gata, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education; Hon. Dinha, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. M. N. Ndlovu, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Hon. R. Modi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce; Hon. E. Moyo, Minister of Energy and Power Development; Hon. D. Marapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement; Hon. Dr. Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care. That is the list of apologies that we have.
As usual Hon. Members, the number of Hon. Ministers in the House is quite disappointing but I am told a number of them are engaged elsewhere and some of them will be coming in as we proceed. At the moment, we have Hon. Minister Dr. J. Muswere, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcast Services, kufakwe mujoni kamba haivharwe. We will have to proceed with the Hon. Minister that we have at the moment, so I will invite questions directed to him and fortunately, he will act as the Leader of Government Business as well.
+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Hon. President of Senate. I only see one Minister here and I am grateful for that, my question is when are the broadcasting services going to be received in Matabeleland provinces because we do not have services there? I thank you.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Did you get that?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE): Yes Hon. President, I think I did. Thank you Mr. President of Senate Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question. The whole idea around broadcasting services that will be put across the country is being supported through the implementation of what we term the Zim-Digital Phase Two Project. A project which will ensure that we put in place the necessary energy transmission and communication infrastructure to support information ambiguity in order to support and ensure that we leave no one and no place behind? Matabeleland is also one of the priorities because the priority is to ensure that we have total coverage of our country in order to guarantee broadcasting and media sovereignty across all ten provinces. So, the Zim-Digital Phase Two project will run for the next two years and this implementation has been followed up by an analysis which we had conducted which is a science based analysis and technical analysis which has given us an opportunity to analyse all the areas that have been covered; number one, by the first phase of the Zim-Digital Project as we transition from analogue to digital. So, the whole digital infrastructure master plan has been put in place so what is left now is the relaunch and the procurement of the necessary energy transmission and communication infrastructural equipment.
So, I believe within the next two years, we will have covered the whole country. For us to be able to achieve this, at some point, the International Telecommunications Union made a decision that each and every country should transition from analogue to digital but given the licencing framework that we currently have, we have started issuing licences to other commercial players and other community radio stations and which operational community radio stations now number up to around 14. We have issued up to 16 community radio stations across the country including Matabeleland North, NUST campus radio station and Matabeleland South province.
I will give you an example of one of the community radio stations that we recently launched, which is the BuKalanga community radio station. All these interventions are to ensure that we cover as much ground as possible. So, the Zim-Digital second phase is coming on board and within a period of two years, we will have achieved information sovereignty. Because we have reached the point of convergency between ICT broadcasting and many other new technologies, there is a relationship between ICT infrastructure and broadcasting equipment. All this speaks to how we seek to achieve information ambiguity in our country in order to support that in terms of the telecommunication sector because most of the services can now be accessed through our phones.
We have now reached 95% in terms of mobile penetration and at the same time we have a steady growth in terms of internet penetration in our country. Community information centres have also been put in place in order to support and ensure that we leave no one and no place behind in order to ensure that we do not leave anyone behind, including Matabeleland province.
The reasons why we have licenced community radio stations is also to support our cultural heritage, our values and our dignity in that these community radio stations should be able to generate content within the particular communities and within the particular geography. All these measures have been put in place, including the tower relocation master plan which is taking place in order to ensure that we cover as much as possible. Licencing also of Star Link is one of the initiatives in order to cover the entirety of our country. I thank you Hon. President of Senate.
+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: My supplementary is that Hon. Minister, you see that His Excellency, the President of the country is saying leaving no one behind. May you please explain to this august Senate what is digital two, please help us with that? I thank you.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: I missed some of the translations, but what I got is that she wants the time frames, is that correct?
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Is your machine translating well?
HON. DR. MUSWERE: It is not.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Go to channel 3. Hon. Senator you can ask your question again.
+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: The machine is not working, can I repeat that in English. I am saying Hon. Minister, the mantra of His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe, Hon. Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa says ‘leaving no one and no place behind’. Your response was mouthful but you left us behind. We need to know as a country because as we speak here, this is being broadcast on ZBC live, everybody wants to know what is ZIM Digital One and what is ZIM Digital Two, at your indulgence Hon. President. I thank you very much.
