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SENATE HANSARD 19 MARCH 2024 VOL 34 NO 34

         PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 19th March, 2025.

The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.

PRAYERS

(THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE

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

THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Good afternoon Hon. Senators. I would like to inform the Senate that all Senators are invited to a half-day workshop to unpack the Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill [H. B. 7, 2024]. The workshop is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, 20th March, 2025 at 0800 hours in the Multi-Purpose Hall.

SWITCHING OFF OF CELLPHONES

         THE HON. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Hon. Senators are reminded to put your gadgets on silence or better switch them off.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF THE VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. H. MOYO):  Thank you Mr. President Sir. I move that Orders of the Day, Number 1 to 12 be stood over until Orders of the Day, Numbers 13 to 16 and 18 have been disposed of.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON INDIGENISATION AND EMPOWERMENT ON THE STATUS OF COMMUNITY SHARE OWNERSHIP TRUSTS

Thirteenth Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the Status of Community Share Ownership Trusts.

Question again proposed.

HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI:  Mr. President Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to wind up the motion. Mr. President, last year the Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment brought to the House a full report of the state of Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) and came up with quite a mix of recommendations on what should be done to resuscitate these, for the benefit of the people. Particular points in that report relate to the need to legislate for the contribution of qualifying companies to community share ownership trusts. The current situation is that companies that are into the extractive industry and who benefit wholly on our natural resources and heritage choose to support CSOTs if they so wish. There is nothing that compels them to support these, particularly after the amendment of the provisions which require that companies that benefit from natural resources should necessarily support Community Share Ownership Trusts for the benefit of people in the localities where these endowments are either buried or on the surface.

The Committee recommended and is very pleased that the minister came in here to concur and agree with the recommendations necessary to strengthen CSOTs.

Mr. President, we therefore appreciate the contribution of the minister in supporting this report and we hope that when the new law comes up to support mandatorily the CSOTs from qualifying companies, then clearly the people would benefit more intensely.

So, I wish to express my gratitude to the minister for responding timeously and considering the importance of this report. I have got colleague Members of this Senate, Mr. President, who contributed in support of this motion. I wish to pay them a debt of gratitude for supporting this motion. I heartily thank you, Hon. Colleagues.

I also wish to thank Members of the Committee for putting in so much effort going around the country to listen and think through what can be done to enhance this Ownership Trust, particularly, that we recommended that we go beyond mine. There are other endowments that these companies benefit from, our trees, our heritage, our land and our rivers. These companies that are into tourism should, moving forward, participate in supporting community Share Ownership Trusts.

So, Mr. President, I wish to conclude by thanking you Sir, for allowing me this opportunity to wind up this motion and request Members to kindly adopt this motion:

Motion that this House considers and adopts the Report of the Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on the Status of Community Share Ownership Trusts under the existing Indigenisation and Empowerment Policy, put and agreed to.

MOTION

RECOGNITION FOR UNPAID CARE AND DOMESTIC WORK

         Fourteenth order read: Adjourned debate on motion on domestic and unpaid care work.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you, Mr. President.  I will wind my motion tomorrow.

I move that the debate do now adjourn.

HON. SEN. MOHADI: I second.

Motion put and agreed to.

Debate to resume: Thursday, 21st March, 2025.

MOTION

REPORT OF THE 149TH ASSEMBLY OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) MEETINGS HELD IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

         Fifteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the 149th Assembly of the IPU and related meetings.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. SEN. MUZENDA: Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to thank all the Hon. Members who debated this report which is very important in that the Inter-Parliamentary Union is a body which is attended, in this case, there were 616 members from different countries looking at what is happening in their respective Parliaments, particularly, issues to do with human rights, governance, issues to do with young parliamentarians in their departments, and also issues to do with women's rights, etcetera.

 Therefore, it is important that as parliamentarians in Zimbabwe, we should not just think it is an ordinary report but a report which also looks at whether our Parliament is adhering to what it is required to do. With that Hon. President, I move that the motion be discharged from the Order Paper.

Motion that this House takes note of the 149th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Related Meetings which was convened in the city of peace, Geneva, Switzerland from 12th to 17th October 2024, put and agreed to.

MOTION

CHILD MORTALITY RATE DUE TO MEASLES

         Sixteenth Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the immunisation of children against measles.

         Question again proposed.

         HON. SEN. MLILO: Thank you Mr. President. I am rising to wind up my debate on my motion. I would like to thank all the Senators who contributed to this motion and move that the motion be adopted.

         Motion That this House-

CONCERNED at the rate of mortality among children due to measles;

ACKNOWLEDGING that measles is preventable through the immunisation program of the Ministry of Health and Child Care;

DISTURBED that some religious sects are oblivious of this scourge and continue to dissuade their members from benefiting from Ministry of Health and Child Care immunisation programs aimed at preventing such diseases;

NOW, THEREFORE, resolves that the Ministry of Health and Child Care:

(a) advocates for deterrent measures which criminalize the barring of children from immunisation programmes;

 (b) 17. implores the law enforcement agents to thoroughly investigate and bring to book any parents and guardians who endanger the lives of children by failing to get them immunised.

Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

PENALTIES TO DETER CRIMES RELATED TO SILTATION AND DEFORESTATION

Eighteenth Order read:  Adjourned debate on motion on the rate of deforestation, veld fires and siltation of water bodies.

Question again proposed.

HON. SEN. CHINYANGA:  Thank you Mr. President, for awarding me the opportunity to rise today with a deep sense of responsibility to support this crucial motion on deforestation. The mover of this motion laid out the gravity of the situation and I am here to reinforce the urgency of protecting our forests, not just for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren.  Deforestation is not just an environmental issue, it affects our livelihood, our climate and the very essence of our existence as Zimbabweans.

