Gukurahundi rears its ugly head again as Parliament discusses Mphoko’s Peace and Reconciliation bill- Part Four

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order.  We have to be very careful about what we say.  The Executive, in its wisdom as guided by the Constitution has brought this Bill here.  There is no way we can say the Constitution is wrong. To say the Executive is wrong in bringing this Bill, the Executive has complied with the constitutional provision.  That is why the Bill is before us.  There is no way you can say the Bill is not supposed to be here.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is my view….

THE HON. SPEAKER:   Order, order.  I have guidance from the Chair.  Otherwise, you are saying there is something wrong with the Executive and there is something wrong with the Constitution.  Thank you.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Mr. Speaker, the previous speaker, Hon. Mandipaka spoke about the findings from the public hearings and that the Bill was not received well by the members of the public.  I am among those members who did not receive it well.  I said as one person who was in one of the camps, people should not just talk about gukurahundi….

*THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order and switch off your microphone.  Hon. Member, you are not like the ordinary members of the public.  If you follow Section 119 of the Constitution, it says that you should uphold this Constitution.  You are not like the generality of the people.  You are bound by the Constitution.  So, confine yourself to the issues that are in the Bill only.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  What I want to say is that I have heard people saying, when I was in Dzapasi, there was what we used to refer to as the Entumbane battle that killed a lot of people.  People were put in trains and came to their homes.  The issue that we are trying to talk about is to open old wounds that had healed– [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – When others were debating, people were silent, so allow me to debate in silence.  Please protect me Mr. Speaker.

*THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order.  Hon. Member, please understand.  Debate the issues that are around the Bill only – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  It appears as if I am now appearing to be stupid because people were discussing about people being killed in Bindura.  I am trying to explain but you want me to confine myself to the Bill.  People were talking about people murdered and I want also to make reference to the same issues.  I want to give reference to the Entumbane issue….

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order. Hon. Chinotimba if you recall, I told Hon. Majome not to talk about the past issues in Bindura because that is not what is contained in their report as a Committee and she complied.

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