MP recalls: A setback for legislation
Consideration of proposed legislation in parliament has slowed considerably as a result of the recall of lawmakers, a recently held Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI), heard.
ZAMI provides a forum for activists, urban and rural residents to interact with decision-makers, the government, and mine operators.
Project officer at the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Tafara Chiremba voiced worry over legislator recalls saying they interfere with the pace at which proposed bills are handled.
“We have noticed that we have a number of new faces. Parliamentarians that we have been dealing with in the ninth parliament have gone out. This means that we have to start afresh. We have to come up with new capacity building programmes for the new MPs that have come on board and this is a challenge but it’s also an opportunity of course,” said Chiremba.
He went on to say that recalling Members of Parliament robs the people of their right to parliamentary representation.
According to Chiremba, the proposed amendment bill has been discussed at the annual ZAMI gatherings and has been with legislators for almost two legislative sessions.
“I like to refer to the amendment to the Mines Act, It is more than a decade since we have been trying to amend the Act and as it currently stands the amending process is yet to be completed,” claimed Chiremba.
While the due process was in progress when the parliament was dissolved, head programs officer at the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) John Mateko acknowledged two factors that militated against the processing of the amendment.
“The Public Finance Management Bill was not enacted in the ninth session of parliament because number one, probably the legislative agenda was not exhausted by the time that the parliament was dissolved. Secondly, parliament and/or government was trying to align our local public finance management laws with the SADC PFL (Public Financle Law) model law,” said Mateko.
“We have continued to witness parliament recalls and I mean we can all agree that this is likely to affect the effective function of parliament. This is likely to affect the progressive realisation of community governance in the natural resource sector because some of their roles are going to be crippled,” added Chiremba.
Speaking to Community Podium at the sidelines of the indaba, Mateko expressed hope for a stable tenth parliament that will be able to conclude the legislative processes that will bring forth a public finance management act that will cater for the interests of the public in financial management.
Self-styled “interim Secretary General” of CCC, Sengezo Tshabangu has recalled 15 party MPs on the basis that they have “ceased to be party” members.