Mr. President, the loss of our forests is happening at an alarming rate.  Zimbabwe is losing vast expanses of tree cover annually.  Between 2000 and 2010 alone, we lost an estimated 327 000 hectares annually.  Since 2001, our tree cover has decreased by 17%. These are not just numbers; they reflect a crisis that threatens the balance of our ecosystem and the sustainability of our land.  Forests serve as the lifeblood of our agriculture sector, regulating rainfall patterns, maintaining soil fertility and ensuring food security. Without urgent action, we risk turning productive land into barren wasteland, pushing our communities deeper into poverty.

Moreover, deforestation is not simply about losing trees, it is about the families who struggle with soil erosion, ruining their farms. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] - It is about our rivers drying up because the trees that once protected our watersheds are gone. It is about the wildlife disappearing from our national parks, diminishing Zimbabwe's natural heritage.  Let us not forget the impact on our climate.  Deforestation contributes to extreme weather, from prolonged droughts to devastating floods. The destruction of forests also increases the likelihood of wildfires, endangering both people and livestock. The implications are dire in the time to exit now.

Mr. President, deforestation undermines several sustainable development goals, including climate action, clean water and life on land. Our commitment to a sustainable future means we must act decisively. We cannot speak of economic progress while allowing the destruction of the very resources that sustain us.  Development must go hand in hand with environmental stewardship. Zimbabwe is a signatory to international environmental agreements and we must uphold our commitment to ensure that future generations inherit a habitable and thriving country.

Our people, particularly in rural areas, depend on forests for food, medicine and income.  Their voices must be heard. We should tap into the wisdom of our elders, who have for generations, lived in harmony with nature.  Solutions to deforestation must include local communities as equal partners in conversation efforts. When communities are actively engaged in reforestation and land restoration, the results are not only sustainable but also foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Mr. President, there is a way to balance economic growth with environmental preservation.  Ecotourism, sustainable forests and agroforestry are viable alternatives that allow us to prosper while protecting our forests. We must shift our focus to economic models that ensure the well-being of both people and nature. The timber industry, for example, should adopt responsible harvesting techniques and allow forests to regenerate.  – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] - 

We should incentivise businesses that invest in deforestation and penalise those that contribute to environmental degradation.

Policy recommendations to combat deforestation.

To truly address this issue, we must strengthen legislation and enforcement;

  • encourage sustainable forests;
  • implement agroforestry systems by promoting farming

methods that integrate tree planting to improve soil and crop health;

  • raise public awareness through educating communities

about the importance of forests and involve them in conversation efforts;

  • support deforestation projects by working with NGOs and

international partners to restore degraded land;

  • boost ecotourism;
  • enhance community participation by ensuring that

indigenous and rural communities are included in land use decisions;

  • develop data-driven policies based on research and forest

ecosystems;

  • promote sustainable land use planning by designating

protected areas and strengthening zoning laws to curb unnecessary deforestation.

Mr. President, in summation, this is a call to action. We cannot stand by and watch as our forests disappear.  We must act now, not just with words but with decisive policies and community-driven solutions. By protecting our forests, we are safeguarding Zimbabwe's future, our water, our food, our economy and our climate. The time for debate is past.  The time for action is upon us. If we fail to act today, the generation that comes after us will pay a heavy price. Let us take responsibility and commit to sustainable solutions that will ensure our forests continue to provide for us all.

A Zimbabwe with thriving forest is a Zimbabwe with strong and resilient communities. Let us stand together and make this a reality. I thank you Mr. President.

         *HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA:  Thank you Mr. President.  I want to thank the mover of this motion.  I cannot let this pass because when we are talking about our forests, we are referring to the rural areas.  Although we have plantations, when we talk of forests, that is where we find the chiefs.  That is their domain.

When we are talking about this issue maybe in English, it is not very clear because deforestation in school is a subject and you write examinations but in the rural areas, trees are being cut down.  So, having a degree in deforestation does not make trees grow.  I cannot tell you what to do in the future when we cut down all the trees.  If we engage in environmental degradation, if we cut down trees, we will end up with siltation and gullies, thereby destroying our land.  This touches on a lot of issues like agriculture and the preservation of water but we have been told that 300 000 square metres of land is lost.

If we go back 20 years or more, we were told about these issues. Those who were in Parliament in 1972 debated on this and urged each other on what to do but we keep on talking about it.  I think that we should come up with a relevant committee which we should task to go and visit, be on the ground, then they will come and give us a report.  If we see a challenging thing like this, we should not just debate here but we should go out there, ask people and show them the effects of deforestation.

This issue also touches on another motion on climate change which is on the Order Paper.  Deforestation also affects climate, so this is a broad topic.  When we talk about climatic change, these are some of the challenges.  I think we should unite and go to the people instead of just winding a debate and we forget about it.  We should go back to the people, then we come here and debate.

We have big offices like EMA and the Ministry who are getting salaries at the end of each month and on every budget, we allocate them money but all the reports are saying that the situation is getting worse, trees are being cut.  Are we not funding them properly? They are not accountable. They do not come back and report on what they would have done with the allocation, like for 2024.  I think we should get to that level of making follow-ups and ask, is the Government not funding money on afforestation?   Why is it that they come back and tell us that the situation out there is dire?  

We have the Forestry Act but trees are being cut.  It was put in place in 1943 but I do not know whether we now have a new Act.  This was a colonial Act and it says that if you want to cut down a tree in the rural areas, in Matobo for example, you should go and seek permission from the police station.  The whites did not want to say that the owner of the trees is the chief.  The Act should strengthen, should empower the chief and that would work.

