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SENATE HANSARD 29 OCTOBER 2024 VOL 34 NO 08
PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Tuesday, 29th October, 2024
The Senate met at Half-past Two o’clock p.m.
PRAYERS
(THE HON. PRESIDENT OF SENATE in the Chair)
MOTION
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: DEBATE ON ADDRESS
First Order Read: Adjourned debate on motion in reply to the
Presidential Speech.
Question again proposed.
HON. SEN. M. NCUBE: Thank you Madam President. I stand to debate on the SONA given by His Excellency. May I start by appreciating the motion raised by Hon. Sen. Gotora. Madam President, when we look at the SONA address by the President, you will realise that his first statement refers to the people of Zimbabwe and their welfare. In particular reference to the El Nino induced drought and the efforts being done by the Government to ensure that no one in all the corners of the country dies of hunger. We must appreciate that the President has got the people at heart. That is commendable Madam President - [HON.MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]-
Secondly, he emphasised on unity, peace and development within the country. Those are important ingredients for development. We cannot develop without peace and unity. We must be all united as Zimbabweans so that we can lift ourselves as a country and achieve the overarching objectives, upper middle income economy by 2030. That requires a united people, a focused people, setting our differences aside. We must also appreciate the infrastructure development. Several riches have been in this country for a long time.
There has been ballooning of infrastructure development all because of the leadership of the country. I think that is a trajectory that we should maintain as a country. Maybe we should personalise and move forward and say 2030, let us move as one with the President leading us forward. Maybe we are taking it too much but I swear that is the basis of it all. There are other factors which the President also mentioned and touched on. The debilitating effect of sanctions in the country that has got an impact of actually compressing or reducing some of the things that we are supposed to be doing which will be beneficial to the people.
So, on the 25th of October, there was an Anti- Sanctions Day with all of SADC standing behind Zimbabwe. They were standing with Zimbabwe with one voice to say the sanctions must be lifted unconditionally so that we are settled as a country. I think it is important that all of us, particularly in this House, stand together and send a clear message to the Americans and other like-minded countries that as Zimbabweans, we are against these sanctions.
Madam President, there is one particular Bill which stood out to me in the SONA address by the President. The Mines and Minerals Bill has been outstanding for a long time now and there is a lot of complaining between miners and farmers that is happening. I think there is need to expedite or push that Bill so that it comes before the House and is passed. That will bring a lot of clarity in the mining sector. We will actually rejuvenate the mining sector. There is also a lot happening which the President touched on, more so, because we are now entering the summer season. The school feeding programme which is taking place; the inputs are being distributed all over the country so that every school going pupil at least gets one decent meal a day through the school feeding programme. I think we must commend the Government led by His Excellency that they are doing a good job in this regard.
The inputs which I touched on are now being distributed all over the country but what Government is saying is, it is important to observe and adhere to ecological zones. In some cases, you have to get proper training in order to plant maize. In areas where rainfall is below 50 or 100 mm per year, instead of taking on and adapting small grains as Members of Parliament, we should try to educate our farmers that all the inputs must be fitting to that particular ecological zone. Where they do cattle ranching, they should be supported so that cattle thrive in that area. Speaking of cattle, in some areas in Midlands, cattle are dying in numbers. I am sure it is the same in Matabeleland and other areas. I think there is need to actually move stock feed in large quantities to those areas. Our national head may be in trouble of being decimated. On that note Madam President, I thank you for allowing me to say just a few words in support of the motion moved by Hon. Senator Gotora.
*HON. SEN. RUNGANI: I rise to support the motion which was raised by Hon. Senator Gotora. I would like to thank His Excellency for his State of the Nation Address. Government supports us with food and no one has suffered from hunger.
Our farmers are being supported in wheat production so that we do not import. We appreciate that and also appreciate all the people in the rural areas who are growing wheat and supporting this cause.
I stay in the rural areas; the wheat that we used to receive back then is no longer good for baking bread. It is now being distributed to people in the rural areas and it is good for their survival and upkeep.
