President Emmerson Mnangagwa has lashed out at Parliament for dragging its feet on critical legislation, accusing lawmakers of failing to deliver on their constitutional mandate.
Delivering the State of the Nation Address and officially opening the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament of Zimbabwe, the President expressed impatience with what he described as an “unacceptable” backlog of Bills, warning Parliament to wake up and get the job done.
“The importance of the timeous discharge of legislative duties reposed in Parliament cannot be overemphasised,” Mnangagwa said. “It is critically important that the law-making processes be expedited for the efficient operation of State apparatus. The total backlog of outstanding Bills is unacceptable.”
He reminded legislators that every law passed carries the hopes and aspirations of the nation, urging them to act with urgency to restore public confidence in Parliament’s effectiveness.
Among the outstanding Bills are the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, Public Service Amendment Bill, Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, Persons with Disabilities Bill, and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Bill. Several other Bills, including the Teaching Professions Council Bill, Electronic Transactions and E-Commerce Bill, and Rural Electrification Fund Amendment Bill, have yet to be presented despite being announced last year.
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Outlining the new legislative agenda, President Mnangagwa unveiled an ambitious list of new Bills to be introduced during the 2025 session, targeting key sectors such as commerce, governance, defence, and social development.
In the commerce and industry cluster, the National Productivity Institute Bill will establish a new agency to promote efficiency across industries, while amendments to the Competition Act will enhance consumer protection.
Other major pieces of legislation include the Disaster Risk Management Bill, Police Amendment Bill, Zimbabwe Media Commission Amendment Bill, and National Languages Bill.
In the defence and international relations sector, the President said Zimbabwe will move to ratify several global treaties, including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the Arms Trade Treaty, and protocols against migrant smuggling and firearms trafficking.
Mnangagwa’s strong words signal growing concern within government over legislative inertia that has slowed implementation of key policy reforms.
“Collectively, we have a duty to sustain the confidence that the people of our country have in our governance systems,” he said.
The President called on both Houses to tackle the legislative backlog “with renewed vigour and focus,” saying Parliament must match government’s pace.
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