Some say report to EMA, but their offices are far away from the people.  I come from the village and for people to go to EMA's offices, it is about 100km and you should have USD15 for transport so that you can consult EMA.  These institutions are not easily accessible to the people.  

Then I heard someone referring to NGOs.  Do not forget that we have headmen who are the first NGOs.  There are two types of NGOs.  There is an NGO for the people and an outside NGO but the NGO for the people is the headman.  We are losing millions to these NGOs from outside.

There is a forestry policy.  We are coming up with so many policies yet our forests are being depleted. That is why we are saying in this Senate, the Committee responsible, whether it is security, should go out and bring a report.  It should not tell us what it has seen but they should come up with solutions on what we should do to stop this because if we do not have trees, climatic change kicks in and then we end up importing exotic trees.  They are not indigenous trees.  We can say plant trees but those are not the trees that we need.  We should look after our forests but I think the Senate should also go out and do verifications. Thank you Mr. President.

*HON. SEN. ZINDI: Thank you Mr. President. I want to add a few words on deforestation due to cutting down of tress and also veld fires. I want to focus on what we are doing as the custodians of the country. It shows that we are not concerned about deforestation and veld fires and as such, we will end up having a desert in our lives in the future. When we are reading our books, they tell us that the Sahara Desert used to have forests. We do not know whether trees were cut down but what we are doing causes deserts.

So, in Zimbabwe we see people mining. When they mine, they make fires and we end up having veld fires. Animals do not have good grazing areas and those who survive on animals like cattle and goats will know that people will be encouraged to sell their cattle before they are affected by the drought. They will sell their animals at a low cost and end up not having any herd of cattle, which means they are faced with hunger, especially those in the rural areas and in the farms .

They are the ones who suffer from those challenges. In the farming areas, the law says that you must put a fire guard which will prevent fire from getting into your farm. However, even if you put a fire guard in your farm, if you have a forest, it means the small animals would find a place to hide. You find that the fire will start in the middle of the farm which shows why Chief Charumbira has said that there is need for education.

The education lies on the farmers and headmen. They have a right to go out and teach the people instead of just flighting on televisions or come up with jingles. This is because if someone is starting a fire where there is a fireguard, it is not that they are doing it because of ignorance but are doing it because they are aware and it is for hunting purposes. What it means is that this is now the work of chiefs and headmen of all the areas. When they call for meetings in their areas, this should be topical.

When we were growing up in Mutasa, we would approach the headman when we wanted to cut down a tree. If you cut a tree which was known, you would pay a penalty. We would not just cut down trees but these days if you go to Mutasa in Bingaguru which is a mountain where the Mutasa chiefs are buried, as I speak right now, that mountain has been desecrated. When I go during summer, I see fire in the mountain right at the top of the mountain which never used to happen as we were growing up.

Homesteads are now on the foot of the mountain and our beautiful country is being destroyed. We are not leaving any inheritance to our people if we are doing such things. What I am trying to put across is this, institutions like EMA are there which are supposed to monitor those mining activities and ensure that they have rehabilitated the land. Those who start fires are supposed to be prosecuted but no one has been prosecuted.

Every year on my farm, there is a fire. EMA then tells me to report and would come and investigate. They would catch the culprit. I go and report but these days I no longer report because they do not come and nothing happens. Each time as we approach summer, they encourage people to put fireguards around their farms. There is a law that if you do not put a fireguard around your farm, we will prosecute you. If you put a fireguard and the fire starts in the middle of your farm, they do not come if you report but have the guts to say that they can criminalise me if I do not put a fireguard. What I am trying to say is that our department of EMA, I do not think they are serious when it comes to looking after our country as our Chief Charumbira has alluded to that they are given money, they have cars that they can move around with and monitor in order to rectify the situation. Those who are found on the wrong side of the law should be prosecuted but they are not doing so. I want to give a solution to those who are mining and not filling their pits. I think the Government should say that those who are mining and not filling in their pits, if they are caught, they should not just be compelled to pay a small fine because it does not deter them from committing that.

         If they have cars and the tools that they are using, they should be taken away from them. If they are to pay a fine, the penalty should be very stiff so that a person will think twice before they go back to mine or, start fires. If the fines are very low, they can say we can pay and that is how I see it.

         On the issue of deforestation, Government should come up with laws that people should have other sources of energy for cooking or lighting. We can do that by using renewable energy like solar or hydro-electricity power. In Zimbabwe, we have large dams like Tugwi/Mukosi and Mutirikwi where we can have hydro-power electricity so that those in the rural areas do not cut down trees as we are witnessing.

         If they do not have the energy to use, even if you talk about it and my children are hungry, I will go in the middle of the night and cut down the trees. If you visit many restaurants which are being opened, for example, I saw a heap of msasa tree at a certain restaurant, which means someone is cutting down msasa tree but EMA is there. They could have come if they were doing their job because the msasa tree was not dry. EMA should have approached them because there is a beerhall and a restaurant.

         EMA officers also visit that place and they see it and leave it like that. I think they are not really doing their job so that we rectify these challenges. If we make sure that people have renewable sources of energy, the cutting down of trees would be low because there will be an alternative. If there is a duty that is paid for solar products to be imported, I think Government should reduce or remove tax on renewable energy equipment.

With these few words, I want to encourage the headmen and the chiefs that they should come up with awareness programmes. If it is possible, a law should be put to compel everyone to come to the court and we teach each other. The headmen or chiefs would make people pay fines if they cut down trees. We should leave a beautiful and protected country to the future generation. Thank you.

         *HON. SEN. TONGOGARA:  Thank you Mr. President for according me this opportunity to add my voice on the motion raised by Hon. Senator Gumbo. This motion is very pertinent and as a country, for us to be called a nation which is organised, it means that our forestry must be protected. We are lamenting that trees are being cut down and there is a lot of deforestation which is happening. Let us look at the causes of deforestation. The laws which have been enacted are there but they are not being followed.

