Motion shot down

parliamentary select committee to work with experts on transitional justice and national healing.

Hurungwe West MP Mr Severino Chambati (MDC-T) moved the motion, which was supported by MDC-T legislators that there be a committee to deal with national healing looking on various aspects that include political violence that has rocked the country and the political disturbances in Matabeleland that occurred in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Lovemore Moyo, yesterday withdrew all Adverse Reports on Statutory Instruments that were brought by the Parliamentary Legal Committee before the House after it emerged that their tabling violated the Constitution.
This means the adverse report on the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act giving guidelines on how companies should comply with the law is now of no legal force.

On the motion to investigate violence, Zanu-PF MPs said setting up of such a committee was a duplication of two arms already seized with the issues.
Institutions that are already seized with national healing include the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee and the Organ on National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation.
Shurugwi South MP, Cde Annastancia Ndlovu (Zanu-PF) said what was critical was to capacitate these two institutions rather than setting another arm.

Cde Ndlovu said the reason Zimbabweans went to war was the right to vote and democracy and violence retarded the gains of independence.
“It’s not true that only one party is responsible for the violence, we need to unite against violence. Let’s take heed to the call made by President Mugabe to desist from violence,” said Cde Ndlovu.

She urged legislators to give the two arms dealing with national healing a chance.
Mberengwa East MP, Cde Makhosini Hlongwane said Zanu-PF envisaged a violence-free environment but there was need to give the two arms a chance.

MDC-T legislators said there was need to revisit the Gukurahundi issue as part of national healing.
On the ruling by the Speaker on adverse reports, Deputy Speaker, Ms Nomalanga Khumalo said it had been noted that the Constitution did not allow adverse reports on Statutory Instruments to be brought to the House of Assembly at the first instance.

She said the Speaker had noted that while Parliament rules allowed the tabling of such reports, the legal position was not consistent with the Constitution.
“It has since come to my attention that the provisions of Standing Order Number 138 (2) and Standing Order number 205 (4B) relating to the tabling and debating of the Parliamentary Legal Committee Adverse Reports in the House of Assembly as the House of first instance are in violation of paragraph eight or schedule Four of the Constitution,” said Ms Khumalo.

“Paragraph Eight of Schedule Four of the Constitution provides that adverse reports of the PLC are reported to the Senate.
“The House of Assembly can only be involved if the Senate agrees with the adverse report of the PLC.”
The ruling would mean that the adverse report on indigenisation regulations are at least for now of no legal force in the eyes of Parliament.