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

HON. CHIBAYA:  First and foremost, I would like to remind Hon. Members that we are in this august House to represent the people of Zimbabwe and this Constitution was written by the people of Zimbabwe.

Hon. Speaker, I would like to remind our legislators in this House that there was a Parliamentary Select Committee which was mandated to lead the writing of this Constitution. That Select Committee was made up of legislators drawn from both parties – MDC and ZANU PF.  Some of the Members of Parliament are still in this august House.  We did consultations and people …

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. DZIVA):  Hon. Chibaya, please address the Chair.

HON. CHIBAYA:  We did consultations and I am happy that Hon. Speaker you we part of that Committee.  The people of Zimbabwe were very clear that they need a Peace and Reconciliation Commission.  It is disappointing Hon. Speaker that as Members of Parliament who represent the same people, we are going against this amendment.

This Bill seeks to align our legislation with the provisions of the new Constitution and I do not see anything wrong with it.  Mr. Speaker, I am …

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Madam Speaker.

HON. CHIBAYA:  Madam Speaker, I am seeing a demon in this House.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order Hon. Chibaya.

HON. CHIBAYA:  I do not see the reason why….

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order Hon. Chibaya. I want you to stand guided – there are no demons in this Parliament.  There are Members of Parliament.  Just concentrate on your debate.

HON. CHIBAYA:  Thank you very much Madam Speaker.  I am simply saying that if Hon. Members on my right are against this Bill, I do not know which part of this country they represent.  If they represent the people of this country, they cannot go against the Bill.

Let me just take you to Section 252 (b) under the functions of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission;  it says ‘to develop and implement programmes to promote national healing, unity and cohesion in Zimbabwe in the peaceful resolution of disputes’.  So, Hon. Speaker, I do not see the reason why we are going against this Bill.  I just want to thank the Vice President for coming up with this Bill.  Hon. Members of this august House were actually complaining that you were not coming to align the Constitution with our legislation.  I want to thank you very much and I support you.

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