We know that there was the Land Reform Programme where people were given farms to engage into agricultural activities. Most of them are farming tobacco and for them to cure tobacco, they are using firewood. If you go at their bans where they cure tobacco, there will be huge piles of firewood from msasa trees, which means people will be cutting down the trees to cure the tobacco.

It clearly shows that our farmers need help that although we had given them farms, they are into tobacco farming and tobacco is a pertinent crop because it brings foreign currency into the country. We must come up with the best idea for curing tobacco which does not involve the use of firewood. We all know that in Hwange, there is a lot of coal and so, we must come up with a programme where coal is being transported from Hwange and distributed to the farmers for the curing of tobacco so that they can desist from cutting down trees.

We can continue to lament that trees are being cut down but we know right now that it is the season of selling tobacco at the Auction Floors. They can get as much as USD5 per kilogramme, but we are not considering the processes which include curing of tobacco. Can we look into that area so that we can address the issue of deforestation and help farmers who are into tobacco production?

We also have another challenge with EMA. EMA officers must be dispatched to go out there and teach farmers. Let me say at my father’s farm in Matenganyika and my brother is into tobacco farming. I went there to see them and I found that they had cut down a lot of trees to cure tobacco. They said they were paying taxes to EMA and it allowed them to cut the trees to cure tobacco. This is an indication that there is a problem.

There is no proper explanation from EMA to the farmer on how to use best practices for curing their tobacco. The taxes they are paying to EMA, they are regarding as a passport or as a leeway to cut down trees. Mr. President, I am suggesting that we must come up with a solution in this area because it is one of the reasons why we are experiencing deforestation. When there is a lot of deforestation, there are a lot of health hazards, environmental and climatic changes that are happening, like a lot of winds destroying infrastructure, school roofs, and people’s homesteads. It ends up causing desertification and the movement of wind. It will be moving at high speed because there are no trees that are acting as barriers. This is another challenge, Mr. President.

 

Another issue is conflicts between humans and wildlife. The wildlife is now roving around including in people’s homesteads. If we look at this issue clearly, we see that we are the ones who are the perpetrators. We are going to cut down trees which are the inhabitants of these animals. We all know that animals live in these forests but we have destroyed their inhabitants. Hence, animals do not have the proper inhabitants. Some other Hon. Members have already alluded to the issue of mining and they are leaving open pits. Some animals fall in these pits and it is destroying the ecosystem in the country. Wild animals might end up not finding assistance. It clearly shows there are conflicts between humans and wildlife. We the humans are the perpetrators.

I do suggest that people must be taught including the chiefs and the village heads. I also want to add a voice that it is very important that chiefs and village heads be educated. The issue of the fight against deforestation is a collective effort of the people, chiefs, the village heads, with the legislators of both the National Assembly, the Senate and the churches. We as the legislators are the ones who are representing the people. So if we are having challenges like this, we cannot expect the chiefs to resolve this issue. This issue has now taken root because it has been happening for long.

You have already heard other Hon. Senators allude to the fact that these laws were enacted long back but the issue of cutting trees is happening. I am encouraging all of us as Zimbabweans to join hands and teach each other to desist the issue of veld fires which is destroying the ecosystem and the trees. When we engage in wild fires, it encourages soil erosion. Even the animals which are habiting these forests die because of fire. During the rainy season, all the soil is eroded because there is nothing that is keeping the soil together. It leads to the siltation of dams and rivers. There is a lot of reconstruction of dams going on in the country but when there is no grass, the soils get into these dams.

We are expecting to use the water from these reservoirs which are being constructed to make sure that we start irrigation schemes and have enough food security in the country. As a country, we know that we have climate change which is happening and we are receiving erratic rains, heat waves, lot of rains which are coming in cyclones. We as the humans are the perpetrators.

Hence, as an Hon. Member, I am encouraging you to look into these laws and make sure that these laws are being fostered and followed. Mr. President, we must work together to alleviate the issue of deforestation. Others are being paid to go and address these issues but nothing is being resolved. So, the money allocated to your ministry must be purposeful. As the august House, let us look into the issues of the monies being allocated to different organisations which are working on this issue, especially EMA, to make sure the allocated monies are being utilised properly.

If we work that way Mr. President, it is going to help us. Just discussing, saying there is a lot of deforestation, there is a lot of veldfires, we are saying a lot but nothing is happening in terms of coming up with a solution.  I thank you Mr. President, for awarding me this opportunity.

HON. SEN. GOTORA: Thank you Mr. President, for this opportunity. When this motion was presented in this House, I said I did not want to debate on it. We can say a lot of things but if we do not know what we want to do, it becomes a problem. Before the EMA law, there were thirty-two pieces of legislation governing the issues we are discussing here. There is an issue of fire, cutting down trees and the issue of erosion. All those things were put together and became law. If you read the Urban Councils Act or Rural District Council Act, it is forced by the law to come up with an Environment Committee. Every local authority is forced to come up with three committees. The biggest committee is Finance and the second one is the Environment Committee. This clearly shows that issues of the environment were put in the hands of the local authorities.

In the local authorities, they are called Intensive Conservation Committees but as local authorities, they decentralised their jobs to the ward level and cascaded to the village level. At the village level, there is a committee of seven, which is the subcommittee of the local authority, which is expected to look into the issues of cutting down trees and the wildfires. This committee was expected to sit down every month and inspect what is happening in their village.

 The second position is the Water Act. It was decentralised to the water user bodies which includes the sub-engagement committee. There is no small place in the country that does not have a water user body, which does not have a committee of service. All these people are there because every water authority is an ICA and the people who are expected to do these jobs and what is lacking is knowledge and resources. There is lack of supervision and monitoring. What is in the law is it being implemented? In terms of the structure of Government, what we are lamenting right now in this august House was captured in five laws.

