What this entails is that if this is carried out successfully; I actually like the features which the Minister has described which will ensure that those movable assets are going to be vetted and ensure that they are bona fide movable assets. Once we do that, we will certainly see growth in terms of production and our economy. We should also be able to produce more so that we export and create wealth, which is what we need to do at the present moment; to create wealth, so as to bring in more finances and resources into this country. I thank you Madam President.
HON. SEN. B SIBANDA: I rise to make a few comments on the Bill. The first comment is that I applaud and will always do, a determination to give opportunity without necessarily handing out. The second thing is to enquire from the Minister about our banking institutions which are traditionally known to be conservative in terms of loan behaviour. How much consultation and buy-in has been undertaken or given by the banks? Thirdly, how are we going to prevent behind the scenes disposal of assets that have been registered in the collateral register? Finally, I am at sea as to the level of liquidity in the country to be able to support what could be substantial demand for lending at this point in time in the country. I thank you Madam President.
*HON. SEN. MUTSVANGWA: This Bill that has been brought in by Hon. Chinamasa is a good thing for Zimbabwe. We know how difficult it was for women to get loans from the bank. Many-a-time they were told to bring their husbands even if they have houses. It was very difficult but now we see that women who are doing their projects are getting a chance to get into the mainstream economy. This will enable Government to also collect revenue from the women. Our women are going to be happy and this Bill and the women’s bank are both welcome. The women’s bank is going to help a lot of women who engage in projects to uplift their lives and the lives of their families.
We would like to thank the Minister so much because I think the Government will be helped as well, especially in these times that we are in where the country is running backed by an informal economy. If there is a chance that women can get loans using this registry, it will help us so much. We want to thank the Minister for such a brilliant idea and realising that if you leave women behind, we will not progress as a nation.
*HON. SEN. CHIMHINI: I would like to find out if it is possible that a person who wants to get a loan and knows that Sen Chimhini has money and wants to borrow that money to use as implied by the Minister but the person refuses to give me money because they will say we do not agree with what the Minister has said. Can the Minister explain to us whether there is a law that will help us to get loans from those people who refuse to give out loans so that we do not become happy, yet the law will be difficult to implement.
HON. SEN. MOHADI: I also rise to support this Bill. It has been a long wait for such a Bill to be brought to this House. As women, we were the most privileged because women are known to be the poor of the poorest and could not afford collateral in the form of money. Now as women, we are very happy. As a woman from Matabeleland South, where there are goats and cattle, we are now going to use those as collateral. It is a great achievement to use our livestock as collateral. Minister, I applaud you for coming up with this Bill. Without much ado Madam President, I thank you.
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