adminZvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
PARLIAMENT passed at least 10 Bills this year out of a possible 18 that had been lined up for its consideration as the August House went on recess last week for the festive season.
The adverse effects of Covid-19 have largely been blamed for the failure by Parliament to effectively carry out its constitutional duties as it had to go on recess as a precautionary measure after some Members of Parliament and staff tested positive to the pandemic.
However, despite the setback, at least 10 Bills sailed through and some have since been assented to by President Mnangagwa in terms of the Constitution.
In an interview last week, Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda said all Bills could not be disposed of owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We were affected by Covid-19 and at some point, we had to go on recess. You will notice that the amount of work we covered was huge given the Covid-19 challenges. This is so because we introduced technology to minimise the loss we could have incurred,” said Mr Chokuda.
Parliament passed the Education Act, renowned for its provisions that ban exclusion from schools for female learners who fall pregnant.
Other legal provisions that went through include the Freedom of Information Act and Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill both of which seek to repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The passage of the two legal instruments has been deemed historic in that they demonstrate the Second Republic’s resolve for media reforms that are progressive.
Other laws that passed are National Prosecuting Authority Act, Attorney Generals Act, Manpower Planning and Development Bill, Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act, Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, Coroner’s Office Act and The International Treaties Act.
The passage of Coroner’s Office Act means heads of hospitals, police stations and prisons now face a five-year jail term if found guilty of destroying or tampering with vital evidence regarding the death of a person under their custody.
They will also be criminally liable for the death of a person under their custody should it be established that they were reckless or negligent.
The development comes as Government seeks to safeguard the sanctity of life from reckless or negligent institutions or persons.
Over the years, the High Court has been inundated with lawsuits against medical practitioners who negligently caused the death of patients
However, there are several Bills that are pending which Parliament still has to dispose of and these include the Marriages Amendment Bill, Constitutional Amendment Bill (1), Constitutional Amendment (Number 2) Bill, Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, Financial Adjustments Bill, Forest Amendment Bill, Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill, Pension and Provident Funds Bill, Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill.
There are also other Bills whose principles have been approved by Cabinet and are yet to be brought before Parliament.
They include the Witness Protection Bill and a Bill that seeks to regulate political parties and punish individuals and organisations that campaign against sanctions in foreign lands.
There is also the Constitutional Amendment Bill (Number Three) that seeks to provide women’s quota for local authorities.
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