Category: News Feeds

Both
Houses
of
Parliament
will
resume
sitting
on
Tuesday
7th
October. 
In
this
Bill
Watch
we
shall
outline
the
business
they
are
expected
to
deal
with
when
they
resume. 
Please
however
bear
the
following
points
in
mind:

• When
  the
  National
  Assembly
  and
  the
  Senate
  adjourn,
  they
  set
  down
  all
  outstanding
  business
  on
  their
  Order
  Papers
  (i.e.
  their
  agendas)
  for
  the
  next
  appropriate
  sitting
  day. 
  There
  is
  usually
  too
  much
  to
  be
  covered
  in
  one
  day
  so
  whatever
  is
  not
  dealt
  with
  is
  postponed
  to
  the
  next
  appropriate
  day.
• Both
  Houses
  of
  Parliament
  can
  change
  the
  order
  in
  which
  they
  consider
  business.

THE
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY

Tuesday
7th
October

Bills
to
be
dealt
with

The
Assembly
is
expected
to
deal
with
the
following
Bills:

• 
  Medical
  Services
  Amendment
  Bill [link]

The
Committee
Stage
of
this
Bill
is
due
to
begin.

• 
  Zimbabwe
  School
  Examinations
  Council
  Amendment
  Bill [link]

The
Second
Reading
of
this
Bill
is
due
to
begin.

• 
  Pipelines
  Amendment
  Bill [link]

The
Second
Reading
of
this
Bill
is
due
to
continue.

• 
  Insurance
  and
  Pensions
  Commission
  Amendment
  Bill [link]

This
Bill
is
due
to
begin
its
Second
Reading.

• 
  State
  Service
  (Pensions)
  Bill [link]

The
House
is
due
to
consider
the
Parliamentary
Legal
Committee’s
adverse
report
on
this
Bill [link]

Reports
of
constitutional
commissions
to
be
considered

The
Assembly
will
be
asked
to
consider:

• 2024
  report
  of
  the
  Judicial
  Service
  Commission
• 2024
  report
  of
  the
  Zimbabwe
  Electoral
  Commission
• 2024
  report
  of
  the
  Zimbabwe
  Human
  Rights
  Commission
• 2024
  report
  of
  the
  National
  Prosecuting
  Authority.
• 2024
  report
  of
  the Attorney-General’s
  Office

International
agreement
to
be
approved

The
Assembly
will
be
asked
to
approve:

• The
  SADC
  Protocol
  on
  the
  Inter-State
  Transfer
  of
  Sentenced
  Prisoners [link]
• Treaty
  on
  Mutual
  Assistance
  in
  Criminal
  Matters
  with
  China
• The
  UN
  Convention
  on
  the
  Law
  of
  the
  Sea
  on
  the
  Conservation
  and
  Sustainable
  Use
  of
  Marine
  Biological
  Diversity
  of
  Areas
  Beyond
  National
  Jurisdiction [link].
• Convention
  establishing
  the
  International
  Organisation
  for
  Mediation [link].

Reports
of
parliamentary
committees

The
Assembly
will
be
asked
to
consider
committee
reports
on
the
following
issues:

• Operations
  and
  sustainability
  of
  community
  radio
  stations
• The
  state
  of
  prisons
  in
  Zimbabwe
• The
  state
  of
  digital
  information
  centres
  in
  Zimbabwe
• The
  2024
  third
  quarter
  Budget
  Performance
  Report
  for
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Defence
• Responsible
  mining
  by
  artisanal
  and
  small-scale
  miners
• Constraints
  and
  challenges
  affecting
  Zimsec
• The
  2025
  first
  quarter
  Budget
  Performance
  Report
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Environment,
  Climate
  and
  Wildlife
• The
  2024
  fourth
  quarter
  Budget
  Performance
  Report
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Industry
  and
  Commerce
• The
  accounts
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Transport
  and
  Infrastructural
  Development
  for
  2022
• The
  2024
  budget
  performance
  report
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Environment,
  Climate
  and
  Wild
  Life
• The
  2024
  third
  and
  fourth
  quarter
  Budget
  Performance
  Reports
  for
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Tourism
  and
  Hospitality
  Industry [link]
• The
  2024
  Budget
  Performance
  Reports
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Transport
  and
  Infrastructural
  Development [link]
• The
  2024
  Budget
  Performance
  Reports
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Foreign
  Affairs
  and
  International
  Trade
• The
  2024
  third
  and
  fourth
  quarter
  budget
  performance
  report
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Women
  Affairs,
  Community,
  Small
  and
  Medium
  Enterprises
• Large-scale
  irrigation
  schemes
• Innovation
  hubs
  and
  industrial
  parks
  in
  universities
  and
  polytechnics
• The
  2024
  quarterly
  budget
  performance
  reports
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  Mines
  and
  Mining
  Development
• The
  2024
  third
  and
  fourth
  quarter
  Budget
  Performance
  Report
  of
  the
  Ministry
  of
  ICT,
  Postal
  and
  Courier
  Services
• The
  2023
  audited
  accounts
  of
  the
  Zimbabwe
  National
  Road
  Administration
• The
  status
  of
  women

