MIDWEEK REPORTER
HARARE-President Mnangagwa has laid out more than twenty Bills aimed at improving people’s lives and challenged legislators to conclude five outstanding bills from the Ninth Parliament.
Officially opening the Tenth Parliament on Tuesday at the new parliament building in Mountain Hampden, Mnangagwa implored newly sworn-in legislators to speed up the completion of outstanding bills from the Ninth Parliament to pave the way for new Bills.
“I challenge you to accelerate the completion of the matters outstanding from the legislative agenda of the Ninth Parliament. Much work lies ahead,” said Mnangagwa.
Five Bills namely the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, Public Finance Management Amendment Bill, Medical Services Amendment Bill, Insurance Bill and the controversial Private Voluntary Organisation Bill are outstanding from the Ninth Parliament.
Mnangagwa said new Bills such as the Persons with Disabilities Bill and the Administration of Estates Amendment Bill will be tabled during the First Session of the 10th Parliament.
The Tenth Parliament is also expected to deliberate on climate change resilience mechanisms according to Mnangagwa.
“To give impetus to matters related to climate change adaptation and resilience, the Tenth Parliament is called upon to review the Water Act, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act and the Plant Breeders Act.
“The much-anticipated Climate Change Bill seeking to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate low carbon development technologies should be thoroughly debated towards strengthening appropriate institutions and funding mechanisms,” Mnangagwa said.
Legislators have also been encouraged to speed up the enactment of laws that promote value addition and beneficiation of the country’s natural resources.
“The Second Republic aims to fully exploit, value add and beneficiate the country’s abundant natural resources.
“In this regard, as industrialisation gathers momentum, Parliament must expedite the consideration of the Competition Amendment Bill; Economic Empowerment Bill, Standards Bill, Sugar Production Amendment Bill and the Technical Regulations Bill. Ratification will also be required in respect of the SADC Protocol on Industry and the Inter-African Coffee Agreement,” added Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa’s government is expecting the Tenth Parliament to align the Housing Standards Control Act and the Housing and Buildings Act to enhance quality in building structures.
“Government is committed to providing modern and affordable human settlements for all Zimbabweans. In this regard, the Zimbabwe Construction Contractors Council Bill seeks to establish an authority that will bring sanity in the built environment.
“Parliament is expected to consider the alignment of the Housing Standards Control Act and the Housing and Buildings Act.”
Outdated laws such as the Fredrick Clayton Trust Act, the Service of Documents Act, the Settled Estates Leasing Act and the War Marriages Validation Act will be repealed under the Repeal of Laws (General Amendment) Bill.
The Tenth Parliament’s official opening was graced by two Vice Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Senate President Mabel Chinomona, judges and senior government officials.
CCC legislators boycotted the official opening of the Tenth Parliament, a development that drew the ire of the ruling party.
