Parliamentary Monitor

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October 24, 2011 Issue Number 10

Parly Update
There are various portfolio committee meetings which are taking place this week and as usual, we would like to encourage the members to attend and make meaningful contributions. It is important that in some cases, matters are discussed before the meeting so that people are aware of issues. There are times when people spent time on issues not related to the topic and is quite costly.
Inside this issue:
Village Observer

Democracy/Economy Which Comes First ?

Are we prepared to see the 2012 elections gobbling a cent for every 10 cents that the central government gets as revenue? Put differently, does it make democratic sense to have an election which takes about 2.4% of the countrys gross domestic product? These are questions that Zimbabweans started grappling with last week after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said they had submitted a US$220 million budget to Treasury for both the referendum and general elections expected next year. (Zimbabwes projected GDP for this year is US$8.978 billion while revenue flows are expected to be at US$2.744 billion.) ZEC deputy chairperson Mrs Joyce Kazembe told the media that the commission was broke and was literally incapacitated, until a time they were allocated funds. She added that US$104 million would cover the referendum while US$115 million would fund the general elections. This has opened debate on what should come first, economic stability or democracy. The PM team, using the social media as a platform to share and debate issues realized that one of the Parliamentary Monitor Group members on facebook had asked the same question and the responses showed the varied responses and the paradoxical situation that the country faced itself in. One respondent, Goodwel Gwavava, said: We cannot simply say there is no price greater than democracy without putting into consideration the economic environment under which elections take place. What Makombe (who had asked the question) is saying is: is it wise to use US$220million TO RUN AN ELECTION IN ZIMBABWE NOW....CONSIDERING THE CURRENT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. The other group members also chipped in, for example, Daison Ngirazi said: Elections will help us have a culture of good governance which will ensure accountability of resources assuming you get the right people into office! So I think we have resources to have an election if the GNU places its priorities right-e.g. sell all discovery 4s, account for Marange and other such mines... The responses by group members bring to the fore the need for transparency, aggregation of competing demands and needs for resources and developing a culture of good governance that is supported by a mechanism that punishes or rewards those who have been doing well. The elections are inevitable, after 2013, that is the constitutionally acceptable life of the current Parliament and this means that while one can wish them away as they will leave big holes in our already tattered budget, they will come. If the elections were to be postponed, on the basis of inability to raise funds, then 2013 will definitely be an elections year. Then the other alternative will be to cut the budget. The pain of cutting the budget may be too much as the final product, the elections themselves could be compromised. The other alternative is to extent the begging bowl and have the traditional donors coming in. This is likely to be hotly disputed. The final alternative could be to squeeze the budget and extract a few dollars and cents to finance the running of the elections. Whichever path the central government takes, the elections are so important that it would be improper to compromise them. We have already have a fair share of violence and allegations of rigging that we should not go on to further taint them.

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Committee hearings Virtual Gallery Parly Wise

@ the back

The Bottom-line
I think we have resources to have an election if the GNU places its priorities right-e.g. sell all discovery 4s, account for Marange and other such mines

