The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
Parliament resume sitting this week after adjourning for the festive season with the Senate expected to immediately pass the Finance Bill, which sailed through the National Assembly in December.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube tabled a US$8,16 billion 2019 National Budget in Parliament last year, which subsequently sailed through the Lower House with a minor amendments.
Passing of the Finance Bill by the Senate will give legal effect to the budget.
While Senate debates the Finance Bill, the National Assembly will hold routine sitting with committee meeting resuming tomorrow.
Principal Director, Information Services, Assistant Clerk at Parliament Dr Andries Rukobo told The Sunday Mail last week that the Budget will be the highlight this week Parliament.
He said: “Next week the Senate is going to be considering the National Budget that is the main activity.
“Then the National Assembly will have routine sittings and the committees will be meeting as well and there is schedule of what each Portfolio Committee will be doing.
“For example the Defence and Security Committee will be meeting on Monday.
“There are also induction workshops for committees which are taking place between now and next few weeks to capacitate and make members aware of what their portfolios do.”
Parliamentary and civic rights group Veritas contends that the Finance Bill could be passed within two sittings of the Senate.
According to the Schedule of Portfolio and Thematic Committee Meetings and Status of Petitions in Parliament some of the highlights this week will include the presentation of oral evidence by Finance secretary George Guvamatanga on the Auditor General’s observations on the 2017 Report before the Public Accounts Committee.
Also tomorrow, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) will give oral evidence before the Labour and Social Welfare committee on the 2017 NSSA Annual Report, Investments and Pension Benefits.
The Minister of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services, Kazembe Kazembe will give details on a loan extended to Zifa by POTRAZ.
The Transport and Infrastructural Development will entertain the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and the National Handling Services on the impact of Air Zimbabwe’s Reconstruction Order on their operations.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe will appraise the Health and Child Care committee on the state of medicines in the country.
Stakeholders in the fuel sector will appear before the Energy and Power Development committee to provide information on the state of fuel supply in the country.
