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Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Daisy Jeremani Gender Editor
LACK of resources has hampered the government’s efforts to set up and resource four independent commissions so that the country complies with the provisions of the constitution.

Responding to a question from Harare West MP, Jessie Majome in parliament on Wednesday, Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa said the government was doing its best to ensure that the commissions are put in place, but resource constraints are frustrating progress.

The VP, who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said since last year the government has been working to mobilise resources. “But, I have no doubt that during the course of this year; they should be able to produce reports. It is correct that they ought to produce a report of the preceding year during the first quarter of the current year.

“But, because they had no staff, they had only been appointed. They had no accommodation, and through the assistance of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, three of them now have been settled and resourced.”

He said one of them has submitted their draft report which he was looking at and he would be able to table it in parliament.

“There are constraints in relation to resources, there is nothing that they can do and it is the duty of government to make sure that we resource them and make sure that comrades here pay their taxes, especially in their businesses so that Minister Chinamasa can raise funds,” he said.

Majome who also chairs the parliamentary portfolio committee on justice, legal and parliamentary affairs had asked the VP why up to now, no report of any independent commission had been tabled in parliament in terms of Section 323 (1) of the Constitution which requires that each independent commission must table to the House its annual report no later than March of each and every year.

The Human Rights, Gender and the National Healing and Reconciliation Commissions are among those that are facing challenges.

Setting up of the gender commission would ensure that the country not only meets its international obligations, but would also facilitate the achievement of gender equality as provided for in the Constitution and provide a framework for investigating possible violations of rights relating to gender.