STAFF WRITER
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tatenda Mavetera has announced resumption of physical meetings in the August house to fully vaccinated legislators, senators, support staff and invitees.
Speaking in the August house Wednesday, Mavetera said legislators, support staff and senators who are not vaccinated will be allowed to enter parliament upon production of a valid Covid-19 PCR test certificate issued 48 hours earlier.
The development comes hard on the heels of easing of Covid-19 lockdown measures from level 4 to level 2 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday.
“I have to inform the House that the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders met and resolved that physical meetings can now resume for fully vaccinated Members and support staff. The production of Covid-19 PCR test certificate is mandatory for the unvaccinated,” said Deputy Speaker Mavetera.
The number of attendees is 100 and 80 for Legislators and Senators respectively inclusive of supporting staff and Parliamentary Committees have been implored to make use of both physical and virtual meetings where applicable.
“Members and staff from September 13 2021, security personnel at the entrance have been instructed to demand vaccination certificates or valid COVID-19 PCR test certificates issued 48 hours earlier and will be valid for each week. A maximum of 10 persons inclusive of Hon. Members, staff and invitees will be permitted to attend meetings physically in compliance with social distancing guidelines. In the National Assembly and Senate Chambers, the maximum number of persons allowed will be 100 and 80 respectively including support staff. Committees are encouraged to use a hybrid of physical and virtual meetings,” added Mavetera.
She said Chief Whips and Committees need to comply with allowable Legislators to attend Parliamentary sessions with the rest following proceedings virtually from their hotel rooms.
Upsurge in Covid-19 cases and deaths in June 2021 forced President Mnangagwa to impose level 4 lockdown to curtail carnage induced by covid-19 Delta variant.
