Madam Speaker, one thing that I thought the President was going to touch on apart from Command Agriculture or agriculture in general is the issue of infrastructure development in resettlement areas. Infrastructure in resettlement areas is suffering from lack of primary and secondary schools. Secondly, there are no clinics. I remember the Minister of Health and Child Care stating before this House in October 2013, that his target was to build 2 400 clinics. I would have wished that the Minister would have been here and finally give a response. Did he construct 2 400 clinics in resettlement areas? It is not true Madam Speaker. I think we would be very lucky if he has constructed 40 or 50 of them; if not less than 20. We expect such issues to be addressed when the President comes to open Parliament as he sets out his agenda.
On paragraph 8 Madam Speaker, the President refers to enhancement of National Economic Competitiveness so that the country can become a destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Madam Speaker, I will restate again. The 51-49 % indigenisation policy is the one that has denied us foreign direct investment. I challenge this House to nominate or mention two or three people who have benefited from the 51-49% legislation that was passed in this House in the last parliamentary sitting. There is not even a single soul and we are not reaping any advantages. Unless we come together in this House and scrap indigenisation, yes but the methodology of going about it is not to say, if I come from Japan and I have one hundred million dollars, Zimbabwe takes fifty one million and they leave me with forty-nine – who will then chair the board? It does not make sense. Unless we sober up and recognise that the 51-49 proportion on indigenisation is actually detrimental to what is happening in this country and that we need to correct it.
Madam Speaker, on paragraph 9, there is also the issue of the amendment of the labour laws that is to address the plight of workers. However, the President refers to the labour market flexibility. I spent fifteen years in the trade union movement. There is nothing like labour market flexibility other than allowing people to be exploited as was the situation during colonialism. Infact, we should be protecting jobs and protecting the workers as well. Job security is very important.
However, I am going to mention something that I have also observed as State capture – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, I think it is the row of benches where Hon. Matangira is sitting. You are having your own meeting there. Please may you be quiet?
HON. CHIMANIKIRE: Madam Speaker, I am again forced to observe the issue of State capture as in the manner of the expulsion of workers and mine workers (makorokoza) at Manzou Farm in Mazowe District. Again, it is sad to note that there is the element of State capture by personal possession of the Mazowe Dam which was constructed before the First Lady was born. It is sad that those who were doing business on Mazowe Dam can no longer do so and it is being controlled by police to ensure that everyone is kept out in preference to the use by the First Family.
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