Parliament takes Mnangagwa to task over biometric voter registration

As the Leader of the House, I do not understand some of these things but the young ones will understand it.  Some of us have come of age but when you explain to us, we accepted some of these things.  If there are certain things that you think are not in order, raise those concerns with ZEC because they will address those issues.  As Government, we have agreed that ZEC should take the lead as an independent commission.  That is what I can say Hon. Pastor – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Order.  Yes, I hear you.  You cannot always shout supplementary, supplementary.

HON. CHAMISA: Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I had kindly asked the Hon. Vice President whether it is going to be full throttle biometric voter registration and voting or it is just going to be biometric voter registration in part without the biometric voting process because that has been the indication.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  But that is another question.

HON. CHAMISA:  It was the same question, but in two parts.

*THE HON. VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. MNANGAGWA):  Hon. Chamisa has forgotten that we agreed that we need  biometric voter registration.  We never said it would not go full throttle.  We agreed that the biometric system would be used in coming up with a Voters Roll up until the actual voting.  So, the division that he is making is something else.  He should go and seek enlightenment from ZEC.

We agreed as parties as to what we want, but if he has a spirit behind him, he should tell us that the spirit of legion is upon him – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE ACTING  SPEAKER:  Order, order please.

*HON. MNANGAGWA:  I was only joking with him,  I know he is a pastor.  If I was not in agreement with you, I would not say such words.

*HON. MUNENGAMI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  My question to the Vice President is, we heard the words that you have explained to us.  Our country, in terms of finances, is not doing well and we have now got a partner who wants to come in and assist.  We have challenges in hospitals because we are unable to remunerate doctors who are on strike.  On 20th February, there is a woman called Caroline Dube who passed away.

Why is it that when we have got a partner or a funder who wants to assist us in this process, we are now backtracking and taking the money that we could have used to resuscitate and equip our hospitals to fund the electoral system?  What is it that has caused us to forget about all of these challenges that we have and decide to take over the process of acquiring the biometric machines on our own?

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