Allexer Namundjembo
The National Council Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional, and Legal Affairs has invited experts in areas such as economists, and financial analysts to help unpack the budget and make the members of parliament understand it.
The chairperson of the committee John Likando said the move should be a separate session before the budget is referred to the National Council.
“Activities should be led by the standing committee on public accounts and economy to ensure that thorough consultations are conducted with the public and members of the National Council are taken through by the experts to ensure members scrutinize the budget on behalf of the electorate” Likando said.
In the report presented to the National Council, the committee suggested that the justice ministry needs to consider establishing a task force to ensure fast-tracking of drafting and tabling of legislation in Parliament.
“While being cognizant of the shortage of legislation drafters in the ministry, it is recommended that the ministry embarks on-the-job-coaching initiatives by offering internships to law students on a long-term basis with the aim to send these students to legislative drafting training either to Seychelles or to Washington” the report reads.
The committee further suggested that the Ministry of Defence improve efforts with the War Veterans Association, and with the Namibia Exile Kids Association (NEKA) to ensure harmonious implementation of the welfare programs.
The committee’s deputy vice chairperson Philemon Ndjabula added that the committee undertook a study visit to the Parliament of Zimbabwe as part of building the committee members’ legislative, oversight, and representation capacity.
“The visit was undertaken from the 8th to the 15th of September 2024 to implement the committee’s annual plan for the 2024/25 financial year. As part of the preparation for the study visit, the standing committee conducted a pre-study visit consultation with the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs at the National Council on 2 September this year, to ensure that the committee members had verified baseline information to commence the benchmark exercise from the informed standing” Ndjabula said.
According to the report, the visit aimed to engage the counterpart portfolio committees at the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, focusing on the execution of their respective mandates over the executive wing of the Zimbabwean government ministries and departments.