         If it is possible, the five ministers must come in this august House and respond to the motion raised by Senator Gumpo. The first minister to come should be the Minister of Local Government and Public Works because he is the one who has got the ICA in terms of the Urban and Rural Councils Acts. He must come and respond to how these committees in the Act are working to prevent deforestation. The second minister who is expected to come and respond is the Minister of Environment because she is the one who is in charge of forests and veld fires. The last minister who is expected to come is the minister who is responsible for water. He must come in this august House and explain how the water users are working. Are these water users still there and how are they working?

         The EMA structure has got two people per district, which are the officer and the office orderly. Those are the two who are mentioned in the Act. The structure must be changed to make sure that there are more officers who are allocated per district. Awareness campaigns are being done at VIDCO, WADCO and water user level but the people who are doing it, are they aware of what they are supposed to be doing in terms of educating the people in making sure that everything is being done properly.

         Yes, we do have people who are working in these areas but are they well resourced? Long back they used to have machinery like the rubber pads which were used to put out the fires. With time, things deteriorated. So, we must continue to give them more resources. We also need to give them knapsacks to put down the fires. The knapsacks cannot last four years because they have rubbers inside. We must make sure that these officers who are expected to work in these areas are well resourced.

         The other thing which we must raise to these ministers is the issue of training. There are people who were trained when the laws were enacted. The people who were trained are no longer there. We now have new officers and you may find out that some of the officers do not know a lot of things. So, we must educate them and equip them so that they can do their jobs properly.

         The laws and structures are there but the issue of enforcement is problematic. There is no enforcement. Long back the police used to arrest people for not putting out veld fires but nowadays even the police themselves and other agencies just pass by the burning veld fires. The biggest problem that we have is lack of enforcement. Everyone is just shifting the responsibility to another person. These ministers which I have mentioned must come and respond to the motion raised in this House.

         The structures are there but there is no one who is supervising. There is no enforcement and enough resources. EMA has two officers per district so what can you expect them to do looking at an area like Hurungwe? I am encouraging these ministers to come and respond. I thank you.

         *HON. SEN. MUNZVERENGWI: Thank you Mr. President for according me this opportunity to debate on the issue of destruction of forests. The issue of deforestation is the issue which we are facing as a country. The issue of climate change is also touching on the issue of deforestation. I want to concur with Senator Gotora that the biggest problem we have in this country is enforcement. We have various Government departments which are responsible for deforestation. These departments are expected to join hands and fight deforestation.

         A few days ago, there was a levy that was put down for those who are farming sugar cane because sugar is causing diabetes. Yes, we are happy that farmers are selling their tobacco and are being paid handsomely but I am suggesting a levy for tobacco farmers so that there is no one who is going to cure tobacco using firewood but coal. If the levy is imposed, we expect to see less cutting down of trees to cure tobacco because people will be encouraged to use coal. If it is there, it needs to be increased so that we can see a change as a country.

         From the departments which were being mentioned, the Ministry of Lands is also another ministry which has a department called ZINWA.  We have big rivers such as Mazowe which used to have different species of fish but due to climate change, people are now coming up with the small ponds in these rivers to look for water because of the activities which are happening in these rivers.  For example, those who are engaging in stream-bank cultivation, instead of planting trees, when they are told to relocate, they just leave open pits and the sand flows into these rivers and silt the dams and the rivers. The same applies to the dams.  When there are cyclones, there is a lot of soil erosion which also goes into dams causing siltation.  This reduces the amount of water stored by the dams and it then affects the farmers as the water becomes inadequate for farming.  Right now, it is also affecting the Minister of Lands.

Mr. President, I think that the leadership of chiefs is in here, Sen Chief Charumbira.  The village heads are giving people stands to build upon hills, hence the soil is being eroded and fills the rivers. Can we increase the powers of the chiefs so that when village heads allocate a space for an individual to stay, which is not proper, they cannot stop the village heads from allocating land in areas that are not suitable for settlement?  Mr. President, I do not know how best we can help each other but we should work together and make sure that there is enforcement. If we do not have enforcement, we can say a lot of things, but if there is no enforcement, deforestation is going to continue. Hence the government departments which are responsible that there is enforcement should do so.  We expect everyone to work and make sure that those who are given jobs by the Government are working and they are preventing deforestation.  We used to know that in our rivers we just buy pipes and siphon the water from the river and engage in farming but right now we no longer have that facility because there is a lot of siltation and there are a lot of gullies in the country.

There is also the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure Development which must also be part of the team because these gullies are affecting the roads.  They are wreaking havoc and they are affecting the roads.  Hence these gullies need to be attended to before they cause a lot of problems.  Mr. President, I do suggest that when you are going to call the ministries that have been mentioned by Senator Gotora, if it was possible for those who are responsible for the protection of environment to come together and hear for themselves so they can come up with a solution to make sure that our country is protected and prevented from desertification.

Right now, in some areas they are using cow dung for cooking because there is no firewood.  All the trees have been cut down.  Senator Charumbira also mentioned that what is left are those trees that are not strong and can easily fall.  We are now dressing our country with trees which are not suitable for our environment. I went to a certain area where there is a tree called Mudziyashe and this tree is being targeted by most of the tobacco farmers because they say it cures their tobacco properly.  The Musasa tree is also among the targeted trees.  So, these trees are going to be extinct and the next generation will only hear that such trees used to exist.  These trees are not easily replaceable as people do not plant trees. So, I am encouraging all of us to work together to make sure that we protect our environment. Even the Ministry of Environment must employ more workers so that the officers are found in all areas assisting just like the police.  This will really help in reducing crime. The same applies to the environment; it will help to alert them of the problems to do with environmental degradation so they can act before more harm has been caused.