Reports
on
petitions
received

• A
  petition
  on
  security
  of
  tenure
  and
  access
  to
  title
  deeds
  for
  the
  urban
  poor
• A
  petition
  for
  a
  Lippert
  Concession
  Decolonisation
  Restorative
  Justice
  and
  Reparations
  Bill

Motions
on
the
National
Assembly
order
paper

Motions
set
to
be
debated
by
the
Assembly
will
include
the
following
topics:

• Measures
  to
  protect
  girls
  against
  rape
• Introducing
  a
  two-term
  school
  year
  for
  Zimbabwe’s
  schools
• Increasing
  spending
  and
  reducing
  regulations
  to
  encourage
  technological
  innovation
• Regularising
  informal
  settlements
  in
  urban
  areas
• Birth
  certificates
  and
  IDs
  for
  Zimbabweans
  living
  in
  South
  Africa
• Enforcing
  weight
  restrictions
  on
  passenger
  and
  goods
  vehicles
• Youth
  quotas
  in
  provincial
  councils,
  local
  authorities
  and
  public
  boards
• Quotas
  for
  local
  players
  in
  Premier
  Soccer
  League
  club
  teams
• Policies
  to
  protect
  the
  inheritance
  rights
  of
  widows
• Measures
  to
  support
  the
  health
  and
  welfare
  of
  students
  at
  institutions
  of
  higher
  education
• Drilling
  of
  boreholes
  and
  sharing
  of
  drilling
  costs
• Compensation
  for
  victims
  of
  road
  accidents
• Decentralisation
  and
  rotation
  of
  national
  independence
  celebrations
• Introduction
  of
  quotas
  for
  employment
  of
  youths
  in
  the
  public
  service
• Declaration
  of
  the
  public
  health
  situation
  to
  be
  a
  national
  emergency
• Tax
  relief
  for
  businesses
  that
  invest
  in
  or
  sponsor
  arts,
  sport
  and
  culture
• Measures
  to
  combat
  deforestation
• Promotion
  of
  traditional
  culture
  and
  practices
• Extending
  the
  prohibition
  against
  smoking
  tobacco
  in
  public
  places
• Controlling
  dangerous
  dogs
  and
  increasing
  protection
  against
  rabies
• Increased
  resources
  to
  treat
  mental
  disorders,
  particularly
  drug-related
  conditions
• Abolition
  of
  bank
  charges
  for
  balance
  enquiries
• Preventing
  child
  marriages
  and
  protecting
  girls
  from
  exploitation
• Dealing
  with
  tuberculosis
  and
  silicosis
  among
  miners
• Fires
  in
  communal
  areas
• Ensuring
  that
  local
  authorities
  fill
  vacant
  posts
  with
  substantive
  appointments
  rather
  than
  acting
  appointments
• Management
  and
  protection
  of
  wetlands
• Remodelling
  of
  community
  information
  centres
• Reply
  to
  the
  President’s
  speech.

Wednesday
8th
October

Note: 
On
Wednesdays,
questions
and
other
private
members’
business
have
precedence
over
government
business.

Questions
set
down
for
answer

Among questions set
down
for
Ministers
to
answer
in
the
National
Assembly
on
Wednesday
are questions on the
following
issues:

