HON. SIKHALA: On a point of clarity, Mr. Speaker Sir.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Please be brief.
HON. SIKHALA: My point of clarity needs the guidance of the Chair. We want the Chair to assist us on the definition – in terms of how it is provided in our Standing Rules and Orders of Committee business. At what point does Committee business start and end? Generally, the arrangement Mr. Speaker Sir, is like this: you are given an itinerary that the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services is going to depart from the Parliament building at 5:00 p.m on their way to Mutare. From Mutare you are going to travel to Masvingo, from Masvingo to Bulawayo, from Bulawayo to Harare from Monday to Friday. How do we define Committee time? Is it during the time when the Committee is in session or I enjoy my immunity and privileges during the period when I am in conduct of Parliamentary business? I think we need clarity there Mr. Speaker, so that it becomes very unambiguous.
At what time, Mr. Speaker, does our immunity and privilege collapse? Do we only enjoy our privilege and immunity when the Committee is in session and when I get back into the Parliament bus to travel from Mutare to Masvingo on Parliamentary business, does it suspend my Parliamentary immunity and privileges? I want clarity Mr. Speaker Sir. Thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I think the Hon. Member by the virtue of that question admits that there is a gap or a lacuna in our privileges provisions. Perhaps, as I indicated, when we amend our Standing Orders and Privileges Act, let that be defined in our Standing Orders, so that it is clear when privileges can be exercised, including the illustration that you have indicated. So at the moment there is a gap and that gap needs to be closed in terms of amendment to the Standing Orders as well as the Privileges Act.
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