News / National
Mudenda admits Parly failure to execute oversight
21 Jun 2021 at 06:09hrs | Views
SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda last Thursday said citizens were failing to hold Parliament and the Executive accountable by questioning the actions of their MPs when executing their oversight role.
Mudenda made the remarks in Bulawayo during a public lecture on Parliament's role on public finance management, which was organised by the Lupane State University (LSU).
He said citizens should petition Parliament and demand accountability as it was their constitutional right to do so.
"I am happy that you are saying Parliament has not exercised its oversight role well. I agree, but at the same time, the problem comes back to you as citizens because you have been failing to engage Parliament," Mudenda said.
"You should call your MPs and inquire on your Constituency Development Funds. Crying does not help, you should not only talk, but you must take action. The civic society organisations (CSOs) are good at criticising, but they do not offer solutions, they only talk from a distance.
"You should call the MPs and councillors to account. There were complaints earlier about the roads in Bulawayo, go and call your councillors. You are the ones that elected the councillors and the MPs. It is you citizens that pass the budget. If you come today and say we no longer want our MP, you use section 129 of the Constitution to recall MPs."
Mudenda said CSOs should influence citizens to recall non-performing MPs and councillors.
"Your MPs and councillors have let you down, why have you not petitioned Parliament in terms of section 149 of the Constitution (on the right to petition Parliament)?"
The Speaker also challenged scholars to critique and analyse Bills before they are passed in Parliament.
"I exhort you, Master Degree scholars in the academia, to commit yourself in playing a pivotal role in enhancing public finance management. Visit our websites and download the gazetted Bills before Parliament and critique them," Mudenda said.
"Intellectually offer your critical analysis of them in order to qualitatively improve the architecture of the laws. Attend parliamentary public hearings and make your inputs in the law-making processes."
He said scholars should not blame the poor quality of laws on MPs, adding that they should take a leaf from Rwanda where all MPs hold a minimum of a first degree.
Mudenda made the remarks in Bulawayo during a public lecture on Parliament's role on public finance management, which was organised by the Lupane State University (LSU).
He said citizens should petition Parliament and demand accountability as it was their constitutional right to do so.
"I am happy that you are saying Parliament has not exercised its oversight role well. I agree, but at the same time, the problem comes back to you as citizens because you have been failing to engage Parliament," Mudenda said.
"You should call your MPs and inquire on your Constituency Development Funds. Crying does not help, you should not only talk, but you must take action. The civic society organisations (CSOs) are good at criticising, but they do not offer solutions, they only talk from a distance.
"You should call the MPs and councillors to account. There were complaints earlier about the roads in Bulawayo, go and call your councillors. You are the ones that elected the councillors and the MPs. It is you citizens that pass the budget. If you come today and say we no longer want our MP, you use section 129 of the Constitution to recall MPs."
"Your MPs and councillors have let you down, why have you not petitioned Parliament in terms of section 149 of the Constitution (on the right to petition Parliament)?"
The Speaker also challenged scholars to critique and analyse Bills before they are passed in Parliament.
"I exhort you, Master Degree scholars in the academia, to commit yourself in playing a pivotal role in enhancing public finance management. Visit our websites and download the gazetted Bills before Parliament and critique them," Mudenda said.
"Intellectually offer your critical analysis of them in order to qualitatively improve the architecture of the laws. Attend parliamentary public hearings and make your inputs in the law-making processes."
He said scholars should not blame the poor quality of laws on MPs, adding that they should take a leaf from Rwanda where all MPs hold a minimum of a first degree.
Source - newsday
