President to deliver State of the Nation Address (SONA), set legislative agenda as Parliament opens

President Emmerson Mnangagwa delivers his address during the virtual UN 2026 SDGs Moment from State House yesterday.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is set to officially open the Fourth Session of the 10th Parliament next Tuesday where he is expected to set out the Government’s legislative agenda and deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to General Notice 1866 of 2026, the President will address a joint sitting of the Senate and the National Assembly at 2pm on 29 September.

The address will be held in terms of Section 140(1) of the Constitution, which provides for the President to address Parliament and will set out Government’s legislative agenda for the Fourth Session of the 10th Parliament.

The President would also deliver the State of the Nation Address in terms of Section 140(4) of the Constitution.

The opening of the new Parliamentary session provides the Government with an opportunity to outline its legislative priorities and policy direction, while Parliament will subsequently consider proposed legislation arising from the agenda.

The notice was issued by the Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda.
Reads part of the notice: “… His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, on Tuesday, 29th September, 2026, at 1400 hours will:
“(a) address a joint sitting of the Senate and the National Assembly, in terms of section 140(1) of the Constitution, during which he will set out Government’s legislative agenda for the Fourth Session of the Tenth Parliament; and

“(b) in terms of section 140(4) of the Constitution, deliver the State of the Nation Address.”

The Fourth Session comes as the Government continues implementing its development agenda, with Parliament playing a key role in considering legislation and exercising its constitutional oversight functions.

The SONA is also expected to provide an update on national developments and Government’s priorities as the country pursues its development objectives.

The official opening marks the start of the new Parliamentary session and sets the framework for legislative business in the period ahead.