By Paul Nyathi
Sunday marks the 25th day of the nationwide tools down industrial action by the country’s government hospital doctors.
With no doctors, hundreds of lives are being lost in the hospitals on a daily basis on ailments that may have been avoided with adequate health attention.
As the situation deteriorates, the Minister of Health and Child Care Doctor David Parirenyatwa on Thursday yet again avoided parliamentary interrogation on the matter.
Parirenyatwa initially escaped the Wednesday question and answer session at parliament leaving the august house claiming that he was going outside “to meet with somebody” and was to return to attend the session.
The Minister disappeared and never returned to the house with the Acting Speaker of Parliament trying to cover for him attracting heavy repudiation from the parliamentarians.
On Thursday, Parirenyatwa briefly returned to the House and gave a lukewarm Ministerial statement in which he refused to have his Ministry take the blame for the collapse in the health delivery system and the doctors strike.
The Deputy Speaker again sided with the Minister indicating that he was wanted in the Senate Chambers to answer questions in the Senate Question and Answer Session and was due to return to the house.
“Hon. Member, with your indulgence. The Hon. Minister is wanted in the Senate for questions,” declared the Acting Speaker as Joel Gabbuza MP for Binga North was asking a question on the Minister’s presentation.
“Order please, so because of that, Hon. Gabbuza be to the point and then we release him. He is going to come back,” the Acting Speaker implored before Minister Parirenyatwa arrogantly walked out while Gabbuza was still raising his question.
The Minister’s walk out attracted a heavy uproar from the parliamentarians while the Speaker battled to contain them and protect the Minister.
“Order, order, let us hold our fire. The Hon. Minister is going to come back,” he screamed.
“Wait, let us hold fire, the Hon. Minister is going there and coming back quickly to continue with our clarifications. The day is ours, if we do not move out of the House and we remain with a quorum. We can be here up to tomorrow,” said the Speaker before shouts from the MPs that the Mimister should just resign.
MDC-T Member of Parliament for Harare West Jessie Majome took swipe at the Acting Speaker for allowing the Minister to leave for another house of the same parliament.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, is to seek direction from your good self the Chair, as to that the Hon. Minister has left to go to another House of this same Parliament. This is a House of Parliament; the Senate as well is also another House of Parliament,” she said.
“The question is – does the Senate take precedence over the National Assembly because in terms of the Constitution, if the Hon. Minister can go to the Senate, we may also require him to come back here. So if we say that we want him back here, will the Senate adjourn so that the Hon. Minister can come and answer us because from the new Constitution, the Senate is not the Upper House. In fact, I am seeking the good guidance of your good office because this is the House that is indeed the Upper House in terms of the issues, particularly that the Hon. Minister is dealing with these matters of finance and budgeting,” quizzed Majome.
“In terms of the Constitution, the budget and money Bills are presented first in this House. So I am rather, I do not know what you are standing for but I am rather perturbed and would really like your guidance as to what in principle it is that allows the Hon. Minister of Health and Child Care to cease and go and attend to the Senate when we are either equal Houses of this Parliament or in fact, this House since it is the one where even money Bills and budgetary issues that affect the issues of the payment of doctors and nurses are affected. Is there any order of precedence, that is my point of privilege?”
The Speaker responded claiming that both Houses were equal.
“Hon. Member, both Houses are equal but there are times when you make discretions on matters that are being debated. So your concerns are noted but it depends now on us if we could remain with a quorum, the Hon. Minister will be here shortly and continue with the clarification but I beg Hon. Members to remain in the House until the Hon. Minister returns for clarifications,” said The Acting Speaker though the Minister never returned.