MPs lambast Ministry for being detached from reality

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. @ncubeleon

GOVERNMENT is concerned about the high rate of teacher absenteeism in schools as this is contributing to poor pass rates and negating the country’s vision to uplift every citizen through education.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, speaking at the 2019 prebudget seminar here, said he had been studying the trend for some time.

He said he had noted that most teachers are not in school due to among other reasons, poor remuneration, poor working conditions and infrastructure.

Similarly, Government is concerned about some schools that withhold results of pupils who owe them school fees as it disadvantages learners from advancing with their education.

“There is an issue that I have been studying for a long time, the issue of teacher absenteeism. It is not easy to fix but we have to deal with it either through incentives or improving conditions of service and building of schools,” said Prof Ncube.

He implored parents to be involved in school activities.

“For example, Matabeleland South has 250 schools where pupils are not passing their Ordinary Levels. There are many such schools countrywide. Whenever parents are not involved in the activities of the school, those schools perform worse,” he said.

In some provinces such as Matabeleland South, teachers cross the border to neighbouring countries to do menial jobs to supplement low salaries.

Prof Ncube said the 2020 budget will surely allocate resources towards infrastructure and schools’ development to improve working conditions for various sectors in the public service including education.

School drop-outs are also prevalent, said Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo also speaking at the same occasion.

He said this, compounded by a tendency by schools to withhold results of learners who owe fees negates Government efforts towards achieving universal education.

“There is a high prevalence of school drop-outs due to pregnancy where only 67 percent of Form Four girls proceed with their education while others drop out due to pregnancy. We are hoping that formalising the Children’s Act, whose draft has been discussed by taskforce and awaits passing to Parliament, will help address these issues.

“I have also noted your concerns about schools that are withholding results for non payment of fees. Withholding results is illegal because the fees contract is between the school and parent and not the pupil. If a school withholds results bring this to the attention of the Ministry as that is an act of misconduct and disciplinary action will be taken,” said Dep Minister Moyo. @ncubeleon