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Parliamentary Monitor

October 24, 2011 Issue Number 10

AG, legally sensible, democratically stupid

By Village Observer Welcome to my world! I am sorry, it should be I am coming to your world. Sorry for being so self centred to the extent that I think everything revolves around me. I have been asked by the Parliamentary Monitor Team to make regular contributions to their publication. I was a bit hesitant. There was no payment, I was doing it for the sake of democracy they said. I am not a mercenary and thus my hesitancy was not on remuneration. As a villager, I am used to working for the common good, for free. Gratis. My worry was if I were to manage the strict deadlines they proposed. Then the other issue was if I would be able to get the right stuff to keep their readership as they were saying. I finally agreed after the tough negotiator, who appeared to be very patient and good at making proposals and counter proposals showed that he was not going to leave the village without my agreement. This is why you are reading this maiden article. I spent the whole week thinking of what I would write. Then from nowhere, the Attorney General gave me the idea. I am not saying he personally came to my village to tell me what to write. That will be massive hand holding. I mean the legally sensible but democratically stupid decision to challenge the Bulawayo High Court ordering the holding of the three by-elections. I say this decision made legal sense, as they are arguing, saying a law officer had erred when they made submissions. The law officer may be a scape-goat, I suspect, where were the others when she was preparing and making the submissions? Then while it makes sense, legal sense, I did not see the democratic sense in the action. Is the AG and his learned officers saying we should not hold elections? I am very fortunate that my House of Assembly representative and the Senator are still around. (This is not to say they are doing a good job. I have half a mind to challenge either in the next elections if we get the US$230 to hold them.) What does the AG seek to achieve, challenging this historic ruling? Maybe there are some things which we may not be seeing here. We may not have the legal eyes to understand how they view things but the principle of justice requires that good be done. My villagers understanding of good in this case is upholding the constitution which requires that a byelection be held within 90 days of a declaration of an electoral vacancy. Further to this, we are a representative democracy, meaning that we take a back seat and let those we would have elected ( granted they are elected freely and fairly) make decision on important matters. What is happening in those three constituencies whose representation was fired. What about that constituency where Tracy Mutinhiri represented? Maybe the AG is harbouring ambitions and would like to do the groundwork before he stands in one of the constituencies. Precedence was set. Ndaenda ini ndovana dzangova hari chete. Sizabonana, khatesi sengisiya natha.

Portfolio Committee Hearings

Parties Hold Nation @ Ransom
One of our members attended the aborted public hearings on the Amendment to the Electoral Act. This was held at the City Hall in Bulawayo. At first, the meeting was characterized by an uncharacteristic order and the chairman, Hon Douglas Mwonzora made presentations. Things took a nasty twist midway through the hearings when one gentleman was speaking. He was booed, with a section in the hall calling on him to sit down. Things then got out of hand until the public hearings were abandoned. It is interesting to note the following: One, the political parties have shown that there are very high stakes involved from the way they made contributions. Two, on the part of Zanu PF, there was one interesting thing in that they had written scripts guiding contributors on what to say. An analysis of the script showed that it was a fax that was sent from a number in Harare on the day the hearings were held. This is a clear sign that Zanu PF seriously wants its position to prevail. Three, the continued use of disruptions as a strategy to bar other views is slowly spreading across the country. Other reports, show that hearings on other issues have also seen wild disruptions. It is thus important that the police maintain peace and order each time there are public hearings. Then finally, the issue of political parties coaching their supporters has to a greater extent contributed to some of the violence. What we have noticed is that the supporters think that in order for their position to be adopted, they have to support it by any means. Should someone differ, then they think they should dismiss the person with a different opinion. This has reduced some of the hearings to circuses.

October 24, 2011 Issue Number 10

Parliamentary Monitor

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Virtual Public Gallery .

Using Social Media to Monitor Parly

PMTZs facebook group Parliamentary Monitor is an interactive virtual public gallery where instead of being spectators, citizens raise issues and seek solutions. As part of the integration of the social media platform and this e-newsletter, we take excerpts of some of the posts on the facebook group and share with others. THAT REALLY MATTER WHETHER SHE WAS IN PARLIAHon Edward Takaruza Chindori MENT AS ZANUPF OR MDCT. -Chininga A FORMER MEMBER SHE WAS A MEMBER OF PAROF PARLIAMENT FOR MHONLIAMENT BEFORE THE MULTI DORO MARVIS CHIDZONGA PARTY PARLIAMENTARY REPSADLY PASSED AWAY YESTER- RESENTATION 27 June at 12:58 DAY. GOD BLESS HER FOR THE Tapiwa Gomo May her soul rest GOOD WORK SHE DID FOR in peace 27 June at 13:01 Like ZIMBABWE. AS FAMILY MEMAlex Magaisa I'm sorry to hear BERS WE SHALL MISS HER. the sad news. Although I did not Like Follow post 27 June at know her personally, I was privi12:46 Valentine Maponga and Martin Chinyanga Da William like leged to become acquainted with her husband, the prof, who this. showed me great kindness last Martin Chinyanga Da William year in an hour of need and I beMHSRIP .. was she zanu-pf or mdc lieve it reflected on the family that 27 June at 12:48 Like he represented. Her passion for Paul Nyakazeya May her Soul the rural communities and comrest in peace 27 June at 12:48 Like mitment to their upliftment is something I share. May she rest in Ruzvidzo G Manyika She was a peace. 27 June at 13:01 Like ZIMBABWEAN @Martin. Ngavazorore murugare amai. 27 June Francisca Mapasure Sad news may her soul rest in peace 27 June at 12:51 Like at 18:55 Like Reward Mushayabasa MHDSRIEP: Marvis ChidPaidamoyo Muzulu May her soul zonga....courageous and talented rest in peace. 27 June at 19:07 intellectual 27 June at 12:52 Like Brian Mubariki may her rest in Brighton Musonza May her soul eternal peace.... 27 June at 21:33 rest in peace. Wafaanaka! 27 June Silver Bhebe Rest in peace 28 at 12:56 Like June at 08:38 Like Hon Edward Takaruza Chindori Ricky Munyaradzi Mukonza -Chininga ZIMBABWE DOES
While we may be a nation divided, we have realized that there are times we come together like during the sad passing on of former MP Mavis Chidzonga

