Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
SPEAKER of Eswatini’s House of Assembly, Mr Jabulani Mabuza, has called for increased cooperation with Zimbabwe’s Parliament through exchange programmes and study tours, among other initiatives.
He said this on Monday in a meeting with officials from Parliament led by Speaker, Advocate Jacob Mudenda.
Mr Mabuza is leading a 13-member Eswatini Parliamentary delegation that is in the country on a five-day benchmarking visit.
“We once again appreciate your kind gesture of affording us this direct opportunity to benchmark with your Parliament and we do not take it lightly that you suspended your business schedule to accommodate us in our need to conduct this benchmark study tour,” he said.
“We hope that our Parliament will develop a bilateral agreement and have exchange programmes for the staff and the parliamentarians.”
Mr Mabuza said they were carrying out reforms of their Parliamentary Services Board, hence their benchmarking visit to Zimbabwe.
Monday’s meeting was also attended by Senate president, Cde Mabel Chinomona, her deputy, Retired Lieutenant-General Mike Nyambuya and members of the Committees on Standing Rules and Orders.
The Eswatini delegation is also expected to meet with the Public Service Commission and tour the National Heroes Acre.
Meanwhile, Adv Mudenda also met a Korean National Assembly delegation led by its Deputy Speaker, Mr Joo Ho Young, and discussed various issues that include enhancing parliamentary cooperation and investment.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Joo said Korean businesses were willing to increase investments in Zimbabwe but called on authorities to improve policy predictability and the taxation system.
Adv Mudenda acknowledged their concerns, saying the Government was working on improving the business environment in line with President Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra.
“You see, the business people, Korean business people, if they have issues regarding legal framework, Parliament is responsible for enacting legal frameworks that are conducive to doing business with the Government,” he said.
“That is why we enacted a law, the Zimbabwe Development Agency is a one-stop shop and we are prepared, once we know the information, to call the Ministers responsible under our oversight responsibilities, to engage the Ministers to affirm the predictability of doing business in Zimbabwe.
“In this case, it would be the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. If it has to do with taxation, we have to engage the Minister of Finance accordingly and map the way forward so that we remain predictable.”
