MDC-T senator pleads with Kasukuwere to stop treating opposition as enemies

MDC-T senator Lilian Timveous has made passionate plea with the Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to stop taking the opposition members as his enemies which pushing for the local Government bill and reminded him that all is done for the Zimbabweans in general not self gratification.

The bill which sailed through the lower house was tabled in the senate for discussions where senators argued around it.

Timveous said she was very disappointed with this Bill because the Constitution is clear that the tribunal has to be independent.

"I want the Minister to explain because when you are reading this Bill, it comes out to say the Minister can do anything. The moment this Bill passes Hon. Minister, how many councillors do we have as the opposition? I think the Constitution is clear because it protects everyone. It looks like the Minister is free to hire, fire and do everything," she said.

"So, the way I am looking at this Bill is that the moment it passes, the Minister can just issue a statement and fire all the MDC councils. This is how I am looking at this Bill. Madam President, to those that do not read, please read this Bill and understand it. It is clear that the Minister has all the powers to do anything. This Bill is to sort out the opposition so that it disappears from Zimbabwe. Hear, you do not want in Zimbabwe to have an opposing voice and if we do not have the opposition, will this country grow?"

She asked if the country would grow without an opposing voice?

"This is what is going on with this Bill as I am looking at it. Even though I did not get enough time to go through it, but what I have seen in this Bill is disastrous to the nation. It violates the Constitution drastically and I want that to be understood. The other thing that I am seeing is that as I went through the Bill, I was just flipping through the pages, there is nothing said about provincial councils, devolution and nothing about anything," she said.

"Meanwhile, the Minister is doing everything but the Constitution is clear on devolution that we are going to have provincial councils that are going to oversee all provinces to ensure things are being done properly. The Minister has taken everything and it is silent and nothing is being said. I remember clearly when we were writing the Constitution; Bulawayo, Manicaland and all the other provinces were clear on the devolution but Minister, you have taken everything. Surely."

She said she thinks the Minister in his opening remarks when he was speaking on this Bill, he highlighted a lot of issues about the Constitution.

"He said he is aligning this Bill to the Constitution. This Bill is not aligned to the Constitution. It is giving him so many powers. Have we forgotten what the people said? I just want to implore and really talk to the Minister. I am lucky that I am in this House and I can see him face to face. Please Minister, can you rethink on this Bill. You do not need to treat the opposition as your enemies. We are all Zimbabweans and we are here for a reason," she said.

"We are not your enemies. The councillors that are in the opposition can be your friends and they can teach you something that can make Zimbabwe grow. Do not treat us badly like this. I might sound like I am emotional. I am being told kuti ndiri sascum, but as far as I am concerned, I am not talking for myself, I am talking about Zimbabwe handiti?"

She said when she talked the senators and minister must see her as Senator Lillian Timveos.

"Look at the people that I represent. When I talk, I am talking on what the people said about this Bill. This Bill is not good and the councillors were chosen by the people. So, one person cannot just decide to say this councillor is bad and he must go when they were chosen by thousands of people. The Constitution is clear on that," she said.

"I am appealing to the Minister to rethink and look at this Bill. Do not look at the opposition as your enemy. Look at them as Zimbabweans and we will build Zimbabwe together, instead of presenting a Bill that is going to get rid of the opposition. I think this Bill is unfair Madam President."