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Gibson Mhaka
AS part of efforts to regulate the country’s lotteries and gaming industry and address its evolving landscape, and promote responsible gaming practices, the Cabinet has approved the principles of the Lotteries and Gaming Amendment Bill.
As part of these reforms, the name of the Lotteries and Gaming Board will be changed to the Gaming Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
In his post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said the bill was presented by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe.
Minister Muswere said the Lotteries and Gaming Amendment Bill incorporates anti-money laundering rules to promote responsible gambling and consumer protection by focusing on the accountability of individuals within gambling companies through imposition of financial penalties and other sanctions.
“The name of the Lotteries and Gaming Board will be changed to the Gaming Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. The Board will advise and report to the Minister who administers the Principal Act at all times in line with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31).
“The functions of the Board will be broadened to give the board more enforcement powers to ensure compliance. The terms of office and conditions of service of the members will be amended to align with the limit set by section 11(2) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the Cabinet highlights that all board members and senior staff members will be required to declare their assets within three months after appointment or re-appointment or within two months after ceasing to be a member of that entity.
“This is meant to ensure transparency and the avoidance of conflict of interests. Furthermore, the Board will be mandated to establish and maintain an electronic, computer or communications system to send or receive data relating to the functioning of any gambling machine or device, betting or totalisator for the purpose of monitoring the operation of such machine or device, and for computation of revenues and taxes due to the Board. Operators who fail to cooperate will be sanctioned with a fine and or imprisonment,” said Minister Muswere.
Dr Muswere said the Cabinet also approved the Presidential Solarisation Project by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), which was presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Lovemore Matuke.
Minister Muswere said the project seeks to promote the rural industrialisation development agenda and the realisation of the Rural Development 8.0 Strategy by expanding solar-powered infrastructure.
“Related benefits of the Presidential Solarisation Projects include piped water system; nutrition gardening; livestock watering; and household usage of power for domestic household purposes. “Each rural household will be equipped with a solar system which will power electrical appliances while the Solar Powered Water System will use a submersible pump that will enhance agricultural productivity and food security.
“The system will be installed in remote locations which do not require considerable grid infrastructure,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the Presidential Solarisation Project will build resilient communities and develop communities by using non-polluting green energy sources.
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