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE): Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. What transpired is that, in terms of the IT regulations, UN specialised agency made a decision I think around 2008, of transitioning from analogue to digital. Perhaps, let me further elaborate on the technology that was being utilised there. Let us say in terms of telecoms, phone, radio or manual systems which were being utilised, a decision was made at ITU that we should be transitioned from analogue to digital methods in order to expand services to have efficiency. There are so many benefits in terms of digital transition.
The first phase of the Zim digital project has ensured that transmission equipment, both passive and active in terms of radio coverage, cover 62% in terms of radio services across the country. There is need now to launch the second phase to finalise and finish up the rest of the geography of our country. As we develop technical studies, the most important aspect that we relate to, we utilise census statistics, geography and the proximity in terms of the infrastructure.
We also utilise many other aspects related like transmitters. We also utilise the general infrastructure within a community. So, the second phase is there to ensure that there is total 100% coverage in our country. The basis is to ensure that we achieve media sovereignty. Within the context of the television services, we are currently at 38%. The second phase of Zim digital is there to ensure that we move from 38% to 100% coverage for our country.
I understand some of the concerns that the Hon. Member has raised in terms of the full implementation. I have already indicated that within a space of two years, we will have completed 100% in terms of national coverage. At the same time, the second phase of the Zim digital project is also going to be able to put in place content creation hubs across the country in order for us to support our heritage, languages and as people, to identify in terms of our culture and dignity.
So, we have already identified places where content will be produced across the country including all provinces, Matabeleland North and South. The reason why we are doing this is because we want to achieve in terms of national strategic direction, media sovereignty and also technological sovereignty. The current status that we have is that some of the population within our country also receives radio and television signals from other countries, thereby leaving behind Zimbabweans within certain jurisdictions. The study that we have conducted, which is science-based and highly technical has ensured that we leave no one and no place behind. All these will be achieved within a space of two years because in terms of ITU, we are already behind in terms of the implementation modalities.
Yes, we have had challenges in terms of budgetary support but we are confident that this time the amount of money that we received from the Ministry of Finance will be enough in order to complete the full digitalisation of our country. It is also in terms of our nation interest that whatever our population consumes in terms of information is aligned to vision 2030. So, it is in terms of securing national strategic intent and decision making that this becomes a priority. As we roll out the Zim digital phase two of key priority and importance, we are starting with the border areas.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: I am grateful that others are here in this House. Minister Muswere will receive the question on behalf of the Leader of the House. My question…
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, the Leader of Government Business is now in. So, Minister Muswere is excused now.
*HON. SEN. MUPFUMIRA: My question is directed to the Minister of Health. Now, that the Leader of Government Business is in, I will ask about the M-pox disease which we are reading and hearing about. My question is, what is our preparedness in connection with this disease, to conscientise the public when this disease comes into this country? I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): I thank Hon. Mupfumira for the question in connection with our preparedness as a country so that we will be ready for M-pox disease when it comes in. Mr. President Sir, this disease, as she has said, is so prevalent in Central Africa, Tanzania, and DRC. As you know, these days because of mobility, we should be prepared. As the Government, through the Ministry of Health, we are conscientising the people to prepare. What is good is that we had COVID. Maybe, what we have talked about on COVID are more or less the same with this particular disease which we are having now. We should be hygienic, not shake hands and also have social distancing. Research has shown that out of 5 000 people, 34 people have succumbed to this disease. Which means that it is not a danger as compared to COVID-19. We should take the necessary measures to conscientise the people. All clinics will be advised of these measures to dispense them to the people so that we are all hygienic. Once we maintain hygiene, that is, washing our hands and ensure that we do not unnecessarily shake hands but because of the kind of diseases we have now, we encourage people to say, hello, how are you; without hugging, shaking of hands and no physical contact. That we should stop. We will see when time progresses, health personnel will conscientise through the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, the measures for us to be ready. We should not be so much afraid because this disease is not as serious as COVID-19. Furthermore, we can survive this disease, unless we have some other underlying problems. Those with underlying problems can be affected by this viral disease. I thank you, Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: Thank you President of the Senate. My question is directed to the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs. I would like to understand from the Hon. Minister; we hear issues of war veterans, particularly when they are complaining about their welfare, yet we have companies which have been put in place by the Government, like in mining, agriculture and even conservancy. When are these companies going to be functional to enable our veterans to be taken care of? Many years have passed without any progress. If it is a board, one mine can help a lot of war veterans.
