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Lloyd Gumbo Harare Bureau
MEMBERS of Parliament will soon be regulated by a code of conduct and ethics currently being drafted by the legislature to uphold good corporate governance tenets.

A code of conduct and ethics for MPs was among a raft of recommendations first made in 1999 by a parliamentary reform committee, some of which have been adopted and are being implemented.

The preamble of the draft code of conduct and ethics gleaned by our Harare Bureau says the code “establishes standards of correct behaviour which the Members of Parliament are themselves proposing to observe as elected representatives serving their country in its highest democratic institution”.

The code shall apply to all MPs, including those serving as ministers notwithstanding the fact that Cabinet ministers are also regulated by a separate set of rules.

Section 4 (1) of the draft code states that: “It is the personal responsibility of every Member of Parliament to maintain those standards of conduct which the House and the electorate are entitled to expect, to protect the good name of Parliament and to advance the public interest.

“Members should observe those general principles which apply to all people in public life.”

In line with the seven principles, MPs shall be expected to take decisions solely in terms of public interest and not to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or their friends.

MPs are also not expected to place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.