BILL WATCH
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES SERIES 5/2023
[19th February 2023]
Public Hearings on Important Bills:
Monday 20th to Friday 24th February 2023
The Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will conduct public hearings this coming week from Monday 20th February to Friday 24th February 2023 to gather the views of the public on two important Bills:
- the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill [“Patriot Bill”] [link]
- the Prisons and Correctional Services Bill [link].
The committee will split into two teams in order cover more centres around the country. Note that public hearings will be held even on 21st February which is a public holiday, National Youth Day.
The programme for the public hearings, as supplied by Parliament, is shown in the following two tables:
TEAM A
Date | Place | Venue | Time |
Monday, 20 February 2023 | Mhangura
Chegutu | Mangura Golf Club
Chegutu Welfare Centre | 1000hrs
1430hrs |
Tuesday, 21 February 2023 | Gokwe
Kwekwe | Cheziya Hall
Kwekwe Youth Centre | 1000hrs
1430hrs |
Wednesday, 22 February 2023 | Bulawayo
Luveve | Selbourne Hotel
Luveve Beit Hall | 1000hrs
1400hrs |
Thursday, 23 February 2023 | Lupane | Lupane Community Hall | 1000hrs |
Friday, 24 February 2023 | Insiza
Gwanda | Umtwakazi Community Hall
Jahunda Primary School Hall | 1000hrs
1430hrs |
TEAM B
Date | Place | Venue | Time of Hearing |
Monday, 20 February 2023 | Bindura
Harare | Chipadze Hall
New Ambassador Hotel | 1000hrs
1400hrs |
Tuesday, 21 February 2023 | Murehwa
Marondera | Zihute Hall
Mbuya Nehanda Hall | 1000hrs
1400hrs |
Wednesday, 22 February 2023 | Nyanga
Mutare | Nyamhuka Primary School
Dangamvura Beit Hall | 1000hrs
1400hrs |
Thursday, 23 February 2023 | Nyika Growthpoint
Masvingo | Better Schools Programme Hall
Mucheke Hall | 1000hrs
1400hrs |
Friday, 24 February 2023 | Chivi
Zvishavane | Chivi Council Hall
Zvishavane RDC Hall | 1000hrs
1400hrs |
Written Submissions
Written submissions and correspondences on the two Bills are welcome and should be addressed to:
The Clerk of Parliament
Attention: Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
P.O Box CY 298
Causeway, Harare
Submissions can also be made by email through: clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
About the Bills
1. Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill [“Patriot Bill”] [link]
The Bill is available on the Veritas website using the above link. It was gazetted on 23rd December 2022. Veritas has commented on the Bill in detail and expressing criticisms in Bill Watch 1/2023 [link]. The Bill will amend the Criminal Law Code in four respects:
- It will create the crime of “wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe” [this is the “patriot” part of the Bill]
- It will provide mandatory minimum prison sentences for rape
- It will alter the definition of dangerous drugs whose possession, sale and use are prohibited by Chapter VII of the Code, and
- It will narrow the scope of the crime of abuse of public office.
2. Prisons and Correctional Services Bill [link]
This Bill is also available on the Veritas website using the above link. It was gazetted on 7th October 2022.
