Mnangagwa tells ministers to take govt business seriously

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday urged Cabinet ministers to diligently attend to government business amid reports that some are routinely skipping meetings.

The call follows revelations by Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda last month that he had written to President Mnangagwa raising concern over ministers who were failing to attend parliamentary question-and-answer sessions.

Complaints about wilful absenteeism by Cabinet ministers from Parliament have persisted over the years, with similar concerns also emerging around attendance at Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings, where some ministers are allegedly absent without valid reasons.

Addressing ministers at the final Cabinet meeting of the year held at State House in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa stressed the importance of discipline and commitment in the conduct of government business.

"Attendance by members was encouraging; however, there is room for improvement," he said. "Members should avoid the tendency to miss Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings, as these take precedence over all government business. They should remain mindful that we are leaders and representatives of our nation, at all times."

President Mnangagwa reminded ministers of their constitutional obligations, noting that Section 107(2) of the Constitution requires every Vice-President, minister and deputy minister to attend Parliament and its committees to answer questions from legislators.

"I exhort you to remain mindful that we are leaders and representatives of our nation, at all times, no matter where we are. Let us, therefore, always conduct ourselves appropriately, with the expected restraint and modesty," he said.

The President said Government had institutionalised a results-oriented culture anchored on modern performance management systems, which had helped to curb red tape and improve efficiency.

He added that despite global economic shocks experienced during the National Development Strategy 1 period, the economy had made positive strides and demonstrated "remarkable resilience" underpinned by strong policy coordination and fiscal prudence. He cited the stabilisation of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency among key achievements.

Meanwhile, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said Government remained concerned about the growth of illegal settlements and would step up efforts to address the problem.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing, Dr Muswere said more illegal settlements would be identified and evictions carried out where necessary.

"Government remains seriously concerned about illegal settlements, and as such, more sites requiring evictions will be identified, with strategic interventions being implemented to deal with the menace of illegal settlements decisively," he said.

"The aim is to stem the apparent disregard for the country's settlement laws as well as court orders by some unscrupulous individuals."

His remarks come in the wake of the eviction of more than 300 residents from Stapleford last month by the Zimbabwe Republic Police after they were found to have illegally settled on the land for decades.