It is all systems go for the State of the Nation Address
(SONA) and official opening of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament by
President Mnangagwa, today.
It was a hive of activity yesterday at Parliament Building
as officials prepared for the big event on Parliament’s calendar.
The SONA will be the second by President Mnangagwa in his
capacity as the Head of State and Government following his election into office
on July 30.
Both the official opening and the SONA will be done during
a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate at Parliament Building in
Harare.
Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, said all was now
set for the SONA by President Mnangagwa.
“Preparations for the SONA and official opening (of the
Second Session of the Ninth Parliament) are at an advanced stage. We look
forward to a flawless event as we have activated our systems to ensure
everything goes well,” said Mr Chokuda.
“The SONA and official opening mark the beginning of the
Second Session of the Ninth Parliament. We expect His Excellency, the President
to review the state of the nation over the last 12 months and to outline the
legislative agenda of Government for the next 12 months.
“Members of the public will be able to follow the
proceedings live from the comfort of their homes as the event will be covered
live.”
A Harare-based tax expert, Mr Simbarashe Maburuse, expects
President Mnangagwa to speak to issues of cash shortages, forex exchange rates
and the welfare of civil servants, especially in the health sector.
“I expect the President to talk about the cash shortages
that have seen people paying more when using other modes of payment which are
not cash. For instance, you find a product that costs $40 when paying in cash
but the price rises to $72 when using EcoCash or swipe.
“I also hope the President will touch on issues pertaining
to the welfare of health personnel because the situation in our hospitals is no
longer palatable,” he said.
A Bindura resident, Mr Musa Nare, wants President Mnangagwa
to speak to employment challenges, currency volatility and the arbitrary price
increases which have seen low income earners being priced out of reach.
The SONA and opening of the Second Session of the Ninth
Parliament is expected to be attended by members of the judiciary, service
chiefs, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, civic society members, and captains
of industry, among other dignitaries.
In his address, the President is expected to outline policy
direction and the legislative agenda of the Second Session, which speaks to his
vision of radical economic transformation, engagement and re-engagement efforts
Zimbabwe is undertaking.
President Mnangagwa’s policy objective is to enhance the
country’s attractiveness to investors and streamline investment laws to reduce
red tape.
Zimbabwe has been lagging behind in terms of development
compared to other regional countries.
President Mnangagwa is also expected to spell out the legislative
agenda by outlining the Bills set to be presented in the coming Session.
Zanu-PF has a commanding two thirds majority in Parliament
which helps it to enact laws that dovetail with President Mnangagwa’s Vision
2030, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an Upper Middle Income economy in
the next 11 years.
The opening of the Second Session marks the end of the
First Session of the Ninth Parliament, which saw at least 15 Bills out of 30
being presented.
At least 30 Bills were expected to be tabled in the First
Session of the Ninth Parliament.
The legislative agenda set out by President Mnangagwa
mainly focused on improving the business climate in the country and entrench
democratic values.
Movers of the Bills will have to seek Parliament to
reinstate outstanding Bills at the stage they were by the end of the First
Session.
Five Bills were passed by Parliament and two of them were
signed into law while the other three are awaiting Presidential assent.
Laws that were assented to are; the Shop Licence Amendment
Act and the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act; while the Consumer Protection
Bill, Microfinance Amendment Bill and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill,
are awaiting assent.
The TNF Act establishes the Tripartite Negotiating Forum
that brings together Government, business and labour in a formal setting to
discuss pertinent issues affecting the economy with the aim of preventing
clashes that characterised relations of the three in the past.
The Shop Licence Act reduces bureaucracy in the
establishment of businesses including creation of electronic platforms for
application for business licences while the Consumer Protection Bill seeks to
protect consumer rights from unscrupulous businesses bent on profiteering at
their expense and provides them mechanisms to seek recourse. Herald
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