BILL WATCH 22/2024

[25th June 2024]

Coming up in Parliament This Week

[The Senate will be sitting this week]

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Bills on the National Assembly Order Paper

There are two Bills set down on the Order Paper to be dealt with this week:

Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill [link]

The Second Reading of this Bill is due to resume.

Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill [link]

·        Debate on the Second Reading of this Bill is due to continue.  As noted in Bill Watch 20/2024 [link], amendments to this Bill are likely to be proposed at the Committee Stage.

Bills with Parliamentary Legal Committee [PLC]

The following Bills are being considered by the PLC:

Persons with Disabilities Bill [link]

Parks and Wild Life Amendment Bill [link]

Administration of Estates Amendment Bill [link].  The PLC is considering amendments made to the Bill during its committee stage

If the PLC gives the Bills non-adverse reports – i.e. if the Committee reports that they are consistent with the Constitution – they will proceed to their Second Reading.

The Assembly is also still to debate the PLC’s adverse report on several local authority by-laws (for improperly prescribed penalties).

Annual reports of constitutional bodies

·        The Assembly is expected to continue debate on the annual reports of the following bodies:

·        The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC]

·        The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission [ZHRC] and

·        The National Prosecuting Authority [NPA].

Motions on the National Assembly order paper

Among the motions set to be debated by the Assembly are the following:

·        Measures to improve public transport

·        To promote the teaching of more of Zimbabwe’s national languages in schools

·        To establish a national electronic cadastre system for mining and land grants

·        To pass a law prohibiting foreign entities from promoting LGBTQI+1 activities and condemning those activities

Petitions to be considered

Debate on the report of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans’ Affairs, on a petition seeking economic empowerment of war veterans and their dependants.

Questions set down for answer

Among questions set down for Ministers to answer on Wednesday are questions on the following issues:

·        Implementation of the BEAM education programme and reimbursement of parents who have had to pay fees for beneficiaries of the programme

·        The situation at the Tongogara Refugee Camp

·        A database of persons with disabilities

·        Ratification of the SADC Protocol on Rights of People Living with Disabilities

·        Re-engagement with the US Government

·        Illegal mining operations in the National University of Science and Technology

·        Protection of wetlands

·        Measures to deal with water shortages in Bulawayo

·        Measures to combat food shortages, and the estimated cost of food aid

·        The number of commercial farms purchased and compulsorily acquired since 2000 by Government and local authorities

·        Schools for children with autism and other special needs.

The Senate

Approval of international agreement

The Senate will be asked to approve an agreement with Rwanda on mutual assistance in criminal matters.

Annual reports of constitutional bodies

The Senate is expected to continue debate on the annual reports of the following bodies:

·        The National Prosecuting Authority [NPA]

·        The Judicial Service Commission [JSC]

·        The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC], and

·        The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission [ZHRC]

Motions on the Senate order paper

·        The Senate is expected to debate motions on the following topics:

·        Rehabilitation of mines and the participation of communities in profits from mining on their land

·        Compensation for persons affected by depreciation of the Zimbabwe dollar

·        Provision of kidney dialysis machines in district hospitals

·        The inadequacy of public transport

·        Measures to deal with teenage pregnancy

·        Birth certificates for people living in border areas

Questions set down for answer

Among questions set down for Ministers to answer on Thursday are questions on the following issues:

·        Planting and protection of trees

·        Identity documents for victims of Gukurahundi

·        Monitoring the performance of local authority councils

·        Establishment of the parole board in terms of the Prisons and Correctional Service Act.