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Questions without notice
Parliament of Zimbabwe
June 22, 2005

MR. MHASHU: My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture. As a result of operation Murambatsvina accommodation has been demolished for some of our teachers, pupils and there are in the open and there are not going to school because they are guarding their belongings. My question is, what is the Ministry's policy in terms of addressing this problem?

THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, SPORTS AND CULTURE (MR. CHIGWEDERE): I would like to thank the Hon. Member for asking that question. We do not know of such a situation existing, that teachers are failing to go to school to teach because they are guarding their properties or that children are at home guarding the properties of their parents and therefore are not going to school. What we know is that some families has been disrupted, teachers have done for a day or two without proper accommodation and they spend a day or two running around looking for alternative accommodation.

We are aware too that some children have been disrupted for a day or two whilst parents hunted for alternative accommodation. We are not aware of children who spend more than a week out of school. We are aware that children have been disrupted but they are back at their old schools. Teachers are back at their old schools.

Maybe for the information of the Hon. Member, he would like to know how we check. We check at two ends. There is no child who lives school to be accommodated at another school without a transfer letter. There is no child who leaves school and is admitted into another school without a transfer letter. So by checking how many transfer letters have been issued, we know how many children left school. By checking how many admissions have been made, we know these children who have been transferred have all been accommodated into some other schools.

The evidence before us is that parents are making temporary arrangements and if anything permanent is going to emerge, it will emerge by the end of the term or at the beginning of next term. So at the beginning of next term we will know. So, we are not aware of teachers who are not teaching because they are guarding their properties. We are not aware of the existence of children who are not attending school because they are guarding the properties of their parents.

MR. MHASHU: I am pleased that the Minister has admitted tacitly that there is problem of displacement and so forth. My question is, what are the measures being taken to rehabilitate the teachers, students and their mental trauma and psychological state?

MR. CHIGWEDERE: The psychological side should be directed to the Minister of Health because we do not cure. We have a school Psychological Department and they are in the field but they do not cure. They advise, counsel, then they refer to the Ministry of Health should it be necessary. That is what we are doing.
As for alternative accommodation, that is not our responsibility. I can refer the member to the Minister of Local Government, Mr. Chombo, who is responsible for providing alternative accommodation.

MR. CHIBAYA: My question is directed to the Leader of the House, as I can see the Minister of Home Affairs is not in this House. I want to know whether it is a policy that the police officers when destroying the illegal structures, are allowed to take people's assets? I am saying this because in my constituency, the police officers were actually taking people's assets when they were destroying the so called illegal structures.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (MR. CHINAMASA): I would ask that a specific question be put in writing and be addressed to the relevant Ministry.

MR. MUTSEKWA: My question is directed to the Minister of Defence, and I see he has just walked in now. We understand the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are actively involved in the construction exercise after the destructions under operation Murambatsvina. Why did your Ministry not recognize the expertise in the Defence Forces and construct accommodation for the troops as it is one area which is affecting moral severely?

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (DR. SEKERAMAYI): The Ministry of Defence is in the process of constructing accommodation so that all members of the Defence Forces have institutional housing. That programme is on course and is progressing.

MR. GWETU: My question is directed to the Minister of Local Government. With reference to the demolishing of the illegal structures, is there any policy provision for punitive measures? The information I have from my members of my constituency is that certain police officers have alleged that if members of the public do not pull down their structures and by the time the police do so, they will be subjected to a fine of not less that half a million dollars.

MR. CHINAMASA: Again, I will ask the Hon. Member to put that question in writing so that he could get a specific response from the Minister - [Mr. Mutsekwa; Where are the ministers?] - The ministers are out pushing the reconstruction programme. As a matter of fact, they are launching the Whitecliffe operation Garikai.

MR. CHAMISA: My question is directed to the Leader of the House. As a Member of Parliament concerned with the ubiquitous presence of police officers on the roads in our suburbs, at various market places, can you just clarify to this House whether this country has degenerated into a police state.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (MR. CHINAMASA): The police have the responsibility to maintain law and order. They have a responsibility to ensure that safety is maintained on our roads. They are obviously involved in the current Operation Murambatsvina and Operation Restore order. Where you find them, they are performing those duties which are their constitutional responsibilities.

MR. GABBUZA: I would like to raise an issue relating to the laws to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Policemen are confiscating goods if they are perceived to be overpriced. Which laws are they using to justify the confiscation of goods, as well as issuing of tickets for fines?

MR. CHINAMASA: It is a very important question which deserves a very detailed answer from the Minister of Industry and International Trade who is responsible for the control of prices and ensuring that tradesmen and businessmen charge the prices that are determined in terms of the Control of Goods Act. I would ask the Hon. Member to put this question in writing to the responsible Minister.

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