via MDC readies for Parly session – DailyNews Live 21 November 2014 by Chengetai Zvauya
HARARE – The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai will hold its parliamentary caucus next week to prepare its legislators for the second session of the Eighth Parliament.
Innocent Gonese, the MDC chief whip told the Daily News yesterday that his party was looking forward to resumption of the Parliamentary session and was going to be holding their caucus soon.
“We are going to continue representing people and one of the main issues we shall discuss is that we want to debate motions on the realigning of laws to the new constitution and finish that business,” said Gonese.
He said in the first session of the Eighth Parliament, he had moved that motion but was blocked by Zanu PF legislators.
“I hope that this time the minister of Justice, legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is going to support me,” he added.
Gonese said his party was ready to support Zanu PF legislators if they introduced legislation that is good for the country.
“We expect Zanu PF to support us in our motions and not oppose us unnecessarily because we are ready to support them if they introduce motions that benefit the country and are good for the people,” said Gonese.
On Wednesday, Zanu PF legislators held their caucus which was attended by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Joram Gumbo, the Zanu PF chief whip confirmed they had met at Zanu PF headquarters where they deliberated on the legislative agenda.
He said the MPs expressed dismay on the non-appearance of government ministers to Parliament sessions.
Zanu PF legislators also expressed their desire to finish with the business of realignment of pieces of legislation to the new constitution.
Mnangagwa is expected to introduce several legislations to be aligned to the new constitution.
Last month, President Robert Mugabe officially opened the Second session of the 8th Parliament, which had closed business in September.
He stated the agenda of the Parliament was to debate 15 bills and also to review existing laws and enacting them into the new Constitution.
In the first session, Virginia Mabhiza permanent secretary in the ministry of Justice, legal and Parliamentary Affairs, bemoaned the lack of support from other line ministries in the alignment of the 400 pieces of legislation into the new constitution.
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