• Government
  policy
  on
  menstrual
  leave
• Measures
  to
  support
  businesses
  affected
  by
  current
  economic
  environment
• Compensation
  for
  victims
  of
  political
  violence
  since
  1980
• Implementing
  recommendations
  of
  the
  SADC
  election
  observer
  mission
  from
  2018
  and
  2023
• Compliance
  with
  court
  orders
  by
  companies,
  institutions
  and
  communities
• The
  appointment
  and
  removal
  of
  village
  heads
• Concessions
  for
  senior
  citizens
  on
  local
  authority
  service
  charges
• Sewerage
  and
  drainage
  problems
  and
  mismanagement
  in
  Chitungwiza
• Government
  policy
  on
  breeding
  and
  keeping
  dangerous
  dog
  breeds
• Statistics
  on
  prosecutions
  of
  drug
  dealers
• Payment
  of
  allowances
  owing
  to
  persons
  employed
  on
  registration
  exercises
  in
  2023
• Details
  of
  the
  Government’s
  contract
  with
  a
  private
  company
  to
  produce
  passports
• Statistics
  on
  convictions
  for
  procuring
  in
  2023
  and
  2024
• Repatriation
  of
  remains
  of
  liberation
  war
  fighters
  killed
  in
  Zambia
• How
  the
  government
  balances
  its
  commitment
  to
  democracy
  and
  human
  rights
  with
  trade
  relations
  with
  autocratic
  regimes
• Repatriation
  of
  Zimbabweans
  in
  foreign
  immigration
  holding
  centres
• Abolition
  of
  visa
  requirements
  for
  Zimbabweans
  visiting
  African
  countries
• Time
  allocated
  for
  party
  political
  broadcasts
  before
  elections
• Exemption
  of
  deaf
  people
  from
  paying
  for
  car
  radio
  licences
• The
  amount
  and
  application
  of
  revenue
  collected
  from
  vehicle
  radio
  licences
  and
  its
  impact
  on
  access
  to
  information
• Housing
  and
  capacitation
  of
  school
  teachers
• Payment
  of
  school
  fees
  and
  the
  consequences
  of
  non-payment
• Fees
  payable
  by
  university
  students
  and
  the
  inclusion
  of
  medical
  aid
  in
  those
  fees
• Construction
  and
  maintenance
  of
  roads,
  dams
  and
  other
  infrastructure.
• Fees
  for
  renewal
  of
  vehicle
  licences
• The
  cost
  and
  time-scale
  of
  projects
  such
  as
  the
  Trabablas
  Interchange
  project
• Revenue
  from
  the
  issue
  of
  vehicle
  number
  plates
  in
  2025
• Why
  no
  Public
  Health
  Advisory
  Board
  has
  been
  appointed
  since
  2014
• The
  recruitment
  of
  nurses
  and
  the
  authentication
  of
  their
  qualifications
• The
  number
  of
  teachers
  employed
  since
  2015
  and
  the
  number
  of
  teacher
  vacancies
  in
  primary
  and
  secondary
  schools
• Measures
  to
  improve
  the
  welfare
  of
  pensioners

Thursday
9th
October

The
Assembly
will
continue
with
business
stood
over
from
Tuesday.

THE
SENATE

Tuesday
7th
October

International
agreements
to
be
approved

The
Senate
will
be
asked
to
approve:

• Establishment
  agreement
  of
  the
  International
  Mangrove
  Centre
• The
  SADC
  Protocol
  on
  the
  Inter-State
  Transfer
  of
  Sentenced
  Prisoners [link]

Reports
of
Constitutional
Commissions
to
be
considered

The
Senate will be
asked
to
consider
the
reports
of
the
following
constitutional
Commissions:

• The
  Zimbabwe
  Human
  Rights
  Commission’s
  report
  for
  2024
• Reports
  of
  the
  Zimbabwe
  Electoral
  Commission
  on
  by-elections
  held
  in
  October
  and
  November
  2024
  and
  January
  2025
  to
  fill
  vacancies
  in
  local
  authorities

Thematic
Committee
reports
to
be
considered

The
Senate will be
asked
to
adopt
a
report
on:

• Status
  of
  border
  posts
  in
  relation
  to
  border
  security
  and
  governance
• Access
  to
  reproductive
  health
  services
  by
  sex
  workers

Motions
to
be
dealt
with
by
the
Senate

The
Senate
is
expected
to
debate
motions
on
the
following
topics:

• Measures
  to
  protect
  children
  against
  sexual
  abuse
• Establishment
  of
  DISCO
  Steel
  Mill
• Protection
  of
  wetlands,
  particularly
  in
  Harare
• Measures
  to
  reduce
  traffic
  accidents.

