National Assembly overrides Senate

THE National Assembly has disregarded amendments in the Land Commission Bill made by the Senate and has since passed the proposed legislation to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent without the changes proposed by senators.

There have been disagreements between the two houses, as the traditional leaders, many of whom sit in the Senate, wanted to have authority over agricultural land.

e Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC) rejected the Land Commission Bill, arguing that its attempts to give chiefs authority over agricultural land were unconstitutional.

Moving a motion in the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Cde David Marapira said proposed amendments made by Senate would not be taken on board.

“I move that this House pursuant to the disagreement between Houses on amendments made by the Senate to the Land Commission Bill [H.B 2B, 2017] resolves that the Bill be presented to His Excellency the President for assent and signature in the form in which it was passed by the National Assembly on the 26th January, 2017 in accordance with the provisions of the Fifth Schedule, paragraph 6 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” said Cde Marapira.

He said the Bill has to be sent to the President as a matter of urgency so that the Lands Committee could be operational.