CSRO

The Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) is the supreme policy making body at Parliament. Its appointment, composition and tenure of office is provided for in section 151 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 and Standing Orders 14 and 15 of the Senate and National Assembly respectively.

APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDING RULES AND ORDERS (CSRO)

Section 151 (1) provides that Parliament must appoint a committee to be known as the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders for the purpose of-

• Supervising the administration of Parliament,
• Formulating Standing Orders
• Considering and deciding all matters concerning Parliament; and
• Exercising any other functions that may be conferred or imposed on the committee by the Constitution or by Standing Orders or any other law.

Section 151(2) provides for the composition of the CSRO as follows:

• The Speaker and President of the Senate (Chair and Vice Chairperson)
• The Deputy Speaker
• Deputy President of the Senate
• The Minister responsible for finance and two other Ministers appointed by the President
• The Leader of Government Business in each House
• The leader of the Opposition in each House
• The chief whips of all political parties represented in each House
• The President of the National Council of Chiefs
• Two Members who are Ministers or Deputy Ministers, one being a Senator appointed to the committee by the President of the Senate and being a Member of the National Assembly appointed by the Speaker
• Eight Members who are not Ministers or Deputy Ministers, four being elected to the committee by the Senate and four being elected by the National Assembly.

TENURE OF OFFICE

The CSRO is appointed for the life of each Parliament [section 151(4)]

Whenever a vacancy occurs, a Member must be elected or appointed, as the case maybe, as soon as possible to fill the vacancy [section 151 (7)]

SECRETARY TO THE CSRO

According to Standing Order 14(2) of both the Senate and National Assembly, the Clerk of Parliament is the Secretary of the Committee.

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS

Appointment of the Clerk of Parliament and other staff of Parliament

Section 154(1) provides that the CSRO with the approval of the National Assembly, must appoint an officer to be known as the Clerk of Parliament to be responsible, subject to Standing Orders and to the control and supervision of the Speaker, for the day to day administration of Parliament.

The CSRO appoints other staff of Parliament as it considers necessary in terms of Section 154 (4) of the Constitution. In this regard, interviews for Deputy Clerks, Chief Directors, and equivalent grades are conducted by a panel comprising the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy President of the Senate, the Clerk of Parliament, and at least two outsiders. Successful candidates are then approved by the CSRO

The CSRO determines and approves the conditions of service for the Clerk of Parliament and other staff of Parliament in terms of Section 154 (5) (a) of the Constitution.

Sets the strategic direction of Parliament

At the beginning of each Parliament, the CSRO considers and approves the strategic plan for Parliament that covers the life of the Parliament. This gives direction to Parliament and the administration of Parliament on the priority areas for Parliament for that period.

Approval of policy proposals for the smooth administration of Parliament

The CSRO operates on the basis of sub-committees which report to the CSRO. The sub-committees consider draft policy proposals either at the request of the CSRO or as recommended by the administration of Parliament. These draft proposals are then considered and adopted by the CSRO.

Nomination of Members to Serve on Commissions

The CSRO nominates Members for apointment to Independent Commissions in terms of Section 237 of the Constitution. The Commissions are as follows:

• Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of Section 238 (1) (b) of the Constitution and is consulted in the appointment of its chairperson in terms of Section 238 (1) (a) of the Constitution
• Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission in terms of Section 242 (1) (b) of the Constitution and is consulted in the appointment of its chairperson in terms of Section 242 (1) (a) of the Constitution
• Zimbabwe Gender Commission in terms of Section 245 (1)(b) of the Constitution and is consulted in the appointment of its chairperson in terms of Section 245 (1)(a) of the Constitution
• Zimbabwe Media Commission in terms of Section 248 (1) (b) of the Constitution and is consulted in the appointment of its chairperson in terms of Section 248 (1) (a) of the Constitution
• National Peace and Reconciliation Commission in terms of Section 251 (1) (b) of the Constitution and is consulted in the appointment of its chaiperson in terms of the Section 251 (1)(a) of the Constitution
• Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. The CSRO nominates Members to serve on the Anti-Corruption Commission in terms of Section 254 (1) (b) of the Constitution. It is also consulted in the appointment of the chairperson of the Commission in terms of Section 254 (1)(a) of the Constitution.

Appointment of Portfolio and Thematic Committees

The Committee appoints Portfolio Committees and their respective Chairpersons in terms of Standing Orders No. 17 and 19 of the National Assembly Standing Orders

The CSRO appoints Thematic Committees and their respective Chairpersons in terms of Standing Order No. 16 and 18 of the Senate Standing Orders

Appointment of Adhoc Committees

Appoints Ad Hoc Committees where need be in terms of Standing Order No. 24 of the National Assembly Standing Orders and Standing Order No. 23 of the Senate Standing Orders

CURRENT COMPOSITION OF THE CSRO