 There are also catchment areas that feed water into rivers but you find people engaging in farming activities in these areas which are not supposed to be farmed and some people constructing their homes in these areas and that is not good at all.  There are other areas which are wetlands and most of the people are now staying in these areas. Those responsible for making sure that there are no settlements there are not doing their work.  So, we are encouraging law enforcement agents to work together with the local communities to protect these areas and make sure that there are no more people staying in these areas. Thank you.

HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Senate President for giving me the opportunity to contribute.  I want to note that the Honourable Senator said that Chief Charumbira is the President of the Chiefs’ Council but I wanted to correct that because the President of the Chiefs’ Council is Senator Chief Mtshane Khumalo.  The issue that was raised is an issue which concerns all of us. So when our forests are being destroyed, this is affecting our heritage as a nation which was left to us by our forefathers.  Even the responsible Ministers mentioned by Honourable Senator Gotora should look into this issue and we must also play our role because we need to deliberate on why trees are being cut willy-nilly.  As Zimbabweans, we need to self-introspect because when you drive around the country you find people just throwing bottles out of their cars.  The challenge is bigger than enforcement but it has to do with our culture as a people. We need to go back to the people to educate each other so that people understand the importance of preserving our forests as we found them.  The other important thing, Senate President is that in our areas in the different constituencies, there is mining that is happening and most people who are mining seem to be above the law. They mine wherever they want. They can even mine in people's homes when they find gold. They can mine in people's fields as well as along riverbanks, in dams and in different areas.

So, this should really prompt us to take action because what kind of a country will we be if we cannot have laws which govern mining? It must be clear that this is arable land, it is for farming, this is a game park for mining and that this is land which has been allocated for different purposes.

 When we were growing up, we knew that industries were for manufacturing and residential areas were meant for residents but now, you find that people are doing anything. You find home industries in houses and people emitting hazardous substances from residential areas, some doing their different trades in their home industries. Domestic carpenters sometimes do different projects like sofa-making in their homes.

As Senators, we have the task of formulating policies and we have the role of exercising oversight. So, we need laws that are going to curtail errant behaviour. Is it difficult for us President of the Senate to enforce that? We are talking about climate change. It is affecting everyone.

As I am speaking, where we come from, there are a lot of things that are happening in different rural areas. There is drought, last year we experienced drought. We have a variation of seasons and when the rains came during this particular season, some gold panners were panning in rivers.  We have the power to stop this so that we represent those who sent us to this august House. We did not come on our own, but we were sent by our constituents as Senators and Members of Parliament.

We have people who sent us, people that we represent here who cannot speak on their own, but we speak on their behalf. So, why is it that when we come here, we complain a lot as if we do not know that we are responsible for formulating policies, Bills and laws to protect our people, the people who voted for us, the electorate? We also have the power to exercise the oversight role over the Executive.

We have that responsibility to request them to come to this august House to respond to the issues that we are talking about because when you look at this motion President of Senate, which was moved by Hon. Senator Mupfumira regarding human-wildlife conflict, and the one that was brought by Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa related to this issue, it means this is a universal issue that affects all of us and it takes all of us to solve this issue.

Therefore, I want to implore all of us to stand and talk about this issue. We must generate robust debates as we speak on behalf of our people, especially looking at deforestation.  This is our heritage; this is our children's heritage.  When we grow old, our children are going to ask what we were doing in the Senate and what we were debating about because there will not be any forest to talk about. They will say that you were just ululating and rejoicing instead of representing the people. They will say that we had the heritage, we had a very beautiful country which had everything. We have gone through different countries, we have gone to different countries and when I visit other countries, I desire to come back home because of the beauty of Zimbabwe.

Why are we destroying this beautiful country? If we are not destroying it, then why are we allowing those who are destroying our beautiful country? Senate President, please send us to go and solve this issue. We want to solve it and this takes all of us to solve this issue. I thank you.

+HON. SEN. RITTA NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President Sir.  A lot has been covered by other Hon. Members.  I grew up in the village and there was hardwood as compared to softwood in the bush but with the new environment that we are living in, a lot of people are now using softwood because the land that we used to fetch wood from has been allocated to settlers. We are always enacting laws but there is nothing that is happening.

On the other issue of destroying our land by veld fires, it is the same as destroying our vegetation and it is affecting our aquatic ecosystem, wildlife and human consumption.  We have chiefs in this august House but I think those chiefs no longer have that authority that was once bestowed on them.  Chiefs are the custodians of ancestral land and natural resources.  It seems we have now weakened the authority of our traditional leaders.  To my best knowledge, together with our ministers and Hon. Senators, we should bestow and retain the authority and power of chiefs. Therefore, let us restore the traditional leaders’ powers so that we restore the glory of our nation. We know that culture is dynamic and because of different global traditions, we find people adopting different cultures.  We can change laws and Acts but as long as chiefs do not have power and authority, then things are not going to change. So, chiefs should get that power so that they enforce laws.

When you look at the bushfires, you would find that these are happening because the chiefs do not have the power.  Chiefs have the power to say that whoever will be caught burning forests, then the law is going to descend heavily upon them. But now, because they are powerless, people are doing what they want. I just wanted to add my voice Hon. Senate President.

It is my plea that chiefs should be empowered. Let us not destroy our heritage and culture by enacting bad things and making bad decisions because we want to give each other money. Let us restore their power.  I thank you Hon. President.

HON. SEN. GUMPO:  Thank you Mr. President. I would like to thank all Members of the Senate that have debated this important motion which is critical for this country.

