Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, constitutionalism and good governance, among other democratic virtues.
He laid out the Government’s legislative agenda while delivering his State of the Nation Address and officially opening the Fourth Session of the 10th Parliament at the Parliament Building in Mt Hampden yesterday.
“My Government is unwavering in its commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, constitutionalism, good governance, and public accountability,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said Parliament had an important role to play in setting out a legal environment that promoted the country’s development.
In laying out the legislative agenda, the President said several laws will be amended to align with the Constitutional Amendment Act No.3 that was passed and signed into law in July this year.
“Following the successful enactment of Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3, there is a need to undertake consequential amendments to ensure that various pieces of legislation are aligned with the Constitution.
“In particular, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will facilitate the following: Amendment of the Electoral Act; Amendment of the Constitutional Court Act; and Enactment of a new Delimitation Commission Act.”
President Mnangagwa said to promote access to justice as well as socio-economic opportunities, several Bills would be processed during the Session.
These are the Child Justice Bill; the Whistle Blowers and Witness Protection Bill; the Legal Aid Bill; the Legal Practitioners Amendment Bill; and the Chartered Secretaries Amendment Bill.
“It is imperative to ensure that our fiscal instruments remain robust and responsive to contemporary economic realities. As such, the Fourth Session will be seized with the Finance Bill, which will, among other issues, modernise and strengthen the legislative framework governing revenue mobilisation.
“To formally codify trade and investment promotion into the statutory mandate of Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions abroad, the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Bill will be presented for consideration.
“The Bill will, among other aspects, enhance inter-agency synergies across Government, for the coordinated global projection of ‘Brand Zimbabwe’.”
President Mnangagwa said a responsive regulatory foundation is essential for sustainable water resources management, agricultural marketing and value chain development and several Bills for the agricultural sector would be brought before Parliament.
“The following agriculture sector legislative items will be brought before the August House; the Water Act; the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act; the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board Act; and the Tobacco Research Board Act.
“Environmental protection will be bolstered through amendments to the Forest Act and the Communal Land Forest Produce Act for a more robust piece of legislation,” he said.
In the education sector, the President said the Second Republic continued to strengthen the integrity, quality and professionalism of the country’s world-renowned education system, with the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Amendment Bill set to be recommitted to Parliament for reconsideration to ensure constitutional process alignment.
“The National Healthcare Provision Bill, which seeks to strengthen healthcare delivery and promote equitable access, will be tabled in Parliament.
“The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Bill will review the current Act to strengthen governance around reproductive health issues, in line with prevailing population and development priorities.
“The Medicines and Allied Substances Control Bill will focus on regulating medicines, medical products and allied substances as well as pharmaceutical sector development and patient safety.”
Other Bills that will be submitted for deliberation are the Medical Research Bill; the Food and Food Safety Bill and the Mental Health Bill, while the Red Cross Society Amendment Bill would be accorded due attention and synched with current national realities.
“The Road Accident Fund Bill will be tabled in Parliament during this Session. Other transport sector Bills intended for presentation in the 4th Session are the Merchant Shipping Bill; the Road Traffic Authority Bill and the National Roads Authority Bill.
“Government is aware of the need to respond to emerging criminal justice trends as well as public security and regulatory challenges. In this regard, the Fourth Session is expected to finalise the Police Amendment Bill. The National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency Bill awaits formal introduction in Parliament,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said these prospective laws were intended to tackle the undesirable scourge threatening the nation through appropriate prevention, control, enforcement and coordination.
He added that of equal significance was the Trafficking in Persons Bill, which seeks to protect innocent citizens from transnational syndicates advertising non-existent jobs abroad.
“As we continue to reform our systems and in line with our national priorities and compliance with global best practice, the Fourth Session will consider the Biological Weapons and Toxins Crimes Bill; the Defence Amendment Bill; the Arms Trade Treaty; the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; and the Cluster Arms and Munitions Convention.
“Similarly, the Session should speed up processing of the Firearms Amendment Bill to tighten possession and usage of firearms in the country,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said Veterans of the Armed Liberation Struggle continue to be a valuable part of the country’s rich history, adding that the Government was committed to improving their welfare.
“To ensure their decent livelihoods, three Amendment Bills will require speedy conclusion during this Fourth Session. The Bills seek, among other issues, to ensure continuous improvement of statutory benefits for Veterans, heroes’ dependents together with war victims; and to strengthen the memorialisation framework for the identification, exhumation, repatriation and reburial of fallen heroes and heroines,” President Mnangagwa said.
With less than four years remaining until 2030, he said, the country had achieved unprecedented milestones as a united, peace-loving and hardworking people.
From the Zambezi to the Limpopo and Plumtree to Chirundu, Government was developing the country and transforming the quality of life in communities.
“The policies we have adopted, as enacted by this esteemed Parliament, are unlocking investments, accelerating economic growth and creating vital jobs.
“Empowerment opportunities, especially for women and young people, are being broadened. We have every reason to be proud. However, the journey continues; much work lies ahead.
“Let us leverage this Fourth Session of the 10th Parliament to reaffirm our commitment to scale up transformational results in all sectors of the economy and levels of society,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said the legislature was assured that Government shall continue to facilitate an environment that is responsive to current realities, yet predictable and transparent.
President Mnangagwa said bold decisions and disposition of Government were to guarantee that the country’s wealth delivers sustainable prosperity for all, and development that leaves no one and no place behind.
“I call upon all of us; the elected leaders of our nation, along with players across sectors of the economy, entrepreneurs, women, young people, Chiefs, traditional leaders and communities at large, to confidently march on, shoulder-to-shoulder, towards realising the Zimbabwe we all want and indeed deserve.
“Forward ever, backwards never. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo,” he said.
