Zimbabwe is a free country and people are allowed to advertise on any equipment whether it is a vehicle or a bus because they pay for it, Transport Minister Obert Mpofu said last week.
He was responding to a question from Glen View North Member of Parliament Fani Munengami whether it was government policy to allow state companies like the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) to advertise the First Lady Grace Mugabe, who is going to be the secretary for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Women’s League.
Mpofu said he was not the right person to respond because ZUPCO fell under the Ministry of Local Government but government had never interfered with advertisers.
“Government has never interfered with advertisers, which of course (are paid) for, on any particular equipment, whether it is a vehicle or bus or anything. We do not discourage or encourage people to do that, but if that is a way of communicating a message, we are a free country and people are free to do so,” he said.
Q & A:
MR. MUNENGAMI: Thank you very much Mr. Speaker, I am very lucky today. My question is directed to the Minister of Transport…
MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Munengami, what are you suggesting that you are lucky today?
MR. MUNENGAMI: It is my birthday today… [Laughter]
MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. Happy birthday [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.]
MR. MUNENGAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker and it is really an honour to be wished well on your birthday by the Hon. Speaker. Going forward, I want to ask the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development on whether it is now Government policy to allow private institutions, people or companies to advertise on public institutions or transport operators?
I will give an example of ZUPCO where we have seen… [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]
MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. You may continue hon. member.
MR. MUNENGAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. We have seen ZUPCO as our public transport company having the face of our First Lady [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] who is going to be our next First Secretary of the Women’s Affairs replacing Hon. Muchinguri [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] Is it now Government policy to allow her face to be advertised on public transport?
MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. May the Minister be heard in silence please?
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. MPOFU): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to join you in wishing the hon. member well on his birthday. We wish you many more years to come. Going back to his question, ZUPCO falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. Government has never interfered with advertisers, which of course they pay for, on any particular equipment, whether it is a vehicle or bus or anything. We do not discourage or encourage people to do that, but if that is a way of communicating a message, we are a free country and people are free to do so. Thank you Mr. Speaker [AN HON. MEMBER: Supplementary.]
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