When I was young, I could go in a stream and drink clean water, that was about 80 years ago or just over 80 years ago. Today, you go into streams, you just find sand and nothing else.  This is what we are talking about, that our country is going to be destroyed, whether we like it or not.  Thank you Mr. President.  – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.] –

I move the adoption of the motion:

That this House:–

NOTING with concern the alarming rate of deforestation in the countryside which is exacerbated by uncontrolled veld fires and siltation of water bodies;

COGNISANT that deforestation and siltation are caused by human activities and have consequences to economic production as it affects livestock, game, flora and fauna and crops in general;

ALSO, MINDFUL that water bodies provide the lifeline for economic development hence the need to preserve them at all times if we are to have a legacy;

NOW, THEREFORE, resolves that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Wildlife must:

  1. a) come up with stiff penalties to deter crimes related to siltation and deforestation in the country;
  2. b) engage the Executive to liaise with neighbouring countries on the management and preservation of water bodies so that measures are put in place to avert siltation and pollution; and
  3. c) conduct educational campaigns countrywide on the preservation of natural resources, put and agreed to.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

RESPONSE TO THE FIRST REPORT OF THE THEMATIC COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, ON THE RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY IN ZIMBABWE

         THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA):  Thank you very much Mr. President Sir for giving me this opportunity.  I rise to respond to the first report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights, on the rights of the elderly in Zimbabwe. I also want to thank the Thematic Committee on Human Rights for the inquiry that they made on the elderly in Zimbabwe. This inquiry sought to examine policies affecting older persons, evaluate their effectiveness and identify gaps that may leave this vulnerable group at risk.

         The inquiry provided a comprehensive overview of the rights and protection afforded to older persons, assessing whether existing measures align with international standards and best practices. Several recommendations have been made and I wish to update this Committee on the ministry's implementation plan.

Recommendation number one reads; the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should come up with a standard model of old people's homes by 31st December, 2024 to ensure standardisation.

Then the response is as follows; the Older Persons Board is developing standards for the provision of appropriate care of older persons in residential care facilities. The standards outline how these facilities in both rural and urban areas should be modelled, taking into consideration the various structural designs that suit both domains. The ministry anticipates to have finalised the standard by June 2025. The process involves consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including the elderly, the traditional leaders, administrators of the residential care facilities, local authorities, among others.

Then there is recommendation two; that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should close Gwanda Old People's Home by 30th June, 2025 if it has not improved its standards.

The recommendation has been noted, the ministry will undertake a visit to the residential care facility to have a discussion with the authorities in order to come up with a comprehensive action plan on improvement of standards, failure to which the necessary steps and procedures will be taken to close the institution.  Timelines will be provided after the discussions.  Meanwhile, the ministry will not place any inmates at the institution.

Recommendation number three; that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should construct their own old peoples’ homes by 31st December, 2026.

The ministry appreciates this recommendation. Accordingly, we will engage with Treasury and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development for their assistance to avail land and resources for the construction. Whilst this is noble, this is a long-term initiative and in the meantime, the ministry will ensure the existing homes have proper standards and consistently provide per capita grants to take care of older persons in institutional care.  However, institutional care remains a last resort. Priority shall be to have older persons taken care of by their kin. Community care options shall be explored as well.

Then there is recommendation number four; that the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion should disburse per capita grants to the Department of Social Welfare on a monthly basis to ensure proper care for the elderly in institutions.

The ministry continuously engages the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to ensure timely disbursement of resources for per capita grants and administration grants catering for the older persons. The resources need to be consistent and predictable to allow institutions to plan and provide adequate care and welfare to older persons.  This engagement is crucial to guarantee that the necessary financial support reaches the elderly population without delays, enabling them to access essential services and improve their overall well-being.

Donor funding which has been assisting residential care facilities is dwindling and this calls for domestic resourcing of our institutions including the national fiscus.  The Ministry seeks the support of the Committee in ensuring that the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion timely and consistently disburses resources.

  1. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement should provide agricultural inputs for homes that have the capacity to engage in agricultural projects before the 2025 farming season.

The Ministry will identify and encourage older persons' homes with the capacity to engage in agricultural activities.  A needs assessment to determine the specific requirements of each home shall be conducted.  Once the Ministry identifies their needs, it will engage the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement to provide the necessary inputs to support the homes' agricultural initiatives, typical of the village business units.

  1. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should expedite the formulation of the Older Persons Policy and ensure it is in place by the end of 2025. The Ministry is drafting the Older Persons Policy which will encompass provisions related to the social protection of older persons, their health and well-being, reunification and reintegration, restoring links with their families, admission into and living care among others. The Ministry intends to ensure that the policy provides a more holistic approach to supporting older persons.

It is envisaged that the policy will be finalised and launched by the end of 2025.  I so submit.  Thank you Mr. President.

+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA:  Thank you Mr. President.  I am also devastated by this matter.  I am in the Human Rights Committee and I want to ask you a question.  If the Minister is saying Gwanda Old People's Home is going to be closed, where are those people going to go?  We notice that Gwanda Old People's Home is the only old people's home in Matabeleland South.  I do not understand what the Hon. Minister is saying.  From Madhlambuzi to Mutapa to Gwanda, that is the only old people's home that they have.  This is not a good idea if it is going to be shut down.

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Hon. Senators, when asking questions, you do not have to go on debating.  Just ask the question.  Minister, were you able to get that question?

HON. DINHA:  Thank you Mr. President.  I did not get what she was asking.  Translation is not working.

*HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI:  I heard the Minister saying that she is encouraging the older people's care. Where does the Government chip in when looking after the elderly?  Thank you Mr. President.

