BILL WATCH
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES SERIES 40/2014
[26th July 2014]
Parliamentary Committee Meetings Monday 28th to Thursday 31st July
A New Look for this Bulletin
Starting with this issue, bulletins in this series will give information about all forthcoming Parliamentary committee meetings – not just meetings that are open to the public as hitherto, but also “closed meetings” and other activities such as fact-finding visits. It is hoped that this additional information will be useful to those following the work of these committees.
Open meetings will be listed first with the usual details – name of committee, date and time of meeting, name of committee, the agenda, venue and names of committee chairperson and clerk.
Closed meetings will be listed next, with date of meeting, name of committee and the agenda.
Committees not meeting will also be listed for the sake of completeness.
Reminder on Emailing Parliament
Members of the public, including Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, can send written submissions to committees by email addressed to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
1. Meetings Open to the Public 28th to 31st July
Members of the public may attend these open meetings, but as observers only, not as participants, i.e. they may listen but not speak. The meetings are at Parliament in Harare. If attending, please use the entrance on Kwame Nkrumah Ave between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Please note that IDs must be produced.
Please note While the following details are based on the latest information received from Parliament, there are sometimes unavoidable last-minute changes to the meetings schedule. Persons wishing to attend open meetings are therefore advised to avoid disappointment by checking with the relevant committee clerk [see names below] that the meeting is still on and/or still open to the public.
Parliament’s telephone numbers are Harare 700181 and 252940/1.
Monday 28th July at 10 am
Public Accounts Committee
Oral evidence from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry on the 2011 report of the Auditor-General
Committee Room No 311
Chair: Hon Mpariwa Clerk: Mrs Nyawo [ext 2218]
Monday 28th July at 2 pm
Portfolio Committee: Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Oral evidence from Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on progress made in the alignment of legislation to the Constitution
Senate Chamber
Chair: Hon Majome Clerk: Ms Zenda [ext 2280/2176]
Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th July
No open meetings
Thursday 31st July at 9 am
Thematic Committee: Peace and Security
Oral evidence from the International Organisation for Migration [IOM] on challenges posed by land mines
Committee Room No 4
Chair: Hon Mumvuri Clerk: Mr Kunzwa [ext 2053]
Thursday 31st July at 9.30 am
Portfolio Committee: Youth, Indigenization and Economic Empowerment
Oral evidence from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development on the capitalization of community share ownership trusts
Senate Chamber
Chair: Hon Wadyajena Clerk: Ms Zenda [ext 2280 /2176]
Thursday 31st July at 10 am
Portfolio Committee: Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development
Oral evidence from the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development on challenges faced by housing cooperatives
Government Caucus Room
Chair: Hon Mangami Clerk: Mr Mazani [ext 2054]
2. Meetings Closed to the Public 28th to 31st July
Note: Many of the meetings listed below will be concerned with the preparation/finalisation of committee reports for presentation to the Senate, in the case of thematic committees, or the National Assembly, in the case of portfolio committees. Committee chairpersons will be hoping to present reports before the present Parliamentary session closes at the end of August.
Monday 28th July
Portfolio Committee: Transport and Infrastructure Development
Familiarisation tour to National Railways of Zimbabwe [NRZ], Bulawayo
Portfolio Committee: Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services
Consideration of the first quarter budget performance report for the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services
Portfolio Committee: Environment, Water, Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Consideration of the draft report on funeral parlours
Portfolio Committee: Mines and Energy
Deliberations on the draft report on gold sector fact-finding visits
Portfolio Committee: Higher Education, Science and Technology
Deliberations on oral evidence received from the principal of Seke Teachers’ College on the Cadetship Scheme
Thematic Committee: Gender and Development
Consideration of the draft report on the registration and conduct of churches
Thematic Committee: HIV/AIDS
Deliberations on fact-finding visits to Chikurubi Prison Hospital and Mabvuku Polyclinic
Portfolio Committee: Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
Consideration of the draft report on the 2014 half-year budget performance of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
Portfolio Committee: Finance and Economic Development
Deliberations on oral evidence received from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, ZIMRA and RBZ
Portfolio Committee: Communication Technology, Postal & Courier Services
Consideration of the draft report on the state of the mobile telephone services sector in Zimbabwe
Tuesday 29th July
Thematic Committee: MDG’s
Deliberations on oral evidence received from the Minister of State for Liasing on Psychomotor Activities in Education on how the Ministry’s activities relate to MDGs
Portfolio Committee: Health and Child Care
Consideration of the first draft report on the State of Affairs of the Health Delivery System in Zimbabwe
Portfolio Committee: Lands, Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation
Review of the Committee’s workplan
Portfolio Committee: local Government, Rural and Urban Development
Deliberations on oral evidence received from the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on the Ministry’s policy regarding the demolition of unplanned houses in Chitungwiza and other towns
Portfolio Committee: Industry and Commerce
Consideration of the draft report on the State of Industry and Revival Strategies
Portfolio Committee: Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development
Consideration of the draft report on the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development’s programs, activities and gender mainstreaming in line Ministries
Wednesday 30th July No meetings
Thursday 31st July
Thematic Committee: Indigenization and Empowerment
Consideration of written submissions from Umguza Share Ownership Trust
Portfolio Committee: Education, Sport, Arts and Culture
Consideration of the draft report on the state of sport in Zimbabwe
Portfolio Committee: : Media, Information and Broadcasting Services
Consideration of the draft report on media law realignment and digitalisation
3. Committees Not Meeting
Two committees will not be meeting during the week:
- Thematic Committee on Human Rights
- Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Forthcoming Suspension of Committee Meetings
Committees will meet during the week ending 8th August, but will then have a two-week break, resuming meetings on Monday 25th August. [The Senate and the National Assembly have already started a four-week break, and will next meet on Tuesday 26th August. The Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day public holidays fall on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th August.]
Speaker’s Statement on MPs Neglecting Committee Duties
In a strong statement in the National Assembly on 24th July the Speaker not only deplored a worrying trend by some Ministers to prioritise other commitments at the expense of their Parliamentary duties, but also said that some MPs were undermining the work of portfolio committees by not attending committee meetings regularly. He warned that he would name and shame members guilty of not performing their duties diligently. [Full statement available from the addresses listed below]
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