House of Assembly sits today

THE Zimbabwe House of Assembly will start sitting today following the official opening of the First Session of the Seventh Parliament by President Robert Mugabe in August which set the agenda of the current session.

The House is expected to debate the President’s Speech delivered during the official opening. Some of the issues highlighted in that speech included the sanctions regime imposed on the country by the West, the Farm Mechanisation Programme in the context of the national and global food crisis, outstanding bills especially the Audit Bill and the Public Finance Management Bill, energy, and empowerment, among other issues.

However, the highlight of the First Session is expected to be Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 19) which seeks to give effect to the framework of the inclusive Government in line with the broad-based agreement signed between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations last month.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Lovemore Moyo is expected to announce how the portfolio committees have been constituted. The composition of portfolio committees is determined by a number of factors among them, the political party one belongs to, gender, educational qualifications and one’s personal interests.

Consultations are underway to reform the committees so that the Lower and Upper Houses have separate committees.

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick Chinamasa last week said it was his wish to have the two separated and their roles and distinctions clearly defined.

The Minister, who was speaking during a two-day induction workshop for parliamentarians, said consultations among political parties were still underway.

All legislators took induction courses before Parliament resumed inorder to equip them with knowledge that will assist them to fulfil their constitutional mandate.