Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Committee on Standing Rules and Orders - Bill Watch Special
Veritas
April 11, 2009

Committee on Standing Rules and Orders

• The Committee on Standing Rules and Orders [CSRO] is the most important Parliamentary Committee.
• It is a joint committee, with representatives from both Houses of Parliament [see names of members below].
• Functions are conferred on it by the Constitution, by Act of Parliament and by Parliamentary Standing Orders.

Functions of the CSRO

Functions given by the Constitution

• “Supervising the administration of Parliament” and “considering and deciding all matters concerning Parliament”.
• The CSRO appoints the Clerk of Parliament and other staff of Parliament, and fixes their conditions of service.
• It appoints members of the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
• The Public Protector, formerly called the Ombudsman, and the Deputy Public Protector are appointed by the President “after consultation” with the CSRO and Judicial Service Commission [JSC]. [Note: “after consultation” means the President is not bound to follow the advice of the CSRO or the JSC.]

The CSRO also has a considerable say in the appointments of:

The four “Independent” Commissions referred to in the Constitution.

1. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission

• The chairperson is appointed by the President “after consultation with” the CSRO.
• The 8 members are appointed by the President from a list of at least 12 nominees submitted by the CSRO.
• The approval of the CSRO is needed before the chairperson or any other member is removed from office by the President.

2. Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission

• The chairperson is appointed by the President “after consultation with” the CSRO.
• The 8 members are appointed by the President from a list of 16 nominees submitted by the CSRO

[Note: when appointing the chairpersons of these two Commissions the President also has to consult with the Judicial Service Commission but he is not bound to follow the advice of the CSRO or the JSC. The definition in the Constitution of “after consultation” is that the President is “required to consult before arriving at a decision but is not bound by the advice or opinion given”.]

3. Zimbabwe Media Commission

• Both the chairperson and the other 8 members are appointed by the President from a list of at least 12 nominees provided by the CSRO.

4. Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission

The Constitution states that the commission consists of at least 4 and not more than 9 members appointed by the President “in consultation” with the CSRO. It does not mention a chairperson, so it is assumed the members will elect one. [Note: the definition in the Constitution of “in consultation” is that the President “arrives at the decision after securing the agreement or consent” of the persons consulted.]

Functions of CSRO under Parliamentary Standing Orders

• Deciding on the size of other Parliamentary committees and appointing their chairpersons and members. This includes Select Committees – which means that it will appoint the Select Committee to draw up the new Constitution.
• Framing rules for the conduct of business by committees;
• Preparing amendments to Standing Orders for consideration by the House of Assembly and Senate;
• The Committee’s consent is required for a proposed motion in either House for the expulsion or suspension from Parliament of an MP or Senator who has been convicted of a criminal offence. [Note: if an MP or Senator is convicted and sentenced to death or 6 months or more imprisonment, his or seat is automatically forfeited. A motion for expulsion applies only where a criminal conviction has resulted in a shorter sentence of imprisonment or a fine, but is nevertheless considered to render the MP or Senator concerned unfit to continue in office or as meriting suspension.]

Powers given to the CSRO by the Broadcasting Services Act

This Act gives the CSRO a role in the appointment and removal from office of members of the board of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe:

• the President appoints 9 of the 12 board members “after consultation with” the CSRO [the President is not obliged to follow CSRO’s recommendations] and the remaining 3 members from a list of six nominees provided by CSRO.
• the CSRO appoints the chairperson and one other member of the Independent Disciplinary Committee to adjudicate on allegations of misconduct by BAZ board members.

Members of Committee on Standing Rules and Orders

The composition of the CSRO is specified by the Constitution, as amended by Constitution Amendment No. 19 [Schedule 8, paragraph 2]. It is made up of 14 ex officio members, 8 members elected by the House of Assembly and 4 members elected by the Senate. [Note there was no voting for the elected members, because the three parties had agreed on the political and gender balance to be struck and the candidates put forward by the parties were declared elected unopposed.] The CSRO is chaired by the Speaker and the deputy chair is the President of the Senate. The members are as follows:

14 Ex officio members

• Speaker Lovemore Moyo] [MDC-T]
• President of Senate Ednah Madzongwe [ZANU-PF]
• Deputy Speaker Nomalanga Khumalo [MDC-M]
• Deputy President of Senate Naison Ndlovu [ZANU-PF]
• Vice-President Joseph Msika [ZANU-PF]
• Vice-President Joice Mujuru [ZANU-PF]
• Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai [MDC-T]
• Minister of Constitutional & Parl Affairs Eric Matinenga] [MDC-T]
• Minister of Finance Tendai Biti] [MDC-T]
• MDC-M Whip Edward Mkhosi
• MDC-T Whip Innocent Gonese
• ZANU-PF Whip Joram Gumbo
• Deputy Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly [still to be named]
• Deputy Leader of Government Business in the Senate [still to be named]

8 Members elected by the House of Assembly

Njabuliso Mguni [MDC-T], Thabitha Khumalo [MDC-T], Tongai Matutu [MDC-T], Tapiwa Mashakada [MDC-T], Hon. Arthur Mutambara [MDC-M],

Emmerson Mnangagwa [ZANU-PF], Paul Mangwana [ZANU-PF], Mabel Chinomona [ZANU-PF]

4 Members elected by the Senate

Obert Gutu [MDC-T], Welshman Ncube [MDC-M], Patrick Chinamasa [ZANU-PF], Chief Charumbira

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP