Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday reiterated that the government never ordered the army to remove vendors from the streets. BY VENERANDA LANGA
Mnangagwa in reply to a question by MDC-T MP Ronia Bunjira, told the National Assembly that it was not the role of the army to remove vendors as this was the duty of respective local authorities.
“Government would assist municipalities in any given set-up only when they ask for assistance from the law and order section, but up to now I am not aware of any request for assistance to deal with the vendors,” he said.
Bunjira demanded further explanation saying the army had called for a Press conference giving vendors a seven-day ultimatum to move out of the streets.
“I did not see any soldiers moving around with a hailer announcing that they would forcibly remove vendors. The only policy we have is that when there is disorder like what happened during the 2008 MDC’s Final Push rallies, definitely we will unleash security forces. However, whenever there is disorder it is the duty of the police and not the army to bring law and order,” he said.
Mnangagwa also claimed himself and co-VP Phelekezela Mphoko never said the government would never bring development to areas which shunned Zanu PF.
“We were referring to Zanu PF structures and not national issues. We have always developed every region in terms of hospitals, schools, water provision and other services and it is not government policy to discriminate and not develop any region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mphoko yesterday made his maiden speech in the National Assembly amid heckling by opposition MPs.
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Mphoko’s speech started as a historical lecture where he narrated how Europeans colonised Africa.
“The West has never apologised for their conspiracy in Africa,” Mphoko said. “The West has recently designed another conspiracy — this time regarding minerals.”
The VP said as Minister of National Healing and Reconciliation, he would soon bring before Parliament the National Healing and Reconciliation Bill.
Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) asked Mphoko to explain why his maiden speech failed to give a future outlook on implementation of ZimAsset.
Mphoko said the aim of his speech was to outline how he would deal with national healing and reconciliation issues as minister of that portfolio.
Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda (MDC-T) demanded to know how Mphoko would deal with past atrocities like the Gukurahundi massacres.
“I emphasise that we should not dwell on history. Things happen and we cannot live by that because what we need as people is to move forward. We are supposed to look at the after effects and address them and not go back to history because we will never move forward,” he said.
Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) defended Mphoko saying the questions raised by opposition MPs were bent on opening old wounds.
Mphoko promised to deal with issues to do with acquisition of birth and death certificates for the Gukurahundi victims, as well as reburials. He said paying compensation would create a lot of problems.
