Get down to business, Zvoma tells MPs

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma yesterday challenged Members of Parliament to shift focus from their celebratory election victory mindset and get down to the business of improving the lives of people in their constituencies and the country.This comes as legislators hailed Zanu-PF for its plan to introduce performance appraisals for them.

Mr Zvoma said the time for legislators to continue basking in their election victory was over as they should now concentrate on discharging their legislative, oversight and representative duties.

He said this while addressing an induction workshop for legislators aimed at appraising them of their roles.
“You will agree with me that the elections have come and gone and that victory celebrations must soon come to an end, giving way to the task of contributing towards improving the lives of the electorate. As far as honour goes, it doesn’t come any bigger than the chance of representing Zimbabwe in the Eighth Parliament,” said Mr Zvoma.

He said their task was an honourous one that needs commitment.
“Honourable Members, I do not envy you nor intend to scare you. Unlike being a Clerk of Parliament, being an elected politician remains one of the few professions for which there is no agreed job description. Furthermore, constituency servicing is now central to ideals of parliamentary representation by the public.

“Thus the politician would be expected to play multiple roles of providing material and financial support of constituencies,” he said.
A legislator, he said, would be responsible for handling of legislative responsiveness and acting as a principal development agent for the area he represents.

Zanu-PF has since indicated that it would set up a performance appraisal system aimed at assessing the performance of the revolutionary party’s legislators.

Legislators from the party interviewed, hailed the idea saying it would enhance service delivery.
“That is a good idea. I am sure even all Members of Parliament are of the same vision. It is not just for the benefit of the party but for the electorate,” said Chipinge South MP, Cde Enock Porusingazi.

He said there should be a system that ensure legislators are not only visible but actively interact with the electorate.
Buhera West MP, Cde Oliver Mandipaka said performance appraisal was the backbone of enhancing development.

“As a person coming from an institution that does performance appraisal (Zimbabwe Republic Police) I feel that it is a brilliant idea,” he said.
Epworth MP, Cde Amos Midzi hailed the system as progressive.

“It is the best thing that has ever happened since independence in terms of ensuring that MPs are sensitive to the expectation, needs and aspirations of the constituencies,” he said.