MP says ministers should be charged for attending a cabinet meeting instead of Parliament

APOLOGY RECEIVED FROM CABINET MINISTERS

THE HON. SPEAKER: The second thing I would like to ask you is that I have received communication through the Chief Whip from Cabinet that our Hon. Ministers are in Cabinet and they sent their apology. They should be joining us any time. I have discussed with the Chief Whip and I must apologise that I did not consult Hon. Gonese, the other Chief Whip to say that meanwhile we can have the Ministerial Statement which was promised this House by the Hon. Minister Mupfumira. With your indulgence, may I therefore request the Hon. Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Service to present the Ministerial Statement on behalf of the Minister who has travelled outside the country?

HON. ZINDI: Thank you Hon. Speaker. I am of the opinion, on behalf of Members of Parliament, to acknowledge the debate that took place in this House by Hon. Members across the political divide. It is motivational; I think on the part of members, that you acknowledge the illustrious work and effort being put into investigative debates, the kind of presentation by Hon. Maridadi taking his time to come up with all the evidence that he presented before Parliament. I think we are very delighted Hon. Speaker that you have acknowledged the work that Hon. Members of Parliament are doing. It is my wish and the wish of all Members of Parliament that we will continue to deliver as expected by the nation. Thank you.

 HON. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, Section 107 (2) is very clear. While you have said that the Ministers are in Cabinet, the Deputy Ministers equally must be here to answer the questions. I did not hear you saying the Deputy Ministers are equally in Cabinet. Thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: That is a very good observation. In looking around, I see an array of Deputy Ministers. They are here in full force. So, take comfort in that.

HON. GONESE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Be that as it may, I think from a housekeeping perspective and from a hygiene perspective, to try to have good corporate governance, it is important if there are any Deputy Ministers who have sought leave of absence for the Chair to make that announcement. I know that they are not all here. We need to be informed. I know that Ministers and Deputy Ministers are required to seek the leave of absence from the Speaker if they are not able to attend Parliament. So in that vein, it is good practice for the Chair to inform us if there are any of those Deputy Ministers who have sought your leave so that the House and the nation at large is made aware of those who have complied with the rules.

We can excuse the Cabinet Ministers for today but similarly, whenever we have our sitting when we have got Question Time, it is good practice for the Chair to make that pronouncement that so and so has sought the leave of the Speaker to be absent for that particular day. –[THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Chibaya, you cannot be up standing when the Chief Whip is speaking.]- That is what I am requesting that as a matter of routine Mr. Speaker, if there are any who have sought leave of the House, let us be made aware so that we do not paint them all with the same brush.

HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker.

Continued next page

(118 VIEWS)