Zimbabwe Defence Minister warns don’t imitate Jah Prayzah, you could end up in jail for wearing military fatigues

Now, this is a directive to shop owners and retailers that it is illegal to sell this type of regalia.  This should also serve as a warning to civilians that it is illegal for you to wear fashionable look alike military regalia.  We do not want to end up prosecuting people unnecessarily.  Hence I am pleading with Hon. Senators and Members of Parliament to go and advise shop owners, retailers and hawkers in your respective constituencies to stop selling fashionable look alike military regalia because it is illegal.  So people who continue putting on such attire should stand warned that it is illegal and whosoever is found in future to be abrogating this law may find themselves being arrested and prosecuted.  Putting on military attire, fatigue or camouflage is illegal.

HON. SEN. TIMVEOS:  Thank you very much Madam President.  I want to understand whether or not this new policy includes musicians as well such as Jah Prayzah?

*HON.  SEN. DR. SEKERAMAYI:  Hon. Madam President, some questions are asked for the sake of rhetoric.  The Hon. Senator is asking whether it is permissible for Jah Prayzah to wear military fatigue.

We are saying, members of the Jah Prayzah musical group are known even their physique and sizes are well known by the military.  As of now, they were given permission to wear that uniform as long as they are performing on stage.  We are yet to hear of members of the group abusing the facility.  Let me warn civilians that should we find copy cats who are emulating Jah Prayzah and his band – we will get a way of resolving that problem.  We know there are people who when they see Jah Prayzah performing become overzealous because he is a real entertainer and man of the moment, hence he has authority to wear that uniform.  He was also declared Zimbabwe’s military ambassador.

 *HON. SEN. CHIEF MUSARURWA:   My question is directed to the Minister of Defence, Hon. Dr. Sekeramayi.  Hon. Minister, the country is faced with the problems of flash floods.  As Government, are there any plans in place of rescuing marooned people?  You are responsible for one of the arms which is responsible for rescuing people.  What plans have you put in place for such rescue missions?

*THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (HON. SEN. DR. SEKERAMAYI):  Thank you Hon. Sen. Chief Musarurwa for such a pertinent question.  Our country received rainfall more than we expected and some places are affected by tropical cyclones, which have induced rains in Matabeleland North, especially Tsholotsho, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo Provinces.  We have excessive and incessant rains.  We have some infrastructure which has been destroyed and these include bridges, schools, roads and homes.  In some homes, people have been moved to safe areas.  Government has a Civil Protection Unit, which is under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

The Ministry has been moving around holding meetings with Ministries which may come in and assist such as Defence, Health and Child Care and Transport and Infrastructural Development.  These Ministries work on the welfare of the citizens of Zimbabwe.  When we look at floods which occurred in Tsholotsho, we realise that marooned people were airlifted and taken to safer places.  Some people were rescued in areas like Masvingo where people are not able to move from one place to the other because of the flooded and broken down rivers.  We did move around with the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Hon. Kasukuwere.

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