I would want to suggest that when these reforms are being worked out or are being proposed, it will be good since this country relies more on agriculture to make sure that people in these areas where they produce vegetables like tomatoes; to avoid risking seeing them or having accidents while struggling in those trucks, we are expecting that the Government will make sure that these producers will sell from their areas where they produce and trucks are sent there to collect these vegetables and they are paid there because after they travel this risky journey sitting on top of tomatoes; they get to the market and makoronyera are waiting for them and they take everything. The farmers then go back home discouraged to go back to their farms or gardens.
This does not promote ease of doing business for rural people. Why do we not have these processing plants put in the areas where production is taking place. There is no point in putting something as far as Norton when the producers are in Uzumba, Mutoko, Chihota and Domboshava. For these farmers to get transport to ferry their vegetables will be a challenge. In the end, they will perish and are thrown away. We are expecting that when these reforms are being crafted, they will make sure that these processing plants are put in the relevant places where they will be utilised by the local people.
I will move to the Manufacturing Sector, the President spoke loudly on the challenges being faced by our …
HON. MUTSEYAMI: On a point of order. Thank you so much Madam Speaker and good afternoon. The Hon. Member is doing a presentation of a Presidential Speech but she is skating around the issue of Robin Hood. The issue of abuse of funds…she is not speaking about what is happening about Jonathan Moyo. I think it is a good idea that that is included. Thank you Madam Speaker.
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members. I would like to advise Members of Parliament not to abuse the Standing Rules or the Privileges that you have in Parliament.
The Hon. Member is still debating the Presidential Speech and there is nothing that I see as being out of order. You are actually out of order Hon. Mutseyami. Hon. Nyamupinga, you can continue.
HON. NYAMUPINGA: I will now move to the manufacturing sector. The President spoke loudly on the challenges being faced by our manufacturing sector which included among others cheap imports. The issue of cheap imports will not get this country anywhere. Our economy will not grow from cheap imports. Our people out there always cry that if Government bans cheap imports, how will they survive. I would like to applaud the Government for putting in place Statutory Instrument 64 which has already started showing positive results and I think because of these positive results, most of our people are now moving away from cheap imports. Why do we not all sign up to “Buy Zimbabwe” that when you get into a supermarket where there are local and imported products, one chooses to buy local products first before we even look at the imported products.
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