Our President also emphasised that whenever it rains, let us preserve that water because we need to preserve it for irrigation. I would like to reiterate to the people in the rural areas that we need to preserve water using all those methods that we use. In the past, there were reservoirs that were constructed and the water would be used for gardening and perhaps a small maize field that we can use.
I also heard about accidents on the SONA. Although we constructed very good roads, people are dying out there. We would like to give warnings to people that as they travel on the road, they must travel safely and not speed, hence preserve life. You may survive but hit a pedestrian on the road, so let us always remember to preserve lives through these very good roads.
As Parliament, we were given Bills that were supposed to be debated and passed. We must ensure that we make good laws for our citizenry for the benefit of the electorate. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. KUNAKA: Thank you Madam President. I rise to debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The address came just a year after the nation went to an election and this was an over-emphasis on peace and tolerance, regardless of our socio-political differences, tribes and all our diversities.
The address, if put into action, was sufficient to compel all citizens to mark an exodus from the callous political landscape and undue human rights violations that normally mar the pre-election period. This also pointed to the issue of human rights, which remain indispensable tenets of any democratic society and true peace. As citizens, we are also compelled to adhere to the laid down regional and international instruments on human rights. The issue of human rights can never be limited either in terms of the Zimbabwean law or International law.
The President also tackled a number of Bills to be amended so as to realign with some of the legislative pieces. As Parliament, we have a role to fight for systems that are committed to the rule of law. We also need to reform some of the Government institutions, for the fight of independent systems remains at the core of every nation’s agenda and the heartbeat of a united nation. We also expect Government institutions to discharge their mandate in a non- partisan manner that is not undermined by political influence as to fully restore confidence in the citizens as part of their regulatory function. This will also help the nation meet the demands of harmony as contained in the speech. So, true peace can only be enhanced when we have independent institutions epitomised by the Lady Justice who is truly blind.
You also tackled on the issue of investment. I think as a nation, we are still on that point of trying to re-engage some international players to improve on investment. I think there are a number of factors that crippled our investment community that we ended up deemed as not investor friendly. Before we look up to investment by being a resourceful nation that hosts good geology, I think we need to make use of these underground extracts to boost Government revenue needed to jump start the economy.
The challenge is that the country continues to be prejudiced of these minerals through smuggling and nothing is brought to the Central Bank. Also lack of consistent monetary policies is a major factor affecting investment because of this limited monetary space. The country relies more on diaspora remittances. As a nation, we have had a lot of economic blue prints since independence but only seemed to be temporary measures. The Central Bank, in the past, shifted from its legal mandate and involved itself in the quasi-fiscal activities of bond printing with a view of increasing liquidity on the market but the market responded negatively to this. To that effect, some investors sought value preservation on the equity market and parked their funds and properties and caused a decline in the net foreign investment flow since the investors were averse to the emergency currency risk.
The volatile political environment that always marks the pre- election period has a major impact on trading behaviour on stock markets since everyone needs security of their investments. Furthermore, the current mismatch between local currency and hard currency caused a lot of decline in capital markets. Therefore, what is needed are consistent monetary policies that ensure all fiscal disciplines to attract the requisite investment for the nation to be a destination of choice for investment. As Parliament, we have the oversight mandate. We have a huge task in formulating policies that seek to improve on the ability of investors to provide sound corporates that raise capital. Also needed are transparent and consistent policies that restore investor confidence. We need to embark on comprehensive policies that address the current underlining financial imbalances in line with the standard benchmarks meant to promote a business friendly nation. I thank you.
HON. SEN. GOTORA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 30th October, 2024.
MOTION
EQUIPPING OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS TO ENSURE COMMUNITIES PRACTICE, PRESERVE AND RESPECT CULTURAL PRACTICES
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Demoralisation of cultural and our traditional values by western influence.
Question again proposed.
*HON. SEN. MATIBIRI: Thank you Mr. President for giving me this opportunity to debate on this motion brought by Hon. Senator Muzoda. This motion is about the erosion of our culture being greatly influenced by the West as well as other agencies in this country that are destroying our culture. I will mix the English with my mother language.
