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SENATE HANSARD 20 MARCH 2025 Vol. 34 No. 35

         PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Thursday, 20^th March, 2025.

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

PRAYERS

(THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMNTS BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE

BILL RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. KAMBIZI):  Good afternoon Hon. Members. I wish to inform the Senate that I have received the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill [H. B. 10A, 2024] from the National Assembly.

PARLIAMENTARY PHARMACEUTICAL CAUCUS

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  I also wish to advise all Hon. Senators who are interested in joining the Parliamentary Pharmaceutical Caucus (PPC) to register with Mr. Tapiwa Chiremba, the Committee Clerk for Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care in Office Number 311, 3^rd Floor, Parliament Building or contact him on mobile number 0773 209 824.

Today, being a Thursday, it is Questions Without Notice and in the House, I see one Minister.

HON. ZVIDZAI:  Thank you Mr. President. I wish to give a statement in terms of Section 61 of the Standing Orders, which allows a senator who is not a minister to issue a statement on what one considers to be a matter of national importance.

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Please proceed.

HON. ZVIDZAI:  Thank you Mr. President. In the past two/three weeks, the Minister of Local Government issued an alarming statement to the effect that our cities, towns and all local authorities should be cleaned up of all informal sector actors, all vendors, which reminds the people of this country of the events of Murambatsvina. Mr. President, I wish to emphasise the importance of vendors in our economy.  The 64.1% of the GDP of this country is driven by the informal economy and 80% of employment in this country is also in the informal economy. That emphasises the importance of this particular sector. It is so disturbing to notice that the Minister did not realise the importance of this sector.

Additionally, we have begun to see running battles between the police and the vendors in Mutare, Masvingo and throughout the country. We are beginning to see a trend which we have never seen, where people are fighting back because that is their only source of livelihood. There is no alternative.  The Minister just issued a statement without providing an alternative for the poor. It is unfortunate that Cabinet or Government can sit to design policies and directives to fight the poor when they should fight poverty. What should be fought is poverty and not the poor.

Mr. President, for this nation, for the Executive to continue to push the poor who are already pinned to the wall, it can lead to dire consequences for our peace and harmony in this country. It can lead to discomforts of unimaginable levels. It can lead to people living in Borrowdale who do not know what poverty is, seeing people walking into their dining rooms, sitting and capturing them. 

Mr. President, I implore our Government to think seriously before deploying undesirable, unkind, harsh and very neoliberal policies which punish the poor. Let us all work together to fight poverty and not to fight the poor. Thank you Mr. President.

HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA:  Thank you Mr. President.  I take note of the contribution which has just been made. I also want to highlight that all the mentioned authorities are Governments in their own right. They are elected Governments in their own right. That is the city councils and the town councils. They have jurisdictions which are autonomous from that of the Central Government because they are duly elected – [AN. HON. MEMBER:  Point of order.] –

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Order! When I say order, everybody sits down and switches off the microphone. Hon. Senator Mutsvangwa, are you responding to the previous speaker or it is something new?

HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA:  I am proceeding to say that...

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Hon. Senator Mutsvangwa, are you responding to the previous speaker or it is something new?

HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA:  I am responding to …

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Order, order! You may not respond because that contribution is directed to the Minister. I had already pronounced that today is a Thursday and we are on Questions Without Notice.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE

APOLOGIES RECEIVED FROM MINISTERS

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. KAMBIZI): Hon. Gen. Rtd. Dr.  C.D.G.N. Chiwenga, Vice President; Hon. Col Rtd K.C.D. Mohadi, Vice President; Hon. O.C.Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence. Hon. W. Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Hon. E. Ndlovu, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South; Hon. K.D. Mnangagwa, Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Hon. O. Marupi, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Hon. D. Phuti, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; Hon. V. Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement; Hon. D. Marapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.

In the House today, we have one minister and I have just received information that two other ministers are on their way. They have been attending another function at the Harare International Conference Centre. I hope that before long, some will have joined us here. At the moment in the House, we have Hon. Minister M. Mavunga, the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs.

While it is disheartening that we have only one minister, we have to make do with the Minister until others join us. Therefore, if there are any who have questions directed to the Minister that we have in the House at the moment, she is at your disposal.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

*HON. SEN. KADUNGURE: Thank you Mr. President. I want to take this opportunity to thank Minister Mavhunga for a job well done in serving the country. The work that she is doing is very good. However, I want to know how prepared they are for the vetting of the war collaborators.

THE MINISTER OF VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. MAVHUNGA): Thank you Mr. President. I want to thank Hon. Sen. Kadungure for her question. The issue of vetting the war collaborators was once asked.  The war collaborators are a part of the war veterans.

Our Constitution has four categories, war veterans, ex-political detainees, non-combatant cadres and war collaborators. At first, the law only recognised war veterans and ex-political detainees but our new Constitution of 2013 now recognises the other two categories, the non-combatants and the war collaborators. The Act which only looked at war veterans and detainees was removed and we now have [Chapter 17], which recognises all four categories.

Therefore, for anyone to be a war veteran, they are now supposed to be vetted and registered in our books. So, the vetting of war collaborators and ex-combatants was done in 2022 and it was not completed because of underfunding. Then 2024 from October to November, we finished the exercise and everyone was vetted although we still have others coming for vetting. 

After vetting, we should gazette in the public papers. So, when these names have been gazetted for the whole month, then those chancers would be removed from the list. The public is urged that during gazetting, they are supposed to fish out imposters. What is only left now is gazetting because we have completed the compilation and the reports.

At the moment, we are engaging the Minister of Finance, as you are aware that the Constitution states that the welfare of these people should be looked at. So, we need the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. We have not forgotten about the war veterans. Thank you.

+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: We note that some people are left out when you talk about war veterans and war collaborators.  There is a certain group that is left out, the people affected by Gukurahundi. I want to understand where they are categorised, how they are going to benefit and when they are going to benefit.

         THE MINISTER OF VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA):  Thank you very much Mr. President. The veterans of the liberation struggle are recognised as per of our Constitution.  During the Constitution formulation, the masses of Zimbabwe or the people who were consulted only considered those four groups I have talked about. I thank you.

