Harare West MP explains the ills of RBZ Debt bill to her constituency

The MP for Harare West Jessie Majome has advised her constituency over the ills of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) bill which was voted to be law by most of the Zanu PF MPs.

"Yesterday (Wednesday) the RBZ Debt Assumption Bill was passed in Parliament which will see Government take the up the opaque US$1.3 billion debt the RBZ owes creditors," said Majome. "As Harare West MP I voted against the passing of the Bill because among other things, those who benefited from the mechanisation programme, including the majority of sitting MPs from ZANU PF! have not paid back the money they owe RBZ. Yet, they were allowed to vote for this benefit to themselves in violation of the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities Act."

Majome said the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda allowed the house to be divided upon the request of the MDC Chief Whip Innocent Gonese so as to hold a vote on reading the bill for the third time.

"115 ZANU PF legislators voted for the passing the bill against 37 MDC-T MPs who voted for against it," said Majome.

"Last week the National Assembly deliberated on the amendments of the Bill which were referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee. I am a member of this committee but as far as I know no meeting was called to deliberate on amendments, especially as I had raised an objection to the validity of the committee's sittings due to the former chairperson Jonathan Samkange who was elected as an independent having, according to the Constitution, ceased to be an MP because he joined ZANU PF."

Majome said to here surprise, the Speaker of the House announced that the PLC had given an non-adverse report without us even meeting to consider its amendments.

"If there was a meeting of the committee it did not constitute a quorum of at least 3 members if Hon. Samkange is counted and Hon. Kuruneri the remaining members of PLC apart from me are the ones who had a meeting. Hon. Tendai Biti ceased being a member upon his expulsion from Parliament and Hon. Sen. Prisca Mupfumira ceased being a member upon being appointed Minister for Labour, Public Services and Social Services," she said.

"It is wrong and economically suicidal for government to take up such debt when those who owe the RBZ are known and are in Parliament as we speak, and the debt was not even properly accounted for. Now they walk scot-free, yet its the ordinary Zimbabwean who continues to suffer in this man made economic hardship."

She said otherwise yesterday was the busiest day as a legislature that I have ever seen because apart from passing this Bill we heard the 1st readings i.e.

"The formal introduction of the Bills to Parliament, of the Public Debt Management Bill by the Minister of Finance," said Majome. "The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Act by the MInister of Justice &Legal Affairs.The Marondera State University by the Minister of Higher Education. We also deferred the 2nd reading of the Gender Commission Bill to allow the relevant Portfolio Committee to lead debate by presenting its report after public consultations.