Bill Watch 47/2019
Supplementary Budget Acts gazetted & MOPO Bill delayed
22 August 2019
week commencing 5th August, and Senators were recalled for a late night
sitting on 14th August, described above. And Committee members are
presently conducting public hearings around the country on the Freedom of
Information Bill and Marriages Bill. This week both Houses face at least three
more days’ overtime.
Whether this will be the last week of sittings in the First Session – and whether
the next Session will open on 10th September or be postponed – remained
uncertain at the time of writing. But three days are unlikely to make an
impressive improvement to this Session’s output of Bills.
In the Senate
Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill Senators await the PLC’s report on the
amendment the Senate made last week to clause 7(5) of the Bill [see
above]. If, as expected, it is a non-adverse report, the amended Bill will
nevertheless have to go back to the National Assembly for its approval. So
Parliament may not be able to finalise the Bill this week.
Report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on Visits to Police
Stations and Border Posts Item 1 on the Order Paper for 27th August is the
motion by committee chairperson Senator Sekeramayi for the Senate to take
note of this report.
Motions The Order Paper also lists resumption of adjourned debates on
motions on protection of the environment; the need for a legislative framework
on pensions and insurance benefits; enforcement of the law on child marriages;
perennial shortages of safe, clean and potable water.
Question Time New questions listed for Thursday afternoon include one
seeking an explanation from the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education,
Science and Technology Development regarding university students’ loans,
including disbursement agency, selection criteria and repayment modalities;
and another asking the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade when
the Government will sign the AU’s Malabo Protocol on the Pan-African
Parliament.
In the National Assembly
Bills
The first four items on the Order Paper for 27th August concern Bills:
Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Bill – for resumption of the
Committee Stage. There are several pages of proposed amendments to the
Bill to be considered.
Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill – for
commencement of Second Reading Stage. There is pressure coming from the
international Financial Action Task Force for this Bill to be passed.
Coroner’s Office Bill – for commencement of Second Reading Stage.