Wednesday
8th
October

The
Senate
will
continue
business
stood
over
from
Tuesday

Thursday
9th
October

Questions
set
down
for
answer

Among
questions
for
Ministers
to
answer
in
the
Senate
on
Thursday
are
questions
on
the
following
issues:

• Exemption
  of
  senior
  citizens
  from
  paying
  rates
  and
  levies
  to
  urban
  and
  rural
  local
  authorities
• Exemption
  of
  war
  veterans
  from
  paying
  parking
  fees
• Revenue
  raised
  from
  agricultural
  export
  licences
• Land
  audit
  to
  identify
  under-utilised
  land
  for
  reallocation
• The
  number
  of
  villages
  targeted
  for
  borehole
  drilling
  in
  2025
• The
  recognition
  of
  historical
  monuments,
  in
  particular
  King
  Mzilikazi’s
  grave
• Response
  of
  police
  to
  emergencies
  in
  rural
  areas
• The
  US
  government’s
  suspension
  of
  visas
  for
  Zimbabweans
• Whether
  a
  social
  welfare
  fund
  has
  been
  established
  under
  section
  10
  of
  the
  Older
  Persons
  Act
• Disposal
  of
  vehicles
  impounded
  at
  border
  posts
• Recognition
  of
  International
  Women’s
  Day
  as
  a
  public
  holiday

Bills
Being
Considered
by
the
Parliamentary
Legal
Committee

The
PLC
is
considering
the
following
Bills:

• Climate
  Change
  Management
  Bill [link]
• Mines
  and
  Minerals
  Bill [link]
• Occupational
  Safety
  and
  Health
  Bill [link]
• Public
  Service
  Amendment
  Bill [link]
• Tourism
  Bill

Veritas
makes
every
effort
to
ensure
reliable
information,
but
cannot
take
legal
responsibility
for
information
supplied.

Post
published
in:

Featured

A
traditional
leader
from
Manicaland
is
facing
legal
action
after
refusing
to
retract
controversial
remarks
in
which
he
called
for
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
to
be
granted
a
life-presidency.

Acting
Chief
Tendai
Saurombe
made
the
comments
last
month
while
standing
in
for
his
ailing
father,
Chief
Oliver
Saurombe.
The
statement
sparked
outrage,
with
critics
accusing
him
of
undermining
Zimbabwe’s
constitutional
term
limits
and
democratic
principles.

The
legal
challenge
was
initiated
by
citizen
Pritchard
Tafadzwa
Paradzayi,
who,
through
the
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
(ZLHR),
issued
a
10-day
ultimatum
demanding
a
public
apology
and
retraction.
After
Saurombe
failed
to
respond
to
the
formal
letter,
Paradzayi
instructed
ZLHR
to
take
the
matter
to
court.

“We
are
under
instructions
from
our
client
to
proceed
with
legal
action
since
the
chief
did
not
respond
to
our
letter,”
ZLHR
lawyer
Obey
Shava
confirmed,
adding
that
the
lawsuit
would
be
filed
at
the
High
Court
in
the
coming
days.

The
rights
group
argued
that
Saurombe’s
endorsement
of
life-presidency
violates
citizens’
voting
rights
and
directly
contravenes
constitutional
provisions
on
presidential
term
limits.
Mnangagwa
himself
has
repeatedly
stated
that
his
term
ends
in
2028,
but
some
loyalists,
including
Local
Government
Minister
Daniel
Garwe,
have
pushed
for
an
extension
to
2030.
Saurombe
went
further,
insisting
on
life-presidency,
a
stance
that
has
drawn
condemnation
from
civil
society,
opposition
parties,
and
legal
experts.

Beyond
the
legal
fallout,
Saurombe
is
also
reportedly
facing
growing
internal
discontent.
Elders
within
the
chieftainship
are
said
to
have
written
to
the
Chimanimani
district
development
coordinator,
accusing
him
of
authoritarian
behaviour
and
destabilising
the
community.
Allegations
include
insulting
accused
persons
at
his
traditional
court
and
arbitrarily
demoting
village
heads
without
due
process.

Zimbabwe’s
constitution
bars
chiefs
from
active
partisan
politics,
yet
traditional
leaders
have
long
been
accused
of
siding
with
Zanu-PF
in
exchange
for
state-issued
benefits,
including
vehicles.
Section
7
of
the
Traditional
Leaders
Act
allows
for
the
suspension
of
chiefs
found
guilty
of
misconduct,
including
political
partisanship.

The
case
now
threatens
to
test
both
Saurombe’s
authority
and
the
government’s
willingness
to
enforce
constitutional
checks
on
traditional
leaders.

