President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he is not happy with the snail pace at which bills are passing through parliament while condoning corruption cases which were reported in the Auditor General’s report.
He said the slow pace hampers development as most bills which then turn into law, open up channels of economic growth and reforms.
“The law must be a universal instrument of development. As such, the slow pace in this August House, which has resulted in a low number of bills passing through Parliament cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.
Mnangagwa noted that the Second Session of the ninth Parliament is expected to continue the alignment process by considering the amendment to the High Court Act, Labour Court Act, Magistrates Court Act and the Police Act.
The Second session will also be tasked with the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill, The Insurance and Pension Act which needs realignment, the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill which is expected to be re-tabled, while amendments to the Gold Trade Act and Precious Stones Act will also be amended.
“I commend the progress registered in the alignment of our country’s laws to the Constitution. This development will undoubtedly help further entrench democratic traditions, the rule of law and constitutionalism in our country
“I, thus, challenge Honourable Members in their individual and collective capacities, to play their part in speeding up our parliamentary processes,” he noted
However, the President said he was dissatisfied with reports of corruption which are being brought before the parliament and promised that his government will continue to strengthen institutions that help in the fight against corruption.
“Equally, reports of mismanagements of public finances as exposed by the Office of the Auditor General, and brought before this Parliament, must never be condoned.
“Corruption retards our development, frustrates our ease and cost of doing business reforms and robs us of revenue. We must get rid of this corruption cancer from our society, to this, there is no going back. It is time to increase accountability and transparency,” he said.
