Section 136: Persons presiding in Parliament
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) The person presiding at any sitting of the Senate must be—
(a) the President of the Senate or, in his or her absence, the Deputy President of the
Senate; or
(b) in the absence of the President and Deputy President of the Senate, a Senator elected
for the purpose by the Senate, but that Senator must not be a Minister or Deputy
Minister.
(2) The person presiding at any sitting of the National Assembly must be—
(a) the Speaker or, in his or her absence, the Deputy Speaker; or
(b) in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, a Member of the National
Assembly elected for the purpose by the National Assembly, but that Member must
not be a Minister or Deputy Minister.
(3) The Speaker, or in his or her absence the President of the Senate, must preside at any joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Insight: Parliamentary Presiding Officers
This section establishes a clear hierarchy for who can preside over parliamentary sessions, ensuring continuity of leadership. The key insight is that Ministers and Deputy Ministers are explicitly prohibited from serving as substitute presiding officers. This restriction helps maintain separation between the executive and legislative branches, preventing potential conflicts of interest when parliamentary business involves scrutinizing government actions.