Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
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Open Parliament benchmarks for adoption by AU countries critical: PNAfrica
The Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) has urged the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to consider setting up a benchmark for Parliamentary Openness as a model framework to be adopted by African Parliaments towards an Open Parliament Agenda. This was one of the three recommendations made by the Executive Director of PNAfrica, Sammy Obeng, when he presented a…
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Youths critical partners in addressing Africa’s challenges: PAP President
Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) has underscored the need to involve youths in developmental initiatives in order to address the continent’s challenges. He was speaking at the Capacity Building Workshop for the members of the Pan-African Parliament that got underway on Monday 22 August 2022 in Midrand, South…
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AN-PBO driving development towards attainment of Agenda 2063
The African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO) is aimed at human and institutional capacity development and strengthening by providing useful insights to Members of Parliament into how the budgets impact economies and societies’ development on the continent by driving development towards attainment of the Agenda 2063. This was revealed by Dr. Dumisani Jantjies, the…
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Parliamentary Budget Offices provide fiscal oversight amidst economic downturn, pandemics
Zimbabwe is hosting the 5th African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO) which will be exploring the different roles played by African PBOs in supporting their Parliaments’ fiscal oversight over the Executive. In his keynote address during the official opening of the workshop today, Mr. Kennedy M. Chokuda, the Clerk of Parliament of Zimbabwe said…
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PAP Permanent Committees to gather for August Sittings
The August Sittings of the Permanent Committees of the sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) are scheduled to be held from 22 August to 02 September 2022 at the seat of the continental Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. The Sittings will be guided by the African Union theme of 2022; ‘Building resilience in nutrition on…
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Presidential borehole scheme set to revive small-scale horticulture projects
By Elvis Dumba Zvimba North – Women and young people will be able to start or revive small-scale horticulture projects through the Presidential Borehole scheme. The scheme will see solar boreholes being availed for every village head in the country. This was revealed by Local Government Deputy Minister and Zvimba North Constituency lawmaker Marian Chombo.…
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Police stop Manicaland provincial mining indaba
By Clayton Masekesa Hot Springs – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on Friday stopped a Manicaland Provincial Mining Indaba that was scheduled to take place at Hot Springs Roman Catholic church alleging that the organizers of the event had not followed the correct procedures regarding the clearance of the meeting. Members of the Police Internal Security…
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ZETDC anti-theft and vandalism campaign: culprits arrested
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company’s anti-theft and vandalism campaign has resulted in the arrest of more culprits. The latest arrests were made yesterday during the ongoing joint anti-theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure blitz. At least 3 people with their trucks were arrested at the ZETDC Warren Park substation and were detained at…
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Marian Chombo targets women and youths in empowerment projects
By Elvis Dumba The legislator for Zvimba North Constituency and Local Government Deputy Minister Marian Chombo who was recently noticed by a local think-tank as the most active legislator for both government and community participation is taking economic community empowerment projects to women and youths in the area. Chombo has established a fish farming project…
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Licensing of medicinal cannabis: ZCLDN calls for alignment of laws
The Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) is calling for the alignment of laws following the move by the government when on April 27, 2018, Zimbabwe became the second African country to legalise growing cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes. As such, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) recently invited licensed cannabis and…
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CSOs react to amendments to the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Bill
We, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operating in Zimbabwe, have been closely monitoring proceedings in the Parliament of Zimbabwe on legislative reform. We have taken note of the proposed amendments to the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill, 2021 which were presented by the Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare on 26 July…
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Italy launches Samsung probe
By Anne Morris Italy’s competition and market authority launched an investigation into a local unit of South Korean vendor Samsung Electronics and two other companies over alleged misleading and aggressive commercial practices. In a statement, regulator AGCM explained it was looking into deals the companies offered customers seeking new mobile phones while selling their used…
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Environmental Impact Assessments as the Mining and Environmental Litigation Flashpoint
By Shamiso Mutisi Case Note: Shangani Holistic (Pvt) Ltd v Pearline Mineral Exploration (Pvt) Ltd HC 4074/22 The facts On June 30, 2022, High Court Judge Musithu J, granted an interim interdict that prohibited Pearline Mineral Exploration from conducting an aeromagnetic survey over Shangani Ranch in Insiza District before carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment…
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NAYO appears before Parliament over youth service programme reintroduction petition
The National Association of Youth Organisations today submitted Oral Evidence to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Youth, Sports, Arts, and Recreation on the reintroduction of the National Youth Service Programme by the Executive arm of the Government. NAYO was represented by its programmes officer, MacDonald K Munyoro. Below, Spiked Online Media shares the submission by…
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Marian Chombo tops constituency and parliament participation index
