FACT CHECK - 'Monkeys and baboons': What did Shiri actually say?

Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri

Remarks made by Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri, during a Parliamentary debate on July 31, have been widely shared and have raised controversy.

Under the headline “MDC MPs monkeys, baboons: Minister”, NewsDay reported: “Chaos reigned supreme in Parliament yesterday after Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri described MDC MPs as ‘baboons and monkeys’ for seeking answers on the missing $3 billion agricultural funds, forcing the sitting of the National Assembly to be adjourned prematurely”.

NewsDay quotes Shiri as saying: “I can’t be talking to monkeys and baboons.”

Open Parly, an online platform that monitors parliamentary debates, tweeted: “Parliament adjourned after Min. of Agric referred to MPs as Monkeys & Baboons”.

The Daily News also reported that Shiri “had labelled MDC legislators ‘baboons and monkeys’ after rejecting allegations US$3 billion allocated to the controversial Command Agriculture programme between 2017 and 2018 was stolen”.

While NewsDay quoted Shiri as saying “I can’t be talking to monkeys and baboons”, Daily News quoted him as saying: “I am not addressing baboons and monkeys”.

So, what did Shiri exactly say?

Below is an excerpt from the session, according to the Hansard, the official record of Parliament’s proceedings which transcribes from audio recordings of debates:

HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. With all due respect, I am pleading with your office so that the Hon. Minister would come to this House and give a full ministerial statement explaining clearly with regard to how this issue of the $3 billion came to everything so that he will not just present as he has just done. With all facts and details to the House, we interrogate with questions freshly and openly with all the grace. I am very sure the Hon. Minister has no one to protect in all circumstances.

HON. SEN. RTD. AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SHIRI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am not protecting anyone. I am stating facts as they are. I seem not to appreciate the need to come and issue a ministerial statement given that I am able to give the required facts here. I have highlighted that the money in question was used for the cotton input scheme, for the Presidential Input Scheme and for the importation of grain – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

Hon. Members having stood up.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: No more points of order. May you resume your seats Hon. Members. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – -[HON. SEN. RTD. AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SHIRI: Ndakumbovatuka mbijana.]-

HON. SEN. RTD. AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SHIRI: Mr. Speaker Sir, I am not addressing baboons and monkeys. I am addressing people who are supposed to listen when I am responding. If they want me to respond and they want an answer, they have to give me a chance to respond. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: No more points of order. Hon. Members, may you resume your seats. – [HON. MEMBERS: No, no.] – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

HON. MAMOMBE: Mr. Speaker, I am the one who asked the question. The Hon. Minister cannot refer to us as baboons and monkeys. We need sufficient answers Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you need to protect us Sir. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – [HON. MEMBERS: Mr. Speaker, there are no monkeys] -. We are not going to allow that kind of language in this House. He has to withdraw.

Conclusion:

The official Hansard record shows that Shiri’s stated intention was to insult MPs who were heckling him.

While both the NewsDay and Daily News truncated direct quotations on what Shiri said are incomplete and therefore potentially misleading, the two newspapers’ interpretation of the minister’s statement is in line with his intention to insult his hecklers.
On Thursday, 1 August 2019, Shiri withdrew his statement.