Biti’s power game scuttled

Government officials yesterday said the move by Parliament to scuttle the Minister’s attempts and force amendments has never happened in the history of Zimbabwe.

“But what was also unprecedented was an atte-mpt by the Finance Minister to redefine the powe-rs of the President through the Finance Bill by circumventing Government processes of crafting legislation to give himself the powers to all these things.

“It has never happened with previous Finance Ministers from Enos Nkala, Bernard Chidzero (late), Ariston Chambati (late), Herbert Murerwa, Simba Makoni and Patrick Chinamasa. So Tendai Biti has made a first both in his attempt and in his defeat,” said a senior Government official.

“What falls within the domain of the Finance Ministry are specifics related to general budget principles okayed by Government through the Cabinet Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs which is chaired by the President.

“When we are looking at changing a law, we deal with the substantive. The Finance Minister went beyond detail to the substantive, he was trying to pilfer powers that are owned by the person who chairs the Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs. Fortunately, the would-be victim was wide awake,” the official added.

The House of Assembly amended sections 18, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the Bill that seeks to give effect to the budget presented by Minister Biti last month.

This followed recommendations by Cabinet and Senate while Minister Biti withdrew some of his proposed amendments.

Minister Biti allegedly attempted to usurp Presidential powers through the Bill by amending Section 2 of the Exchange Control Act through section 21 of the Finance Bill.-The Herald

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