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Legislators follow proceedings during the first sitting of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament of Zimbabwe while standing in the aisles owing to an acute shortage of sitting space in the National Assembly yesterday.

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
THE Eighth Parliament got down to business yesterday with some Ministers, Deputy Ministers and backbenchers having to stand after they failed to secure seats as the Chamber could not accommodate all 270 legislators. Some backbenchers who could not stand continued standing left the chamber and sat in the Speaker’s gallery, reserved mainly for members of the public. Ministers who could be seen standing include Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa, Minister of State responsible for Harare Province Miriam Chikukwa, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Paul Chimedza and Lands and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Tendai Savanhu.

Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province Simba Mudarikwa eventually left his seat to allow Minister Chidhakwa to sit.
The sitting challenges did not, however, dampen the spirits of the legislators as they debated cheerfully a motion on President Mugabe’s speech delivered when he officially opened Parliament last week.

Business of the day commenced with Dangamvura-Chikanga Member Mr Arnold Tsunga and Binga legislator Mr Gabuza Joel Gabbuza both from MDC-T taking oath of loyalty after they failed to do so when others were sworn in.

Minister of Presidential Affairs Cde Didymus Mutasa also made an announcement suspending some Standing Orders to allow aides of disabled legislators to be allowed to be in the Chamber and attend committee meetings for the MPs.

Several legislators from Zanu-PF delivered their maiden speeches to a motion moved by Chikomba East MP, Cde Edgar Mbwembwe and seconded by Non Constituency MP, Cde Anastancia Ndhlovu.

Other members who contributed are Buhera South MP Cde Joseph Chinotimba, Bikita West MP Dr Munyaradzi Kereke, Gwanda Central MP Cde Edson Gumbo and Chiredzi North MP Cde Robert Mukwena and Gokwe MP Cde Dorothy Mangami.

It was, however, the maiden speech by Cde Chinotimba that left the House in stitches with his antics, the manner in which he made his presentation and issues that he raised.

In his presentation, Cde Chinotimba said corruption was more rampant among high-ranking people, particularly in Parliament.
He said jeering and heckling each other was not acceptable as it went against the objectives for which people were elected in the House.
“Tinofanira kuziva kuti takavingei muno. Zvekusekana kwete. Zanu-PF inoseka MDC, MDC inoseka Zanu-PF. That is corruption,” said Cde Chinotimba, drawing laughter from the floor.

He said there was need for fair distribution of resources because it appeared like some areas were continuously benefiting from national resources while others never had that chance particularly with respect to road maintenance. He said Buhera district was one of the areas that lagged behind in terms of infrastructure like roads.

“Ndinoona dzimwe nzvimbo dzirikuiswa tara pamusoro peimwe tara,” he said.
In his presentation, Dr Kereke who landed the parliamentary seat on a Zanu-PF ticket despite the fact that he was not the revolutionary party’s official candidate said Government ought to come up with viable intervention measures of enhancing agricultural productivity.
He said the world over, Government played a leading role in supporting agriculture hence the need for it to continue supporting farmers and not to leave it to the private sector.

“There has been a tendency to assume that the private sector under the auspices of the financial sector can create a permanent and lasting solution to the needs of farmers. I want to say the world over, agriculture can not function without the direct intervention of the people’s Government,” said Dr Kereke.

“By its nature, farming is more of a public good where the benefits tend to be far reaching especially from a society’s point of view, whereas the costs are localised to the individual farmer or company.”

On Constituency Development Fund, Dr Kereke said there was need to ensure that the money disbursed was not just a token but created meaningful impact.

“For instance, does the quantum conform to the notion of what development translate to for the people.
“CDF is a quickest route between Government as a machinery of the people and the actual people.

‘‘So the extent that Hon Members are on the ground and are the tentacles that are in contact with the people. We want to urge the route of CDF in respect to the guidance by the President be looked at as a legitimate and significant intervention towards development and not as a mere token,” he said.