Devolution bill to be brought to parly
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says a bill to facilitate the operationalisation of devolution of power, will be one of the bills to be presented during the ninth parliament.
By Abigirl Khupe
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says a bill to facilitate the operationalisation of devolution of power, will be one of the bills to be presented during the ninth parliament.
The President said this while officially opening the first session of the ninth parliament in Harare on Tuesday.
“The Provincial and Metropolitan Councils Bill, will facilitate the devolution of governmental powers and responsibilities to Provincial and Local Authorities,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Through this Bill, Provincial and Metropolitan Councils will be reconfigured in accordance with Chapter 14 of the Constitution.
“This will further seek to facilitate enhanced coordination between Central Government, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities, within the context of the decentralisation and devolution programme”.
Some of the bills to be tabled before the ninth parliament, Broadcasting Services Act bill, Consumer Protection Bill, Labour Amendment Bill, Corporate Society Bill, Tripartite Negotiation Bill, Constitutional Court Bill, and Customary Law Bill, among others.
The President also warned that corruption will not be tolerated.
“As I stated in my inauguration speech; No person or entity will be allowed to steal, loot or pocket that which belongs to the people of Zimbabwe,” the President warned.
“No one is above the law. I urge us all, as public officials, to lead by example and be beyond reproach”.
On the issue of the outbreak of cholera, Mnangagwa said the nation should work together to fight the “medieval disease”.
He said a comprehensive water reticulation and waste management strategies will be implemented.
“My Government, is indeed gravely perturbed by the current outbreak of water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in some parts of the country,” President Mnangagwa said.
“It is regrettable that this has resulted in the wanton loss of life.
“Let us, as a nation commit to permanently eradicate these medieval diseases, mainly through addressing the challenges related to clean water and sanitation provision as well as sustainable waste management practices”.