*THE MINISTER OF VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA): Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa for the pertinent question. I believe you have said the truth. Government, having realised that Treasury cannot sustain this, gave companies, mines, farms, and conservatives, which have been mentioned. Yes, there is a board in place which is in charge of the War Veterans Fund.
The Ministry, through the board, put in place companies which are supposed to mobilise resources to be put in the War Veterans Fund to help in the welfare of the veterans. I will start with the mining sector. When I came on board, we sat down with the mines. We were told that the mines are in place. Paperwork is being done now to enable us to attract some investors. There is a Committee in place. We should ensure that we have licences so that we get investors. We also resolved to get a mine which would start functioning as soon as possible. This mine should be able to kick-start these other mines.
In farming, we also met with the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement. Now, we have a Committee which has to sit with these farmers during this season and they are going to be functional. The Committee is meeting on a daily basis. Yesterday, it was sitting to decide on which farm they can start with. Those arrangements are in place.
On conservancies, I know there is Matetsi in Matetsi 4. There is work in progress there. It is being done by Power Zimbabwe.
We sent a Committee there to inspect the work. I also looked at how this work was being done. This year, when we started talking about it, they ploughed in $30 000. They said, let us look backwards to see what was happening in the past. I thank the Government because the Chief Director in charge of all the projects has been appointed. It is work in progress. We will always come back to report on the progress. It is our wish that we progress as per your wish as well.
*HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: Thank you, Mr. President of the Senate. I would like to ask the Hon. Minister to clarify as to
how long has this mine been in place? We want to see all the veterans benefiting because time has lapsed for a long time. Some are dying without even benefiting. When is it going to start? Are you going to start farming this year? The welfare of war collaborators is under your purview. Thank you.
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: Thank you, Honourable for wanting to get clarification on mining issues. As I said, we have already put a technical team in place for mining, to look into the mine and see when it is going to start. We put a deadline that before the close of the year, we want the mine to be functional. I cannot specify the state of demands but we say before the close of the year, you should be informed that we have started mining.
*HON. SEN. GOTORA: I am grateful for the response that has been given by the Minister. The Matetsi 4 that she mentioned has a lot of animals but you find that from May, only one animal was being hunted, an elephant for that matter. I know there are lions, leopards and buffalos. The quota is known but can we clap hands for 30 000.
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: I would like to put it clear that I did not say it is a dividend or what because we are still looking into the matter. While looking at this matter, that is when we got this 30 000. We are still trying to find out why we are failing to meet our expectations so that we can move forward progressively. We are very grateful that we now have Chief Director of Projects. I cannot answer in retrospect because the Ministry was established recently. As of late, it was just a department within a particular ministry. I thank you.
HON. SEN. KABONDO: My question is directed to the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. A few days ago, the Zimbabwe National Team played against Namibia in South Africa. Given the reality that Zimbabwe is a soccer loving nation, may we know from the Hon. Minister through you Mr. President, why such an important match was never brought to us live or delayed so that the people of Zimbabwe could be entertained?
*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. MARUPI): I want to thank the Hon. Senator for the question. I am sure this becomes a specific question, but I want to respond to the question in terms of the media policy. The media policy framework allows us to be able to cover national events, including sporting activities and sporting activities are one of the most important aspects related to us to achieve Vision 2030. So, in the majority of cases, sometimes when we are not in a position as a country to cover certain events, it could have been an issue related to the rights, issues within that particular country.
However, I want to assure the Hon. Senator that as soon as I receive the specific details of the particular match, we will be in a position to broadcast that match. It is in our national interest to cover such events and I want to assure the Member that we will always try and ensure that we cover all sporting activities, especially when Zimbabwe is participating as a country.
HON. SEN. S. MOYO: My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs, but in his absence, I will direct it to the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Ziyambi. Zimbabweans went out to look for jobs in South Africa. Some of these people have children and some are pregnant, but you find most of them are in prison in South Africa and do not have the necessary paperwork to work there. My question is, since these are our citizens, what measures has the Government put in place to meet with its sister country South Africa, to facilitate that these people get the necessary documentation or better still, if they arrest Zimbabweans, they deport them? Is there something that Government is trying to do to try and talk to the South African Government?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you, Mr. President Sir. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Mr. President, South Africa has its own laws that govern their own immigration. What we can do as a Government is to ensure that the needs of our people, wherever possible, to the extent governed by the bilateral relations that we have, that we can assist them.
The issue of Zimbabweans in South Africa is that, the South African Government has decided that they no longer want to renew the permits that were given after 2008, they said that they wanted to remove them. The case is still ongoing, those residents, our citizens who are in South Africa, went to court and recently the court overturned the decision of the South African Government. So, we wait to see whether the South Africans will be amenable to negotiating to have our people who have been staying there stay but it is within the jurisdiction of the South African Government. We have held negotiations but it is something that is not very easy to tell a government to say, you must take our citizens and give them work. However, diplomatic and bilateral discussions between our Foreign Affairs Ministry and their department of International Relations are ongoing. I thank you.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I did not introduce the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Hon. Senator Tawengwa for the only reason that we are with him every day and he has not been conspicuous. It looks like he is one of our own – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] - The only reason why I introduced the Hon. Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Hon. Mugadza, is because he is coming into the Senate for the first time, if I am not mistaken and once again, welcome Hon. Minister Mugadza.
HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to clarify what Hon. Senator Moyo was asking the Minister. He was not implying that South Africa then gives permits to Zimbabwean citizens. What he was asking is access to birth certificates for the children who are born outside Zimbabwe, especially those who are in South Africa. If they can have access to birth certificates, that is what Senator Moyo was asking. We have a lot of people who are giving birth to children who then do not have documentation. Some of those children are then brought back to Zimbabwe still without documentation. Is there any way that the Government can help Zimbabwean children get birth certificates? Thank you.
HON. Z. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. Mr. President, that facility is there at our Embassy. All our embassies across the globe, if you go with your birth notification, we will process the papers and send them to Harare.
In fact, in Johannesburg now, at our consular office, we are even issuing passports. So that facility is there. What is needed is for our citizens, if you have relatives, you must tell them that they must be familiar with their embassies and staff at the Embassy. That staff is there to serve them, among other duties that they are doing at those missions. I thank you Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. KADUNGURE: Thank you Mr. President.
My question is directed to the Leader of the House. Mr. President, I would like to request the Leader of the House to tell this august House what measures the Government has put in place to ensure that inputs to farmers will be received in time since the rainy season is upon us. Inputs like seed, chemicals, and fertilizers.
Secondly, cotton farmers sold their cotton but they have not yet been paid. What is the Government saying about these cotton farmers to access their funds so that they can go back to the land? I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL, AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): For the first question, if you allow me, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services can answer that one. If you allow me, I will ask him to repeat what he said on Tuesday on television.
On the second question, I request the Hon. Minister to put in writing that, the cotton farmers have gone for two years without payment. She can give an example, for instance, that such a district has not yet been paid to enable the Agriculture Department to go and do their work there and find out what is happening there. Why are these people not being paid? I thank you.
*THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND BROADCASTING SERVICES (HON. DR. MUSWERE): Thank you Mr. President. I thank the Hon. Senator as well who has put the question across. The Government has put in place measures for the 2024-2025 season.
We have prepared, as a Government and we have put in place the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme. The programme is to help those in the nation to enhance the programme in big farms which supports agriculture. It has been put in place.
We are ready in terms of the policy framework, fertilizer for the farmers, about 40% of the fertilizer is now in the country to support farmers under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme and seed for farming, which uses agro-ecological tailoring, which is in accordance with the regularities of particular places.
Agro-ecological tailoring was done for that, which means all districts for maize farming, for example Mbizi is in place. It was done through agricultural information.
Secondly, the Government has put in place funds to support farmers under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme. It is also prepared for banks and the Ministry of Agriculture as well as others who support the commercial farmers.
Training of farmers has been an ongoing exercise even though we had a drought. The digging of holes for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa has already started in the country.
The other thing is, we are prepared to help water bodies. We have about 10 600 water bodies to put in place an integrated ecosystem to support farmers in fisheries and supporting irrigation. President E.D. Mnangagwa opened a meeting on irrigation conference as a facility to support agriculture. He promised to increase and expand education in the country.
