[Bill-Watch] Bill Watch 58/2013 of 28th November [Zim Asset & In Parliament 19 to 26 November]

[Veritas Bill Watch]

BILL WATCH 58/2013
[28th November 2013]
Both Houses of Parliament Sat Last Week
The National Assembly also Sat on Tuesday 26th September
Both Houses Will Meet Again on Tuesday 3rd December
Zim Asset
Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation 
October 2013 - December 2018
On 19th November the Zim Asset document was made available to members of
Parliament.  In both Houses the presiding officers requested all members to
read the document thoroughly in preparation for a workshop to be conducted
by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning on a date still to be
notified.  The document has been approved by the Cabinet.  [Document
available from Veritas - email and website addresses at the end of this
bulletin.] 
Senator Morgen Komichi Sworn In
On Tuesday 19th November Senator Komichi of MDC-T was sworn in and took his
seat as a Senator for Manicaland.  
Reminder:  Senator Komichi could not be sworn in when most other members of
Parliament were sworn in on 3rd September because he was in remand prison
standing trial on charges of fraud and contravening the Electoral Act.  The
trial ended on 7th November with his conviction on both charges, and two
sentences of imprisonment, one of 8 months wholly suspended on condition of
good behaviour and one of 10 months wholly suspended on condition that he
performs 350 days of community service.  He has noted an appeal against
conviction and sentence, but has started performing his community service
because the magistrate refused to suspend the community service obligation
pending determination of the appeal.  
Pending a final court decision on these appeals by the courts, Mr Komichi
remains a Senator with full rights.  If his appeal is unsuccessful, the
sentence of imprisonment imposed on him will automatically result in his
Senate seat falling vacant in terms of section 129(1)(i) of the
Constitution. 
In Parliament 19th to 26th November
Both Houses sat on all last week's sitting days - Tuesday 19th, Wednesday
20th and Thursday 21st November.  The National Assembly also met on Tuesday
26th November.  The next sittings of both Houses will be on 3rd December.
Senate
The Senate sat for 1 hour 13 minutes on Tuesday and 59 minutes on Wednesday,
but Thursday's Question Time sitting lasted for 1 hour 55 minutes. 
Ministerial Statement on Quality Education Award to Zimbabwe
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education announced:
.      the award to Zimbabwe of a Research Medal at the Ninth Session of the
Assembly of the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring
Quality Education, which the Minister described as Africa's recognition of
Zimbabwe's pole position in providing quality education.  The Assembly was
held in Paris in November. 
.      the Education Infrastructure Expo and Conference to be held at the
Harare International Conference Centre on 29th and 30th November, with the
objective of mobilising national stakeholders towards a partnership approach
to education as a national development priority.  The Minister said
Government could not provide all resources on its own.
Motions
Continuing motion on Presidents speech: Contributions included Senator Chief
Mtshane drawing attention to the need to rehabilitate the country's
irrigation schemes, as more than half of them are not working.  
Cancer policy  Senator Lilian Timveous introduced her motion recommending a
clear Government policy document on awareness, counselling, screening for
and treatment of cancer, and charges for cancer patients.  She was seconded
by Senator Marava.  Debate continued on Wednesday with speakers from all
sides supporting the motion.
Need for harmonisation of existing legislation with the new Constitution  On
Wednesday debate resumed on MDC-T Senator Marava's motion of 8th October.
ZANU-PF Senators suggested that as the Minister of Justice had given
assurances that the Government was alive to the problem and was working on
the necessary legislation, there was no need to continue debating the
motion.  However, there was no response from the Minister or his deputy, and
further debate was postponed.  
Question Time [Thursday 21st November]
Demolition of houses and structures  The Deputy Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing explained that, although
Government did not want to frighten people, it intended to put an end to the
illegal settlements that had sprung up over the last five years: "what we
want is to bring order and that order will surely come".  But a proper audit
was being carried out to identify such settlements clearly.  Examples of
illegal construction were: erection of houses in wetlands, along sewer
lines, under power lines and on roads, and setting up tuck-shop's without
regard to planning and public health regulations.  
Education for disabled children  The Minister of Primary and Secondary
Education confirmed that it is Government policy that disabled and
able-bodied children should learn together in the same schools and
classrooms.
Purpose of Ministry for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education
Minister of State Hungwe explained to Senators that education should be
about more than speaking English and obtaining academic certificates and
degrees, without having the skills necessary to drive rural and industrial
development.  The aim, he said, was to produce "cadres who can deliver".
Answers to other questions 
.      on disposal of solid waste - the Deputy Minister of Local Government,
Public Works and National Housing said the earmarking of at least 5% of
national revenues for provincial and local authorities under the new
