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Parliamentary
Roundup Bulletin No. 31 - 2012
Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust
July 13, 2012
Introduction
On Wednesday,
backbenchers were only able to field questions to a few Ministers
who were in the House.
On Thursday, the House of Assembly passed the following Bills; Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission, Electoral
Amendment Bill and the Older
Persons Bill. Much of the debate in the Senate on Wednesday
11 July 2012 centered on the motion by Senator James Makore on the
alleged existence of ghost workers on the Public Service Payroll.
PLENARY
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY:
Policy
Questions Without Notice:
Indigenization
Policy in Education Sector
Hon. Settlement
Chikwinya (MDC-T Mbizo) asked the Deputy Minister for Youth and
Indigenization, Hon. Tongai Matutu, on what government seeks to
achieve by extending the indigenization policy to the education
sector. The Deputy Minister evaded answering the question as he
requested that it be put in writing.
Selective
Application of the Indigenization Policy
Hon Fani Munengami
(MDC-T Glen View North) enquired on whether it was government policy
to apply the Indigenization Act selectively as Chinese companies
appeared to be spared as evidenced by ZIMASCO in which the Chinese
had 73% ownership. The House was informed that the law was not being
applied selectively and ZIMASCO had submitted its proposal even
though management was arguing for exemption on the basis that Chinese
were friends of Zimbabwe.
Lack
of Agricultural Colleges in Matabeleland
Hon. Wesley
Sansole (MDC-T Hwange East) enquired from the Deputy Minister of
Agriculture, Hon Seiso Moyo, why there were no agricultural colleges
in Matabeleland. The Deputy Minister informed the House that the
matter was under consideration in the ministry as the ministry wants
every province to have an agricultural college.
Plight
of Cotton Farmers
Hon Ronald Ndaba
(ZANU PF Chiredzi North) enquired from Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani
Khupe on steps being taken by government to alleviate the plight
of cotton farmers. The House was informed that government was concerned
with the current producer prices for cotton and efforts were being
made to negotiate with the farmers and ginners in order to arrive
at a fair price.
National
Sports Stadium
Hon Jeffryson
Chitando (MDC-T Masvingo Central) sought clarity on measures being
taken by the Ministry of Public Works to ensure that the National
Sports Stadium met international standards. The House was informed
by the Minister, Hon. Joel Gabbuza, that the ministry was commercializing
the stadium in order to generate revenue for its maintenance. The
Minister further informed the House that the Chinese contractor
who had been engaged to repair the stadium had imported lawn which
failed to thrive under local weather conditions and the ministry
was making sure that local varieties were used. Hon Chikwinya enquired
why the ministry allowed non-sporting events like church gatherings
to be held at the stadium as these contributed to the deterioration
of the stadium. The House was informed that the ministry had ceased
the hiring out of the stadium for non-sporting activities.
Local
Authorities Clinics
Hon Masaiti
enquired from the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Urban
Development, Hon. Sesel Zvidzai why most clinics owned by local
authorities were ill-equipped to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The House was informed that the local council health facilities
had not been spared from the effects of the economic melt-down.
However, the ministry was making efforts to rectify the shortcomings
in service delivery.
Maternity
User Fees
Hon. Thamsanqa
Mahlangu (MDC-T Nkumanane) asked Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Khupe
when maternity user fees would be scrapped off. Hon. Khupe informed
the House that maternity fees have since been scrapped off and the
government was currently working out modalities of distributing
the subsidy funds to hospitals and clinics across the country.
Ministerial
Statement by the Minister of Energy and Power Development on Energy
Generation
The Minister
of Energy and Power Development, Hon. Elton Mangoma made a ministerial
statement
in the House of Assembly on Thursday 12 July 2012 on energy generation.
He informed the House that his ministry was making efforts to ease
the power shortages in the country. He cited lack of maintenance,
unviable low tariffs in the past years and low funding from treasury
as having contributed to the demise of the energy sector. The Minister
further informed the House there was need for Hwange Colliery to
be revived as well as massive investment in the energy sector if
the electricity problems were to ease. The House was also informed
that other forms of energy like solar and gas were being pursued.
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