The multiparty National Assembly (NA) Programme Committee considered and approved the programme as agreed by the Chief Whips’ Forum.
At its regular meeting on Thursday the NA Programme Committee, considered the forthcoming activities including the meeting of the Joint Programme Committee, which will consider a framework that has been developed to improve coordination of Parliament’s work. This meeting is scheduled to take place on the 19 March.
Amongst other things the NA Programme Committee meeting acknowledged that the Presidency has already confirmed the three dates at which the President will be available to respond to questions for oral reply, as is his constitutional obligation. The dates are 18 June, 6 August and 19 November. Cumulatively, the President will have appeared in Parliament four times in the current year to answer questions for oral reply, enabling Parliament to exercise oversight and accountability as set out in the Constitution.
These developments are evidence that the fifth democratic Parliament is refocusing on the work at hand and is evidence that all party leaders continue to work together in an effort to fulfil their mandate as elected public representatives.
The NA Programme Committee meeting also emphasised that the relationship of Parliament (the Legislature) with the Executive and the Judiciary was one of cooperation and negotiation to find the best outcomes. It was incorrect to believe that one branch of the state was in a superior position to another.
NA Speaker Ms Baleka Mbete welcomes the latest developments, which indicate that the fifth Parliament is focusing on its core business, which is passing legislation and exercising oversight to ensure that the lives of our people improve.