*HON. SEN. KATUMBA:  Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs. We have the mujibhas and chimbwidos who died during the liberation struggle.  What are you doing for their families, considering that there are detainees who died and their families are benefitting?  What about the families of chimbwindos and mujibhas who died during the liberation struggle?

*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA: Thank you Mr. President. There is a law that is called the War Victims Act.  In the past, it was under Social Welfare but currently, the law is under the purview of the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs.

This law focusses more on those who were injured during the liberation struggle and those who died, meaning that people must apply if they have got enough evidence that their relative died during the liberation struggle. As a Ministry, we know that many people died during the liberation struggle. They may be the mujibhas, chimbwidos or the liberation fighters.  We are saying, as a Ministry, let us look into this issue. They have been repatriated and received decent burials in their respective areas.

So, we are going to work hard together with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to make sure that the intended beneficiaries are going to benefit.  We are also going to engage in a programme where we are going to homesteads, village heads and chiefs and have the records of those who died during the liberation struggle. We had already alluded to the fact that the job of the Ministry is to identify those who died during the liberation struggle, those who did not manage to return home and some of them ended up being disabled because of the liberation struggle.

We are currently focussing on the amendments so that they include those who are injured because of the land mines and other war materials which were left behind from 1980 to date, even those injured because of bombs and other things.  For example, there are people who were injured in Binga in the past few days.  They were injured through landmine blasts. They have also become victims of the war and the amendment is going to consider all these people so that they can benefit. Thank you.

+HON. SEN. S. MOYO:  Thank you Mr. President. We note Hon. Minister and hear about the people who died during the war and some were buried before Independence.

Hon. Minister, we note that you say you are looking into the issue. The question is, what timeframe would you want to put when you would have the complete information?  When would you have completed the exercise? Thank you.

HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA:  Thank you very much Mr. President.  We received a budget towards registering all those who passed on during the armed struggle and we are putting up our teams to ensure that we start registration of such people. There are some who are manifesting on their relatives or other comrades, so with those ones, it will be like an emergency.  We will just organise to exhume and rebury such people and if ever our people know of anyone who is buried in a shallow grave or who went to the armed struggle and did not come back, they are free to come and register.  We shall, very soon, call upon the people to come and register.  Thank you. 

HON. SEN. SIBANDA:  Thank you Mr. President Sir.  My question goes back to the Hon. Minister.  Hon. Minister, you seem to be talking about people who passed on during the liberation struggle and these war collaborators.  What about those who passed on during the exercises that were started recently and also those who were war collaborators?  Are the families going to benefit or not or it is the end of everything because they are no more?

HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA:  Thank you very much.  When we vetted the ex-combatants in 1997, some died before receiving their dues and their relatives or dependents are still being catered for.  The same also applies to the war collaborators or none combatants who are dying now holding their vetting slips.  Once they pass the gazetting that I alluded to, they will benefit as well.  Thank you.

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. KAMBIZI):  We have been joined by three other ministers, that is, the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Hon. Zhemu Soda; the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. T. Moyo. So, those with questions directed to the three, feel free.

*HON. SEN. ZINDI:  Thank you Mr. President.  My question is directed to the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs.  There was an ongoing court case whereby war veterans were supposed to receive pending benefits from the Ministry.  What is the current status pertaining the outstanding benefits as per the court ruling?

         *THE MINISTER OF VETERANS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AFFAIRS (HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA):  Thank you Hon. Senator Zindi for the pertinent question.  I want to say when the liberation war fighters were vetted, there were Statutory Instruments 280 and 281 which talked about war veterans’ benefits and pensions.  Statutory Instrument 280 says that the liberation fighters were supposed to be given ZWL50 000 gratuity and ZWL2 000 every month until the freedom fighter passes away but because of the changes in economic conditions prevailing in the country, all of us are aware that people used to get US dollars and it was a time when civil servants were being paid USD100 but right now, the war veterans are getting something.  They are getting USD153.60 and a substantial amount of ZIG.

So the issue of saying the freedom fighters won the issue of being awarded ZWL2 000, it is an issue which we addressed through the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion considering the prevailing rates and the changes in our currency. Thank you.

*HON. SEN. ZINDI:  Thank you Mr. President.  Can the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs clearly explain the issue of the USD2 000 which was supposed to be given to freedom fighters every month so that they can survive and was not fulfilled by the Government?  Is she saying the Ministry and the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion have arranged for the money to be paid in United States dollars or the freedom fighters are to start receiving their monies backdated from where they were supposed to get their money up to date? Can she clearly explain on that issue? Thank you Mr. President.

*HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA:  Thank you Mr. President.  Statutory Instrument 280 does not talk about the US dollar.  During that time, we had our local currency which was strong.  The US dollar was working as a foreign currency.  When you wanted to go outside the country, you could go to the bank and change your local currency into foreign currency.

HON. SEN. ZINDI:  May I be allowed to interject Mr. President?

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Hon. Senator, please allow her to finish responding.   

HON. SEN. MAVHUNGA:  I am not denying that in our conversation with the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion with the freedom fighters, they were receiving ZWL2 000 per month during that time.  So that is what they were awarded by the court and this is what was supposed to be given to the war veterans.  So the Government does not deny that war veterans are supposed to be given their monies.  That is why they won their case.  The war veterans want their money and that is why the Ministry is holding discussions with the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion regarding the Statutory Instrument.  On which currency they are going to use, this is still under discussion but the USD2 000 which was agreed on is the Zimbabwean dollar, not the US dollar at that time.  Thank you.

*THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Thank you Minister for the responses that you have given to this House but I would urge you to go and investigate the issue so that you are able to give a full and satisfactory response to the questions asked by the Senators on this issue of the benefits to be received by the war veterans and whether it is supposed to be paid in US dollars or local currency.

In the House, we have also been joined by another Minister.  We have been joined by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Hon. Sanyatwe.    

*HON. SEN. ZINDI:  Mr. President, I thank you for your suggestion that we must put the question in writing so that the Minister can go and research and come back to the House with a clear response. However, let me say the money which they won in court was not Zimbabwean dollar, it was US dollar.  May the Minister go and research on that? Thank you.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI):  Mr. President, the Minister is correct.  If the S.I. was promulgated in 1997, the currency cannot be said to have been in US dollar but what the S.I. said, if I still remember, it equated the money that they were supposed to get to a certain rank in the army.  So it was never about the US dollar.  It was about equating to say every war veteran will get an equivalent of this rank within the army.

The Minister is very correct to say what is needed because of various currency changes and the need to comply with the court order to negotiate with Treasury so that we can see how the monies can be converted to the money that can be payable now.  I submit to you Mr. President.

*HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA:  Thank you Mr. President.  My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.  There is an issue which involves vendors in towns which is happening.  I want to ask if there is a directive from Cabinet that the Municipality Police must listen to the Minister even though they do not fall under that Ministry, that they should go and harass these vendors.  When we look at it, these vendors are engaging in selling their wares in order to survive.  The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is the one which is harassing the vendors.  Where does this issue come from?  Thank you Mr. President.

*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI):  Mr. President, on the issue of vendors, the Government did not deny the vendors their existence but the policy is to make sure that vendors operate from designated areas they are supposed to be working from.

There was an issue of vendors waking up and just selling from everywhere and coming with wares in front of big shops.  For example, they would go and sell in front of OK where there is sugar, there is colgate.  The vendors were now selling groceries in front of the shops of which the shops pay licences and rents. Now, people are no longer buying from the shops.  The industries were lamenting that from the research we have done, most of the products which are being sold are not original but are counterfeits. Even in terms of scale, sometimes a product is written 2kgs but it will not be 2kgs. The industry is working with local authorities and agreed that they must remove vendors in front of their shops and give them designated areas. For example, what is happening in Mbare, there are places for vendors where they do not conflict with the big shops which are paying taxes and everything.

There is peace and tranquility in terms of business between the vendors and those who have big shops. There is competition of customers between those who are paying tax and those who do not pay taxes. Vendors must go to those who allocate them stores to sell their wares. They must desist from going in front of shops where they are selling their wares which is against those who are operating in the industries. Thank you.

         *HON. SEN. C. MUTSVANGWA:  I have clearly understood the Minister. My question is for the vendors to be removed, is it coming from our Zimbabwe Police Force or from the Municipality Police? This is because the Municipality Police are the ones who are responsible for enforcing these bye-laws.

         *HON. Z. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. According to the programme which is being done, I believe when this issue was discussed, the mayor was there. It is the issue which is being done by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Municipality Police. There is an understanding between the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Municipality Police. There is an issue of working hand-in-glove in terms of enforcing between the Municipality Police and the ZRP.

Hon. Sen. Mutsvangwa is raising a pertinent issue but the problem which we have that we want to resolve is that we did not have a department of laws that works in towns. When someone is selling his or her wares, they are being taken by the police, it does not end with the police but must go to the court and the issue must be looked into if the laws were properly done. So, before that law and those procedures are there, we can use our police because there are courts where the police do take their perpetrators to.

         For us to have clean cities and have order, we cannot remove the police officers because the police officers are working and making sure that the big businesses are reaping their benefits so that they can continue to operate while the vendor is not disturbing their work and also the vendors are located in their stores where they are expected to operate. Hence, the Hon. Member is raising a pertinent question that there must be a clear divide. Thank you Mr. President.

*HON. SEN. ZINDI:  I really agree with what Minister Ziyambi has explained. My issue is on the rush to remove the vendors from where they are operating while we did not come up with areas where they are supposed to go and operate from. I do not understand how it is done? Is it not the issue of causing the cat and mouse races happening in the town, where the vendors are refusing to be removed because they do not have specific areas where they are expected to operate? I think Government was supposed to allocate them places to operate from before they remove them.

*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Mr. President. If a person is breaching the law, the vendors are not allowed to say they are always in front of shops like OK and they do know that they are breaching the law. We cannot wait for people to go to every area to sell their wares. One day you can find themselves operating in your houses. Hence, they must follow the laws while the Government is looking for areas for them to operate.

*HON. SEN. NGWENA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is Government policy in expecting the areas where the schools are being constructed? Long back, we knew that areas were being scouted for building schools but right now, the schools are being built behind the shops where there is noise from those operating their shops while school children are in class.

*THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. T. MOYO): Thank you Mr. President.

I also want to thank Senator Ngwena for raising a pertinent question. It is true that the Government has got a policy which is very strong in scouting the areas where schools are supposed to be constructed. The schools are not to be built in a haphazard manner. Before constructing schools, we do what we call feasibility studies in terms of the distance being travelled by students from their homes to the schools.  If it is in towns, there are places which are left behind or designated for the construction of schools, be it primary or secondary. Those schools which are now being built at business centres are unregistered schools. These schools might end up being destroyed because they are not expected or they are not lawfully constructed in those areas.

Before I sit down, it is true that we do have a Government policy following in terms of construction of these schools. Those who are building their schools near business centres are not following the law.

+HON. SEN. NYATI: Thank you Mr. President. You would find that these days because of hot seating, there are a few classrooms and some roofs have been blown away by storms. I thank you.

         HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Mr. President. I did not get the question because the translation I got, there is no question. What I got is that some classrooms, the roofs were blown away by the winds. The other issue is that there is hot sitting. So, I did not get the real question.

         THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I agree Hon. Minister. Can the Hon. Senator please rephrase her supplementary question?

         +HON. SEN. NYATHI: My supplementary question is, what plans does Government have in terms of what is happening in schools? There are some schools that were affected by the rains and our children are suffering in schools and there is hot sitting because of the roofs that were blown away during the rains. What is Government planning to do with that?

         HON. T. MOYO: May I thank Hon. Senator Nyathi for the question. The Government has plans to assist those schools whose roofs were blown away by the winds. The procedure is, as soon as classrooms are destroyed due to storms as a result of climate change, they are supposed to report to the Civil Protection Unit in our districts. The Civil Protection Unit is under the leadership of the District Development Coordinator. He is the one who compiles the reports that some schools were blown away by the winds.

         In the Ministry of Local Government, there is funding to assist all challenges associated with destructions caused by climate change. They should receive support from the Ministry of Local Government. They have funding which is earmarked for the reconstruction. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education also has funding for refurbishments of classrooms and also funding to construct new classrooms and new schools. If we receive reports of schools that were affected or were destroyed by the storms, we quickly go to those areas. We normally mobilise funding so that we can assist those schools in terms of renovations.

         *HON. SEN. CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Thank you Mr. President. The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education is clarifying issues and I have got a supplementary question. The question is with regards to the construction of the building of private schools. In my constituency, I saw students coming from a certain building in town and I asked where they were coming from. They said there is a school in the township next to a bar. Some private schools are really bringing mischief among children because they are next to bars. I thank you.

         *HON. T. MOYO: I want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Charumbira for that question. The schools that are being alluded to, some of them are illegal and people just create private schools despite the fact that there is a law which governs the opening of schools. Let me say that the days are numbered for errant schools and for people who operate schools illegally. This week I spoke to my directors and I said that we need paperwork which will be taken to the Cabinet so that we are given the permission to close such schools. Cabinet will make a decision and it will inform us to close such schools so that private schools can regularise their operations.

         Children should learn in proper schools that are known and registered. The schools must register with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that they are given the permission to operate and run schools legally because you would find schools running wherever they want. This is not good for our children because sometimes you would find that there are only two rooms and students being overcrowded. Fifty students would be in one room and hygienically, this is not proper. Diseases spread because of the proximity of students to each other. I want to promise our Hon. Senators that it is high time the Ministry or Government dealt with such issues and we are going to close them. I thank you.

         *HON. SEN.CHIEF CHARUMBIRA: Hon. Minister, these people would have applied from the province and what happens between the province and the head offices is what we do not know. I thank you.

         *HON. T. MOYO: Thank you Hon. President. Let me clarify that there is no law that allows people to operate schools from townships. When you apply for permission, then Government responds. When you operate from where people are supposed to be in a residential area, then it is illegal. There are guidelines and the strategic department would be deployed after an application has been done so that the department ascertains that it is appropriate to have a school. People who operate schools in houses are doing so illegally. That is why you find that most of these schools do not have permits because they are operating illegally. I thank you.

         HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Hon. Minister, the administration of estates requires that surviving spouses and children of a deceased person are to pay a Master’s fees amounting to 4% of the entire estate when registering the deceased estate. Considering that in most cases the deceased was the sole bread winner leaving the surviving spouse and family financially vulnerable, does the Government not consider this requirement to be unfair and unrealistic? What measures are being taken to ease the burden and ensure that the estate registration process does not further impoverish the grieving families? Thank you.

         THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Mr. President. There is no question there. The Hon. Senator is stating a scenario that she believes requires a review based on the facts that she is submitting. The law as it is, is exactly what she said. If you register an estate, you have to pay estate duties amounting to that 4%. I think if that is the consensus, the generality of the people's view that the percentage is high can be reviewed.

It is not directly, per se, a policy question to ask what measures we are taking. We have not been taking any measures. What is needed is a conversation around that particular area to ask whether we really need to be levying such a percentage on deceased estates. I submit.

         THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: In the House, we have also been joined by the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Hon. Jesaya, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon.  Gata and the Minister of Energy and Power Development.

         Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE in terms of Standing Order Number 67.

HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: Thank you Mr. President, some Ministers have just come in, so I move that time for Questions Without Notice be extended by 30 minutes.

HON. SEN. CHIEF CHIKWAKA: I second.

THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: I will allow 20 minutes.

HON. SEN. BVUMO: Thank you Mr. President. I want to direct my question to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. In the past few days, we have received reports that the BEAM payments have not been paid for quite some time now. A few weeks ago, there were disturbing events that were happening in schools where the numbers of   BEAM beneficiaries were being reduced. This was done promptly as I am speaking and people are panicking in schools. Let me give an example. In Chegutu, we have a Hartley 2 Primary with about 778 students. Now, the number is being cut to 400. At Chegutu High School, we had 98 last year and the number is being reduced to 37.  Firstly, which criteria was used in cutting the figures so that we know the percentage that was applied in terms of reducing the number? Secondly, we are talking of poor children who benefit from BEAM, were they given enough notice so that parents will understand…?

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON. SEN. A. DUBE):  Order, Hon. Senator! That is not a policy statement. Can you ask a policy question?

HON. SEN. BVUMO: I can explain also that we hear that BEAM beneficiaries have been reduced on short notice and we have ‘O’ level students who are supposed to be writing. Is there anything that is going to be done so that they are not affected in their examinations because they were not prepared since they were looking forward to BEAM assistance? I thank you.

THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. T. MOYO): Madam President, let me thank the Hon. Senator for that question. This is not true that BEAM beneficiaries are being reduced. It is not true. What I want to urge the Hon. Senator is to put it in writing, explaining and identifying the particular schools. The Ministry is going to investigate to ascertain what is happening with the schools. I thank you.

HON. SEN. MUNEMO: Supplementary Madam President.

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: There is no supplementary. There is no question, he will put it in writing. Can you switch off your mic Hon. Senator?

HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: On a point of order Madam President. The Minister is saying the Hon. Senator is a liar. Is that parliamentary?

         THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Hon. Senator, he said it is not true, he did not say that he is a liar.

HON. SEN. CHIEF. CHIKWAKA:  Thank you Madam President. My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. T. Moyo. We have challenges regarding children with special needs and have down syndrome. In rural areas, we do not have schools that cater for these children with this type of disability and their schools are found in towns. What is the Government policy for those disabled children who have down syndrome, who can be trained, educated and be beneficial to the economy? What is the Government policy for those who are in rural areas and resettled farmers to benefit and get an education?

THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. T. MOYO): Thank you Madam President. Let me thank Hon. Senator Chief Chikwaka for asking a pertinent question. It is true that in other areas we do not have special schools to cater for these students.  In other rural areas, those schools are there. On Tuesday, we were in the field. Right now, we are coming from Gutu. We were going around the country looking for children who are disabled, visually impaired, those with hearing impairments and intellectual challenges. We were moving around the in provinces looking at these issues throughout the country. Today, we were in Bikita and yesterday we were in Gutu. We would be happy to know which areas are still lagging, especially the area where the Hon. Chief is coming from so that we can have a school for every district that caters for these children. These children who are disabled have a right to education. Government has set laws and policies that every child has a right to education, which is a fundamental human right issue etched in our laws. We are doing a feasibility study and research to see which areas need these schools. The finances are already there but we might not be able to implement it soon because we are doing the study to know which districts need these schools so that we do not migrate the students from rural areas. We need to build schools which focus on disabled children.