Pre-planting season prizes will be given in a very short time. Agricultural Extension Officers have been trained for this season which we are in.
Computerisation was started in this country to help sustain the country to know what each Agricultural Extension Officer in each place has on control of livestock information management, water information management and crop information management so that everything, through the training that he received and imparted to the farmers, he will know what is the progress on that.
Digitalisation of agriculture helps us have facts on the tips of our fingers, but the Government has put in place measures to support the forthcoming season in farming. Funds are already in place. Seeds are already in place. Those who are registering for tobacco and cotton are registered. This season, there is an increase of 10% of farmers who are going to grow tobacco this year.
The Presidential Programme Business Units are some of the interventions that have been brought by the Second Republic so that we prepare our farmers to be prepared to have this infrastructure and to also have the knowledge in markets. After that, we are putting in place silos and we have all the measures to support the farmers to get inputs and fertilizers in time. Thank you.
HON. SEN. BVUMO: Thank you Minister for the answer. It is actually a plausible answer so that our farmers can have inputs. Each year we always talk about this, that our farmers are being helped with inputs. They harvest, again next year they are helped with inputs. My question is, as Government, what long term measures do you have to make sure that these farmers are self-sustaining so that the money that is being used to bring in the inputs would help other ministries in need of some help? Which measures are in place to make sure that our farmers, because we help them, should not be found abusing the inputs? I think we have reports of farmers who sell their inputs in the streets. I thank you.
HON. DR. MUSWERE: Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the Hon. Senator for the question. I would like to clearly state that the farmers he is referring to are commercial farmers. Commercial farmers do not receive any inputs or assistance of resources. They go on their own, they approach banks. The new dispensation’s framework is to treat agriculture as a business. They should all approach the banks but as Government, we said we would have all people in commercial farming in this country.
We look at the critical enablers in order to support commercial farming. The enablers which we identified as Government are looking into inputs like seeds and fertilisers. Those are part of the enablers. Water again is part of the enablers. Now there is an argument that ZINWA should not cut off supplies to commercial farmers, even though the farmer has a debt. We have put in place modalities that when the farmer has been paid, immediately ZINWA will allocate its resources. If a farmer is through with farming in commercial farms, that is when he is paid if he has never paid for the electricity. Those are the enablers we have put in place as Government. We have about 21 enablers to help commercial farmers with farming activities.
I could continue but commercial farms are not being given inputs without paying. They are part of a commercial arrangement with banks where they get their loans while they are being supported by the Government so that they pay for these other services when they have been paid. I thank you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number No.67.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I propose that we extend the time by another 10 minutes.
HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
HON. SEN. MUNEMO: Thank you, Mr. President. My question was directed to the Hon. Minister of Health and Child Care. In his absence, I now direct it to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi. The Constitution guarantees the right to healthcare and reproductive healthcare services for all citizens and permanent residents under Section 76.
Statistics suggest that women are bearing the brunt of challenges in the health sector as regards sexual and reproductive health rights. What is the Government's strategy in ensuring that women access and enjoy health rights enshrined in the Constitution?
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank the Hon. Member for the question. Mr. President, the right that the Member alludes to is a progressive right that we must realise depending on availability of resources. Having said that, Mr. President, the Government has several programmes in terms of reproductive health that are in place and I am not very sure that the Hon. Senator is speaking the truth in terms of what the Government has done regarding reproductive health. I know that we have done a lot in that area and if there is an area that Government, since 1980, can be proud of, is in that particular area. What I can implore the Hon. Senator to do is to put that in writing so that the Minister can articulate in detail what has been done, I think from 1980 up to the current dispensation, so that the Hon. Senator can have all the information and the monies they can actually put forward and compare with other programmes and the Hon. Senator will actually appreciate the effort that has been done. I thank you.
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Thank you Hon. Minister. Hon. Senator, if you could put it in writing you could get a clearer picture of what you are asking about and it is important to do that.
