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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Parliament will debate at least 24 Bills during the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament with the majority of them meant to stimulate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and improve the business environment in the country.
The proposed new Bills and others amending already existing legislation, were cited by President Mugabe in his prepared address for the official Opening of the Third Session held on Tuesday.
The President added that the session would also ensure the acceleration of the alignment of laws with the new Constitution.
“In order to stimulate both local and foreign direct investment inflows, Government is carrying out a raft of measures to improve the business environment in the country.
“In this regard, the Companies Act and other pieces of legislation, which have hitherto hindered ease of doing business, will be overhauled. Furthermore, the Zimbabwe Investment Authority Amendment Bill, which seeks to convert the Authority into a truly one-stop-shop investment centre, will also be tabled for consideration by this august House,” President Mugabe said.
The State Procurement Bill will also be tabled in Parliament and will convert the current Board into a non-executive standards setting body, while decentralising procurement to ministries, public enterprises and local authorities.
“The Special Economic Zones Bill, which seeks to promote exports, boost industrialisation and enhance skills and technological transfer will also be tabled during this session,” he said.
“In order to promote the revival and growth of the local manufacturing sector, action is being taken to limit the importation of goods for which there is adequate local production capacity.”
The Banking Amendment Bill meant to improve the regulatory framework in the financial services sector, will also be tabled while the President also said further amendments to the Labour Act could be made following concerns raised by social partners on amendments that were effected just before the end of the second session.
The amendments had been prompted by a Supreme Court ruling allowing companies to unilaterally terminate contracts of employment on three months’ notice resulting in over 25 000 employees losing their jobs countrywide.
President Mugabe also said a reconfiguration of the mining sector would be made in line with targets set under Zim-Asset.
“The mining sector remains the centre-piece of the country’s economic revival as envisaged under Zim-Asset. However, to realise the sector’s full potential, it is necessary to invest in an intensive exploration programme and in mineral value addition and beneficiation.
“To this end the Mineral Exploration and Marketing Corporation Bill, which aims to transform the Minerals and Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe into a fully fledged exploration corporation, will be tabled before this august House. The Bill will provide for a competitive and investment focused legislative framework,” President Mugabe said.
Other notable Bills presented by the President include the Pan-African Minerals University of Science and Technology that will offer postgraduate training in value addition and beneficiation; the Consumer Protection Bill to promote consumer rights and fair competition; the National Competitiveness Commission Bill to repeal the National Income and Prices Commission and the National Border Ports Authority Bill to establish a National Border Ports Authority to clear bottlenecks at border posts.
President Mugabe also said the e-Transactions Bill that would govern e-Commerce and provide the basis for the formulation of an e-Government policy would also be tabled before parliament.
“Section 296 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the establishment of the Land Commission to replace the former Agricultural Land Board. The Land Commission will carry out the land audit and is also mandated to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency in the administration of all agricultural land. Accordingly, the Land Commission Bill will also be presented to Parliament during the current session,” he said.
Other Bills the President mentioned that are expected to come before parliament include Cooperative Societies Act (Amendment Bill), the Local Authorities Bill to consolidate the Urban Councils Act and Rural District Councils Act, the Education Amendment Bill to align the Act with the constitution, the Public Health Bill to address current public health challenges and regulate involvement of non-state actors in public health.
The Children’s Amendment Bill will also be tabled while a Bill to combine the War Veterans Act and Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Act will also come for consideration.
President Mugabe also said a Corporate Governance Bill to bolster the fight against corruption, the National Security Council Amendment Bill to establish a National Security Council and the National Defence University Bill would also be tabled during the session.
He challenged legislators to be cognisant of the trust entrusted on them by the electorate.
“May I remind all honourable members and this august House of the need to always conduct business in a manner that does not erode the stock of trust reposed in us by the electorate.
“We need to carry the hopes and aspirations of our people.
“Let us channel our collective energies towards the development of our country, guided by our economic blueprint Zim-Asset. This, of course demands of us all to always cherish the crown values of peace, hard work and the unity of purpose,” President Mugabe said.
Online Reporter