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Parliamentary Roundup Bulletin No. 04 - 2013
Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust
March 01, 2013

Introduction

This week the House of Assembly only met for one day before adjourning to 7 May 2013. Major highlights of the proceedings in the House were; the ratification of the United Nations Convention for the Suppressing of the Financing of Terrorism, resurgence of politically motivated violence, conclusion of debate on the Shabanie Mashava Mines report, and condolence motion on the death of Hon. Seiso Moyo.

House of Assembly Plenary

Ratification of the United Nations Convention for the Suppressing of the Financing of Terrorism

The co-Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Kembo Mohadi, moved a motion for the ratification of the United Nations Convention for the Suppressing of the Financing of Terrorism. He said it was important for Zimbabwe to ratify this Convention before end of February as the country risked being sanctioned by the Financial Task Force (FATF) and the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) to which Zimbabwe is a member state.

The motion was duly passed by the House without any debate from the backbenchers. Debate on the Motion in Reply to the Presidential Speech

Debate on the Presidential Speech on Tuesday 26 February 2013 mainly focused on the resurgence of politically motivated violence in the country and hunger stalking some parts of the country due to the drought conditions.

MDC Members who debated on the motion questioned the President's sincerity in his public stance against violence. They noted that the President has been on a public crusade preaching the need for peace in the country yet his party supporters are the main perpetrators of politically motivated violence in the country. They further alleged that either the President was not sincere in his public posture regarding peace or that he was no longer in control of his party structures and members. MDC MPs also took a swipe at the Police and alleged that the police were responsible for the resurgence of violence because of their partisan and selective application of the law.

ZANU PF defended the President and said every citizen had a responsibility to create peaceful conditions for coexistence. They said the President could not be everywhere to implement government policies and therefore the issue of violence in the country should be dealt with by the government agencies charged with that responsibility; namely, the Co-Ministers of Home Affairs and the Police.

Members across the political divide painted a gloomy picture regarding the food situation in the country especially in southern parts of the country; namely Matabeleland Provinces, Masvingo, and some parts of Midlands and Manicaland Provinces.

Debate on the Shabanie Mashava Mines (SMM) Report

The Chairperson of the Mines, Energy and Power Development, Hon. Edward Chndori-Chininga, wound up debate on the his Committee's Report on the Shabanie Mashava Mines enquiry. In winding up his report, Hon. Chindori-Chininga, took a swipe at the Executive for lack of response to the Committee's findings and recommendations. He singled out the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Senator Patrick Chinamasa under whose jurisdiction the administration of the Reconstruction of State Indebted and Insolvent Companies Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act was placed when Mr. Mutumwa Mawere and his associated companies were specified and put under reconstruction.

Hon. Chindori-Chininga did not spare his fellow back-benchers from his dismay. He noted that only 5 backbenchers debated the report yet the report dealt with a very important subject, which has affected 4000 workers and more 60 000 people in the downstream industries which were benefitting from the asbestos mining activities in Zvishavane Town.

Condolence Motion on the Death of Hon. Seiso Moyo

Hon. Blessing Chebundo (MDC-T Kwekwe) introduced a condolence motion in the House paying tribute to the death of Hon. Seiso Moyo (MDC-T Nketa Constituency). The motion was welcomed by all Members across the political divide.

All Members who debated on the motion described hon. Seiso Moyo as a humble, level-headed and hard-working Member of Parliament who had brilliant ideas for the development of the country. They further noted that hon. Moyo was above party politics as his focus was the development of the country.

Adjournment of Parliament

Parliament adjourned to Tuesday 7 May 2012, ostensibly to give MPs time to prepare for the referendum on the Draft Constitution. MPs were roped in by COPAC to assist with the distribution of the Draft Constitution to their communities as well as explain the provisions of the document to their constituents.

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