+HON. SEN. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President of the Senate. My question is directed to the Minister of War Veterans. If I was listening very carefully when the Minister was explaining about the war veterans that they were given mines, it is now during the rainy season, I do not know and it was not mentioned what the war veterans will use to plough since they do not have any equipment. We have got challenges on tractors. I did not hear the Minister saying anything about the war veterans. They are the ones who made it for us to have some farms. They are the ones who liberated us in this country. May the Minister explain to us the equipment that the war veterans would use in ploughing their farms?
*THE MINISTER OF VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. M. MAVHUNGA): Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank the Hon. Senator Ndlovu, for the question on the war veterans so that they will get all the necessary needs that they want to use for their farming. We do not have the programme at the moment which specifies the input needs to be given to the war veterans. As for the inputs, we are giving the Pfumvudza. We are also giving them some loans via the banks as it was alluded to that those who have commercial farms are getting loans from the banks. As for the tractors and some other equipment, they are getting from the banks but we are still in negotiations with the Ministry of Agriculture, we had some meetings requesting that the war veterans be given some other inputs in time so that they can also be given a priority. We requested that the programme for the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) joint venture, war veterans should also be included in those programmes as well. We are making an effort that the war veterans get something from the inputs at ARDA and the banks.
Then the issue of tractors; we told the war veterans that there is a certain deposit that is needed at the bank so that they get the tractors and that is a request that we sent to the banks so that we can get them at zero deposit if it so fits. We are encouraging the war veterans that at Women Affairs, there is a women’s bank which is giving the tractors such that the women from the war veterans also get something from the banks. We are also going to all the Ministries so that they get the first priority. I thank you.
*HON. SEN. TSOMONDO: Thank you Mr. President. I wanted to highlight the disease that is seriously infecting war veterans. It is kidneys and there is need for use of dialysis. The money is taking a long time to be processed. The war veterans will be fast deteriorating. Can there be any means that dialysis payments are treated as quickly as possible for the war veterans so that they get emergency funding because if they delay receiving treatment, they die? They are told to have a waiting period of a month and by then, the war veteran would have been dead. Thank you, Mr. President.
*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank Hon. Senator Tsomondo for the pertinent question. The last time that we gave a statement in this august House, we also highlighted that the war veterans are now quite old and they are now susceptible to a lot of diseases and that the health issues need to be looked into. As Government, when we look at the issue of the war veterans in the form of assistance, we are having discussions with the Ministry of Health so that there be adequate medication and equipment so that if they visit the health institutions, they are given first priority and attended to quickly. We are trying to come up with arrangements where they are quickly attended to should they fall ill before we have a medical aid dedicated to war veterans which is also in the pipeline.
In terms of the dialysis, as a Ministry, we currently have private institutions that we have an agreement with, to assist our war veterans that we will pay later. So, if there are such war veterans who are not aware of such an arrangement, we do have such an arrangement. Those that are on dialysis are given first priority because we know that in private institutions, a session costs US$200. A person may require three to four sessions per week. It is an important issue. If there are war veterans with such problems, please inform us so that we may be of assistance. We are trying to put in place measures to ensure that health issues of war veterans are taken care of. I thank you.
MOTION
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you, Mr. President. I move that with leave of the House, Orders of the Day, Numbers 1 and 2 be stood over until Order of the Day Number 3 has been disposed of.
Motion put and agreed to.
SECOND READING
PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS BILL [H. B. 2A, 2024]
Third Order read: Second Reading: Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill [H.B. 2A, 2024].
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you, Mr. President Sir. I rise to deliver my second reading speech on the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill on behalf of the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Mr. President, the Bill before you today is a very necessary measure to improve the administration, accountability, transparency of charities in our country. The legal word for charity in our country is Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO), under our law every charity that uses money collected from the public or donated from a foreign government or foreign agencies is required to be registered as a PVO, in terms of the PVO Act which the Bill before you seeks to amend.
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President Sir. I rise to deliver my Second Reading speech on the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill on behalf of the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Madam President, the Bill before you today is a very necessary measure to improve the administration, accountability and transparency of charities in our country. The legal word for charity in our country Mr. President, is Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO). Under our law, every charity that uses money collected from the public or donated from a foreign Government or foreign agency is required to be registered as a PVO in terms of the Private Voluntary Organisations Act which the Bill before you seeks to amend.
