Zimbabwe legislator says MPs should not ask Deputy Ministers questions because they have deputy answers

HON. GONESE:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  On a point of order, we have the Constitution of Zimbabwe.  In terms of Section 3, the Constitution of Zimbabwe is a supreme law of this country and the same Constitution has a provision which obliges Vice Presidents and Ministers to attend Parliament and the language which is used is peremptory.  It says that ‘they must attend Parliament’.  As a result, the Constitution obliges Ministers to take the business of this House seriously.  As we speak, we are wasting taxpayers’ money and they should not have scheduled their Cabinet meeting to coincide with the sitting of Parliament because today, on a Wednesday, the whole nation would be waiting expecting answers on issues which are pertinent to the welfare and the wellbeing of the people whom we represent.

Hon. Chamisa, a few weeks back, raised the same issue sighting both the Constitution and also the Standing Orders and the Speaker promised that he was going to look into the matter.  The specific plea that I am now asking for Madam Speaker is that the Hon. Ministers must be charged with contempt of Parliament because they are in contempt of Parliament.  It is something in which your office, through the Speaker, made a promise and undertaking and that has not been fulfilled.  We therefore demand that the Chair charges the relevant Ministers with contempt of Parliament.  That is the prayer which I am advancing on behalf of all Hon. Members across the political divide.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Gonese, I am in agreement of what you are saying.  That is why we also have Deputy Ministers.  When Cabinet Ministers are out, those Deputy Ministers present are able to answer whatever is asked in this House.

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