Bid to stop Amendment Bill's debate flops

Attempts by MDC-T to derail the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill flopped yesterday after Parliament voted overwhelmingly to have the august House debate on the Bill.

The Bill seeks to amend the Urban Councils Act and Rural District Council Act by providing for procedures to be used when suspending a mayor or councillor of a local authority through the appointment of an independent tribunal.

Opposition legislators opposed to have the Bill debated after Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere sought the leave of the House to suspend certain procedural requirements to ensure that debate on the Bill was fast-tracked.

Initially, MDC-T chief whip, Mr Innocent Gonese, had led his colleagues in opposing debate on the Bill arguing that the Parliamentary Legal Committee which issued a Non Adverse Report on the Bill had not invited him and Harare West MP Ms Jessie Majome on time as fellow members of the Committee when it sat.

Other members of PLC are Cdes Jonathan Samkange as chair,(Mudzi South), Fortune Chasi (Mazowe South) and Ziyambi Ziyambi Zvimba West) all from zanu-pf.

After a protracted debate, characterised by emotions and flaring of tempers, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda divided the House which saw zanu-pf legislators voting overwhelmingly to allow the debate to proceed.

After debate on the Bill was allowed, MDC-T lawmakers came up with another stunt as they sought to stop the Bill to be debated on an urgent basis arguing that Minister Kasukuwere had not established a case that warranted urgency.

Adv Mudenda overruled the opposition without calling for a vote saying the affirmation vote had shown that those who wanted the Bill to proceed outnumbered those against.

This triggered protest from MDC-T MPs, who constantly rose interjecting proceedings saying that they wanted the Speaker to allow them to vote.

This was after Adv Mudenda said he was of the view that there would not be any deviation from the voting pattern that had earlier saw Zanu-PF carrying the day.

The protests did not, however, stop the debate with Minister Kasukuwere making his second reading speech.

In his speech, Minister Kasukuwere said the Bill sought to combat the rot that had been seen in local authorities.

After his speech, Portfolio committee on Local Government chairperson, Irene Zindi, presented the committee's report.

Proceedings of the House which went until last night, was subsequently interrupted by the automatic adjournment rule which was set at 1855.

Debate on the Bill was expected to resume today where Minister Kasukuwere was expected to move for the suspension of automatic adjournment of the House at 1855.

Meanwhile, President Mugabe yesterday summoned Senate to sit tomorrow (Thursday) to debate the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill.

In a statement last night, Acting Clerk of Parliament, Ms Helen Dingane urged all Senators to attend saying the President had summoned the Upper House in terms Section 120 (2) (c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.