SW Radio Africa (London)

Zimbabwe: Parliament Passes Bill to Reform Reserve Bank

18 November 2009

Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to reform the central bank. In theory this should reduce the powers of bank governor Gideon Gono.

This is the first major law to be passed by parliament since the unity government was formed.

According to the bill, Gono's powers will be reduced by appointing an independent chairperson and board for the bank.

Reuters news agency quotes Paul Mangwana, a ZANU PF member of the parliamentary legal committee, saying: "There have been extreme discussions with the Minister (Biti) that there be amendments ... and we have agreed on these amendments."

The bill has to now be debated by the Senate. If approved Mugabe would then have to sign it.

ZANU-PF legislators had last week threatened to block the bill, but an agreement was reached between Biti and the ZANU-PF lawmakers to make changes to the Bill.

One of these changes was a clause giving immunity to the bank governor and employees "for anything done in good faith and without negligence".

So it would appear that once again ZANU PF loyalists, who stand accused of helping to completely destroy Zimbabwe's economy, will get off scot free.

Tagged: Banking, Business, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe

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Comments 1 to 3 of 3 Post a comment

  • The Original King Hopi
    Nov 19 2009, 00:39
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    Please just give us the news as it is. Don't try to feed us this crap about people you dream should persecuted for crimes that you imagine. The fact that our legislators have agreed to amend the bill is ok. Only Zimbabweans determine who should be punished for what wrongs not some racist radio station seeking to boost the chances of some colonialist governments to return our beautiful country to slavery. Bush, Blair et al should be brought to book for mass murder, pillaging other heinous international crimes committed in countries that the west is now exploiting!

  • takunya_ndebvu
    Nov 19 2009, 03:58
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    The Original King Hopi;

    Good stuff King Hopi; keep it up my comrade. The GPA clearly says that there should never be any interference, covert or overt, in the internal affairs of our country.

    We, Zimbabweans, WILL and MUST independently and without influence from any quarter whatsoever determine our destiny. The radio station (SW Radio Africa) you refer to is one of the outstanding issues in the GPA that MDC has to cause to be dismantled.

    SW Radio Africa is daily churning out hate speeches and broadcasts that are causing divisions and polarization in our country at a time when we should be uniting. Only stupid idiotic fools will fail to see that these pirate radio stations are causing more harm than good to the wellbeing of our mother land.

  • emily_sorensen
    Nov 20 2009, 06:55
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    " Zimbabweans, WILL and MUST independently and without influence from any quarter whatsoever determine our destiny"

    Zimbabwe doesnt exist in a bubble. All countries are influenced by external forces.

    Fact of live. Deal with it.