We also have schools like Gutu United Primary School which combines the disabled and the able bodied so that we can have an inclusive policy. Right now, as a Ministry, we are writing a paper and perfecting to find the best way to help those who are disabled. Another way to do it has already been alluded to by Hon. Senator, to build schools which focus on those who are disabled. I thank you.

HON. SEN. CHAKABUDA: Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. My question is directed to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. What initiatives are being undertaken to enhance access to justice for marginalised and low-income populations, particularly in rural areas in relation to accessibility of the new integrated electronic case management system currently being practiced in high courts?

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): A very technical question and we do not actually have High Courts in rural areas. I am trying to reconcile the import of that question because within the majority of our rural areas, in fact, all of them, we are in the process of increasing access to justice by building High Courts in provinces and not in rural areas. I am not very sure if she can re-couch the question. Is it about wanting to know about the electronic case management system or about access to justice because we now have decentralised the Magistrates Courts to growth points and some of the areas? I am not very sure about the connection between the High Court and integrated case management system because we changed the rules to say that where it is not possible, allow parallel filing, manual or electronic. The question is not coming out to me exactly what the import of what the Hon Senator wants to say. I so submit.

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE (HON SEN. A. DUBE): I am sure you heard what the Minister said. Maybe you can put it in writing.

HON. SEN. CHAKABUDA: I will try and do so but I thought it is a policy question.

*HON. SEN. CHIEF DANDAWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Where we stay in the rural areas, we come across elderly people saying that they are looking after children who are on BEAM but the headmasters are saying that the children who have been on BEAM for a longer period should make way for others. I want to find out if the Minister is aware of that.

*THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. T. MOYO): I want to thank Senator Chief Dandawa for his question. There is no law that says that someone has stayed long on the BEAM list because BEAM caters for ECD-A up to A level. I want to say that they should put it in writing citing exact areas where that is happening. I thank you.

*HON. SEN. CHITSAMBA: Last year on 24 October, 2024, there was a fatal accident at Dzivarasekwa turn-off along the Harare-Bulawayo highway. Again, yesterday there was another fatal accident where seven people lost their lives. What is Government’s policy to safeguard the lives of people so that they do not perish at the same spot?

*THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON Z. ZIYAMBI): Thank you for the question raised by the Hon Senator which is citing the area as a black spot. If you look at the accidents that are happening, how they are happening and what eye witnesses say, it is pointing to the fact that the accidents are caused due to human error wherein drivers are not following the rules. It is not that we have to cleanse the area but we need to cleanse the attitude and ways of those who are driving the vehicles so that they should be diligent when driving on this section of the road and they should be aware that they are not putting peoples lives in danger when driving.

I can give an example of an accident which happened on the Harare-Beitbridge highway some time ago. When the bus driver was being cautioned that he was speeding, he would reduce the speed up to 10km/hr.  If the passengers requested to disembark, he would increase the speed to 180km/hr. Now my point is that when the accident happened, it was not due to state of the road but it was through speeding.

We want drivers to be cautious that when people get into public service vehicles, they are entrusting their lives to the drivers. So, the drivers should also look after the lives of the people and drive very carefully so that people will not perish. I thank you.

*HON. RUNGANI:  My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Does Government have a law that when they set the deadline for payment of examination fees, do they consider the incomes of the people whether they are capable of meeting the deadline because parents are struggling out there.

         THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. T. MOYO):  Madam President, I want to thank Senator Rungani for the question.  All these Senators have a right to ask the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to engage ZIMSEC so that it extends the deadline.  Last year, we got a plea from the National Assembly as well.  So, what I can say is that it is possible.  I will engage ZIMSEC and ask them to extend the dates to May to enable parents to mobilise the examination registration fees for their children for the subjects they want to write.  If we close on 28^th March, it means some of the children will write five or four subjects.  So, as a plea, I will engage ZIMSEC so that they extend up to the second week of May.  That is when they will close registration.  I thank you.

Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE in terms of Standing Order No. 67.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

 

         HON. SEN. TSHABANGU:  On a point of order Madam President.  My question can still be answered by the Leader of Government business.

         THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:  I do not think he can do that because it is a written question which needs a written answer.  So, the responsible Minister has to bring a written response and answer any clarifications.  Therefore, your question will be deferred because the Minister is not here.

         HON. SEN. TONGOGARA:  On a point of order Madam President.  When the Minister was here last time, he answered all my three questions that you said would be deferred.

         THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:  Thank you Senator Tongogara.

EXPLANATION ON REASONS WHY THERE IS ONE IMMIGRATION OFFICE AT MAITENGWE BORDER POST

6. 6. SEN. S. MOYO asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to explain to the House reasons why there is only one Immigration Office at the Maitengwe Border Post and unfinished toilets for both men and women considering the revenue that is earned from the services of the border post.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. C. SANYATWE):  I wish to thank the Hon. Senator for the question.  Let me inform the House that the approved establishment by the Public Service Commission is three immigration officers.  Two are in post and for the third one who is supposed to be off-duty, interviews to fill the post have been done.  In addition, all revenue collected by the department is managed by Treasury.  In this regard, the completion of ablution facilities for men and women at the border post has been affected by the fiscal constraints facing the department, hence the incompletion.  The department however, continues to engage Treasury for budgetary support to ensure that the ablution facilities are complete.

+HON. SEN. PHUTI:  Thank you Madam President for affording me this opportunity.  Each time questions are asked, they do not get responses from the responsible ministers simply because the ministers are not coming to the House.  The President did say that Members from the opposition should drive the ministers to do their duty.  How are we going to drive them when they are not here?  The President should appoint ministers who are dedicated to serving the people.  I thank you.

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  Your concern is noted Hon. Phuti.

WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

IMPLICATIONS OF POLICY ON BANNING OF USE OF MOBILE PHONES BY POLICE OFFICERS

7. HON. SEN. ADV. PHULU asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House the implications of Government policy as regards the directive banning police officers from using their mobile phones while on duty.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. SANYATWE):  I want to thank the Hon. Senator for asking such a pertinent question.  I wish to inform the House on the implications of the Government Policy regarding the directive banning of police officers from using their cellphones while on duty.  Police officers have a constitutional mandate to maintain law and order and they must uphold high standards of discipline to achieve this.  The use of cellphones while on duty, particularly at roadblocks poses a significant challenge.  Police officers throughout the world use official communication in the form of radios meant for communicating with police information.  Cellphones have a lot of distractions hence they are only allowed to use their cellphones after work at their houses.  Officers may neglect their duties and spend many hours on social media and in the process tarnish the image of the police in the eyes of the public.  Furthermore, instances of members of the police recording misdemeanors of fellow police officers and posting the images or videos on social media compromise the integrity of the police force.

 

MOTION

CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF THE FORMER DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE HON. CHEN. CHENHAMO CHAKEZHA CHIMUTENGWENDE

HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House expresses its profound sorrow on the sudden death of the former Deputy President of the Senate, Hon. Chen. Chenhamo Chakezha Chimutengwende on the 16^th of January, 2025;

PLACES on record its appreciation of the services which the late Deputy President of the Senate rendered to Parliament and the Nation; and

RESOLVES that its deepest sympathy be conveyed to Amai Chimutengwende and the family of the late former Senator.

HON. SEN. KADUNGURE: I second.

HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I rise to acknowledge the life of Comrade Chumutengwende who was born on the 28^th of August, 1943 in Chiweshe, Mazowe District, Mashonaland Central Province to John Nyangani and Ronia Nyangoni (Nee Rusere).  He was the third born in a family of eight children. In 1949, young Chenhamo Chimutengwende enrolled for his primary education at Gweshe Primary School in Chiweshe and proceeded to Highfields Secondary School in 1956.

His pre-independence political life - Comrade Chimtengwende began his political journey at the age of 14 in 1957 in Highfields, a suburb known for vibrant nationalist sentiment. In 1963, he was elected Secretary for Information and Publicity in ZANU Youth League, reflecting his early commitment to the Liberation Movement. In 1964, Comrade Chimutengwende underwent ideological training with experts from the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Ghana during Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's administration.

This was the period when most African countries had started to gain independence. The experience living in an independent country emboldened him to fight for Zimbabwe's independence. Upon completion of his military training, he went to London where he obtained advanced diplomas in Berkshire School in Journalism and Television.

Comrade Chimutengwende’s career continued to flourish as he was appointed as an Executive Director for the Europe Third World Research Centre in 1969, focussing on the economic and cultural relationships between Europe and the Third World. In 1970, he became the Director of the Kwame Nkrumah's Institute of Writers and Journalists and joined the editorial board of Black Dwarf, which later became Red Mall, a Marxist publication in London. In 1972, Comrade Chimutengwende launched in Liberation Struggle, a monthly newspaper dedicated to covering liberation movements across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, serving as its editor in 1974.

He then pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Bradford where he earned an MA in Peace Studies. His dissertation, ‘South Africa, the Press and the Politics of Liberation’, contributed significantly to the academic discourse of media and politics. In 1976, he commenced a PhD doctorate at the same university. His thesis was on mass media and the state in socio-economic development process.

In 1977, Dr. Chimutengwende was appointed as a rapporteur for a working group of black civilisation and mass media at the FESTAC Colloquium with his contributions documented in the published proceedings.

 In 1979, he became a senior lecturer in journalism and international affairs and served as a deputy director at a journalism programme at SEED University. During this time, he also worked as UNESCO consultant on mass communication for several African countries.

 In late 1979, Dr. Chimutengwende led a delegation of anti-imperialist intellectuals to China, aimed at enhancing the understanding of the Chinese socialism and better inform their public lecturers on Chinese affairs internationally.

 His post-independence political life - At independence, Dr. Chimutengwende joined the University of Nairobi as a senior lecturer in Journalism and Mass Communication Department, serving as the head of the School of Journalism until 1982. Upon returning to Zimbabwe in 1982, he became a senior lecturer at the Zimbabwe Above Institute Mass Communications, ZIMCO.

The following year, he was appointed a member of the University of Zimbabwe Committee, tasked with advising on the establishment of a post-graduate programme for Media studies.

Between 1984 and 1985, he worked as a part-time lecturer for the Master of Arts programme on Social Development and Political Change at the University of Zimbabwe.

In 1985, Dr. Chimutengwende was elected a Member of Parliament for Mazowe. He spearheaded significant developmental work in Mazowe such as the construction of schools, roads and notably, the Glendale to Bare Road.

Dr. Chimutengwende was appointed Director of Personnel and Public Relations at the Agricultural Rural Development Authority, (ARDA) until he transitioned to his Parliamentary role.

 In 1986, Dr. Chimutengwende was appointed ZANU PF Provincial Chairperson for Mashonaland Central, a position he held for 17 years. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Chimutengwende received the Order of Havana Seat Medal from Cuba's Council of State in 1995 while serving as Chairman of the Zimbabwe-Cuba Fellowship Association.

He was appointed Minister of Environment and Tourism from 1995 to 1997, during which time he also served as President of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. From 1997 to 1999, Dr. Chimutengwende held a position of Minister of Post and Telecommunications and during this period, he chaired the United Nations High-Level Environment Committee for Ministers and senior officials.  In September, 1999, Dr. Chimutengwende was elected Vice-Chairman of the Regional African Satellite Communications Organisations at a conference in Tunis involving African Ministers and Heads of Delegation.

Dr. Chimutengwende was a member of the Board of Directors for the World-Led Limited from 2002 to 2008.  He also served as Chairman of World-Led Assembly of Governors. He contributed academic discourse as a correspondent for the Eastern and Southern African of the International Social Science published by UNESCO. In March 2007, he led a ZANU PF delegation to a seminar in Moscow City, focussing on implementing a socialist principle.