Vazorore murugare! 28 June at 12:30 Like Clay Vengayi Tsapi May her soul rest in eternal peace! Zimbabwe has lost a great woman 28 June at 12:58 Like Desiree Chikede Sad day for Zim. My condolences to the family. 28 June at 13:03 Like Akim Mangena May her soul rest in peace. 28 June at 13:14 Like John Makamure Very sad news indeed. I worked closely with Chidzonga when she was a member of Parliament. She was a pleasure to work with. May her soul rest in peace. john Makamure 28 June at 13:52 via Like Walter Dongo my her soul rest in peace 28 June at 13:58 Like Solo Rob May her soul rest in eternal peace my former MP. 28 June at 15:24 Edmore Mabodani let her soul rest in peace and her wishs must be ful feeled 28 June at 17:14 Like Itai Mautu soryy maZANU munhamo tinochemana 02 July at 12:47 Like Gilbert Kagodora Munhamo tinochema navo, asi.... 02 July at 17:53 Like Percive Magama am very sorii her soulmay rest peace 03 July at 14:17 Like

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Parliamentary Monitor

October 24, 2011 Issue Number 10

Parly wise: Some terms

with power A term used to describe a committee that is authorized to take action on the matter that is referred to it. Withdraw of a Motion A request by the mover of a motion to remove the motion from consideration. After the motion has been stated by the presiding officer, it belongs to the assembly and the assemblys permission (majority vote) is needed to Withdraw the motion. write-in vote A vote cast, on a written ballot vote, for a person who was not nominated for the position. hand counted vote A method of voting in which the votes of the members are actually calculated, instead of estimated. The members raise their hands and someone counts the hands raised. hearing An informal meeting of a group that allows members to express their views and listen to the views of others on a particular subject. honorary A category of the agenda that includes any motion which, usually by postponement, has been made an order of the day without being made a special order. Translated, that means that if an item is Postponed until a

certain day or after a certain event, it fits into this category. house An assembly. Most frequently used with legislative bodies or delegate bodies. table A shortcut term for the motion Lay on the Table. Take from the Table The effect of this motion is to resume consideration of a motion that was Laid on the Table earlier in the present session or in the previous session of the organization. When a motion is Taken from the Table, it has everything adhering to it exactly as it was when it was Laid on the Table. tellers People elected or appointed to count votes. term of office The duration of the period for which a person is elected or appointed to an office or position. tie vote An equal number of affirmative and negative votes. It is not required that tie votes be broken since, if a majority vote is needed, the motion fails because it lacks a majority vote.

.and @ the back!

PMT Zimbabwe promotes openness, active participation, debate, engagement and respects divergence of views. In view of this, PMT Zimbabwe encourages the posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on its site and facebook page. However, these postings do not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein. In some extreme circumstances, our monitoring team may be compelled to pull down or delete offending postings. www.pmtz.org /