Chiwenga causes a stir in Parliament

*HON. ADV. CHAMISA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question to the Hon.Vice President, Rtd. General Dr. Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga, [HON. MEMBERS: Dominic, Nyikadzino.] – [Laughter.] – My question is Vice President, different nations are known to understand that war veterans are known to maintain peace worldwide – be it in Vietnam, America, United Kingdom et cetera. Is it legal and as Government policy that for 37 years up to today we are still – I know you have been spearheading a very important programme of restoring legacy. Can the legacy be restored in 37 years when we keep postponing and saying that we are still looking into the issue? Do you not think this has affected the image of Government, especially when considering that what you are talking about does not have any timeline as to when we can get a response and also as to when the war veterans can get their pensions?

There is nothing as important as the war veterans, so, we want that to be addressed. In our opinion all other things can be suspended but the war veterans should be given a decent living – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –

*THE HON. VICE PRESIDENT (RTD. GEN. DR. CHIWENGA): I thank the Hon. Member for that question. Mr. Speaker Sir, let me respond to what the Hon. Member has asked. I wish that all of you would have the same spirit in this august House and suspend going to America and other areas that you have been to – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – [HON. MANDIPAKA: Supplementary, supplementary, supplementary!] –

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, order – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

Several Hon. Members having stood up to raise a point of order.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, order –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Can you sit down! Order, order. Can the Hon. Vice President approach the Chair?

The Hon. Vice President Rtd. General Dr. Chiwenga approached the Chair.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order, order – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Order, order. Hon. Mliswa. Hon. Mliswa! Order! Hon. Mandipaka, I said order can you sit down. Can you sit down? Order, order! I think it will be high time to ask some Hon. Members to get out of the House – [HON. MEMBERS: Starting with the Vice President.] –

Order, I have asked the Hon. Vice President to proceed to answer the question

*HON. RTD. GEN. DR. CHIWENGA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I was still responding but when other Hon. Members stood up, I decided to take my seat in honour of this House. I understand that the rule says that when others stand up, you sit down.

I was saying that we need to understand the history behind that journey of the past thirty seven years that we have gone through. If we had worked together as a nation and not a divided people, we would not be talking about under development or poverty – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

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