Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE current Parliament is performing exceptionally well, prioritising reasoned debate and dialogue over the unproductive heckling that characterised previous sessions, Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Pelandaba-Tshabalala Constituency in Bulawayo and Member of the Speakers’ Panel Cde Joseph Tshuma has said.
Cde Tshuma hailed the present session as a model of progressiveness, noting that Members of Parliament from across the political divide are now focusing on national development.
Cde Tshuma was speaking on Saturday evening during an engagement with the media and residents to provide updates on community development initiatives in his constituency.
The event took place at the Bulawayo Media Centre during the second edition of the “Tell The Nation Dialogue” series, hosted by Tell Zimbabwe.
Cde Tshuma emphatically praised the current legislative body, drawing a sharp contrast with the past.
“Parliament is doing very well, I think this is one of the best Parliaments I have seen, and I will tell you why,” Cde Tshuma stated.
“I was in the Eighth Parliament, it was all about jostling, heckling, and making noise, but without making progress, with debate without meaning.”
He stressed that the current focus is on substance rather than political theatre.
“We were very good at shouting, but what were we doing? Nothing… But that is not why we are there in Parliament; we are there in Parliament to discuss issues.
“I will term this Parliament as one of the best because people are not fighting, they are talking and are listening to each other, and that is exactly what is supposed to happen.”
Cde Tshuma called for all members to support motions based purely on merit, regardless of their political affiliation.
“For example, when a CCC Member of Parliament stands up and moves a motion, if it makes sense, by all means, even ZANU PF Members of Parliament must support that. Not to say it has been moved by CCC, then we don’t want it,” he advised.
Cde Tshuma also cautioned against the political polarisation that has historically hindered national progress, calling for a detoxification of the political landscape.
“We have lost a lot of goodwill and developmental chances because we have chosen to fight each other rather than to talk to each other,” he said.
“Our politics has been so much contaminated from the beginning, whereby we looked at ourselves as the ruling party and the opposition and therefore meaning that we are supposed to be sort of fighting each other instead of sitting down at that same table sharing ideas for the betterment of everybody at the end of the day.”
He insisted that the focus must be on national benefit.
“We lost a lot of things just because it has been said by someone who is not from our party, and that means missed opportunities, missed chances, and that is why I am saying this thing must stop.”
Cde Tshuma noted that the key to moving forward is simple engagement.
“Let’s engage each other, whether you are from ZANU PF or CCC, we all need your ideas on that table—the table that will build the nation… that can only happen when we detoxify our minds of this hatred that we have for each other.”
Cde Tshuma also urged citizens to take their civic duty seriously by participating in consultative meetings.
He noted that Parliament’s work is often undermined by poor public attendance.
“And even when Parliament sends portfolio committees on public hearings, attendance is always poor,” he lamented..
“So when the law is being made, we start to complain, but you did not come out there to air your views and have your voice heard.”
He reminded residents that these sessions represent Parliament itself.
“People are supposed to know that if a portfolio committee comes, it’s Parliament itself, so whatever is said there is binding… So, we are doing each other a disservice at the end of the day,” he said.
Also commenting on citizen participation, Cde Tshuma urged the media to play a crucial role in civic education.
“There is a need by the media to educate people, making them understand that they need to go out to these consultative meetings,” he said, stressing that poor attendance at public hearings and constituency meetings undermines the democratic process and the quality of legislation.
Media academic Dr Golden Maunganidze also lauded the engagement, explaining that the true value of such a dialogue is that it brings together the public officials, members of the community and most importantly, the media.
“In the lead-up to the 2023 harmonised elections, we found it more profitable for ordinary people to have a kind of dialogue that links public officials, the media, and the populace so that we could have a meaningful discussion, and it went very well.
He elaborated on the format’s significance.
“We know there are rallies and sit-back meetings that are done by public officials, but the difference with this kind of dialogue is that we bring together the officials, a few members of the community, and, most importantly, the media.
For example, the MP speaks about what is happening. Our colleagues from the media ask questions, they write stories, and they also probably point out other things that may be of interest to public officials so that they attend to those things,” he said.
Dr Maunganidze said the dialogue ensures comprehensive feedback.
“If there are representatives from residents’ associations, they also know the concerns that the people have, and they may also ask or put forward those issues. So, it’s not a debate; it’s a dialogue, it’s a discussion which is meant to benefit all sides, the press, the public officials, and the residents.”
