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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
SPEAKER of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has implored the academia to be actively involved in parliamentary legislative processes to have their input in the law-making process.
Addressing a Speaker’s stakeholder meeting with tertiary institutions drawn from Harare and Mashonaland East provinces at the University of Zimbabwe on Monday, Adv Mudenda said it was everyone’s right to be involved in crafting the country’s laws.
“As enunciated in the Constitution, the legislative authority of Zimbabwe is derived from the people,” he said.
“We are all linked to the general populace while we are at these institutions.
“We should come up with laws that are a pride to us and the nation at large.
Adv Mudenda said Parliament must facilitate the interaction between itself and the public institutions through the involvement of committees.
“When they call for public hearings try to attend and bring light into the discussions because you have the knowledge base, you are privileged,” he said.
“Be there to ensure that interested parties are consulted about Bills we consider in Parliament.
“Do such consultations in an appropriate and impracticable way.
“I was disappointed that very few academia made input into the Manpower Planning and Development Amendment Bill until Professor Amon Murwira engaged them, however, I was happy that principals of the polytechnics responded.”
The event was attended by Government ministers, senior officials, vice chancellors of universities, principals of polytechnics and colleges and educationists.
Online Reporter