Chinotimba causes a stir after he says he wants to be mayor of Harare

HON. CHINOTIMBA:  On a point of order Madam Speaker.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  What is your point of order Hon. Chinotimba?

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Madam Speaker, my point of order is that there is no water in the ablution facilities in this building.  I would like to implore the Administration of Parliament to look into the issue of provision of water in the ablution facilities.  We are inhaling the punjent smell that is coming from the toilets.  I would also request that we sink boreholes at this Parliament.  If there is no water, then Parliament should not sit.  Madam Speaker, even when you go to the ladies’ room, you will discover that some toilets are not working, some cisterns are mal-functioning…

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  What is your point of order?

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  My point of order Madam Speaker, is that we do not know whether the council is failing to run the City Council of Harare.  If they have failed, then they should vote for me so that I become the Harare Mayor because the council right now is failing to discharge its duties.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Thank you Hon. Chinotimba – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – The Hon. Member said chinhu (thing).  He did not point any finger to anyone.  He did not mention anyone’s name – [HON. MEMBERS:  That is unparliamentary.  What kind of language is that?] –

HON. SIKHALA:  Madam Speaker, sign language is one of the official languages of our country in terms of the Constitution.  When the Hon. Member was emphasising his point, he indicated and pointed to this side.  So, for you to say that he did not mention anyone’s name …..

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  You are mixed there, I can see ZANU PF – [HON. MEMBERS:  Haaaaaa!] –

HON. SIKHALA:  Madam Speaker, my concern is not whether he is talking of a ZANU PF MP or an MDC MP, just saying chinhu ichi is improper.  Can he withdraw that Madam Speaker, if we want to take parliamentary business seriously?  Sign language is part of our official language, he pointed.

*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  What Hon. Chinotimba said regarding toilets is the correct position but I would like to inform the House that in the next few days we would be using borehole water.  The issue is being attended to.  Thank you Hon. Chinotimba for raising that issue, however, when you said chinhu, I did not understand what you were referring.  The ‘thing’ that you mentioned, the rotten thing, I did not understand.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Madam Speaker, I said that it is rotten that side at the toilets.  Something is rotten at the toilets.  You cannot even go there.  I was just expressing – it was a figure of speech.  It is not what the Hon. Member is referring to.  I think I do not have to withdraw.

HON. TSUNGA:  Madam Speaker, I think we need to be serious.  We are serious people who should be serious about serious issues.  Hon. Chinotimba made specific reference to the Mayor.  He also said he is available for election in the local authority for the position of Mayor so that he can be able to fix the problems that he has alluded to.  Now, he says chinhu chawora. Having said all that I have mentioned is clearly unparliamentary Madam Speaker.  I think it is in everyone’s interest that he withdraws that statement so that we are considered to be a serious institution that is serious with serious business.  Thank you Madam Speaker.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Chinotimba, can you withdraw your statement?

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Madam Speaker, before withdrawing my statement – [HON. SIKHALA: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Order Hon. Sikhala!

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Madam Speaker Ma’am, before I withdraw, I would like to express what I said and no one can bar me from campaigning as Mayor.  The rotten thing is the toilet unless they want me to withdraw the statement that if I am voted for, I can fix these problems but we cannot sit here without water and other facilities.

However, Madam Speaker Ma’am, I withdraw.

*HON. TSUNGA: ZANU PF please, have a criteria to choose Members of Parliament and not this.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, withdraw your statement – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

HON. TSUNGA:  Madam Speaker Ma’am, I withdraw the fact that we need quality in the House.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Madam Speaker Ma’am, I withdraw the suggestion that I want people to vote for me as the Mayor of the City of Harare.

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