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

THE HON. SPEAKER: Sorry, I need to respond to the Chief Whip Hon. Gonese. We have leave of absence sought by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Hon. Mabuwa; the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Moyo; the Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs and Gender and Community Development, Hon. Damasane and among the Ministers we have received communication from the Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Dr. Parirenyatwa who is currently in Thailand on Government business. The leave of absence is accordingly granted. Hon. Chamisa, you had a point of order.

HON. CHAMISA: Yes, Hon. Speaker. We want to acknowledge the communication from Cabinet which is very important. I would like to say that in terms of our Constitution, this Parliament reposes and retains the right to defend its space. We are a Parliament of Zimbabwe. There is what is called the doctrine of separation of powers. In terms of that doctrine, there is no arm of Government, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature which is more important than the other. We take great exception when the Executive invades the space of Parliament to have a Cabinet meeting on a day which is fixed in terms of the rules of Parliament.

We do not have Ministers here because there is a Cabinet meeting. You cannot have the Cabinet being more important than Parliament. Cabinet is very important but it is supposed to have its own day. Parliament is important and that is why on Wednesdays, we are supposed to dedicate it to questions. It is not our questions. These are questions from Chikomba, Mukoba, Zaka, Kuwadzana, Binga and Chirumhanzu. These are not questions from Members of Parliament. These are questions from the people of Zimbabwe who are paying those who are sitting in Cabinet. So, when we invade the space of Parliament, it is a serious issue.

We cannot just take it as a simple issue Hon. Speaker because this is what we call invasion of one arm by the other. It cannot be allowed and we should not allow it because what it does is undermine the power of the Legislature to give oversight functions on the Executive. Ministers must be summoned and they must be told that this is the last time. In fact, we were supposed to disband their meeting and have them to answer questions in this Parliament. That is how Parliaments function across the whole country. This is not to do with MDC and ZANU PF. It is simply to do with our Constitution. Let us respect our Constitution. If it is a day to ask questions, let us ask questions because parliamentarians have a duty and a right.

So please, let this be taken seriously and let this be taken to the Executive. You cannot do it as our Speaker, but Parliament has the right to send the message on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe to say, you can sit at night, midnight, even on a Saturday perhaps not on a Sabbath, but go and sit anytime but just respect our day of questions as parliamentarians. We have questions about roads in Zimbabwe, money that is not in the banks, medication and the issue of how health insurance is being administered. Those questions require answers and we may need to be answered on those questions. Thank you very much.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. The question will be conveyed undiluted to the Executive. Thank you.

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