MEMBERS of Parliament attending the 2019 pre-budget seminar
have accused the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium
Enterprises Development of failing to execute its mandate and being detached
from reality.
This followed a report by Chief Director in the Ministry,
Retired Air Commodore Evan Dumba on Friday who said the Ministry was failing to
get qualified people for ward development coordinators positions in
Matabeleland North Province.
The Ministry is headed by Dr Sithembiso Nyoni who did not
attend the seminar. Minister of State for Presidential Affairs responsible for
Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo stood in
for her.
In his speech, Rtd Air Commodore Dumba said: “We are
finding it difficult to employ ward development coordinators in Matabeleland
North after we advertised in July. It’s a fact that we have staff at provincial
and district level but we don’t have ward development coordinators because we
can’t get them. We are not getting people for the position.”
Acting Women Affairs
Minister Dr Gumbo had to intervene to allow proceedings to proceed as the
Parliamentarians clamoured in unison demanding him to leave the podium.
Parliamentarians said the Ministry is not visible on the
ground.
“We have never heard about such an advert. This should be a
serious Ministry but it is not doing its service to our people.
“We have youths and women who should benefit through the
Ministry but are being disadvantaged,”
said Cde Stars Mathe, MP for Nkayi South in Matabeleland North.
Bulawayo MDC-T proportional representation MP Mrs Priscilla
Misihairabwi-Mushonga concurred saying the Ministry has too much on its hands.
“There is too much bundled together yet the Ministry is
supposed to be mainstreaming gender and also has to disburse loans to women.
Every Ministry has something to do with gender so such other roles should be
separated from the Ministry,” she said.
The Parliamentarians implored Government departments to disseminate
information through MPs and local leadership instead of relying on internet
adverts as most parts of the province have no access to mobile network and
broad transmission.
Said Senator for Matabeleland North Cde Madeline Bhebhe:
“Why do they send adverts on internet when there is no network in Matabeleland
North? We can’t rely on online applications in an area we know has no access to
the internet. All districts have databases of youths and their skills so you
can’t tell us you are failing to get people for those jobs.”
Gutu East Constituency MP Cde Berita Chikwama challenged
the Ministry to move away from armchair execution of duties.
“They should move out of the head office and go to
communities. They can’t say they are failing to get people in Matabeleland
North when the Ministry is not even visible on the ground,” she said.
Luveve MP Ms Stella Nkomo said there is a deliberate
attempt to marginalise people from the province while Nkulumane MP Mr Kucaca
Phulu said the Ministry officials had lied that they were failing to get the
right people.
MP for Bulawayo Metropolitan Ms Siphiwe Ncube said: “Both
the Minister and her Ministry are not serious at all. She can’t be absent from
such a gathering every year yet it happens only once annually.”
Buhera South MP Cde Joseph Chinotimba implored Ministry
officials to visit all wards in the province to find out why people had not
responded to the advert, saying there is a possibility the information did not
reach targeted communities.
“Zimbabwe has educated people and you can’t tell us that
you can’t find anyone for such jobs. Go to the wards and find out and probably
you will find that you are using a method that they have no access to,” said
Cde Chinotimba.
In response Dr Gumbo promised to engage Dr Nyoni to attend
to the issues.
“I have heard your concerns and will take them to the
Minister with the same vigour and spirit. The positions probably require people
with 5 O Levels,” he said.
Speaker of
Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda said it was worrying for a ministry to be run
without a strategic plan.
“The Minister of Finance (Prof Mthuli Ncube) clearly stated
in his address that the economy is driven by SMEs. These issues have an impact
on our economy and I implore you as Minister of State in the President’s Office
to upscale this issue because we can’t run a ministry without a strategic plan
that must speak to your budget and agenda,” he said. Chronicle
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