Both Houses of Parliament adjourned last month to the 10th February. 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.
In a further Bill Watch we shall publish the Government’s legislative agenda announced by the President in October last year.
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Tuesday 10th February
Bills to be dealt with:
The Assembly is expected to deal with the following Bills:
- Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Amendment Bill [link]
The Committee Stage of this Bill is due to begin
- Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill [link]
This Bill is due to begin its Second Reading
- Climate Change Management Bill [link]
This Bill is also due to begin its Second Reading.
- Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Amendment Bill [link]
The Second Reading of this Bill will also begin.
- Occupational Safety and Health Bill [link]
This Bill is due to begin its Committee Stage
- Tourism Bill [link]
This Bill is due to begin its Second Reading
- State Service (Pensions) Bill [link]
Consideration of the Parliamentary Legal Committee’s adverse report on this Bill [link] will continue.
- Mines and Minerals Bill [link]
The Assembly is also due to continue its consideration of the PLC’s adverse report on this Bill [link].
- Public Service Amendment Bill [link]
Consideration of the PLC’s adverse report on this Bill will continue.
Reports of parliamentary committees
The Assembly will deal with reports on the following topics:
- Adverse reports by the PLC on the constitutionality of various local authority by-laws
- Audited 2022 and 2023 financial statements of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development
- Audited 2022 financial statements of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion
- The state of vocational training centres
- Projects implemented by the Lotteries and Gaming Board as part of its corporate social responsibility
- 2024 fourth quarter Budget Performance Report of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services
- Challenges facing university students (motion to be restored to the Order Paper)
- The 2024 fourth quarter Budget Performance Reports of the Ministries of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Skills Audit and Development
- The state of digital information centres in Zimbabwe.
Reports of constitutional commissions and statutory bodies to be considered
The Assembly will be asked to consider:
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
- 2024 report of the Judicial Service Commission
- 2024 report of the Attorney-General’s Office
- 2024 report of the National Prosecuting Authority
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
- Reports of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on various by-elections held between October 2024 and January 2025
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission
Motions on the National Assembly order paper
Motions set to be debated by the Assembly will include the following topics:
- The erection of public galleries and statues to preserve Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage
- The establishment of succession rules and procedures for chiefs
Wednesday 11th February
Note: On Wednesdays, questions and other private members’ business have precedence over government business.
Questions set down for answer
Among questions set down for Ministers to answer in the National Assembly on Wednesday 11th February are questions on the following issues:
- Construction of dams and other infrastructure
- The cost of seed maize
- Provision of agricultural inputs to organisations supporting persons with disabilities
- Payment of allowances owing to persons employed on registration exercises in 2023
- Statistics on convictions for procuring in 2023 and 2024
- The contract between the Government and a private company for the provision of passports
- Alignment of the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act with the Constitution
- The Government Employees Microfinance Scheme (GEMS)
- Government plans to boost the economy of Chinhoyi
- The establishment of local economic development agencies to stimulate economic growth in provinces
- Revenue from the issue of number plates between January and June 2025
- Fraudulent certificates used to gain entry to nurses’ training
- How the government balances its commitment to democracy and human rights with trade relations with autocratic regimes
- Health assistance for Zimbabwean women in South Africa
- The status, functionality and effectiveness of the Rent Board
- Radio and television time allocated to political parties between 2023 and 2025 and whether the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission monitors media fairness between elections
- Exemption of deaf persons from need to have vehicle radio licences
- Revenue from issue of vehicle licences between January and June 2025
- Special presidential bonuses for civil servants
- Details on the employment of primary and secondary school teachers
- Assistance for mentally challenged persons who are homeless
- Votes for Zimbabweans in the diaspora
- Compensation for victims of political violence since 1980
- Measures to keep retailers and industries in business
- Supply of electricity to local authorities at non-commercial rates
- Whether only ZANU-PF members are to be recruited into the Army
THE SENATE
Tuesday 10th February
Bill to be dealt with
The Senate is expected to deal with the following Bill:
- Medical Services Amendment Bill [link]
This Bill is due to undergo its Second Reading
International agreements to be approved
The Senate will be asked to approve:
- Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters with the People’s Republic of China
- SADC Protocol on the Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners [link]
Reports of constitutional commissions and statutory bodies to be considered
The Senate will be asked to consider:
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
- 2024 report of the Judicial Service Commission
- 2024 report of the Attorney-General’s Office
- 2024 report of the National Prosecuting Authority
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
- Reports by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on various by-elections held between October 2024 and January 2025
- 2024 report of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission
Parliamentary committee reports to be considered
The Senate is expected to consider reports on the following topics:
- Recurring droughts
- Access to mining by women, youths and persons with disabilities
- The state of prisons in Zimbabwe [link]
Motions to be dealt with by the Senate
The Senate is expected to debate motions on the following topics:
- Vandalism of natural resources, State property and infrastructure
- Unpaid care work
- Promoting the use of indigenous languages in education, particularly in STEM subjects
- Enhancement and protection of inheritance rights of widows and children
- Development of a language policy to enhance the use of indigenous languages
- Urging a review of civil servants’ salaries and conditions of service
- Reply to the President’s speech
Wednesday 11th February
The Senate will continue with business not dealt with on Tuesday
Thursday 12th February
Questions set down for answer
The following questions have been tabled for Ministers to answer in the Senate on Thursday 12th February:
- Construction of a railway line between Harare and Chitungwiza
- The disposal of vehicles impounded at border posts
- Measures to mitigate the suspension of visas to the USA
- ZIMRA’s inland checkpoints
- The inclusion of elderly farmers in the Pfumfudza agricultural support programme
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