Let me say Mr. President, from the onset, that our country benefits very much from the work of those PVOs which operate lawfully within our borders. PVOs provide support for communities in a wide range of areas where the national or local Government for want of resources or expertise, has been deficient for any reason. I am speaking Mr. President, of support and assistance in the form of programmes, projects, services, goods and money in sectors such as health and education provision, assistance to widows and orphans, the relief of poverty and hunger and the empowerment of women, youth and disabled.
We, as Government, are very grateful for the help given by the PVOs. The best PVOs have access to resources, experience and expertise solely needed by the people they benefit. Mr. President, therefore, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of the Government, I would like to applaud them for the great work they are doing. Accordingly, Mr. President, this Bill does not speak to those law-abiding PVOs I have just mentioned but to the few who may be tempted to use the guise of charity to carry out undesirable, harmful and even criminal activities. For instance, Mr. President, when this Bill was first introduced, we had received communication from the Financial Action Task Force (which is the world’s policemen against money laundering). Some charitable trusts are being misused as a means for channeling in funds, to fund terrorism and other criminal activities or to launder the proceeds of criminal activities. For instance, buying up properties in Zimbabwe and other countries.
Mr. President, we are also, as the Government, aware that some so-called charities act in a political partisan manner by directing money to favoured political parties or candidates at the expense of other political parties or candidates. Partisan assistance using foreign money or money collected from the public under the guise of charity must never be allowed to influence the outcome of national or local elections. In many developed countries Mr. President, this kind of behaviour is understood to be harmful to the very idea of charity. In the United States for example, you cannot register any organisation as non-profit organisation for tax purposes if that organisation campaigns or canvasses for any political candidate or party.
Mr. President, it is in this context that this Bill seeks to clean up the space within which PVOs may operate. For some time now, the Government has noticed that some so-called charities have completely by-passed the Private Voluntary Organisations Act by forming “trusts” sanctioned by the Registrar of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property. This is a device that is specifically permitted by the Act because originally Mr. President, the Government did not want to discourage families or individuals from forming family or private trusts to benefit family members or members of the public using their own wealth. It is still not our intention to impose registration on these kinds of private trusts. However, if it appears that any trust is using for “charity purposes,” foreign money not generated by their own activities or investments or using money collected from members of the public at large, then they must be required somehow, to register as a PVO under the Private Voluntary Organisations Act. We want such trusts to be accountable in the eyes of the public on the sources of their funds and the use to which they are put.
Mr. President, it was realised that the procedures for registration under the Act need to be streamlined and expedited. This is why some of these charities have chosen the route of forming trusts sanctioned by the Registrar of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property. We cannot run the risk of charities of public character being used as a cover for theft, embezzlement, tax evasion, money laundering or partisan political activity.
Mr. President, I will not, at this stage, undertake a clause by clause analysis of this Bill. The Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill admirably suits that purpose, I encourage Hon. Members to read it carefully.
With those words, I urge Hon. Senators to support this Bill, which is intended to promote a better, safer and more conducive environment for the operation of PVOs in our country. I, therefore Mr. President, move that the Bill be now read a second time. I thank you.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Committee Stage: With leave, forthwith.
COMMITTEE STAGE
PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 2A, 2024]
House in Committee.
Clauses 1 and 2 put and agreed to.
On Clause 3:
*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Madam President. I would like to look on Clause 3. They added a Clause for Registrar of PVOs which then helps a lot to understand, which means what was there before is no longer there. Everything will be going on well because the Registrar’s office will be responsible for all the paper work without people waiting for a long time. I thank you.
Clause 3 put and agreed to.
Clauses 4 to 23 put and agreed to.
First and Second Schedules put and agreed to.
House resumed.
Bill reported without amendments.
Third Reading: With leave, forthwith.
THIRD READING
PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AMENDMENT BILL [H. B. 2A, 2024]
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Bill be now read the third time.
Motion put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time.
MOTION
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank the Hon. Senators for this day that the Lord has made, whereupon our Parliament has passed the Private Voluntary Organisations Bill that will clean up a lot of issues that were happening within our charity organisations and it is a historic day. I want to thank all the Hon. Senators. Having said that Mr. President, I move that the Senate do now adjourn.
The Senate accordingly adjourned at Twelve Minutes past Four o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 29th October, 2024.