The Member of Parliament for Hurungwe East Sarah Mahoka has called on President Robert Mugabe to fire all corrupt ministers and have them investigated saying he should not lose sleep over such people.
She said Mugabe had always boasted that the country was rich but people were now asking where the milk and honey is.
“For sure, our country flows with milk and honey and the President is well aware of it. The wealth is in the hands of a few and they enjoy quietly. They have ganged up as thieves and are united in being corrupt. They steal people’s monies,” she said in her contribution to the motion calling for better governance.
“The President of this country has been made to walk on a tight rope over people whom he has appointed to certain duties. I think he should retire those people. They should be sent home for further investigations because the President should not lose sleep over those people.
“The wealth should be distributed equally amongst all. These people should know that they should enjoy wealth with the rest of the people and stop being selfish as they climb the ladder solely.
“As Parliament, I think we should make a ruling that one person should only chair one board. There are so many people in the country, unless we are saying that there are no more people to chair those boards.
“If there are no more people, then women should not practice family planning so that the population expands. Those people are not performing their roles as parents because they will be sitting on so many board meetings, some in the morning and afternoons that they do not have time for their families.”
Full contribution:
*MS. MAHOKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Let me start by thanking Hon. Madzimure for the motion that he has moved. I would also want to thank Hon. Madzimure for being enlightened; he can now see what was under the table. He spoke about how capable our President is and that he is good, but there are thieves. Thieves who are given jobs are the ones who steal. I was so happy when I heard it from the opposition that President Mugabe is a good leader.
The President always talks about thieves and that they should be arrested. I was also happy to hear Hon. Chikwinya contributing that Mr. Pasi earns about US$310 000. If it was possible, on the thousands that he is earning, looking at us in this august House, we are law makers and we earn US$800, it is a shame. I think it is shameful, not only the US$800, but for me to board transport from Hurungwe to Harare to make laws, there is no money for fuel. There are very few who can earn thousands.
If we are given the US$300 000 as Parliament, we can do a lot and remain with a surplus amount. What is amazing is that the President says that this country is very rich, but people out there in the rural areas always ask where the milk and honey is. For sure, our country flows with milk and honey and the President is well aware of it. The wealth is in the hands of a few and they enjoy quietly. They have ganged up as thieves and are united in being corrupt. They steal people’s monies.
There is hunger, for example in my constituency and there is no money to buy maize for those people. However, you will find that some people were getting so much in just 30 days. There was a Minister who was watching; he was just watching when people were stealing and he was also getting US$800 while he smiled at those getting thousands of dollars – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, I think that as Parliament, we should not beat about the bush but let everything be transparent.
We are saying that for those who are getting the money, who signs for those cheques? The President signs by giving you a job to do, but he does not give you the mandate to steal because he does not steal. He is also facing challenges. Some of the thieves are sitting pretty and yet they were never involved in the liberation struggle. There are some war veterans who are out there and are living in dire situations yet someone who never participated in the liberation struggle is enjoying. This is an alarming situation.
It is shameful that hon. members cannot get financed to do Government business while they are mocked that they smuggle bread into the hotels because of hunger. It is a shame that hon. members are getting paid US$800. These things should be talked about when our Ministers are here. If the President denounces corruption, then we should be ashamed to be involved at any level. Mr. Speaker, when you reprimand us, we listen to you, but the others do not listen – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Who do they think they are?
The President of this country has been made to walk on a tight rope over people whom he has appointed to certain duties. I think he should retire those people. They should be send home for further investigations because the President should not lose sleep over those people. The wealth should be distributed equally amongst all. These people should know that they should enjoy wealth with the rest of the people and stop being selfish as they climb the ladder solely.
As Parliament, I think we should make a ruling that one person should only chair one board. There are so many people in the country, unless we are saying that there are no more people to chair those boards – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear] – if there are no more people, then women should not practice family planning so that the population expands. Those people are not performing their roles as parents because they will be sitting on so many board meetings, some in the morning and afternoons that they do not have time for their families.
There is an issue that has been discussed concerning the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. I think when we talk about corruption, we should do some research. When it comes to the Mayor and the Town Clerk, Mr. Mahachi, the procedure should have been followed. Therefore, the Mayor should have followed the procedure and it will have gone well for us. The reinstatement of Mr. Mahachi is not that he was a thief, but we are saying that the Mayor should follow procedures and make recommendations so that the Minister fires that person.
In here we are not happy; some people are stealing while others are dying of hunger. If the Minister is the one who stole, he should be accountable for what he did. As Members of Parliament, we are saying NO to corruption, whether ZANU PF or MDC because we only have one Head of State. If he condemns corruption, why should you continue against that condemnation and roam around feeding yourself while others starve.
I want to applaud you Mr. Speaker to stand on our behalf so that we are remunerated well. Out there in our constituencies, people are dying and we are even ashamed to attend funerals because we cannot take anything there. We also want our children to go to expensive schools. I am not saying Mr. Speaker that take people’s money and give it to us. Give us what is due to us, so that our children will go to better schools. We are not educated and then our children are not educated as well. It is only children of thieves who are being educated.I think, Mr. Speaker, you should stand on our behalf. I do not think there is a country which can give their workers US$800 and no fuel for that matter. I think you should look into that, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, what we want are just vehicles for us to be able to be effective in our constituencies. I think we have gone a long time and no action is being taken. I do not know what people want the Head of State to do. I think the President must come out in the open once more, and condemn corruption. I want to thank the mover and the seconder of the motion.
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