Parliament takes Mnangagwa to task over biometric voter registration

*HON. MARIDADI:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker.  The response that was given by the Hon. Vice President concerning BVR; I reaslised that as he was responding to Hon. Zwizwai, there was already conflict.  So, I was thinking that for the conflict to come to end, I was requesting the Hon. Vice President gives us a Ministerial Statement on the BVR for us to understand what is happening so that when we get to the elections, everyone will be in the picture of what will be happening.

THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. MNANGAGWA): Mr. Speaker Sir, the Hon. Member is saying that there is potential and possibility of disputes and I do not dispute that.  The interest of ZANU PF, the interest of any political party – MDC-T, MDC-N, People First, people second; all those political parties who will be involved and registered to participate in the next general election, I think that, it is necessary and indeed a desire by all these political parties that we run a peaceful, transparent, fair, clean and credible election.  To do so, we have set a platform where all the political parties who are participating in the general election discuss with ZEC and put forward their concerns so that everything should be ironed out before the election comes.  That is what is there.

The Hon. Member says I must make a Ministerial Statement to repeat what I am saying; I determine where a Ministerial Statement is to be made.

HON. MARIDADI:  Hon. Speaker, this issue is very important and we cannot leave it to be determined by one person, the Hon. Vice President.  This is an issue emanating from the Constitution and the Hon. Vice President does not hold sway to determine whether or not he should give the Ministerial Statement.  This Ministerial Statement, we demand it according to the Constitution and it must come from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.  We demand that this Ministerial Statement is issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development because it is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which wants to put money into ZEC and not the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.  So this Ministerial Statement should come from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and should be done as soon as possible because this is a Constitutional issue.  Thank you.

 HON. E.D. MNANGAGWA:  Mr. Speaker Sir, since the Hon. Member is stating that this is a constitutional issue, we are so pleased that you make your application quoting the Section of the Constitution which requires the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to make a Statement on this issue in Parliament.

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