The Second Session of the Seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe was officially opened on Tuesday 6th October. Thereafter both Houses held brief separate sittings and adjourned to Tuesday 20th October. When the Houses resume they will commence their customary debates on the Presidents speech traditionally an opportunity for members not only to discuss the content of the speech but also to raise matters of concern in their constituencies. Work will also hopefully start then on Bills that have been gazetted and are ready for introduction the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill and other Ministry of Finance Bills. In his speech the President outlined the legislative agenda for the year [see list below]. Last year quite a few Bills were mentioned that were never brought to Parliament, so this list is no guarantee that these Bills will come up.
Highlights of the Presidents Speech [Electronic version of full speech available on request.]
Highlights of the speech included references to:
The recent agreement among the three principals to the Global Political Agreement to restructure the management of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the new Constitution, to expedite work towards a new Constitution
The establishment of four Independent Constitutional Commissions the process is progressing well and conclusion imminent.
Medium to long-term plans to succeed the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme [STERP] to move from economic stabilisation to growth and development
Bills to be introduced by the Government during the session [see list below] the President did not mention any Bills to implement media reform, and repeal or amend AIPPA and POSA.
Regional and international agreements to be laid before Parliament for approval during the session [see below]
Plans for the development of the Chiadzwa diamond field but without mention of the recent High Court decision restoring the mining rights over the field to the company from which Government confiscated them in 2006
An indication of the policy objectives of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill to strengthen the relationship of government to mining houses, broaden ownership rights in line with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment policy, to promote Foreign Direct Investment and enforce the use it or lose it principle
A programme for the restructuring, commercialisation and possible privatisation of some state enterprises and parastatals
The meagre remuneration of public servants with a plea for patience until resources permit salaries and allowances to be benchmarked against the poverty datum line
The realignment of water, electricity, fuel and transport charges to regional levels
Re-engagement with the European Union and the Western bloc and the governments expectation that those countries that have imposed illegal sanctions will remove them, as Zimbabwe remains in a positive stance to enter into fresh, friendly and cooperative relations with all those countries that have been hostile to us in the past
Governments Legislative Agenda for Second Session
The President announced that the following Bills would be brought to Parliament during the session [Note that only a few of these Bills are ready for Parliament now those gazetted or about to be gazetted, as indicated below. The others will reach Parliament later in the session, as drafting is completed and final Cabinet approval is obtained. Some of them may only be dealt with well into 2010. Some may not make it at all.]
Human Rights Commission Bill
* Public Finance Management Bill [to be gazetted on 9th October]
* Audit Office Bill [gazetted on 2nd October]
* Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill [gazetted on 14th August]
Income Tax Amendment Bill
Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill
National Incomes and Pricing Commission Amendment Bill
Railways Amendment Bill
National Information Communication Technology Bill
Small and Medium Enterprises Bill
Education Amendment Bill
Zimbabwe Qualifications Authority Bill
National Youth Service Bill
Food Control Bill
Bacteriological Weapons Convention Bill
Regional and International Agreements to be Placed before
Parliament for Approval
SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement
SADC Protocol on Fisheries
Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and
Their Disposal
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands
[Note: no mention of sorting out Zimbabwes membership of SADC Tribunal]
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