After several weeks of going on the mandatory Christmas and New Year break on Saturday, December 23, 2023, Parliament resumed on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
But the number of Members on the floor of the House when sitting commenced was nothing to write home about.
Absenteeism in Parliament has been an issue raised by the speaker on several occasions as he asserts that measures need to be put in place to deal with the menace.
Attendance on the first sitting of the fourth session according to the speaker was not encouraging hence directed the table office to conduct a roll call.
However, during the roll call members raised concerns on how members were expected to respond.
Meanwhile some also noted that, to deal with absenteeism in the house committee meetings should be done after sitting adding that when sittings commence at 10 O’clock in the morning and ends at 2pm, members can equally attend committee meetings.
Before adjourning for the Christmas and New Year break in the early hours of Saturday, December 23, 2024, members of the House passed the VAT Amendment Bill which is expected to see VAT on insurance premiums, VAT on imported textbooks, erasers and other stationery and allow a zero-rate VAT on locally manufactured sanitary pads.
Several bills including the Anti-LGBTQ bill are expected to be considered during this session.
