Bill Watch 63/2019
Chairing of Parliamentary Committees
24 November 2019
BILL WATCH 63/2019
[24th November 2019]
ZANU-PF versus MDC-A : Chairing of Parliamentary Committees
Neither House has been sitting since the Budget was presented on Thursday
the 14th, but MPs had a full programme of post-Budget meetings for last week.
The post-Budget Seminar was on Monday 18th November and for the rest of
the week there were Portfolio Committee meetings. These were for postBudget consultations with relevant Ministries and stakeholders in preparation
for the debate on the 2020 National Budget, which is due to resume in the
National Assembly on Tuesday 26th November.
The scheduled Portfolio Committee meetings were, however, interrupted by
further moves in the ZANU PF campaign against MDC-A MPs in retaliation for
absenting themselves from Parliamentary events at which the President was
present – such as the opening of Parliament and the Budget Speech.
As noted in Bill Watch 62/2019 [link], after the Budget presentation in the
National Assembly on 14th November, a resolution was passed in the absence
of MDC-A members, to establish a Committee of Privileges to look into alleged
contempt of Parliament by MDC-A MPs.
The next day, ZANU PF committee members forced the abandonment of an
important Public Accounts Committee [PAC] meeting because they objected
to the PAC chairperson, MDC-A MP Tendai Biti.
ZANU PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi was later reported as warning that what
happened at the PAC meeting was “just a teaser to what they should expect, I
can guarantee you that no committee which is being chaired by an MDC-A
member will proceed until they recognize President Mnangagwa”.
Targeting of MDC-A Committee Chairpersons is Continuing
Last week the same tactics were employed by ZANU PF committee members
against MDC-A committee chairpersons, not always successfully.
On 20th November, in the Environment and Tourism Portfolio Committee
meeting, ZANU PF members objected to MDC-A Consilia Chinanzvavana
presiding and voted for Robson Mavenyengwa of ZANU PF to preside in her
stead; MDC-A committee members present were outvoted 15-3.
Also on the 20th, in the Health and Child Care Portfolio Committee meeting,
ZANU PF committee members objected to MDC-A’s Dr Ruth Labode chairing
the meeting, but were outvoted by MDC-A members.
On Friday 22nd November a PAC meeting was hearing evidence from Mr
Morland, head of Fertiliser, Seed and Grain Ltd, on payments for the Command
Agriculture Programme when two ZANU-PF MPs Hon Nduna and Zhou,
arriving late, caused such a disturbance that the committee was unable to
proceed with its hearing.