*HON. DINHA:  Thank you Mr. President.  When we say community-based, what we are encouraging is that the elders should be looked after by their relatives or in their families.  Mostly for elderly people to be cared for in the old people's homes, it does not augur well, especially in our African culture.  As an extended family, it is our responsibility to look after our elderly people but as we have alluded to as far as where the Government chips in, I think there are things in place that the Government does towards the elderly people, especially when there is a drought, it is the elderly who get food first.  Most of the time, whatever is being given, the Government tries its level best that the elderly are given first and also, there are cash hand-outs which are distributed to the elderly.  All those things can help the elderly people. Thank you.

*HON. SEN. ZINDI:  Thank you Mr. President.  I am satisfied with the answers that have been given by the Minister but I want to find out if what they are encouraging is that the elderly should be looked after by their relatives.  What about those who do not have any relatives because as we were doing our verification tours, there were others who did not have any relatives.  What will happen to those people because this department is leaning towards the elderly being cared for by their relatives?  Some of them came from Malawi or Mozambique and they grew up working on farms.  Those are some of the people we are meeting as we are doing our tours. Thank you Mr. President.

*HON. DINHA:  Many times we encourage that those who have relatives should be cared for by their relatives.  I once visited a village in Marondera and I found that some of the elderly people there have been chased away by their children and they are taken care of in the old people's homes but they will be grumbling.

Like as you have said, those from Malawi and do not have any relatives, understand that they do not have relatives.  Those are the ones that we expect to be cared for in the old people's homes and they are happy because they know that they do not have any relatives to care for them.  We are not saying that the old people's homes are being closed.  What we are saying is, they are still there but we are encouraging that if there are any relatives who can look after their elderly, they can go ahead and look after their elderly people. Thank you.

+HON. SEN. R. M. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. President of the Senate. I want to understand from the minister if she is saying that the old people's home in Gwanda is going to be shut down. Is there any alternative place where those elderly people would go to? What is the reason behind closing that old people's home because some of the elders do not have other places to stay? Where are they going to stay? Thank you.

+HON. SEN. R. NDLOVU: The Hon. Minister is saying that those who have got relatives, should go and stay with their relatives. There could be a reason for them not to go and stay with their relatives. However, there are other people who would not want to stay with their parents and we want to say that practically and theoretically, we will be saying that those solitary elders will go and stay with their children but those children would not want to stay with their older people. I am not in agreement with what the Minister is saying, that these older people should go and stay with their children. This is because their children will be denying to stay with them.

HON. SEN. CHARUMBIRA: Minister, I am convinced that we need to relook at the model of taking care of the elderly. I believe that the model we are using was probably prior to independence and the spirit and the motivation was more Western. I think we need to look at it and say, what could be the best way, being an African society? As you say, we will do the practical side of it. I have had an experience. I will just give this example. I once came across someone who did not have any relatives. So, we used to help that person. When the person passed away, they said you are the one who gave us this person. So, help us with some food and people who will dig the grave. If you look at the role model, that is my proposal.

+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Mr. President, I had asked a question but the Minister has said that she did not understand the question. I do not know whether the Minister will respond or want me to repeat my question.

*HON. SEN. TSOMONDO: Thank you Mr. President. I need a clarification that this issue needs to be looked at closely that long back, our elderly people would live in their homes and would live with their relatives. These days, because of the way people are living, they cannot look after their elderly people. It is not only those people from Malawi who are in the elderly homes but even those from Zimbabwe. Children now do not want to look after their elderly people. I think these old people's homes are functional. If they can get good care at the old people's homes, I think they are very important because there are no young people who want to look after the elderly people these days.

*THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DINHA): Thank you Mr. President. Responding to Hon. Sen. Tsomondo's question, when she says that the old people's homes are very important. Yes, they are very important because today's children do not want to look after their parents. You find that the parents, if they are taken into the old people's homes, some of them cry and some of them grumble. They complain that the children that they gave birth to are supposed to look after them. I heard this when I visited them. It is very important for today's children to visit them there but their parents are not happy and want to stay with them. Thank you.

To answer the question of the Honourable on Gwanda Old People's Home, it was the recommendation of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights, on the rights of the elderly to close Gwanda Old People's Home because its standards were not suitable for the old people to be living there. So, I had only brought the answer that we are going to Gwanda's Old People's Home to discuss with them to see if they can improve the premises so that it will not be closed down. I did not say we are closing it…

         HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: On a point of order Mr. President Sir. I do not think the Minister got the question. The interpreter is not interpreting correctly and so, can I say my question in English? I am part of the Committee and I know the recommendations. My question is, what will happen to the elderly who live at that Old People’s Home when it closes? My second question was, since there is only one Old People’s Home in the whole of Matabeleland South, does the Ministry have any plans to build yet another Old People’s Home because the service is needed? I thank you.

         HON. DINHA: Thank you Mr. President Sir and thank you Hon. Members. That is why I had said after that recommendation, that Gwanda Old People’s Home should close. The Ministry saw it fit to undertake a visit to the residential care facility so that they will have a discussion with the authorities in order to come up with a comprehensive plan to improve the standards of the Old People’s Home. That is what we are going to do to see if we can improve the standards of the home so that it does not close up. We are not in favour of the Old People’s Home closing up because we know that there are old people there and there is nowhere for them to go if it closes up. Thank you.

         Hon. Senator S. Moyo having stood up

         THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE): If you are seeking another further clarification, it is now closed.

         HON. SEN. S. MOYO: Thank you Mr. President.

         THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: This report was already adopted by the Senate and we are left with thanking you Hon. Minister for the responses that you brought today to this House. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear]-

         On the motion of THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. SEN. H. MOYO), the Senate adjourned at Nineteen Minutes to Five o’clock p.m.

 

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