By Staff Writer The Community Democracy Engagement Organization has launched a Constituency and Parliament Participation Index that has seen Hon Marian Chombo, the legislator for Zvimba North, coming on top of the list. The organisation said a decision by Treasury to introduce a constituency visit allowance is set to encourage legislators’ constant interaction with communities…
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Chief Charumbira’s PAP leadership prevailed over opposing forces: Shamu
By Elvis Dumba Banket – Efforts to scuttle Zimbabwe’s efforts to clinch the Pan Africa Parliament (PAP) Presidency fell by the wayside after a Southern African country delegate was paid to contest for the same post at the last minute despite initially agreeing to rally behind Zimbabwe’s delegate Chief Fortune Charumbira. ZANU PF Chegutu East…
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Hanzi hauls ZPCS to court over Sikhala prison visit ban
By Kumbirai Mafunda Human rights lawyer Roselyn Hanzi has asked the High Court to stop Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) from barring her from consulting in private with her clients who are detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. On 4 July 2022, Hanzi, who is the Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights…
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Give youths priority in development programmes: Temba Mliswa
Hon Temba Mliswa, the independent legislator for Norton has called on the government and critical stakeholders to put the youth at the centre of sustainable development programmes. He was contributing to the motion moved by Hon Mathias Tongofa on 21 June 2022 who had encouraged youth to be well acquainted with youth-centred policies, especially the…
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PAP’s 5th President Hon Charumbira sets tone for addressing Africa’s challenges
Honourable Chief Fortune Charumbira was yesterday elected as the 5th President of the Pan African Parliament upon which he called for collective interventions and a united front to address the myriads of challenges confronting the continent. In his acceptance speech on the occasion of his election, Hon. Charumbira urged parliamentarians to speak with one voice…
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ZELA launches Study on the Protection of Property and Mining Rights Research
The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) will today, the 29th of June 2022 launch a study on the Protection of Property and Mining Rights in Zimbabwe. The study critically analyses the property rights regime and the regulatory framework in Zimbabwe which is supposed to play a catalytic role in mining investments in the country. The…
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Veritas adds a voice on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
By Veritas June 26th has been declared as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture by the United Nations General Assembly. This day was institutionalised in the hope that there will be a world free from torture or other cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment inflicted on our fellow human beings. Torture Torture is…
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Stock theft: Former mines minister Walter Chidakwa drags employee to court
By Elvis Dumba Banket – Former Minister of Mines and Mining Development Walter Chidakwa was at Banket Magistrate Courts over a stock theft case. Chidakwa (47) was a complainant in a case where his Australian-based brother Augustine Chihuri (49) lost ten cattle on different occasions to his farm manager at his Nyabira Farm. John Issa…
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The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill: The Minister’s Proposed Amendments
By Veritas The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill [link] was published in November last year and aroused a storm of protest from civil society. Veritas analysed it in Bill Watches 72/2021 of the 11th November 2021 [link] and 74/2021 of the 15th November 2021 [link], and found the Bill to be unconstitutional, inimical to freedom of association, ill-conceived and badly…
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Newly registered collecting society seeks to empower Zimbabwe’s performing artists
By Wallace Mawire A newly registered collecting society, the Zimbabwe Artists Benevolent and Copyright Incorporated has been roped into the arts sector in Zimbabwe with the noble aim of empowering performing artists and helping improve their welfare. According to the Founder, Advocate Michael Zinyoni, the Zimbabwe Artists Benevolent, and Copyright Incorporated is a registered entity…
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Moreblessing Ali’s killer suspect arrested
By Elvis Dumba Hurungwe – Pius Jamba, suspected to be behind the heinous murder of Citizens Coalition of Change activist Moreblessing Ali was arrested in Hurungwe. Zimbabwe Republic Police announced that Jamba was arrested in Chidamoyo area near Magunje in Hurungwe District, Mashonaland West “Pius Jamba was arrested in connection with the callous murder of…
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Stakeholders review CSOs Comprehensive Draft Electoral Amendment Bill
By Own Correspondent The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) in collaboration with the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (SAPST) and the Parliament of Zimbabwe (POZ) hosted an All Stakeholders Conference in Kariba from Sunday 29 to Monday 30 May 2022 to discuss the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Comprehensive Draft Electoral Amendment Bill. The objective of…
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Sheriff of the High Court arrested
By Elvis Dumba Harare – Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested, Macduff Madega, a Zimbabwean High Court Sherriff. Madega is alleged to have been instructed to auction a stand by a judgment creditor in fulfillment of a judgment debt. According to ZACC papers, it is alleged that Madega attached and auctioned the property to the…
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Media promotes peace, shapes discourse around transitional justice
The National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) has underscored the major role that the media plays in facilitating engagement with the broad national audience to promote peace and shape the discourse around transitional justice. This emerged today at a seminar in Harare that focused on the role of the media in transitional justice with media…
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DZT appeals for enactment of Sign Language Act
By Marlvin Ngiza A call has been made to the government and policymakers for urgent enactment of a Sign Language Act in order to ensure its mandatory use in all public institutions so as to address obstacles faced by deaf people in accessing basic services. Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DZT) Executive Director Barbra Nyangairi revealed that…
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United Nations Zimbabwe empowers editors, senior journalists on development reporting
In pursuit of empowering communicators on sustainable development, the United Nations in Zimbabwe is undertaking a week-long workshop on development reporting as well as embarking on field visits in Manicaland. Bringing together some 30 editors, sub-editors and senior reporters, and United Nations (UN) officials, the high-powered seminar will be followed by subsequent field visits to…
