Senate: Only 12 Senators debated the Finance Bill

Only 12 Senators debated the Finance Bill when it came to the Senate on the 20^th of December last year.

This is despite the fact that the Senate has 80 members (60 drawn from the country’s 10 provinces on the Zebra listing system using the votes garnered by political parties in the general elections. 18 are chiefs from the Chief Council, while two seats are for persons with disabilities)

Despite these huge numbers, most Senators chose to sit and watch while only 12 Senators debated the Bill which is part of the 2023 National Budget.

The 12 Senators who represented their constituencies are:

Senator Morgan Komichi

Senator Alice Chimbudzi

Senator Eleven Kambizi

Senator Alice Dube

Senator Tambudzai Mohadi

Senator C Ndlovu

Senator Dorothy Ndlovu

Senator Tichinani Mavetera

Senator Chinake

Senator Joseph Chirongoma

Senator Angeline Tongogara

Senator Bekithemba Mpofu

After the debate, the Finance Bill was reported without amendments. However, the failure of other Senators to add their voice to the Bill will add to the questions on the capacity of some of the legislators to deal with critical issues such as budget and policy formulation.

Currently, there is debate on whether the Electoral Act should be amended to add qualifications for one to become a legislator in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe currently does not require education for those aspiring to be run for Parliament or council.

However, this has been blamed for the poor service delivery and poor scrutiny of the Bill in Parliament.

The Electoral Act Amendment Bill was gazette in the last quarter of 2022 and is already in the corridors of Parliament.

Citizens will also be given an opportunity to have their say when it is taken for public consultation anytime soon when Parliament resume sitting. Zimbabwe will hold general elections in 2023 between July and August and work has already begun underground.

Senate: Only 12 Senators debated the Finance Bill