News / National
Legislators attacked for lack of enthusiasm
05 Jul 2011 at 23:31hrs | Views
MDC-T leader, PM Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday blasted Senators for failing to fully debate motions brought before the House after only one of the seven motions on the Order Paper was debated in a sitting he had attended.
"It is surprising that every motion was being adjourned. Surely there must be enough business to take care of.
"There are two things that we are going to encourage in the Parliament business. We want ministers to attend Question and Answer sessions and for the Senators to debate these motions.
"As leader of Government business in Parliament, I am going to make sure all Ministers attend question and answer sessions," he said.
Senate president Edna Madzongwe then warned senators that if their motions were not either adopted or debated they would be removed from the Order Paper. Some of the motions on the Order Paper included the lifting of sanctions, repercussions of elections in Zimbabwe and political violence in Mbare, Budiriro and Glen View.
Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister, Mr Obert Gutu called on the executive to bring more Bills to the Senate for debate while Senators should develop motions as well.
"Parliament should be a forum for debate. I am concerned with the apparent lack of enthusiasm by us legislators. We have to engage in a robust debate.
"We also want to put blame on us as the executive, because there are a few Bills that are coming to Parliament at one particular time.
"However, on their part, legislators should also develop a culture of coming up with motions on various topical issues to enable both houses of Parliament to play a meaningful role in matters of governance," he said.
During the debate MDC-T non-constituency Senator Mr Morgan Komichi was ruled off side when he wanted to debate the motion on elections when he had debated on it before.
The motion on President Mugabe's address was adopted yesterday.
Zanu-PF Senator for Mount Darwin Alice Chimbudzi moved the motion.
Chikava thanked President Mugabe for his speech at the opening of the 3rd Session of the 7th Parliament in July last year.
"It is surprising that every motion was being adjourned. Surely there must be enough business to take care of.
"There are two things that we are going to encourage in the Parliament business. We want ministers to attend Question and Answer sessions and for the Senators to debate these motions.
"As leader of Government business in Parliament, I am going to make sure all Ministers attend question and answer sessions," he said.
Senate president Edna Madzongwe then warned senators that if their motions were not either adopted or debated they would be removed from the Order Paper. Some of the motions on the Order Paper included the lifting of sanctions, repercussions of elections in Zimbabwe and political violence in Mbare, Budiriro and Glen View.
Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister, Mr Obert Gutu called on the executive to bring more Bills to the Senate for debate while Senators should develop motions as well.
"We also want to put blame on us as the executive, because there are a few Bills that are coming to Parliament at one particular time.
"However, on their part, legislators should also develop a culture of coming up with motions on various topical issues to enable both houses of Parliament to play a meaningful role in matters of governance," he said.
During the debate MDC-T non-constituency Senator Mr Morgan Komichi was ruled off side when he wanted to debate the motion on elections when he had debated on it before.
The motion on President Mugabe's address was adopted yesterday.
Zanu-PF Senator for Mount Darwin Alice Chimbudzi moved the motion.
Chikava thanked President Mugabe for his speech at the opening of the 3rd Session of the 7th Parliament in July last year.
Source - Byo24News
