Performance contracts for parastatal heads next year

Harare (New Ziana)- President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday said starting next year, heads of state owned enterprises and parastatals will be required to sign performance based contracts.
Officially opening the fourth session of the Ninth Parliament, President Mnangagwa said contracts are hoped to entrench his administration’s ethic of accountability.

In an ‘’extraordinary milestone” in the history of public sector management in Zimbabwe, permanent secretaries signed performance contracts in December 2020, which are used to gauge their efficiency as heads of Ministries.

“At the end of 2021, the inaugural evaluation of the Contracts will be conducted. In January 2022, all heads of State Owned Enterprises, Parastatals as well as Local Authorities will be required to sign similar Contracts in order to guarantee that our citizens enjoy value for money,” he said.

Benefits of performance contracting include improved efficiency in service delivery by ensuring that holders of public offices are held accountable for results, ensuring that performance and results link with stakeholder expectations and enhancing good governance.

Turning to the Ninth Parliament’s legislative agenda, President Mnangagwa said 42 existing statutes which have not been aligned to the Constitution during the third session will be carried over to the fourth session of the ninth Parliament.

“I am aware that some Bills could not be dispensed with and were carried over from the Third Session. Of the existing statutes which required to be aligned to the Constitution, it is pleasing that only 42 statutes remain to be enacted under the alignment process. These must be completed during this session,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said thirteen Bills were still with the respective line Ministries, of these, the Principles of two Bills have been approved by Cabinet, while eleven are still with Ministries.

“The Second Republic will continue to maintain its responsive and proactive stance to emerging needs of our society by ensuring that the law is a tool for development,” he said.

In the health sector, the fourth session of the ninth Parliament is expected to expedite consideration of the Medical Services Amendment Bill; the Medical Aid Societies Bill; and the Health Professions Amendment Bill.

“These should result in a consolidated legislative strategy to achieve Universal Health Coverage, enhanced access and affordable health services,” said President Mnangagwa.

In the financial services sector, the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Bill is set to empower IPEC to prescribe a minimum level of assets and liabilities.

It will also provide for the establishment of the Protection Fund for Policy holders and Pensions and Provident Fund members. On the other hand, the Securities and Exchange Act should be amended to widen the definition of Securities to include Virtual Asset Service Providers.

President Mnangagwa said Parliament would soon be requested to consider legislation relating to the implementation of the Devolution Agenda.

“Of special note is the presentation of the Provincial Council’s Amendment Bill. The requisite legislation used by the lower tiers of the State to ensure efficient implementation of the devolution agenda will also be amended. These include the Urban Councils Amendment Bill; Rural District Councils Amendment Bill; Regional Town and Country Planning Amendment; and the Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill,” he said.

Parliament is also expected to consider the Municipal Courts and Police Bill as well as the Liquor Licensing Bill, Disaster Risk Management bill, Labour Amendment Bill and the Private Voluntary Organisations Act Amendment bill among others.

New Ziana