Parly launches 5-year plan

at enhancing its capacity to execute its legislative, representative and oversight functions.
Speaker of the House of Assembly Mr Lovemore Moyo launched the plan at a ceremony attended by Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga, Acting president of the Senate Chief Fortune Charumbira, Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma and senior Parliament of Zimbabwe officials.

In his keynote address Mr Moyo said the ISP that runs from 2011 to 2015 was aimed at putting into practice Parliament’s mandate as spelt out in the constitution.
“As a national institution we are striving to demonstrate total commitment to make Parliament effective and relevant in a fast changing world,” said Mr Moyo.

“Over the past decade, Parliament has been implementing reforms which were conceptualised by parliamentarians and whose execution would not have been completely possible without development agencies.”
Such reforms, he said, include the adoption of portfolio and thematic committees that gave better meaning to the parliament’s oversight role.

Mr Moyo said the ISP would form a basis for Parliament to engage its stakeholders both internally and externally.
The ISP aims at enhancing Parliament’s financial management, community involvement in both legislative, representative and oversight roles, make it an effective and a results- driven public institution and build a professional and competent workforce at Parliament.

Speaking at the same occasion, Chief Charumbira said it was important for Parliament to implement its plan.
“I want to thank Parliament for coming up with such a document because it shows teamwork,” he said.
“When you do a strategic plan you are unpacking and operationalising the constitutional mandate given to you, it shows that you have a vision.

“Even the Bible says if you do not have a vision you will perish, so you now know where you want to go because you now have a vision.”
Chief Charumbira said the ISP would allow Parliament to adequately utilise its resources.

The ISP was designed with the assistance of the Southern Africa Parliamentary Support Trust and the Zimbabwe Institute.
Parliament has also attained the ISO 9001:2008 Certification in Quality Management System.