Bill Watch 57/2019
Update on Parliamentary Sittings
22 to 24 October 2019
7 November 2019
the State of the Nation Address, and then walked out, had been guilty of
disrespecting the Head of State and would forfeit their sitting allowances for
that day and five earlier sittings; the full ruling is available on the Veritas website
[link].
Tuesday 22nd October: At the start of business Hon Gonese [MDC-A] asked
the Speaker to explain the principle underlying this penalty The Speaker cut
him short, saying he had already received an official letter on the subject from
the MDC-A party, to which he would be replying.
Wednesday 23rd: At the start of Question Time, when an MDC-A MP put a
question to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs suggested to the Speaker
that if MDC-A MPs do not recognise the President – the official MDC-A party
explanation for the walkout at the official opening – "they cannot therefore
extend a question and expect an answer from a Minister who has been
appointed by the President". The Speaker agreed. From then on the situation
deteriorated, with MDC-A MPs insisting on their right to ask questions and
resisting ejection from the chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms and police
officers. At 4.32 pm the House adjourned after what Hon Mliswa described as
"an absolutely useless day", before he walked out in disgust over the absence
of Ministers to answer questions.
Thursday 24th: Hon Mliswa [Independent MP for Norton] pleaded with the
Speaker to reconsider his Wednesday ruling banning questions from MDC-A
MPs. In response to Hon Mliswa the Speaker said he would reconsider his
decision but would need time to think about it very deeply.
Anti-sanctions motion
This motion was moved on Thursday afternoon by Hon Nyathi of ZANU-PF. It
was quiet enough until ZANU-PF MPs started alleging that MDC-A MPs had
begged the USA and the EU to impose sanctions and should be regarded as
terrorists pursuing a regime change agenda. MPs on both sides then started
singing and interjecting, until the Temporary Speaker terminated proceedings
at 5 pm and adjourned the House until 12th November, in terms of Standing
Order 113 which allows a presiding officer to act in this way “in the case of
great disorder arising”.
Statutory Instruments [SIs] and General Notices [GNs]
23rd and 25th October and 1st November
23rd October [Gazette Extraordinary]
Traffic Safety Council Fees
SI 221A/2019 – regulations by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural
Development fixing ZWL$ fees for the services offered by the Council, including
defensive driving courses.