13 Feb 2018

Each nation gives life to democracy in its own way and in line with its constitution and parliamentarians are a pivotal part of democracy, President of Zimbabwe, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Addressing Members of Parliament at the National Assembly on February 12, President Mnangagwa, who was in Botswana for a two-day state visit said Zimbabwe and Botswana had a special relationship that had been strengthened by shared history, heritage, culture and geography, which bind the two countries and people together.

“More often than not, governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, stable and successful,” he said.

With the advent of Internet riding on social media platforms, which are opening new doors for improved dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives, he said parliaments were now representing informed societies.

For that reason, he said this two way communication channel could help in stimulating dynamic public participation in a healthy democracy.

To improve on the transparency of the decision making processes and to dialogue with citizens, particularly through social networks, which are capable of providing feedback in real time, the Zimbabwean President said it was up to people’s representatives to exploit the new Information Communication Technology.

The legislatures of Botswana and Zimbabwe, he said had an impressive close cooperation, not only at bilateral level, but also at regional, continental and international levels.

“The bilateral exchange or visits at the level of members and staff has aided in sharing of experience and ideas with the aim of adopting best practices and benchmarking to consolidate the role of parliament in national governments,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said, “The two legislatures are active members of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, a platform that affords our national parliaments the opportunity to play a meaningful role in promoting regional integration, good governance and peace and security in our region.”

This, he said had been done through parliamentary forums standing committees, election observations and the development of model laws.

The first model law, he said was that of eradicating child marriages and protecting children already in marriages, which was adopted at the 39th SADC PF’s Plenary Assembly in June 2016.

“I was honoured to be the one launching the model law at the 40th Plenary Assembly in Zimbabwe on November 12, 2016. The model law is instrumental in assisting member states to harmonise their national laws to prevent child marriages in support of the African Union campaign to end child marriages in a generation,” said President Mnangagwa.

He encouraged the legislators from the two countries to double their efforts to deepen and enhance cooperation for the benefit of both countries and people. At the international level, he said their voice as parliamentarians was collective in conscience.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has acknowledged and appreciated the support that Zimbabwe received from Botswana and other SADC countries during its period of transition.

He said his government was committed to maintaining the prevailing peace, as well as to consolidate democracy in Zimbabwe.

In this respect, Zimbabwe President said Zimbabwe would hold its national elections around July 2018, as prescribed by the country’s constitution, adding that preparations for elections had been going on smoothly with more than five million eligible voters already registered by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“Our elections will be guided by SADC and AU principles and guidelines. SADC and AU member states are always welcome to observe our elections and we are also open to inviting other regional bodies across the world, because our elections are going to be transparent, free, fair and credible,” he added.

In his vote of thanks, Boteti North MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane expressed gratitude to Mr Mnangagwa for having made time to address Botswana National Assembly.

He said his message was kind, inspiring and crammed with wisdom and the desire to nurture good and neighbourly relations between the two countries and the people.

Mr Tsogwane, also Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said, “It clearly demonstrates the kind of leadership the people of Zimbabwe and the region as a whole, have been blessed with.” Ends