President to open Parly session on Tuesday

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
President Mugabe will open the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament on Tuesday, where he is expected to spell out the legislative agenda for the session.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma said in a statement yesterday that all Members of Parliament should attend the event.

“The Clerk of Parliament would like to inform all Members of Parliament that His Excellency, The President Cde R.G Mugabe, will officially open the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament on Tuesday 28 October 2014,” he said. “All members are expected to be at Parliament at the said date.”

Although the new Constitution removed the requirement that the Head of State and Government opens Parliament, legislators felt it was prudent to invite the President to set the tone for the session. They adopted a motion by the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to invite him.

Airforce of Zimbabwe details and ZDF have since started making rehearsals for the event, which would be attended by Service Chiefs, Supreme Court and High Court judges, among other dignitaries.

Several issues and Bills are expected to be tabled for debate this coming Session. One of the immediate tasks Parliament has to deal with is the 2015 National Budget that Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is expected to present before year-end.

The parliamentary portfolio committee on Budget and Finance is expected to hold public hearings on expectations in the 2015 national budget.

Other issues for the coming session would be Bills that are aimed at aligning existing laws with the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Government has since announced that it will bring an omnibus Bill that addresses several Acts of Parliament so that they are consistent with the Constitution.