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

Further on, I hope that we can consider removing the discretion that the Commission will have as to whether or not to investigate if a person comes because many people will not have justice.  It is my hope also in Clause 6 (5), there is an indication that if the Commission wants the cooperation or the assistance of any department of Government and that Government department does not comply; the Commission can tell a relevant Committee of Parliament which can summon that department.  But, the Bill does not go on to state what then happens if the Commission still refuses.  I would hope that there would be some measures to make sure that there can be compulsion of cooperation with the Commission.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I also go further to indicate that in this particular Bill, I would hope that it specifically mentions or defines – in a way what those issues are that the Commission would want to deal with – what kind of violations are we dealing with.  Are they gross human rights violations, are they kidnappings, are they extra judicial killing or are they more or less like sudden poverty maybe inflicted by finding your money in the bank in loss of zeros and your pension having gone.  Are they economic, physical or psychological to maybe indicate that?  I also hope that the Bill itself in Clause 13 and I implore the Hon. Vice President through you Mr. Speaker Sir to allow the Commission to put up in place its own organogram or staff infrastructure.

My appeal to the Hon. Vice President is that it would not take anything away from the Hon. Vice President if the Commission were to indeed enjoy the independence that the Constitution gives it for it to do its organogram and they consult the Hon. Minister of Finance.  If the Commission were to consult with the Hon. Vice President about how to setup the organogram; it would, with respect amount to interference with the independence of the Commission.  Once you set up the architecture, if they can hire and fire at will, it means that it is already impinged.

In that respect I also urge the Hon. Vice President through you Mr. Speaker Sir to consider also not taking away the provision that requires the Commission to give its financial reports to him first.  I believe that the provisions in the Constitution requiring reports are sufficient.  Also that for the first meeting of the Commission, I also submit that you should consider meeting it…

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, your time is up unfortunately.

HON. MARIDADI:  I move that the Hon. Member’s time be extended by five minutes.

Motion put.

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  I object.

See also:

Gukurahundi rears its ugly head again as legislators discuss Mphoko’s Peace and Reconciliation bill

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

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