BILL WATCH 19/2024

[28th May 2024]

Coming up in Parliament This Week

Coming up in the National Assembly this Week

Bills on the National Assembly Order Paper

There are three likely to be dealt with this week.

Bills likely to be dealt with:

·        Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Bill [link]

·        Administration of Estates Amendment Bill [link]

Veritas has commented on this Bill and its background [link].

·        Death Penalty Abolition Bill [link]

The next stage for these Bills is the second reading, with the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs delivering his opening speech.

These Bills are likely to come up this week because public hearings on them have already been conducted by a joint committee comprising the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Thematic Committee on Human Rights.  The committee’s reports on the Bills will be presented to the House after the Minister has delivered his Second Reading speech and before MPs are given their chance to contribute to the debate.    

Bill less likely to be dealt with

·        Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill [link]
Veritas has commented on the Bill and its background several times [link], [link] and [link].

This Bill, though on the Order Paper, is less likely to progress this week.  Public hearings on the Bill were conducted last week by a joint committee comprising the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development, but the hearings were disrupted by rowdy youths.  The joint committee will want to consider alternative methods of carrying out its constitutional duty to consult the public about the PVO Bill.

Another Bill was affected by the disruption at the same public hearings, namely:

·        Persons with Disabilities Bill [link]

Veritas has commented on the Bill and its background [link].

International Agreement for Approval in terms of the Constitution

On the Order Paper for Wednesday 29th May is a motion by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs asking the National Assembly to approve the ratification of the following international agreement:

·        Agreement between Zimbabwe and Rwanda establishing mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The agreement has not been published, but presumably it has been concluded in terms of the Criminal Matters (Mutual Assistance) Act, which provides for mutual assistance in criminal matters (passing on of evidence, service of documents, execution of search warrants, etc) between Zimbabwe and Commonwealth countries.

Coming Up in the Senate This Week

Tuesday 28th May and Wednesday 29th May

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is due to seek the Senate’s approval of the agreement between Zimbabwe and Rwanda, mentioned above, allowing mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The Minister will also lay before the Senate the 2023 report of the National Prosecuting Authority, and the Senate will continue debating reports of other bodies falling under the Minister’s portfolio, namely the Judicial Service Commission, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.  The Senate will also debate the report of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.

Thereafter the Senate will continue adjourned debates on a variety of issues, including:

·        The inadequate state of public transport

·        Teenage pregnancy

·        The issue of birth certificates to people in border areas, and

·        The plight of street children.

Thursday 30th May

The sitting on this day will be devoted to questions.  Questions set down will seek answers from Ministers on the following topics:

·        The issue of identity documents to victims of Gukurahundi

·        Devolution of powers to councils and local authorities

·        Introducing sports clubs in rural areas, and

·        The establishment of the parole board under the Prisons and Correctional Service Act.