Bill Watch 37/2019 In Parliament This Week & Coming up in Parliament This Week 23 July 2019 is continuation of the long-running debate on the President’s speech at the opening of the current Parliamentary session ten months ago. Items 7, 8 and 9 are private members’ motions that have been waiting in line for a long time: (7) Hon Khumalo’s call on the Government to improve the lot of war veterans, war collaborators and ex-detainees and specifying how; (8) Hon Mushoriwa’s proposal to transfer to local authorities the collection of vehicle licence fees and toll fees currently [accruing to ZINARA] as a means of improving road maintenance in urban areas; and (9) Hon Dr Nyashanu’s call to Government to stimulate economic development with incentives for the productive sector. Question Time [Wednesday] Over 80 written questions with notice await Ministerial responses, some from as long ago as November 2018. Recently added questions include one asking whether the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage is considering extending the opening period of Seventh Street/Borrowdale Road past State House in Harare, from the current 6 am to 6 pm to 6 am to 9 pm in view of the high volume of traffic using this roadway. Another is asking the Minister of Justice to consider reducing the fees charged by the Master of the High Court on deceased estates. Coming Up in the Senate This Week Bills Senators will again be waiting for Bills to be transmitted from the National Assembly. Motions Item 1 on the Order Paper for 23rd July is Senator Timveos' call on Government to establish an adequately empowered entity to address challenges facing pensioners and insurance policy holders following the Justice Smith Commission of Inquiry on Pensions and Insurance Benefits. Adverse PLC report on Command Agriculture Regulations This item has dropped to item 7 at the very end of the Order Paper. As the end of the present session is near, one wonders whether it is going to be allowed to lapse and be forgotten. Question Time [Thursday] The number of written questions on the Order Paper has risen to 27. Senator Mavetera has several questions for the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement seeking information about the funding and yields of Command Agriculture this season, wheat farmers and incentives to undertake wheat production, maize delivered to GMB by A2 farmers in the 2018-2019 season, and whether there are repercussions for A2 farmers who underutilise their allocated farms.