Bill Watch /2019
2019
and that if needed, appropriate measures can be taken in the event of a
violation of these elements.
Two Important Committee Reports Presented
Compliance Issues for the Reserve Bank: Public Accounts Committee
[PAC]:
On 12th November Hon Biti, chairperson of the PAC presented the
Committee’s comprehensive report on the Reserve Bank’s non-compliance
with constitutional and legal requirements – to the tune of billions of
dollars. The report mentions disagreement between the Bank and the
Committee [and its legal adviser, Counsel to Parliament] on disclosure of
information to the Committee. Its recommendations include making
amendments to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act, and the presentation of
Bills by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to regularise
unauthorised activity by the Bank. Debate on this report is obviously far from
over.
Welfare of War Veterans: Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs
& Security Services
This report was presented by Hon Mayihlome, chairperson of the portfolio
committee. It is the product of the committee’s action on a petition to
Parliament from Mr. B. Kundhlande received by Parliament in May 2019 and
referred to the committee. The committee enquiry conducted to assess the
adequacy and effectiveness of Government policies and programmes targeted
at empowering and improving the general welfare of war veterans across the
country. After hearing evidence from the Ministry of Defence and War
Veterans’ Affairs and conducting public hearings the committee prepared this
report incorporating its findings and recommendations. This report will be a
yardstick by which to assess the recently-gazetted Veterans of the Liberation
Struggle Bill [link] and its implementation if it becomes law.
Ministerial Statements Promised
On 12th November points of privilege raised by MPs included the following
topics:
Audit of and Report on Payments for Airport Road, Harare
Hon Markham, a member of the PAC, complained that Parliament had been
waiting too long for the Minister of Local Government to present a report on the
audit of payments made for the ill-fated Airport Road. He said the road had in
effect been paid for twice.
Crisis in Health Sector and Hospital Doctors’ Strike
Saying that the doctors were now in their 69th day on strike, Hon Biti asked the
Speaker to demand that the Minister of Health and Child Care make a
Ministerial Statement to the House on the crisis in the health sector .
Giving feedback the following day, the Speaker said there would be Ministerial
statements on these topics soon, plus statements requested previously on the