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SENATE: No, that is not permissible you have to stick to one language.
*HON. SEN. MATIBIRI: I thank you Mr. President. When this motion was brought in this august House, my understanding was that there is a risk of our culture being influenced by western cultures, especially as well as other agencies that maybe in the country. My understanding after listening to the motions is that the erosion of our culture in Zimbabwe was not there from the beginning but it came through visitors. When we were growing up in this country, there was a liberation struggle that was going on and my understanding was that the liberation struggle was meant to free us from colonialism and the burden that comes with it.
My understanding was that the black Zimbabweans especially, wanted liberation and get what belongs to them. For those who wanted to come, they would have to through our understanding of each other. My other understanding is that nobody colonizes you without first of all colonizing your culture. Culture defines you. It defines your character and your thinking as well as your pride and self-esteem. The colonisers agreed that in order for them to successfully colonise us, they should first of all colonise our culture, our institutions that run the cultures from one generation to another. That was very important, they agreed on that and had a strategy and well calculated plan for it.
When Hon. Senator Tongogara brought this motion, she said there is something that we did not do well after the end of the liberation struggle, we were supposed to understand that it was not all about the armed struggle. We were supposed to understand that we were supposed to liberate our minds and our views so that the black person would take pride in their skin. Right now, it is as if something to take pride in when you fly all the way to the western countries. People can gather when somebody is coming from the United States, yet the view is different from somebody who flies from Zambia or neighbouring countries.
We have a problem of what I would like to call self-hate. So, what can we do? I think this motion brought by Hon. Senator Muzoda must not just end in the Hansard. We are supposed to have another struggle to emancipate the mind and the thinking so that people stop thinking that their culture is inferior to other cultures, decolonising the mind. So, which institutions are important in passing on the cultural values from one generation to another? I would like to point out the institution of education and the family. Right now, our way of life with regards to family is now different from how we used to live in the past. This is because of rural to urban migration. Through families, that is where cultural values are transferred from the older generation to the younger generation. So, when that institution is disturbed or destroyed, it means we no longer have a vehicle of transmission because the elderly would live alone and the young ones live separately. There is lack of respect. The younger generation does not see the importance of visiting the elderly in the rural areas.
With regards to education, we use English language although we are black people. If you take a look at what happened to the war that happened in South Africa, the major cause was that the indigenous South Africans did not want the elimination of their language which carried people’s culture. If language is disturbed, culture is also destroyed. In my other life, I am a teacher and you will find that sometimes Shona is taught in English. How can Shona be taught in English. I believe that most people in this august House went through education, be it ‘O’ or ‘A’ level, and you will realise that Shona language is taught in English. I do not understand why that is happening. If you go to Nigeria, they learn using their own languages. If you go to many other counties it is the same. I think it is only in Zimbabwe, which is among a few countries that teach their own language using a foreign language. That is where we lose out on our culture. There are some words that we cannot express in Shona and yet it is easy to do so in English.
I wish this august House would continue understanding that losing cultural values is as big as what had to be regained through the liberation struggle. If we do not stand up as Zimbabweans to defend that, as we go forward, you realise that our differences would be much amplified. That is why on important national occasions, there are so many various views and that is why our minds were distorted to the extent that we fail to appreciate that we are Zimbabweans.
I would like to thank Hon. Senator Wunganayi-Muzoda for bringing that motion in this august House. I urge all institutions that are meant to protect culture to do something about it because going forward, I believe we are going to have a lot of problems and we will not be able to understand and appreciate what it means to be a black Zimbabwean. I thank you.
HON. SEN. MUZODA: I move that the debate do now adjourn.
HON. SEN. ZVIDZAI: I second.
Motion put and agreed to.
Debate to resume: Wednesday, 30th October 2024
On the motion of HON. SEN. GOTORA, seconded by HON.SEN. MAVENYENGWA, the Senate adjourned at Six Minutes past three o’clock p.m.