Swearing in of parliamentarians on September 3

via The Zimbabwean – Swearing in of parliamentarians on September 3

The swearing in of members of Zimbabwe’s eighth Parliament has been postponed from next Tuesday to September 3, since most legislators and President Robert Mugabe will be attending the ongoing United Nations World Tourism Summit in Victoria Falls and the Harare Agriculture Show.

by Nelson Sibanda

Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma, told journalists at a media briefing held in Harare today: “It was not feasible to carry out the swearing in ceremony in the absence of the majority of the members, including the Head of State.”

Zvoma said parliamentarians would elect the Speaker of Parliament, President of the Senate and their deputies immediately after the swearing in ceremony.

The election will be carried out by the Clerk of Parliament under supervision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Elected parliament presiding officers will be immediately sworn in by the Chief Justice or the next most senior judge.

Parliament is expected to commence business within 30 days of the inauguration of President Mugabe as Head of State.