STATUTORY instruments (SIs) are usurping the powers of Parliament, Gweru Urban MP Brian Dube has said.

“SIs are by their very nature a usurpation of the powers of Parliament by allowing a minister or the Executive to make laws outside parliament,” Dube said at a recent Gweru stakeholder meeting organised by Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights).

“SIs are supposed to come to parliament for debate but what has been happening is that if there is no adverse report then they are implemented without debate. Zanu PF having a majority in the parliamentary legal committee may not make an adverse report and in that case no debate can be made.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been criticised for allegedly ruling by decree, issuing a number of SIs since he came into office.

Critics say the use of SIs was a form of command politics and evidence that the country was heading towards authoritarian rule.

Dube said SIs become operational upon being gazetted and without waiting for Parliamentary approval.

Participants at the workshop raised concern that the SIs, especially during the COVID lockdowns, stifled people’s democratic rights.