By Jeremiah Gora
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has unveiled an extensive legislative programme for the Fourth Session of the Tenth Parliament, with new Bills and amendments targeting electoral laws, justice, health, agriculture, transport, security and economic regulation.
Opening the Fourth Session of Parliament and delivering his State of the Nation Address at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden today, President Mnangagwa said the legislative programme would focus on aligning laws with the Constitution while responding to emerging socio-economic and security challenges.
Following the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3, the President said Government would pursue consequential amendments to ensure that existing legislation was constitutionally aligned.
“In particular, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will facilitate the following: Amendment of the Electoral Act; Amendment of the Constitutional Court Act; and enactment of a new Delimitation Commission Act,” he said.
The legislative agenda will also include Bills aimed at strengthening access to justice and protecting citizens.
Among them are the Child Justice Bill, Whistle Blowers and Witness Protection Bill, Legal Aid Bill, Legal Practitioners Amendment Bill and Chartered Secretaries Amendment Bill.
On fiscal policy, President Mnangagwa said Parliament would consider the Finance Bill, which he said would modernise and strengthen the legal framework governing revenue mobilisation.
The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Bill is also expected to be presented, with the President saying it would formally incorporate trade and investment promotion into the statutory mandate of Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions.
“The Bill will, among other aspects, enhance inter-agency synergies across Government, for the coordinated global projection of ‘Brand Zimbabwe’,” President Mnangagwa said.
The agriculture sector will also receive legislative attention, with the Water Act, Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board Act and Tobacco Research Board Act listed for consideration.
Amendments to the Forest Act and Communal Land Forest Produce Act will also be pursued as part of measures to strengthen environmental protection.
In the health sector, the President said the National Healthcare Provision Bill would be tabled to strengthen healthcare delivery and promote equitable access.
Other proposed health legislation includes the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Bill, Medicines and Allied Substances Control Bill, Medical Research Bill, Food and Food Safety Bill and Mental Health Bill.
“The National Healthcare Provision Bill, which seeks to strengthen healthcare delivery and promote equitable access will be tabled in Parliament,” he said.
The transport sector will also have several Bills on the legislative agenda.
President Mnangagwa said the Road Accident Fund Bill would be tabled during the session, alongside the Merchant Shipping Bill, Road Traffic Authority Bill and National Roads Authority Bill.
“The Road Accident Fund Bill will be tabled in Parliament during this Session,” he said.
Other transport sector Bills, intended for presentation in the 4th Session are the Merchant Shipping Bill; the Road Traffic Authority Bill; and the National Roads Authority Bill.
The President said the Fourth Session would also address security and criminal justice legislation.
The Police Amendment Bill is expected to be finalised, while the National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency Bill awaits formal introduction in Parliament.
“These are intended to tackle the undesirable scourge threatening our nation through appropriate prevention, control, enforcement and coordination,” President Mnangagwa said.
The Trafficking in Persons Bill will also be considered, targeting the protection of citizens from transnational syndicates involved in advertising non-existent jobs abroad.
Parliament will further consider legislation covering biological weapons and toxins, defence, arms control and firearms.
“The Session should speed up processing of the Firearms Amendment Bill to tighten possession and usage of firearms in the country,” President Mnangagwa said.
Bills concerning veterans of the Armed Liberation Struggle will also require attention during the session, with the proposed amendments seeking to improve statutory benefits for veterans, heroes’ dependants and war victims.
The President said the legislation would also strengthen the framework governing the identification, exhumation, repatriation and reburial of fallen liberation war heroes and heroines.
The new legislative agenda comes after Parliament passed seven Bills during the previous session, excluding the annual Finance and Appropriation Acts.
The major legislative development of the previous session was the passage of Constitutional Amendment No. 3.
President Mnangagwa called on Parliament to use the Fourth Session to accelerate national development and legislative reforms.
“However, the journey continues, much work lies ahead,” he said.
He added, “Let us leverage this Fourth Session of the 10th Parliament to reaffirm our commitment to scale up transformational results in all sectors of the economy and levels of society.”
