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

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  The Chair’s ruling is final.

HON. MLISWA:  But the other Chair had ruled.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  I am the Speaker.

HON. MLISWA:  It is on record in the Hansard because she said that Hon. Majome and me.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Mliswa, you are out of order, I am the Speaker right now and I make decisions – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I am not representing anyone, I am the Speaker right now and I have made a ruling.

HON. CHASI: Thank you very much Madam Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – I am just waiting to have your attention Madam Speaker.  This is a very important Bill and I have great difficulty in supporting it from any angle whatsoever and from a technical drafting point of view, it is a disaster.  I have great respect for the Attorney General’s Office. I have worked with them, they are a very hard working office; they are technically sound but with respect to this Bill, they have failed us.  I think those that have spoken before me have spoken in connection with section 1, the interpretation section.   Even members of the public, when we went round for the public hearings, were able to see that there was no interpretation section.  I think it had two words that were meant to constitute an interpretation section.  There was no interpretation section in that Bill.

If you look at the level of interest in the Bill, those that have spoken about the level of interest have spoken very well and have indicated that there does not appear to be interest; any level of meaningful interest in this Bill by those that are meant to be piloting it at all.  The period intervening between the first time the Bill came to Parliament and this time around does not reflect the necessary level of interest.  The content itself does not reflect the seriousness that the public I think take of the content and the nature of the material that we are talking about.  So, I think the level of anger that we witnessed when we went around the country, is pertinent to mention.  Going around the country, it was very clear that the public viewed us with a great deal of suspicion that we were playing with their time and that we were complicity in the delays, that we were not serious as Parliament in terms of what is…

HON. MLISWA: On a point of order Madam Speaker, in terms of Standing Order No. 56 – [Laughter.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order in the House, I have not yet recognised you.

HON. MLISWA:  Rule 56 talks of the quorum of the House; the quorum of the House is not enough for us to continue.  As such, I am bringing this in terms of Standing Order Rule 56.  I thank you.  We are not enough – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  According to the point of order raised by Hon. Mliswa, I will allow Parliament to take necessary procedures so as to make sure that the House had a quorum. If it does not, we will adjourn the House.  I will allow them to ring the bells for seven minutes.

Bells rung.

Quorum formed.

Continued next page

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