Senate to resume sitting this week

Senate is expected to resume its sitting this week following a three weeks break from the 15^th of June to the 5^th of July.

The adjournment of the Senate is said to have been necessitated by the fact that there was no Bill on its Order Paper.

Most Bills are still stuck in the National Assembly.

Although the Senate is sitting this week, according to Veritas Zimbabwe, there are no Bills on its Order Paper although the Copper Control Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly.

In its Bill Watch series, Veritas Zimbabwe said ‘’Although it is not on the Senate Order Paper, the Copper Control Amendment Bill is certain to be brought up. The Bill was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday 23rd June amidst some confusion,’’ said the parliamentary and legal watchdog.

Veritas also added that international BIPPA Agreements with Indonesia, Botswana, and Singapore are likely to come to the Senate Chamber for approval.

The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) agreements were also approved by the National Assembly.

‘’Although they, too, are not yet on the Order Paper these three BIPPA agreements, approved by the National Assembly on 22nd June without debate, are certain to be brought before the Senate for its approval,’’ it said.

Meanwhile, there is a new motion on the Senate Order Paper from Senator S Mpofu on the issue of street children. The motion calls on the government to ensure that through the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare to assess the root causes and address specific needs of such children so that they do not continue to live in the streets; and to sensitise communities on responsible parenting that embraces a receptive culture towards children living in the streets and ensures that they do not reconsider living in the street having been provided with better places to live.

Senate to resume sitting this week