The speech Misihairabwi-Mushonga says she was misquoted by The Herald

This afternoon I was talking to the Hon. Minister of Industry and Commerce that; we need to get our trade attaches to speak to those that produce sanitary wear and not only bring sanitary wear that is already packaged but employ women and create employment in the production of sanitary wear which will be cheap and can be used by the majority of our people.  That is what I want to celebrate.  For the reason that I am born of a Ndebele woman, my mother always told me that if something good happens, you always say thank you.

So, I have a present for Ms. Mhini, which I am going to ask the Hon. Minister to take to her, just to thank her and say, that is what we expect on all women.- [Hon. Misihairabwi- Mushonga presented flowers to Hon. Minister Chinamasa for Ms. Mhini.] – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank the Hon. Minister for accepting to do this.  In a typical and traditional way of thanking our males and men, we normally use the totem.  I have this t-Shirt for him, it is called Mazvita and printed Shumba, thank you so much – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – [The t-Shirt is presented to Hon. Minister Chinamasa.] – Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. CHAMISA: On a point of order Hon. Speaker Sir.  This is a very important development.  We were just hoping that to ensure that there is no problem – we know that there is domestic violence these days, if you may write to Mai Chinamasa to alert her – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –  that a t-Shirt has been bought and the Hon. Minister is going to be putting it on. Hon. Speaker on behalf of Parliament.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order.  Hon. Mushonga’s contribution – if you can recall last year, a similar topic was raised in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom and it centred on the dignity of the woman.  However, having said that, in future, we will not allow presentations across the table.  It can be done outside the House.  Thank you.

HON. MISIHAIRABWI- MUSHONGA: I thank you Mr. Speaker for allowing this to be the last time it happens.  Having said that, which is why I said let me start from the positive – as we started this year, the Church which I attend, my Pastor and dad is Dr. Shana – at the beginning of each year, he speaks about the things that one needs to carry through the year.  As he spoke on the first Sunday of the year, it became so clear to me that, perhaps this is what I need to carry through and I need to speak to as I debate this particular Budget.  He spoke on issues of vision and provision.  To some extent, that is what is missing in this particular Budget.

When you look at all the reports Mr. Speaker, that you allowed the Chairpersons to make presentations on, there is one thing that is clear in them, they all have a vision.  Each Ministry has a vision where they look forward to doing particular things, but the problem comes with the provision.  What are the resources that are being given to that particular Ministry so that it can attain the vision that it would have articulated.  My Pastor said, “a vision without a provision is an illusion.”  Unfortunately, that is what this Budget is all about, it is an illusion.  There is absolutely nothing in it saying you are going to find this in the allocations around that Budget.

Continued next page

(189 VIEWS)