Adjournment of Parliament a contemptuous breach – experts

BY CHIEF REPORTER

HARARE – The adjournment of Parliament until October was in contemptuous breach of legislative procedure, legal experts have said.

After the ceremonial opening of Parliament on August 26, both Houses were adjourned, the Senate until October 7 and the House of Assembly until October 14.

After the long delay in convening Parliament, the immediate adjournment of both Houses for several weeks has caused comment because the adjournments were not voted by legislators.   

“In accordance with Parliamentary standing orders the dates were chosen by the Government and were not open to debate and yet standing orders state that at the conclusion of the business immediately following the formal opening of Parliament, the Speaker [the president of the Senate, in the case of Senate] shall adjourn the House without putting any question, to a day to be appointed by a Minister,” said a legal expert with Veritas.  

Acting Finance Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the adjournment date in the House of Assembly.

An early recall of both Houses is possible only at the request of the president.   

standing orders authorise the Speaker and the president of the Senate to recall their respective Houses at the president’s request, if they are satisfied that the public interest requires an early resumption of sittings.

The Houses were expected to be recalled for approval of the budget if the self-proclaimed president, Robert Mugabe, decides to install Cabinet in contemptuous violation of the Memorandum of Understanding forming the framework for the inter-party talks.  

The MDC has said it will oppose the budget approval until there is a power-sharing deal.

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