All set for State of the Nation address

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
President Mugabe is expected to set the tone for economic recovery by outlining the Government’s achievements and priorities of the country over the next year, when he delivers the State of the Nation address this afternoon.

The yearly event serves as a means for the President to inform the nation about the country’s present socio-economic and political situation.

Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda yesterday confirmed that everything was set for the President’s address.

The President will deliver his speech in the National Assembly while some Senators will follow the proceedings from giant screens in the Upper House.

“We are more than ready and the President will be addressing the joint sitting at 3pm,” said Mr Chokuda.

“Members of the National Assembly will get into the House at 2:15pm as usual and the Senate at 2:30.

“After the prayers, the Speaker will then announce that the President would address the House at 3pm. All the other business of the House will be suspended. The same processes will also happen in the Senate when they come in at 2:30pm.

“However, we have made arrangements with the chief whips that we have other Senators in the National Assembly since this is a joint sitting.”

President Mugabe is expected to tackle various issues that touch on socio-political and economic factors among them Government’s intervention to curb job losses triggered by a Supreme Court ruling last month that upheld common law.

Parliament has since passed the Labour Amendment Bill that seeks to stop the arbitrary dismissal of workers by firms from both the public and private sector.

The Bill awaits Presidential assent.