BILL WATCH 37/2020

[17th June 2020]

Parliament Invites Public Comments on Two Bills:

(1)  Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill

(2)  Pension and Provident Funds Bill

On 16th June Parliament published notices on its website inviting the public to submit comments on the above two Bills for consideration by the relevant parliamentary committee(s). 

The invitations are part of the public consultations meant to enhance participatory democracy that Parliament is obliged to undertake in compliance with section 141 of the Constitution. 

Targeted public and stakeholder consultations still to come

Further targeted public and stakeholder consultations on this very important Bill will be conducted in due course on dates to be advised.

Submission of comments

All comments must be submitted to the following e-mail addresses: bills@parlzim.gov.zw or clerk@parlzim.gov.zw.

Alternatively, written submissions can be sent to: Parliament of Zimbabwe, Corner Third Street and Kwame Nkrumah, P.O. Box CY 298, Causeway, Harare.

Deadline

All submissions must be received on or before Friday, 26 June 2020.

Queries

For any clarification, you may get in touch with Mrs Luciah Nyawo, Assistant Clerk of Parliament on email nyawol@parlzim.gov.zw T

About the Bills

Pension and Provident Funds Bill

This Bill was gazetted on the 21st February 2020.

It is available on the Veritas website [link], together with its official explanatory memorandum.

It is intended to repeal and replace the existing Pension and Provident Funds Act, which is also available on the Veritas website [link].

Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill

This Bill was gazetted on 15th May 2020.

It is available on the Veritas website [link], together with its official explanatory memorandum. 

The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services has already had an opportunity to unpack the Bill at a meeting with the relevant National Assembly portfolio committee.  

It is important that industry stakeholders and other interested persons respond to the present invitation to submit their comments on the Bill.  This is a good opportunity for them to ensure that MPs on the portfolio committee, having heard the official case for the Bill and before embarking on any further public hearings, are also well-informed about the views of private sector specialists in the field and members of the public.