By Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Secretary, George Guvamatanga is under fire for unilaterally suspending the Finance Act without following the due processes.
The matter was brought to light by Dzivarasekwa legislator, Edwing Mushoriwa who criticized the Finance Ministry for disrespecting the lawmakers’ tireless efforts.
“We burned the midnight oil debating the Finance and the Appropriation Bills in respect to the 2026 National Budget. Those two Bills were passed by this National Assembly, including the Senate and they were signed into law by the President of Zimbabwe so that it becomes the Finance Act.
“Regrettably, Mr. Speaker Sir, a matter of grave constitutional concern is that the Ministry of Finance, on 14 January 2026, wrote a circular to reverse and suspend what has been passed by this august House and signed by the President,” he said.
The lawmaker said under Section 134 of the Constitution, legislative authority is exclusively is vested in Parliament and the President making it impossible for the Permanent Secretary or a senior government officer to assume the role of a lawmaker or a parallel regulator.
He said if there was a problem in terms of any provision of the Finance Act, the Constitution has a remedy where the Minister can approach Parly.
However, he said despite the Finance Ministry agreeing to the proposals that were passed went on violate the expected procedures.
“To then have a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance writing to suspend that law without coming to Parliament or without even going to the President to say, President, can you issue a special Instrument, a temporary, a Presidential Special Instrument to suspend this is not fair.
“So, accordingly Mr. Speaker, I am asking your Chair to ask the Minister of Finance to come to this House to explain why they could do something unconstitutional because the supremacy of Parliament, as representatives of the people, should always be respected and we should also respect the constitutional mandate given to the President to sign Bills that come from Parliament,” added Mushoriwa.