In 2009, Dr. Chimutengwende founded and chaired the African Global Network, registered as a trust in Zimbabwe. He later became the founding Chairman of the Zimbabwe Founding for Sustainable Development.  Dr. Chimutengwende authored a book on World Capitalism, Global Revolutionary Eco-Socialism, and Revolutionary Pan-African Under-AGN Auspices.  In 2013, Dr. Chimutengwende was elected Deputy President of the Senate and Senator for Mashonaland Central.  His popularity made him one of the longest-serving legislators in the province, with over 20 years in public service.  Later that year, he became a member of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), representing Zimbabwe.  He served as Chairman of the Zimbabwe-Cuba Parliamentary Forum and Zimbabwe Parliamentary Pan-Africanist Forum.

In March 2017, Dr. Chimutengwende led a ZANU PF delegation to China to study its rapid industrialisation and socio-economic development.  Dr. Chimutengwende's extensive political career includes serving as a Cabinet Minister in various capacities and being a Member of Parliament for 25 years.  He died on 16^th January, 2025 due to chronic cardiac failure.  He was 80 years old.

Following the demise of Dr Chimutengwende, the Politburo led by His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa, unanimously awarded him National Hero status in recognition of his immense contribution to the liberation and development of post-independent Zimbabwe. To conclude Mr. President, I therefore urge all Hon. Members to recognise and appreciate the immense dedication and contribution Dr. Chimutengwende rendered to this country.  I also want to convey my deepest sympathy to Mrs Edith Chimutengwende, the children and grandchildren and the extended family, the President of the Senate and Hon. Members and the nation. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace. I thank you Mr. President.

HON. SEN. KADUNGURE:  Thank you Mr President.  I rise to second the motion to acknowledge the life of Comrade Chimutengwende. It is highly notable that from an early age, he enrolled in political space to contribute to the reparation of our country as he was elected the Secretary for Information and Publicity in ZANU PF Youth League at an early age.

Cde. Chimutengwende's social, economic and political contribution is immense as indicated before. Indeed, his ideological training from the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Ghana in 1964 would help contribute to Zimbabwe's Independence. Cde. Chimutengwende's rich educational background as he attained diplomas and degrees would help shape the information field in areas of liberation media and also economic issues.  This would also see him being appointed to various economic and political positions as he contributed to the development of our nation and abroad.

Indeed, we all acknowledge developments by Cde. Chimutengwende, like the creation of the Liberation Struggle Newspaper. This shows an unwavering Pan-Africanist who had rich interest in issues to do with African unity, consciousness and liberation.  He advocated for the liberation of Africa based on the principles of Pan-Africanism and economic rights.

Cde. Chimutengwende did extensive work in terms of research, mass communication, work and action in support of the African Union, he united Africa. He also contributed to the party and Government and as indicated before, he became ZANU PF legislator, ministerial task Senator, Deputy Senate President and also head of delegation for Zimbabwe to the Pan-African Parliament.  Indeed, may his soul rest in peace.  I thank you.

*HON. SEN ZINDI:  Thank you Mr. President.  I rise to give my witness on the passing on of Chakezha Chenhamo Chen Chimutengwende.  Mr. President, I first met the late Chimutengwende in 1995.  I saw that he was an approachable person who would give advice.  He is one of the people who helped me to go back to school and now I am a holder of a Masters Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies.  He is the one who encouraged me.

We became true friends. We had this strong friendship.  I participated in the primary elections in 1995 as a politician.  I think he had realised the potential that was in me.  I do not forget, he just approached me and invited me for lunch at 88 Manyika Road.  Those who came from war know the place. We met there and he gave me ZWL500, our 100 dollars which was brownish in colour.  He wanted me to win primary elections, so he gave me that as a seed for campaigning.  He wanted to support me as a woman. 

To me, that was very positive in supporting a fellow comrade and a woman for that matter.  That is why I said we had a strong friendship.  Do not think of other friendships.  I can see it from the way you are laughing that maybe there was something because I know your minds, especially the male counterparts, when you see a man and a woman befriending each other, you want to investigate what is going on between them.  We are not satisfied that people can  just have a clean friendship but I want to explain that is how our friendship was with the late Chen Chimutengwende.  If he had problems in his constituency, he would contact me and we would meet, then we would discuss.  Like I said, he gave me the desire to go back to school, so we operated at that level.

In 1996, when I was an MP for Hatfield, I had the opportunity of being on the Speaker's Panel and he was now a Minister.  He would come and defend his budget when the House was in Committee.  Everything was flowing smoothly.  He was someone who I would really appreciate if you do a good deed for him.  That brought us together.

The late Chenhamo Chen Chimutengwende was a very humorous person who would bring joy.  If people were not happy, he would bring his rumba and kwasa-kwasa dances.  He was a big person but he would really dance getting down to ground level.  That is who he was.  I also enjoyed dancing, so we clicked on that.

We would share our red wine, dry white wine and then we would enjoy our meal.  If you were stressed, you would de-stress and you would desire to start afresh.  That is who Chimutengwende was.  If he got to a place where people were not agreeing or even at a rally, everyone knew that Chen Chimutengwende was a joyous person who wanted people to be happy.  The late President Mugabe knew that if it was at a rally, he would know he would find Chen Chimutengwende.  He identified him as a dancer. 

I am referring to his social side.  Being serious about his life and education, we have heard about those who debated before Hon. Senator

 

Tongogara and Sen. Kadungure.  I knew about him socially and he molded me from there because he would tell me things that would empower me to reach up to this level that I am now.

With these few words, I saw it befitting that I should contribute the social side of the late Chimutengwende.  I was really pained the week that I visited him in the hospital.  I thought he would come back home.  He was not able to speak.  He was not able to open his eyes widely but I left the hospital hopeful that he was going to come back home.  Even his wife promised me that he would recover. This is because the previous week, when we were running around and he was still able to talk, she said that he was waking up and sitting up. So, I left the hospital hopeful that he would go back to dancing but the week did not end well, he met his demise. Besides, it is our way all of us, we go differently. I thought I should say the social aspect of him. Thank you.