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Low grain deliveries: Government invokes SI 145 of 2019
By Elvis Dumba Harare – The government has claimed massive side-marketing of grains especially maize and soybeans as evidenced by low deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) – a situation that prompted corrective measures against the problem. According to Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary John Basera, about 30…
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Clerk of Parliament endorses APPN Zimbabwe Chapter
By Lloyd Rabaya Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Kennedy Chokuda has endorsed the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) Zimbabwe Caucus and pledged the august house’s support of the initiative. This emerged yesterday during the Clerk of Parliament’s meeting with representatives of the APPN Zimbabwe Caucus where they discussed modalities of engagement. Mr. Chokuda said the Parliament…
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Debt cancellation campaign, coups condemnation topical at African Parliaments’ conference
African Parliaments have pledged to spare no effort in discouraging any government installed through unconstitutional means on the Continent. This is one of the resolutions made by the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments (CoSAP) held in Abuja Nigeria to mobilise legislatures to throw their full weight behind the post-Covid-19 recovery plans. The…
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Human capital development provides solutions to global challenges: Mudenda
Human capital development is central to the overall socio-economic development matrix, Hon Jacob F. N. Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe has said. He made the remarks during the Plenary Session on “Investing in Human Capital Development: Legislative Priorities in the COVID-19 Era” at the conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments held…
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Expedite the implementation of updated disability policy into Act: PWDs
By Elvis Dumba Zvimba – Persons with disabilities are urging Parliament to speed up the enactment of the updated National Disability Policy into an Act since the current one has many gaps. A National Disability Bill is currently before the august house to replace the 1992 Act. Terrence Nyamazani, Founding Director of The Faith, Love,…
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A social and economic justice analysis of the Health Service Amendment Bill
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Introduction The March Policy Digest examines the Health Service Amendment Bill (HSAB) from a social and economic justice perspective. It seeks to determine if the Bill promotes health equity as well as value social and economic justice for all citizens. According to the government, the bill seeks…
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Supreme Court acquits the Natpharm board, directors
The Supreme Court acquitted the former board members and directors of the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) who were being charged with criminal abuse of duty. According to the recently established Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10.31) that is administered by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC)’s Corporate Governance Unit, the Natpharm board…
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WERDIT applauds ZRP for nabbing serial rapist
The Wedza Residents Development Initiative Trust (WERDIT) applauds the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for nabbing serial murderer and rapist, Bright Zhantali (30) who was recently arrested on nine counts of rape and murder. Zhantali was arrested on March 19, 2022, on nine counts of rape and murder; crimes which he committed between January 14, 2022,…
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Implement electoral reforms to domesticate ACDEG: ZESN
By the Zimbabwe Election Support Network As Zimbabwe readies for the 2023 harmonized elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores the government of Zimbabwe to implement electoral reforms in line with the dictates of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG). Some of these reforms include; the need to create a conducive…
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Zvimba man thrown behind bars for sodomy
By Elvis Dumba Darwendale – Chinhoyi Regional Magistrate Ignatius Mugove last week sentenced 18-year-old Moment Abudara of Mvebi Farm in Darwendale to five years imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault on a nine-year-old boy. According to State Counsel Nyasha Sibesha, the court heard that on 27 February 2020, the complainant who was eight years then, was…
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ZNA sentences rogue soldiers fifteen years imprisonment
By Elvis Dumba Bulawayo – Zimbabwe National Army Spokesperson Colonel Alphios Makotore has warned any member of the army found on the wrong side of the law will face the full wrath of the law. This follows the sentencing to 15 years imprisonment of Lance Corporal Fortune Ndlovu, Private Ratiel Manyanya, and Private Kainos Masase…
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International Women’s Day 2022: “Breaking The Bias: Realising Women’s Rights”
By Linda Masarira International Women’s Day is a day set aside every year on the 8th of March to celebrate women’s achievements in all spheres of life. This year’s theme is a clarion call to all women to ensure that they play a participatory role in advocating for gender equality and ensuring the protection of…
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The Necessity of Legal and Institutional Reforms for Economic Development
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Case of Mines and Minerals Bill 1. Introduction This Policy Digest seeks to examine the current state of the mining sector in Zimbabwe and call for the fast-tracking of the Mines and Minerals Bill (MMB). The Bill was introduced in 2015 with the intention of amending the…
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Parliament on the right track towards fulfilling its role: Clerk
By Lovemore Chazingwa in Kadoma Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, has given a thumbs up to the performance of their current cycle. The man within the corridors of power at Parliament of Zimbabwe (PoZ), made the revelations last week during a strategic planning workshop held at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre. “We are doing very…
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ICT uptake reduces time, cost of litigation
Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and courier services has said that embracing e-skills has the potential to modernise the justice delivery system and reduce the duration of litigation and attendant costs. He made the remarks yesterday in Harare during the e-skills training certification for Honourable Judges from the superior…