Zimbabwe Parliament- What they said about the Belarus fire tender deal- Part 3

HON. MUSHORIWA: Firstly, may the Hon. Minister state the relevant statutes or the laws that permitted her Ministry to engage in that deal for fire tenders. Can the Hon. Minister in particular, advise us which section or law says that there was no need for procurement and competitive bids to be submitted? I would appreciate if the Minister could lay before Parliament the papers that she alluded to that she has papers from councils, the full minutes and resolutions of the various councils that requested for such fire engines. Tied to that, we would also want the Minister to confirm the month or the time that they made the first payment vis-a-vis the time that they wrote the letter to local authorities.

The Ministry of Finance told us that they started paying for the fire tenders four months earlier before that letter that was leaked in the social media which the Ministry directed local authorities. We want to find out from the Minister at which date or month did the first payment go out. Lastly, it is just to re-emphasise the need for that agreement. Can the Minister advise us what timeframe should Parliament expect for that agreement to be laid before Parliament?

HON. CHIKWINYA: My question to the Deputy Minister is; can she furnish Parliament with the fire fighting structure of each rural council? I know for certain that in urban local authorities they are there but can you furnish Parliament with the fire fighting structure to say there is a superintendent, foreman and the fire brigade to the extent that we then become convinced that surely where there is a structure there is need for a fire tender. Can she furnish Parliament with the resolutions of all the councils where they then sent their Chief Fire officers because the policy makers are councillors? So a worker cannot go and preside over a policy consultation?

Councillors should have made a resolution and sent their expert who is a Chief Fire Officer to be consulted by the Ministry. Can she furnish Parliament with resolutions of all local authorities where they resolved to send their Chief Fire officers for consultations with the Ministry so that we begin to link policy and implementation? Can the Hon. Minister respond to what extent they have satisfied the provisions of Section 299 of the Constitution which says “Parliament must monitor and oversee expenditure by the State and all Commissions and institutions and agencies at every level”?

So, devolution funds were given to the Ministry through a budget. The Ministry was a bit clever as they did not go and use the rate payers’ money from the rates. They went and used devolution funds but devolution funds were given to the Ministry by us as Parliament. We are the ones who are then supposed to give direction as to how they are supposed to be used in the absence of an Act of Parliament that actualises provincial governments. Can you then demonstrate to us as Parliament how you have satisfied the provisions of Section 299?

HON. HWENDE: I want to know how many fire tenders have been procured so far, how much money has been paid and what is the balance? Can you explain what to us when you say the Ministry consulted Chief Fire Officers for them to procure those fire tenders yet there are village councils without fire officers? Who then did you consult? It is important for Parliament to understand who you consulted for you to be able to procure for Dotito? Who did you consult? As a Minister who looks into the issues of Local Government, there is no way you can engage in business without consulting the council. It is like having a maid making decisions on the sale of my property. Hon. Minister July Moyo should come to this House and meet us the representatives of the ratepayers because it is not surprising that we have been sold out because they are buying things that people do not want. My request is: you engage the Hon. Minister July Moyo to come to this House to respond to these questions.

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