LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has acceded to opposition MDC-T MPs’ demands to introduce the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill in the National Assembly only after the completion of public hearings on the proposed legislation.
by VENERANDA LANGA
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government was still out in Matabeleland collecting views from members of the public on the law when Kasukuwere on Tuesday gave notice to introduce the Bill.
“Madam Speaker, I move that Order of the day number one (on the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill) be deferred to next week,” Kasukuwere said on Wednesday and the motion was agreed to.
But Kasukuwere yesterday told NewsDay that he had moved for deferment of the introduction of the Bill in order to allow the portfolio committee to present its report detailing public views on the proposed legislation.
The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Urban Councils Act and the Rural Councils Act.
Various stakeholders, including residents’ associations, have already criticised the Bill for giving sweeping powers to the minister to fire mayors and councillors.
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Meanwhile, Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa said his ministry was not aware of an advert in the media inviting State-registered nurses to apply for employment in South Sudan.
“If there are any such advertisements to be done, they will be discussed by the ministry and the Health Services Board, guided by consultations at the appropriate levels. Work is still in progress on government-to-government agreement with the South Sudanese government on a bilateral agreement on export of health workers,” Parirenyatwa said.
