Next Week in Parliament

Both Houses of Parliament are adjourned until the 10th June.  In this Bill Watch we shall outline the business they are expected to deal with when they resume, but please bear the following points in mind:

• When the National Assembly and the Senate adjourn, they set down all outstanding business on their Order Papers (i.e. their agendas) for the next appropriate sitting day.  There is usually too much to be covered in one day, so whatever is not dealt with is postponed to the next appropriate day.
• Both Houses of Parliament can change the order in which they consider business.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Tuesday 10th June

Bills to be dealt with

The Assembly is due to deal with the following Bills:

• Parks and Wild Life Amendment Bill [link]

The Second Reading of this Bill is due to continue.

• Medical Services Amendment Bill [link]

The Second Reading of this Bill is due to begin.

International agreements to be approved

The Assembly will be asked to approve:

• the African Charter on Statistics, signed in Addis Ababa on the 4th February 2009
• an agreement to operationalise the SADC Regional Development Fund

Parliamentary Committee reports

Reports to be considered for adoption by the Assembly will cover the following topics:

• Gender-based violence
• The Civil Aviation Authority’s financial statements for 2020
• The CMED and Easy-Go Hiring and Travel (Pvt) Ltd
• The 2020 financial statements of Karoi Town Council
• The 2020 financial statements of Gweru City Council
• The 2024 Third Quarter budget performance report of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce
• Universal access to primary and secondary education
• The state of treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug and substance abuse
• Review of the 2025 monetary policy statement
• State of the water supply in Bulawayo
• The third quarter Budget Performance Reports for the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Audit Skills and Development
• Projects being carried out by Verify Engineering and the National Biotechnology Authority
• The 2022 financial statements of Hurungwe Rural District Council
• The 2021 and 2022 financial statements of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
• Implementation of the digitisation project in Zimbabwe

Petitions to be considered

• A petition from ZISCO Steel pensioners
• A petition on lack of piped water supply in Harare and Glenview

Motions on the National Assembly order paper

Motions set to be debated by the Assembly will include the following topics:

• An open data portal for public institutions and State agencies
• The establishment of a national institute of ideology
• The provision of waiting rooms for expectant mothers in rural hospitals
• Ensuring that local authorities fill vacant posts with substantive appointments rather than acting appointments
• Availability of school uniforms at reasonable prices
• Abolition of bank charges for balance enquiries
• Dealing with tuberculosis and silicosis among miners
• Protection of wetlands
• Fires in communal areas
• Improvement of water infrastructure in the country
• Skin-lightening products
• Setting aside zones for vendors, registration of vendors and prohibition against seizure of their wares
• Urging the promotion of community share ownership schemes in all constituencies
• Urging the Government to promote sign language
• Urging improvement in digital infrastructure, in schools and throughout the country
• Reservation of 30 per cent of government tenders for youth-led enterprises
• Measures to boost internet connectivity and improve digital infrastructure
• Reply to the President’s speech

Wednesday 11th June

Questions set down for answer

Among questions set down for Ministers to answer in the National Assembly on Wednesday are questions on the following issues:

• Servicing of residential stands allocated to parliamentarians
• The functions of village heads relative to urban councillors
• Progress on rehabilitating various roads
• Licensing of religious radio stations
• Marketing Zimbabwe locally, regionally and internationally
• The funding and effectiveness of the Air Ambulance Service
• Land degradation in Gwanda North caused by artisanal gold miners
• Lifting the ban on fishing in Lake Chivero
• Save River siltation
• Retrenchments of employees at Hippo Valley and Triangle
• Payment of ZIMSEC markers and moderators for the 2024 examinations
• Readiness of hotels for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• Setting of grain producer prices above prevailing international prices
• Measures to improve conditions for lecturers and academic staff at higher and tertiary educational institutions

SENATE

Tuesday 10th June

Bills to be dealt with

The Senate is due to deal with the following Bill:

• Persons with Disabilities Bill [link]

The Bill is due to undergo its Second Reading.

Reports of Constitutional Commissions to be considered

The Senate will be asked to consider the reports of the following constitutional Commissions:

• The Judicial Service Commission’s report for 2024
• The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s report for 2024

Thematic Committee reports to be considered

The Senate will be asked to adopt reports on:

• Bulawayo’s water supply
• Traditional court systems
• The impact of climate change on human-wildlife conflict

Motions to be dealt with by the Senate

The Senate is expected to debate motions on the following topics:

• Respect for indigenous culture, customs and heritage
• Motion of condolence on the death of Senator Chimutengwende
• Congratulation to Dr Coventry on becoming IOC President
• Expanding irrigation and other measures to combat climate change
• Expanding access to safe abortion services
• Reply to the President’s speech

Wednesday 11th June

The Senate will continue business stood over from Tuesday

Thursday 12th June

Questions set down for answer

Among questions for Ministers to answer in the Senate on Thursday are questions on the following issues:

• Plans to prevent the construction of illegal structures
• The pensionable age for employees of local authorities
• Use of technology to improve service delivery.

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.