Constitution, should result in improved service delivery by the responsible
local authorities.
.      on whether Mt Darwin qualifies for municipal status - the Deputy
Minister said No.
.      on measures to improve the lot of public servants in rural areas -
the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said the Civil
Service Commission had already resuscitated the 5% rural allowance and
wanted to increase it, and was working to alleviate problems of housing and
transport, and was considering other strategies.
.      on land for former farmer workers - the Deputy Minister of Lands and
Rural Resettlement said they are free to apply for land but there is no
special provision for them. 
National Assembly 
The four National Assembly sittings lasted for 4 hours 11 minutes, 2 hours
13 minutes, 1 hour 12 minutes and 1 hour 16 minutes.  By the end of these
sittings, there were several long-running debates that remained uncompleted,
even though no further backbench contributions seemed forthcoming.  MDC-T
Chief Whip Gonese commented that there was now a need for Ministers to
respond to points raised. 
Motions
On Tuesday 19th November proceedings started with contributions to the
ongoing debates on the President's speech opening Parliament on 17th
September.  
Alignment of laws with new Constitution  MDC-T Chief Whip Gonese then
introduced his motion criticising the Government for its lack of urgent
action on this topic, seconded by Ms Majome.  Both made long and
comprehensive speeches.  Mr Gonese, among many other examples of laws
needing urgent amendment, instanced the now unconstitutional provisions on
the imposition of the death penalty and police and court procedures relating
to arrested and accused persons.  He pointed out that as long as the
relevant laws remain unaligned there is a danger that people will be denied
their new constitutional rights, whatever the Constitution says.  ZANU-PF
Chief Whip Joram Gumbo suggested it was premature to criticise the
Government for inaction so early in the life of the new Constitution,
particularly when the Government was already well aware of the problem and
the President had said when opening Parliament that action would be taken.
Prolonged debate, he said, would be more appropriate when the relevant
Government Bills reached Parliament.  Debate continued on Wednesday and
Thursday with further detailed contributions from MDC-T MPs.
Motions on lifting of sanctions and Establishment of a Women's Bank  Debate
continued.
Power sector problems  Debate also continued on this motion, both last week
and on 26th November, when it took up most of the afternoon's proceedings.
Question Time [Wednesday 20th November]
Demolition of houses  The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Works
and National Housing was subjected to a lengthy grilling on this subject but
defended the Government's determination not to allow illegal settlement, for
instance on wetlands.  He promised that a proper report on the matter would
be given to MPs.
Mass bilharzia drug treatment programme  The Deputy Minister of Health and
Child Care gave a comprehensive justification of the Ministry's 5-year
programme to give drug treatment for bilharzias to all children between 3
and 15.  He said the drugs were known to be safe, and had been used for
years, and that death was not a known side-effect.  Referring to the deaths
of three children that had occurred several days after treatment, he said
that a post-mortem had been possible in only two of the cases, but they had
proved that the unfortunate deaths were caused by diarrhoea following a
salmonella infection, not by the bilharzia drug administered.  The Ministry
was sure the drugs are safe.  
ZIMSEC exam paper leakages  The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education
made a Ministerial Statement on this and was then questioned.  He said that
some of the alleged culprits, including one with a previous conviction for
the same offence, had been taken to court; and disciplinary proceedings
against others were ongoing.
Vehicles, housing and amenities for Chiefs  The Deputy Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing gave detailed information
about the provision of vehicles, housing and amenities for chiefs, including
statistics for provision of electricity and boreholes [of 220 substantive
chiefs, 72 have electricity, 38 boreholes].
Save Conservancy invasion  The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
said Cabinet would soon consider the report of a new Ministerial taskforce
recommending the way forward. 
Tourism policy and domestic tourism  The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality
Industry told MPs the new tourism policy would be released soon.  His
Ministry would be promoting domestic tourism as "the future of our product"
- not concentrating, as before, on the international market.  This would
include school tourism, religious tourism, home hospitality and attracting
tourists from the Zimbabwean Diaspora.
Government Gazette of 22nd November 
Statutory Instruments [SIs]
VAT  SI 159/2013 corrects an error in the Value Added Tax (General)
(Amendment) Regulations published in SI 87/2013.  1st February 2009 is
substituted for the original effective date 1st February 2013.
General Notices [GN]
Income Tax Bill sent to President  In GN 525/2013 the Clerk of Parliament
gives official public notice that on Friday 8th November the Speaker sent
the Bill for the new Income Tax Act to the President's Office for the
President's assent and signature, in accordance with the new requirement
stipulated by section 131(5)(b) of the Constitution.  It is to be hoped that
in future such notices will be published more promptly.  
 
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