Kudos to Parly for going public

Zvamaida Murwira Mr Speaker, Sir
As Parliament’S Standing Rules and Orders Committee finalises the selection of people to sit in various independent commissions for President Mugabe’s consideration, it is pertinent for those who will make it into the commissions to be aware of the daunting task ahead of them.

Parliament’s SROC ran a series of interviews for various independent commissioners last week in sessions that were open to the public.

The august House has started implementing one of the reforms – that of taking Parliament to the people – one of the fundamental tenets of democracy.

Several people applied to be considered as commissioners and those shortlisted were duly invited last week for interviews by Members of Parliament that constituted a sub-committee of the SROC tasked with that responsibility.

The Law and Procedure sub-committee in conjunction with the Human Resource sub-committee chaired by Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Marble Chinomona chaired the two respective bodies.

The interviews were meant to fill the recently created commissions – the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.

Other interviewees were to fill vacancies that were created due to resignations in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

Shortlisted candidates who were eventually called for the interviews were drawn from all sectors of Zimbabwe’s society.

They ranged from members of the clergy, educationists, lawyers and former legislators, an indication that people indeed have confidence in the country’s constitutional organs and processes.

Mr Speaker Sir, successful candidates should know the onerous task ahead of them.

They ought to know that they were not just going there to make up the numbers.

What should continue to guide them is a question which all candidates were asked during the interview.

All the candidates in respect of all commissions were asked the following question:

“Based on your knowledge and experience, what contribution will you bring to the commission?”

In responding to the question, candidates gave their backgrounds, what they had done in the past and how they hoped to translate that knowledge into the commission.

In responding to that question, there was clearly enthusiasm to impress the interviewing panel that a candidate had what it took to be commissioner.

This was demonstrated by how they articulated what they had done, either in Government or in the civic society and how they would use that knowledge for the benefit of the commission.

What this means Mr Speaker Sir is that there will be legitimate expectation from members of the public for the successful people to deliver.

People expect them to walk the talk, Mr Speaker Sir.

Another aspect that is expected of them is to know the local laws, regional and international instruments governing one’s respective commission, a question that was posed to candidates.

This was more striking on the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.

These laws and regional and international instruments that Zimbabwe ratified ought to be studied and well understood by the commissioners for the purposes of implementing their mandate.

It is pertinent that commissioners know the legal provisions governing their commission.

During interviews, it was embarrassing for some candidates who failed to answer a question in which they were asked to give just three objectives of the independent commissions.

Candidates would either name the independent commissions or just mumble about it while others duly responded.

The objectives of the independent commissions as espoused in Section 233 of the Constitution are to support and entrench human rights and democracy, to protect the sovereignty and interests of the people, to promote constitutionalism and to promote transparency and accountability in public institutions.

Other objectives are to secure the observance of democratic values and principles by the State and all institutions and agencies of Government and Government-controlled entities and to ensure that injustices are remedied.

It is these objectives, Mr Speaker Sir, that commissioners ought to understand.

Individual commissions are also charged with peculiar responsibilities that successful commissioners ought to be conversant with if they are going to efficiently and effectively discharge their constitutional roles.

Zimbabweans will take solace in the general calibre of those that were invited to interviews.

Some of them demonstrated a wealth of experience in the discipline in which they wanted to be considered as commissioner.

Mr Speaker Sir, another aspect that needs to be mentioned is maturity in terms of democracy our Parliament has achieved in terms of how the whole process was executed.

Advertisements were flighted in all mainstream publications, meaning everyone who felt he or she was qualified was given an opportunity to apply.

Parliament’s SROC invited many candidates who met the criteria for each commission.

For example, at least 30 people were invited for the Zimbabwe Gender Commission while 33 people got the nod for the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.

Only 12 names will be submitted to the President after which he will in turn appoint eight.

But, more importantly, the interviews were conducted in an open forum where members of the public were allowed to attend.

This will certainly enable people to make their own views in terms of the calibre of the prospective commissioners.

The fact that Parliament conducted the process in full view of members of the public showed that they had nothing to hide and were determined to have the best people in the commissions.

Again this is in fulfilment of Parliament’s reform process that was initiated during Cde Cyril Ndebele’s tenure as Speaker of Parliament in the late 1990s.

Mr Speaker Sir, it was also refreshing to note that even though you were not part of the interviewing panel, you took time to sit through the interviewing processes.

In the end it is hoped that the commissioners will rise to expectations and discharge their constitutional obligations effectively.