Zimbabwe
has
called
on
private
sector
investment
to
upgrade
and
expand
its
aging
transmission
and
distribution
networks.
Zimbabwe’s
Ministry
of
Power
and
Energy
Development
has
identified
the
expansion
and
modernization
of
its
national
grid
as
a
priority.
Key
infrastructure
upgrades
will
include
transformer
replacements,
installation
of
underground
cables
and
overhead
conductor
enhancements.

The
call
for
investment
was
made
during
the Powering
Africa’s
Industrial
Revolution panel
session
at
African
Energy
Week
(AEW):
Invest
in
African
Energies
2025
conference
by
July
Moyo,
Minister
of
Power
and
Energy
Development,
Zimbabwe.

“We
have
opened
up
investment
in
our
transmission
and
distribution
networks
for
the
private
sector,”
Minister
Moyo
stated.

Investors
are
also
being
sought
for
regional
interconnections,
with
cross-border
projects
being
prioritized
to
enhance
power
trade
within
the
Southern
African
Power
Pool.
Off-grid
and
decentralized
solutions
are
being
promoted
to
increase
rural
electrification.
According
to
the
Minister,
private
participation
is
being
incentivized
through
public-private
partnerships,
independent
power
production,
net
metering,
tax
holidays
and
guarantees
against
expropriation.

Meanwhile,
Jonas
Amukunde,
Technical
Advisor
to
Namibia’s
Deputy
Prime
Minister, also
called
on
independent
power
producers
(IPPs)
to
assist
heavy
industries
in
Namibia
to
upscale
power
generation
and
reduce
reliance
on
the
national
grid.

“We
aim
for
industries
to
set
up
their
own
onsite,
limited
generation
capacities,”
Amukunde
stated.

For
his
part,
Stan
Pillay,
Regional
Carbon
and
Innovation
Lead
–
Africa
at
global
mining
company
Anglo
American,
stressed
the
importance
of
striking
a
balance
between
renewable
energy
and
conventional
energy
sources.
Pillay
highlighted
southern
Africa’s
potential
to
become
a
leader
in
renewable
energy
generation
while
leveraging
the
full
capacity
of
its
natural
resources
like
oil
and
natural
gas.

“You
need
to
think
about
a
balance
in
energy
that
secures
energy
supply,”
Pillay
stated,
adding,
“The
energy
landscape
has
fundamentally
changed
and
required
a
new
way
of
thinking.”

Source:


Zimbabwe
Seeks
Private
Investment
to
Modernize
Power
Grid
–
African
Energy
Week
Cape
Town

|
AEC
Week

HARARE
–
Goromonzi
West
MP
Energy
Mutodi
has
withdrawn
explosive
corruption
allegations
he
made
on
X
against
Treasury
Secretary
George
Guvamatanga,
saying
he
could
not
substantiate
the
claims.

On
Wednesday,
Mutodi
–
who
chairs
parliament’s
budget,
finance
and
economic
development
committee
–
alleged
that
Guvamatanga
was
demanding
kickbacks
of
between
five
and
10
percent
from
contractors,
ministries
and
government
departments
in
return
for
releasing
budgeted
funds.

He
claimed
road
contractor
Bitumen
had
been
forced
to
pay
US$200,000
for
every
US$2
million
in
weekly
payments
authorised
by
Guvamatanga,
while
parliament
itself
had
been
starved
of
resources
after
refusing
to
pay
bribes.

Mutodi
further
alleged
that
the
former
Barclays
Bank
CEO
had
accumulated
more
than
US$1
billion
in
wealth,
boasting
over
5,000
dairy
cattle,
multiple
mansions
and
luxury
equipment
despite
being
a
civil
servant.

But
Guvamatanga
angrily
denied
the
claims,
accusing
the
Zanu
PF
MP
of
an
extortion
attempt.
Guvamatanga
threatened
to
sue
for
defamation,
while
also
reporting
Mutodi
to
the
police
for
extortion
and
blackmail.

Late
on
Friday,
Mutodi
appeared
to
backtrack.
In
a
statement,
he
said
he
had
“reflected”
on
the
matter
and
spoken
directly
to
Guvamatanga,
concluding
that
it
was
“not
in
our
interest
to
escalate
the
issues.”

“While
the
issues
had
been
raised
as
a
matter
of
principle
and
for
the
need
to
contribute
meaningfully
to
this
government
especially
by
upholding
the
oversight
function
of
parliament
provided
for
under
Section
119
(3)
of
the
constitution,
it
is
apparent
to
mention
that
proof
beyond
reasonable
doubt
under
the
circumstances
would
be
impossible,
making
such
a
publication
defamatory,”
Mutodi
said.

