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Mr Austin Zvoma

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Parliament’S Standing Rules and Orders Committee will soon meet to decide the tenure of Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma, after the Salary Services Bureau indicated that he was due for retirement at the end of this month.

There have been varied interpretations between Mr Zvoma and his paymaster regarding the effect of his attainment of 65 years on November 30, which is the retirement age for all Government workers.

Mr Zvoma says he should be allowed to serve in his present capacity because in terms of section 154 of the new Constitution, the Clerk of Parliament is appointed for a six-year term and may be appointed for one more term. The SSB says Mr Zvoma should now retire after attaining 65 years and has since indicated on his payslip that he should expect his last pay-cheque this month. In an interview recently, National Assembly Speaker, Cde Jacob Mudenda, said the SROC would meet to deliberate over the issue.

He did not give the date of the meeting.

“That is an administrative issue. The SROC has to meet, said Cde Mudenda. “I cannot discuss such administrative issues with the media. The SROC will make a decision in terms of powers conferred to it by the Constitution and relevant legal statutes.” Parliamentary Legal Committee chairperson, Mr Jonathan Samkange, said Mr Zvoma had served his time and could only be given a new lease of life by the SROC. “The SROC has to meet and make a decision whether to give him a contract or not,” he said. “His reading of the law is not correct.” Another lawyer who preferred anonymity said Mr Zvoma was not appointed in terms of the new Constitution for him to rely on it.

He said only Prosecutor-General Mr Johannes Tomana, who was appointed in terms of the new Constitution, could seek to rely on the supreme law.

“In this case, the normal conditions of service would apply,” said the lawyer.

“He is due to retire at 65 and that can only be varied by the SROC.” Mr Zvoma has served as Clerk of Parliament for 30 years and wants constitutional protection to be allowed to continue serving.

It is Mr Zvoma’s view that section 154 of the new Constitution “does away with the retirement age”, and in his view, it gives him his “first six-year term”.