Public hearings on bond notes to start tomorrow

Public hearings on bond notes will be held throughout the country from tomorrow to Saturday by two teams from Parliament’s Finance and Economic Development Committee.

It is not clear what the aim of the hearings now is as originally Parliament was expected to get the views of the people on the introduction of bond notes which a lot of people seem to be against, as the bond notes were expected to be introduced to the market today.

The hearings will be in the capital Harare, as well as in Masvingo, tomorrow; Mutare, Wednesday; Marondera, Thursday; Chinhoyi, Friday; and Bindura on Saturday.

Another team will be holding the hearings in Gweru, tomorrow; Bulawayo, Wednesday;  Gwanda, Thursday; and Lupane on Friday.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa wanted to fast-track the bill to introduce bond notes last week but decided to go through the normal process as laid down by the constitution leading people to think this might delay the introduction of the notes.

Chinamasa is now expected to introduce the bill tomorrow. According to legal watchdog, Veritas, the bill will not be debated after the first reading but will be passed on to Parliament’s Legal Committee for scrutiny.

Veritas says the legal committee normally has 26 business days to produce its report but this could be waived.

Hearings in Harare are at the Crown Plaza from 2pm to 4 pm

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