“I
therefore
wish
to
issue
an
apology,
unreservedly,
to
Mr
George
Guvamatanga
for
the
reputational
damage
the
tweets
may
have
caused,
and
I
have
made
instructions
that
the
tweets
be
erased
with
immediate
effect.”

Mutodi’s
sudden
climbdown
is
likely
to
fuel
speculation
of
behind-the-scenes
pressure,
while
Guvamatanga
–
one
of
the
most
powerful
civil
servants
under
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
–
appears
determined
to
protect
his
reputation.

Peri-urban
farming,
which
involves
small-scale
crop
and
livestock
production
in
and
around
towns
and
cities,
often
on
undeveloped
land,
road
verges,
wetlands,
or
other
open
spaces,
has
become
increasingly
common
in
recent
years.

Many
urban
residents,
especially
in
areas
around
Harare,
Bulawayo,
Gweru,
and
Mutare,
have
turned
to
it
to
boost
their
food
supplies
or
incomes.

However,
the
government
insists
that
farming
should
only
take
place
on
land
formally
designated
for
agricultural
use.

Responding
to
questions
in
Parliament
on
Wednesday,
Lands,
Agriculture,
Fisheries,
Water
and
Rural
Development
Minister
Anxious
Masuka
said
urban
and
peri-urban
settlements
are
meant
for
residential
purposes
and
are
therefore
unsuitable
for
farming.

He
warned
that
unregulated
cultivation
in
such
areas
can
harm
the
environment,
block
drainage
systems,
and
put
additional
pressure
on
city
infrastructure.
Said
Masuka:

“It
is
important
to
note
that
agriculture
is
designated
for
agricultural
zones.

“Urban
areas
are
primarily
residential
and
do
not
accommodate
farming
activities.

“In
Zimbabwe,
we
have
established
that
urban
agriculture
is
not
permitted,
as
farming
should
take
place
on
land
specifically
allocated
for
agricultural
purposes,
not
within
urban
settlements.”

He
made
the
remarks
in
the
National
Assembly
on
Wednesday
while
responding
to
questions
about
how
funds
from
the
sugar
tax,
introduced
last
year,
have
been
used.
Mombeshora
said:

“As
the
Ministry
of
Health
and
Child
Care,
we
have
awarded
tenders
to
two
companies
for
Parirenyatwa
and
Mpilo
hospitals.
In
total,
we
spent
US$27.5
million.

“We
submitted
to
the
Ministry
of
Finance,
Economic
Development
and
Investment
Promotion
the
necessary
documents
for
them
to
pay
the
30
percent
deposit
as
per
the
agreement
and
in
accordance
with
the
suppliers’
instructions.
The
suppliers
indicated
that
these
are
costly
machines.”

Mombeshora
said
contracts
with
the
suppliers
have
already
been
signed,
and
it
has
been
more
than
two
months
since
the
agreements
were
finalised.

He
added
that
it
is
now
up
to
the
Ministry
of
Finance,
Economic
Development
and
Investment
Promotion
to
release
the
funds
so
that
the
machines
can
be
installed.

Mombeshora
said
the
suppliers
have
indicated
that
the
machines
will
be
manufactured
and
installed
within
36
weeks,
and
the
government
expects
them
to
be
operational
by
December.

The
minister
also
said
the
government
is
now
in
the
second
phase
of
procuring
equipment
for
provincial
hospitals,
including
CT
scanners,
ultrasound
machines
and
MRI
scanners.
The
relevant
tenders
are
expected
to
be
completed
within
two
months.

Meanwhile,
Mombeshora
told
Parliament
that
the
Ministry
has
acquired
eight
mobile
medical
vans,
which
will
be
deployed
across
the
provinces
to
provide
free
health
check-ups
and
early
cancer
screening
services,
including
tests
for
prostate
and
cervical
cancer.
He
said:

“I
am
confident
that
clearance
will
be
completed
next
week.
We
have
already
sent
a
team
to
retrieve
them
from
Mozambique.
These
vans
will
test
both
men
and
women,
starting
with
prostate
cancer.

“Cervical
cancer
predominantly
affects
women,
so
we
have
vehicles
that
will
be
testing
both
genders.
It
will
no
longer
be
just
women.

“We
are
improving
bit
by
bit.
We
aim
to
reach
a
point
where
everyone
can
be
tested
for
free.”