admin
Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter
LEGISLATORS from both Zanu-PF and opposition parties have welcomed the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Mnangagwa on Wednesday.
In his address, the President charged Members of Parliament to pass pending legislation timeously.
Several Bills have been taking long to go through Parliament owing to a lacklustre approach by the legislature.
In an interview after the delivery of the address, Leader of Government Business and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the President had charged Parliament to speed up the passing of legislation.
“At least it was well balanced here. He spoke about the Bills that we needed to expedite. I think this session of the 10th Parliament, very few Bills went through Parliament and he emphasised that it is the responsibility of both the Ministers and Parliament to ensure that we expedite most of those legislative items that are pronounced during the first session of the 10th Parliament.
“We had a problem that we, at the Attorney General’s office, had very few drafters. But the Attorney General is now addressing those issues. If you notice, we had very few Bills that were coming to Parliament,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi said the forthcoming session will be a busy one.
“By and large, he spoke about the state of the economy, the unity and peace and tranquil environment that is prevailing and urged us to ensure that we maintain that spirit of togetherness.
“So I think the second session will be very busy. Once Bills start coming to Parliament, we should see a lot of activity,” he said.
Buhera West Member of Parliament Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the President had touched all areas.
“Of course, most importantly, the President spoke about peace and tranquillity existing in the country and the need for us as legislators and every Zimbabwean, to safeguard that peace, security and tranquillity in the country. The President gave us marching orders as a Parliament in terms of why we need to put our shoulders to the wheel to address a couple of Bills that were pending from the previous 9th Parliament and of course, those that were brought by the President in the first State of the Nation Address which was given on the opening of Parliament last year,” he said.
Cde Mugwadi said Parliament had adjourned till next week and this would give legislators ample time to brainstorm.
“So the President has spoken on all those areas and I think it was only befitting that the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Jacob Mudenda, found it fit for us to adjourn Parliament so that we go and digest the speech and then we resume sitting on Tuesday next week to look into the issues that the President has spoken about with a view to treating them with a sense of urgency as he has directed,” he said.
Mr Timothy Mncube, president of Zimbabwe African National Congress, said the major takeaway he had noted was President Mnangagwa’s commitment to strengthening the local currency.
“Our nation’s economic stability and growth rely heavily on a robust and reliable currency. The ZiG currency is more than just a medium of exchange; it’s a symbol of our nation’s sovereignty and economic independence. By supporting the ZIG currency, we are investing in Zimbabwe’s future and its people.
“I applaud the President’s visionary leadership in promoting financial inclusion, economic empowerment, and job creation through a stable currency. The ZIG currency must continue to play a vital role in our economic system, facilitating trade, commerce, and innovation,” he said.
Online Reporter