Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who told Parliament last week that he could answer any questions to do with government business when several ministers opted to attend First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rally instead of Parliament, had a funny way of evading some of the questions.
When asked by Bulawayo East legislator Thabitha Khumalo what culture Zimbabwe was introducing by allowing women to walk naked during the Harare International Carnival, Mnangagwa said the carnival was for all nations to exhibit their cultures.
“As Zimbabweans, we do not have a culture of nakedness. Ours is a different culture altogether. Other nations may have that as their culture and we have no business interrogating the cultures of other nations,” he said.
“In turn, they also do not have any business interrogating our own culture. So, we should accept that nations have different cultures. If a culture is repugnant to our own situation, obviously we will make sure it does not get imported into Zimbabwe.”
But Mnangagwa mocked Khumalo, who marched topless at a Movement for Democratic Change rally: “I am so certain that outside the Chamber, she liked the carnival but of course in here she has to say what she has said.”
Mnangagwa was vague when asked by Gweru Urban legislator Sesel Zvidzai whether Zimbabwe’s ancestors would answer prayers for rain -Mukwerera- because of this “bare buttock tourism”.
“I heard what the hon. member said about mukwerera but what I did not hear is whether those participating in the carnival went to the rain making ceremonies and disrupted the event,” Mnangagwa said.
“Secondly, I did not hear whether they rejected the money brought in by these people or if the money was left behind, they do not want it.”
Q & A:
MS. T. KHUMALO: In the absence of the Minister of Tourism, I will direct my question to the Hon. Vice President. I would like to know what culture we are introducing in Zimbabwe after the festival where our women walked naked. Also, how much revenue did that bring into the country and what was achieved by getting our children drunk?
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (MR. MNANGAGWA): I am so certain that outside the Chamber, she liked the carnival but of course in here she has to say what she has said. The principle of carnivals is for nations to exhibit their cultures. As Zimbabweans, we do not have a culture of nakedness. Ours is a different culture altogether. Other nations may have that as their culture and we have no business interrogating the cultures of other nations. In turn, they also do not have any business interrogating our own culture. So, we should accept that nations have different cultures. If a culture is repugnant to our own situation, obviously we will make sure it does not get imported into Zimbabwe.
*MR. ZVIDZAI: I have a supplementary question to the Hon. Vice President. Currently, we are in the season of rain making ceremonies ‘mukwerera’ and when we are doing these ceremonies we need to stick to our tradition in order for our ancestors to answer our requests. Now, in view of what we are being exposed to, for example ‘bare buttock tourism’ do you think the ancestors can answer our requests?
MR. MNANGAGWA: I heard what the hon. member said about mukwerera but what I did not hear is whether those participating in the carnival went to the rain making ceremonies and disrupted the event. Secondly, I did not hear whether they rejected the money brought in by these people or if the money was left behind, they do not want it.
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