Chamisa says ministers must attend Parliament instead of small houses

MINISTERS WITH LEAVE OF ABSENCE

THE ACTING SPEAKER: I have received apologies from the following Hon. Ministers:

i)                  Hon. Damasane;

ii)               Hon. Chidhakwa;

iii)            Hon. F. Moyo;

iv)            Hon. Dr. Mpofu;

v)               Hon. Mlambo;

vi)            Hon. Chikwama;

vii)         Hon. V.P. Mnangagwa;

viii)      Hon. V.P. Mphoko;

ix)            .    Hon. Kasukuwere;

x)               Hon. Bimha;

xi)            Hon. Muchinguri;

xii)         Hon. Sen. Mupfumira;

xiii)       Hon. Sen. Mathuthu;

xiv)       Hon. Dr. Parirenyatwa;

xv)          Hon. Mumbengegwi; and

xvi)       Hon. Prof. J. Moyo.

– [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]-

THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Members, let us have order.

HON. ADV. CHAMISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker.  I was reading –  through you Mr. Speaker, if you may ask Hon. Chinamasa and Hon. Made to listen to what I am about to say because it concerns Government.

THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order Hon. Members.  You may force me to send one of you out.

HON. ADV. CHAMISA: In terms of our Standing Order Number 63 as read together with Standing Order Number 26, Ministers who are not able to come to Parliament are supposed to seek the leave of the Speaker and that of Parliament.  You have mentioned a whole list of Ministers who are not present; did they seek the leave from you?  Was the leave granted and did they explain the reasons?  Why I am saying this is, this provision is not there for the mere asking.  It is there to make sure that Ministers who do not come here because they have chosen to go to other pursuits or their own frolics, they are censured and reprimanded.

I am just asking you Hon. Speaker so that we are clear.   As Parliament, we do not want a habit of Ministers who just come here to say I am not coming to Parliament.  It is not adequate; it is not sufficient.  If they are not coming to Parliament, they must give us a reason because we know that some Ministers abandon this august House for other small houses, which may be where-ever they are.  We want this august House to be respected.  If you may clarify this Hon. Speaker.

THE ACTING SPEAKER: What do you mean by small house, Hon. Member?

HON. ADV. CHAMISA: A house in Cabinet is a small house compared to this august House.  So, it is very important.  You heard what I said.

THE ACTING SPEAKER: Hon. Chamisa, by the virtue that I have this list of the apologies, that means they have been granted the leave they sought from Parliament.

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