Biti says ZUPCO should fall under Transport Minister Mhona, July Moyo imbavha

HON. BITI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker, my question to the esteemed Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works  is that contrary to what she has said, the law still reposes a monopoly for all forms of transport to ZUPCO and that law is Section 4 (II) of the Public Health COVID-19 Regulation Statutory Instrument [83:2020]. Only today, I was in the Constitutional Court trying to argue that that provision is unconstitutional; so the question still remains relevant to the Minister.  Why are you still keeping the monopoly of public transport ZUPCO when ZUPCO has failed and perhaps the Leader of the House can help?  Why should ZUPCO be allocated to the Minister of Local Government and not to the Minister of Transport who has the skills and the Acts of Parliament that are necessary to administer public transport and to harmonise public transport so that the people of Zimbabwe are well served? I thank you very much Madam Speaker Maam. Ipai Mhona mhani basa. July Moyo imbavha iyi.

HON. TOGAREPI: On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I think Hon. Biti must withdraw his statement. Vati vaJuly imbavha. I think it is wrong and it is unparliamentary.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, please may you withdraw your statement which you said July Moyo imbavha?

HON. BITI: I withdraw. July Moyo is not a thief.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker. The question by Hon. Biti is – why the urban transport system is not with the Ministry of Transport. Urban transportation worldwide and it is not unique to Zimbabwe, is with the local authority or Local Government. So that has been the case. The issue is about the management of that particular transportation system which must be enhanced. Even if you transfer it to Ministry of Transport, I do not think that is the problem that we are faced with in our urban transportation system. Our urban transportation system started declining when sanctions were imposed on us – [HON. MEMBERS: Ahhh.] – You recall Madam Speaker that when we were in the 90s when we were…

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