HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of order!  Thank you very much Madam Speaker.  You will recall that when the Hon. Speaker Jacob Mudenda was in your Chair, the issue of a minute of silence to observe the late Dumiso Dabengwa was brought up. The Speaker ruled that it cannot be so until the family speaks and that the Government too must issue a statement.  However, those two issues have been done.  Madam Speaker, I say so because my father was ZAPU, he was in Zambia, we grew up with him, S. K. Moyo and Mutinhiri.  This is a serious issue which deserves that, not only was he a war veteran but he was a Member of this House too.  He was a Member of this House of Assembly and all of us will die one day.  It is only important that when one of us dies, even if you do not recognise his hero status but let us recognise that one of our Parliamentarians is no more.

There is a rift, the failure for this Parliament to comply to what it says, will create problems which are unforeseen.  The aspect of the tribal card will be raised and we do not want that.  Therefore, Madam Speaker, with your indulgence; seek for a minute of silence to be observed because the two issues, the Speaker spoke about have been met.  We are putting the President in a very difficult situation.  He was a Member of this House and why can we not give him the respect that he deserves –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAEKR: Order, Hon. Members.  I think we must all know, as from today that we do not observe a minute of silence on National Heroes if they are not Members of Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible Interjections.] –

HON. T. MLISWA: So, Madam Speaker, if your ruling is that we do not observe that, how come the Speaker did not highlight on that on that day.  The Hon. Jacob Mudenda did not say that we cannot observe.  We have got to be consistent as a Parliament. Hon. Mudenda did not say that.  Why do you hate ZAPU people? We have to be consistent as Parliament.  VaMudenda havana kuti hati observi, vakati mhuri neGovernment.  Ndozvakataurwaka.  Ko imimi vanhu veZIPRA indaa muchivenga vamwe vanhu zvakadaro – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Madam Speaker, the Speaker did not say that– [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Order, Hon. Mliswa can you approach the Chair.

Hon. T. Mliswa approached the Chair.

HON. T. MLISWA:  Madam Speaker, with your wise counsel together with the Clerk that I just received, I do hear what you said that the Speaker did not say it but if that is the rule of Parliament, I am bound by the rules of Parliament.  Thank you.