Eventful year for Parly

Herald Reporter

The Parliament of Zimbabwe had a busy year, passing five bills while still having at least 10 outstanding.

This reflects its ongoing commitment to fulfilling its constitutional mandate to create laws that ensure peace, order, and good governance.

Notably, this year marked the second anniversary of sessions held in the new Parliament building in Mount Hampden.

This modern facility is spacious and equipped with advanced technology, a significant upgrade from the previous, more cramped quarters.

Additionally, President Mnangagwa delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and legislative agenda at this impressive six-storey structure, which symbolises the strengthening of bilateral relations with China, the building’s benefactor.

This year has seen legislators actively engaging in debates, fulfilling their roles in legislation, oversight, and representation.

One of the Bills that drew a lot of attention was the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Amendment Bill which seeks to demand better financial accountability of private voluntary organisations through tightening of financial accounting.

It demands that PVOs remain solely within listed functions, while it will deal with criminals carrying out undesirable and harmful illegal activities under the name of charity in compliance with the Financial Action Task Force, which is the world’s police against money laundering by ensuring that charitable trusts are not misused as means for channelling funds to sponsor terrorism and other criminal activities or to launder the proceeds of criminal activities by buying properties in Zimbabwe and other countries.

The Bill was sent back to Parliament last year after President Mnangagwa expressed reservations on some clauses he wanted cleaned up but it subsequently lapsed owing to the prorogation of the Parliamentary session before it was eventually dissolved to pave the way for general elections in August last year.

One of the Bills that have sailed through is the Death Penalty Abolition Bill which seeks to abolish capital punishment in the legal statutes, a move that has been welcomed by human rights activists.

The Bill was initially brought before Parliament by Dzivarasekwa Member of Parliament, Mr Edwin Mushoriwa as a Private Members Bill before the Executive, represented by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi took over in a show of convergence between legislators and the Executive on the need to remove capital punishment.

 The Bill sailed through Parliament and now awaits presidential assent before it has legal force and effect.

Another law that has passed and now awaits Presidential assent is the Administration of Estates Act which seeks to confer some autonomy on the Master of the High Court by removing the office from the Judicial Service Commission.

The Act has also rationalised some powers used to be conferred on the Master of the High Court.

They include the powers to unilaterally dispose of assets of an estate or powers to remove an executor without going through the due process of approaching the court and arguing his or her way.

 The new measures are meant to enhance transparency and protection of widows, widowers and orphans in the exercise of their rights on deceased estates.

Another Bill is the Persons with Disability Amendment Bill meant to advance the interests of people living with disability.

The Person with Disabilities Bill seeks to provide for the alignment of the law over disabilities to the Constitution and reflects a human rights-based approach to disability, fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities.

There is also the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, Medical Services Amendment Bill and Civil Aviation Amendment Bill that are still under consideration.

The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill that seeks to among other things make it mandatory for motorists to buy a radio license before buying a vehicle licence and insurance cover is also going through a public hearing through the relevant portfolio committee.

The public hearings are part of the requirement by legislators to gather views from members of the public on a Bill in fulfilment of Constitutional                               requirements.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere tabled the Bill in the National Assembly last Thursday where it was read for the First time.

The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, which has been on the cards for more than six years, seeks among other issues, to reserve the small-scale mining sector for local people and build up the rights of a farmer ahead of a miner in a case where a mineral is found on actively farmed land.

There has been a long wait on the Bill as stakeholders wait in anticipation that it will end the farmer and miner dispute, particularly on whose rights take precedence.

The Medical Services Amendment Bill seeks to align the principal Act with the Constitution, especially in the Declaration of Rights where the right to health care for all citizens and permanent residents is entrenched along with the rights of children, rights of the elderly, rights of the disabled and rights of war veterans where medical services are a factor.

The Insurance and Pension Commissions Amendment Bill, which seeks to revolutionalise the insurance sector, is also under consideration, as is the State Service Pension Fund.

The State Services Pension Fund seeks to ensure that Members enjoy a decent standard of living in retirement by providing Pensions, gratuities, and other benefits as part of providing social security to retired civil servants.

Other Bills include the Finance and Appropriation Bill currently under consideration which is meant to give legal force and effect to various fiscal policy measures that were introduced by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube.

With all these Bills, one hopes they will be concluded soon so that they begin to have an impact on the National Development Strategy 1.