Presentation of 2024 National Budget: Thursday 30th November
Highlight of the Coming Week: Thursday’s 2024 Budget Speech
Likely to be the highlight of the week is the presentation 2024 National Budget Speech on Thursday afternoon 30th November in the National Assembly chamber at the New Parliament Building at Mount Hampden by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
On the National Assembly Order Paper for The Coming Week
(from the Order Paper for Tuesday 28th November published on 16th November)
TUESDAY
Take-note motion on ZEC Report on the 2023 Harmonised Elections
This motion has been awaiting presentation by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi, for the last six sitting days since 7th November but has been postponed in favour of the continuing debates on the 2022 Annual Reports that make up the next two items on the Order Paper.
Continuing debate on Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission 2022 Annual Report
Continuing debate on National Prosecuting Authority 2022 Annual Report
Both the above reports have proved popular subjects for debate, with many MPs having contributed so far.
Continuing debate on Vote of Thanks for President’s SONA speech
This traditional debate, which characterises the beginning of every annual Parliamentary session, has been running ever since Hon Nguluvhe, seconded by Hon Tsitsi Zhou, first moved the requisite motion at the sitting of the National Assemblyon 10th October. This was the National Assembly’s first working sitting following the delivery of President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation [SONA] speech to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on 3rd October.
New Private Members’ Motion on Removal of US Sanctions
Hon Dr Mutodi and Hon Shamu, both of ZANU PF, propose a motion for the unconditional removal of “heinous and illegal sanctions, unilaterally imposed on Zimbabwe by the Government of USA after the enactment of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) … to pave way for a prosperous sovereign state”. The motion calls for various actions to achieve this aim: that a delegation from Zimbabwe Parliament be sent to the USA to present a briefing paper to the US President requesting the repeal of ZIDERA and to engage the US Congress to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe; that Zimbabwe presents its case to the United Nations by end of December 2023 for the unconditional lifting of sanctions once and for all. The final words of the motion also call on “the United States of America Government to engage with the Zimbabwean government on terms that promote mutual benefit through economic and political cooperation”.
New motion on Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Two women MPs – Hon Sethulo Ndebele (CCC) and Hon Gertrude Mutandi (ZANU PF) – have teamed up in a non-partisan motion asking the Government to initiate the enactment of laws for stiffer penalties to deter GBV perpetrators; to embark on GBV awareness programmes in all districts; and to initiate GBV programmes promoting social and cultural change as way of “eradicating this scourge”.
Continuing debate on Report on Parliaments and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This debate is on Hon Shamu’s report on an International Parliamentary Union [IPU] conference held under the them : “Bringing the Future to the Present: The Democracy of the Future, Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Parliaments”. Hon Shamu presented a lengthy and detailed report on behalf the Speaker, Adv Jacob Mudenda, concluding with eleven recommendations for consideration by Parliament. [The report will be posted to the Veritas website as soon as it is available.]
WEDNESDAY
Written Questions with Notice
There are 17 questions on the Order Paper, including Hon Jere’s question to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to explain to the House the legal framework that is in place to prosecute Banking Executives and Directors who were responsible for misappropriation of large sums of money and other financial improprieties such as huge non-performing loans and poor credit risk management between 2012 and now. Hon Markham has two questions/requests, both for the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs: (1) for an explanation of why ZEC ran out of ballot papers during the 23rd August elections; (2) for the SADC report on the same elections. Hon Markham also has two questions for the Minister of Local Government and Public Works: (1) for an explanation of the Ministry’s ban on debt collectors which were being used as a way of enforcing payment of rates; (2) for an explanation the legal provisions used for the disbursement of funds in the absence of a Devolution Bill and for a detailed breakdown of the funds released to each local authority on a yearly basis ever since the release of such funds started.
THURSDAY
There was nothing on the order paper apart from the 2024 National Budget.
On the Senate’s Order Paper for The Coming Week
(from the Order Paper for Tuesday 28th November published on 16th November)
TUESDAY
Take-note motion on ZEC Report on the 2023 Harmonised Elections
As is the case in the National Assembly, this motion has been awaiting presentation by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi, for the last six sitting days since 7th November but has been postponed in favour of the continuing debates on the 2022 Annual Reports that make up the next two items on the Order Paper: the continuing debate on Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission 2022 Annual Report and the continuing debate on National Prosecuting Authority 2022 Annual Report. Both these reports have elicited considerable debate by Senators.
New motion on Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
The motion was proposed by Senator Maybe Mbohwa and seconded by Senator Tambuzani.Mohadi and the wording is the same as the motion on GBV scheduled to be moved on the same day in the National Assembly [see above].
Continuing debate on Vote of Thanks for President’s SONA speech
This debate has been running ever since Senator Kambizi moved the requisite motion at the sitting of the Senate on 10th October. This was the Senate’s first working sitting following the delivery of President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation [SONA] speech to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on 3rd October.
THURSDAY
Thursday is usually the afternoon for Question Time in the Senate, but it unlikely that many questions will be taken as it is usual for Ministers and Senators to attend the presentation of the Annual Budget. The Senate’s sitting is, therefore, likely to be short.
Reminder: for those who are interested Cabinet Weekly Briefings can be found on the Veritas website.
Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.
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