Mr. Speaker Sir, thirdly, the issue to do with support systems of our SME’s – it is the girl child and it is the woman who bears the brand of fending for the family. When thick comes to shove, when the sheet hits the fan, it is the girl child who bears the biggest brunt of the economic hardships. We need to inculcate the value and tradition of support of Small to Medium Enterprises in the urban councils and in all Rural District Councils when it comes to supporting the systems and values of the Small to Medium Enterprises. This is done to avoid the issue of early child marriages because of the economic hardships that would have bedeviled our communities, aware that 80% of our economy is now skewed towards the informal sector and in that sector, it is 80% of our women that are embedded. So, aware that 60% of these women are youths, it is only prudent to support the SMEs sector in order to avert, avoid, reduce and eradicate child marriages.
Fourthly, like you would have known, it is the support of the artisanal miners. Artisanal miners are not only formed by men who are youths but by 60% girl children. We need to support that sector so that they can get what they want utilizing what we have. Mr. Speaker Sir, as long as we do not empower the girl child in the form of mining, gold is the only tradable commodity. We need to make sure that our artisanal miners are empowered to eradicate child marriages in particular, disenfranchising the girl child. I am aware that there is 5% which is going to be paid in form of export incentive to the gold sector; it should also accrue to the girl child in form of artisanal mining.
The issue to do with agricultural support systems cannot be overemphasized. When we talk of agricultural support systems, I am aware that there is the Presidential support systems that speak to one bag of AN, one bag of Compound D and one by 10kg seed. I will repeat this – this only speaks to and can only optimally cultivate and, plough and plant on a point four of a hectare land. These people that till these gardens are our girl children for subsistence purposes. This should accrue also to our girl child in the urban set up, in particular Chegutu West and Zimbabwe in general.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the rehabilitation, revamping and resuscitation of our industry should also come on board when we talk of empowering our girl child. David Whitehead immediately comes to mind – [Laughter.] – Government has taken over the Cottco debt of US$68 million. As we sit here and debate, we know that the equipment that is housed at David Whitehead is becoming historic. The sooner we revamp, rehabilitate and resuscitate David Whitehead, the sooner we eradicate child marriages. As we go back as fathers to our households…
THE ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order! Let us lower our voices Hon. Members.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir for your protection. We do not want fathers to think that their girl children are a past time or are a mode of getting economic emancipation. Girl children are as good as the boy children. They are not supposed to be sold in times of economic hardships but as long as we do not resuscitate David Whitehead, they are prone to being sold to self-servitude and to all other ills that are encompassed with economic hardships. We should immediately take away this company from the Judiciary Manager, Mr. Hofisi and turn the credit into equity and give it back to the former employees so that those employees do not sell off their children or do not marry off their children.
HON. MURAI: On a point of order! How do we identify when a Member goes mad in Parliament?
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