+HON. SEN. R. M. NDLOVU: Thank you President of the Senate. I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for bringing in this motion on Comrade Chenhamo Chimutengwende. I knew Comrade Chenhamo Chimutengwende in 1988 to 1989. He was a merciful man who would always be smiling. He is a man who liked dancing, like what the previous speaker has indicated. I used to call him the man with four C's, because all of his names, initials starts with the CCCC. He would always be smiling every time. He was an amazing man.

These were his names Chen Chenhamo Chakezha Chimutengwende which were amazing and would make someone laugh. He never got angry. When I was Matabeleland South Chairman, he was Chairman for Mashonaland Central. Each time we met, we discussed party issues during the unity accord time between ZAPU and ZANU when we came up with ZANU PF.

In 1996, there came a man called Ananias Nyathi who liked kwassa-kwassa. He would be called Charlie by Hon. Chimutengwende. They would dance until dawn, drinking and having a nice time. This is where I got used to the late Chimutengwende. We used to call Cde Nyathi Chiluba. He was more like the President of Zambia. He was a Minister who would interact with everyone, unlike other ministers who would greet you from afar. Hon. Chimutengwende was a man of the people. He loved people and he respected people. I never saw him angry. When he passed on, he left us when we would still remember him for all the good work.

 From what I heard with regards to his level of education, with some people, they will never talk to other people. He would discuss and love everybody. Therefore, with this motion that came following his demise, I felt it was critical for me to air my voice on what I experienced. Therefore, I got used to him throughout the time I have known him. So, Mr. President, I will say may his soul rest in peace. I thank you.

+HON. SEN. MLOTSHWA: President of the Senate, thank you for this opportunity that you have accorded me. It would be not proper for us as opposition not to say anything when one of us in this House has passed on. Thank you to Hon. Sen. Tongogara for this motion. I would like to send my condolences to the family, to the country and to our colleagues, Hon. Senator Members on the other side, it is good that as a person, when you depart this earth, you have people saying good things about you. My mother used to say, Nonhlanhla my daughter, when you are to depart this earth, you need to leave a good name. So, this man that we are talking of here left good works on this earth.

I would like to thank Hon. Sen. Tongogara for she knows how to appreciate the departed. In most cases, when people speak about the departed, they just indicate that they were good people. For this particular individual, for him to have a motion moved in this House, it shows that he used to work well with other people. I would like to say condolences to the wife and the children. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the debate do now adjourn.

         HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.

         HON. SEN. CHINYANGA: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

         Debate to resume: Tuesday, 25^th March, 2025.

MOTION

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

         HON. SEN. MUZENDA: I move that Order of the Day, Numbers 1 to 12 be stood over until Order of the Day, Number 13 has been disposed of.

         HON. SEN. CHINYANGA: I second.

         Motion put and agreed to.

MOTION

RECOGNITION FOR UNPAID CARE AND DOMESTIC WORK

 

         Thirteenth Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on domestic and unpaid care work.

         Question again proposed.

*HON. SEN. TONGOGARA: Thank you Mr. President for according me this opportunity to wind up my motion. This motion is very important because it touches all of us in here. Many of us who are here know that they have people working for them who are ‘maids’ in the homes that we stay.

Firstly, I want to thank all the Hon. Senators who were able to add their voices on this motion. We know that as a country, we still have a challenge when it comes to these people that we are referring to who do labour intensive jobs. We know that when you are in the home, they are the ones who do all the house chores and they also do outside jobs. They even herd cattle but their wages are paltry that they cannot do anything to improve their lives. 

Mr. President, I was thinking that with this motion, we would see the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare who are responsible for that to come and give their view and the plans that they have concerning unpaid care work and domestic work but it did not take place. All the same, we know that they read the Hansard and they know what is happening. So, maybe we will see them coming up with solutions concerning these people. We know that whatever happens in the country, the Ministry of Finance is   the ones who come up with budgets. 

I was thinking that they would also come and give their ideas or plans concerning this group of people who seem to have been forgotten whilst they do very important jobs so that we hear whatever plans they have since this issue was debated in this House. These are the people who are really living in poverty because they complain that they can go up to three months without any pay and some are not even given food.

As a nation, I think it is high time that we should consider these people and come up with ways on how to help them so that we become like other countries. I know that in other countries, people cannot afford domestic workers because they are very expensive like other workers. I am just hoping that when they see this motion, they will take it seriously.  So, I now move for the adoption of this motion.

Motion that this House—

COGNISANT that domestic and unpaid care work in Zimbabwe is an essential component in developmental matters;

DISTURBED that care givers and domestic workers are not satisfactorily recognised for their services;

CONCERNED that these dedicated people are sometimes not even remunerated for their sterling work despite the long working hours with no rest at all;

NOW, THEREFORE, this House implores—

(a) The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to formally recognise unpaid care and domestic work with a view to improving their remuneration;

(b) The relevant Portfolio Committee of Parliament to conduct oversight on matters that relate to conditions of personnel in this category of employment with a view to ensuring that they are not unduly prejudiced in their day-to-day activities;

(c) The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to provide adequate resources towards this sector, put and agreed to.

HON. SEN. TSHABANGU: Mr. President, I rise to put my displeasure. The Order Paper that we are having is quite long and there are many important motions that are going to be wound up without really debating on them, essential motions that can shape up this country moving forward but the fact that at times we end up not getting into them because they are at the bottom and every time we come here the debate is so extensive, not really withstanding extensive debate which is quite a good thing to do. Let us be mindful that there are motions that are right at the bottom and at the end of the day, we do not get to debate them and they are critical. I am pleading to the secretariat that they should rationalise the new motions, motions that have been debated and are about to be wound up without exhausting the debate. – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear] – I thank you.

    THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (HON. SEN. CHIEF MTSHANE-KHUMALO): It is understood but I think you will agree with me that the responsibility lies with your Chief Whips. You can raise or discuss that at your caucuses so that they can bring up what you have just brought forward. So, please discuss that at your caucuses and see how best you can plan the new programme. Thank you.

On the motion of HON. SEN. MUZENDA, seconded by HON. SEN. GOTORA, the Senate adjourned at Ten Minutes to Five o’clock p.m. until Tuesday, 25^th March, 2025.