Source: Parly invites input on ‘fat cat’ salaries Bill – DailyNews Live
staff writer 25 July 2017
HARARE – A parliamentary panel yesterday sought public comments on a draft
bill which seeks to cap the salary and perks for managers of
government-owned entities and city council bosses.
The views of stakeholders are being sought by August 25 on the Public
Entities Corporate Governance Bill, set to be scrutinised by a
parliamentary committee.
“This communication serves to inform you that on Friday, July 21, 2017,
the clerk of Parliament, … K M Chokuda gazetted the Public Entities
Corporate Governance Bill, HB 5, 2017” said a notice published by Johane
Gandiwa, the assistant clerk of Parliament yesterday.
“In line with our constitutional obligations, we have opened a one month
window for members of the public and interested stakeholders to submit
comments on the Bill to Parliament.”
Section 141 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that: “Parliament
must facilitate public involvement in its legislative and other processes
of its committees; ensure that interested and affected parties are
consulted about Bills being considered by Parliament, unless such
consultation is inappropriate or impracticable…”
“In compliance with this peremptory constitutional provision, and as part
of public consultations meant to enhance participatory democracy,
Parliament of Zimbabwe is inviting comments on the Public Entities
Corporate Governance Bill, HB 5, 2017 for consideration by the relevant
Committee(s).”
Public hearings on the Bill will be conducted in due course on dates to be
advised, Gandiwa said.
The Bill can be downloaded on the Parliament’s website.
In summary, the Bill will underline the responsibility of line ministries
to more effectively monitor, supervise and oversee the management
operations of public entities to ensure strict compliance by them with the
provisions of this bill, without, however, infringing on the autonomy of
public entities.
It outlines the role and functions of the Corporate Governance Unit within
the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as a centralised advisory,
oversight and support system for line ministries with regard to the
implementation of this bill.
It will introduce some consistency in the conditions of service of members
of boards of public entities. In particular, it will require members to
enter into performance contracts with the government and will allow their
salaries and allowances to be limited.
Similarly, it will regulate the conditions of service of chief executive
officers and other senior staff members of public entities and will allow
their remuneration to be limited.
It will give effect to the National Code on Corporate Governance Zimbabwe
to the extent that it applies to public entities.
COMMENTS