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Herald Reporter
Some roads will be closed in Harare today and on Tuesday for rehearsals and the official opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of Zimbabwe by President Mugabe.

Acting Clerk of Parliament Mr Bernard Zvamada announced yesterday that Nelson Mandela Avenue will be closed from Sam Nujoma Street to Simon Muzenda Street (Fourth Street), Third Street at Jason Moyo Avenue, George Silundika Avenue at Third Street, St Mary’s Lane at Nelson Mandela Avenue and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue from Sam Nujoma to Simon Muzenda Street (Fourth Street).

For the rehearsals today, the roads will be closed from 5am to 5pm, while for the official opening of Parliament on Tuesday they will be closed from 5am to 3pm.

“May all invited guests who will be driving please use Simon Muzenda Street (Fourth Street) and turn into Jason Moyo Avenue and drive along Jason Moyo Avenue then turn right into Third Street and park along Third Street South or Third Street North,” said Mr Zvamada.

“All other motorists who ordinarily use the above mentioned closed roads are advised to use alternative routes. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted. Car stickers for Members of Parliament and invited guests should be collected from the security department office No 166, extension 2149, Parliament Building.”

The official opening of Parliament on Tuesday will start at 12pm.

“May honourable Members of Parliament please note that due to inadequate sitting space, their spouses will not be accommodated on this occasion,” said Mr Zvamada.

President Mugabe fixed September 15 as the date for the opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament in a proclamation issued in the Government Gazette recently under Statutory Instrument 94/2015.

It is provided under Section 146 of the Constitution that each House of Parliament determines the time and duration of its sittings, other than the first sitting and its periods of recess.

The section also stipulates that the President may summon Parliament at any time to conduct business and no more than 180 days may elapse between sittings of a House.

President Mugabe’s speech will give the legislative agenda for Parliament to be followed for the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament.

The Second Session ended on August 25 with the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces delivering his State of the Nation Address.

One of the major highlights of the Second Session was the passage of the Labour Amendment Act which sought to put a stop to wanton sacking of staff on three months notice following a Supreme Court ruling.