Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
Municipal police officers could soon be granted powers to apprehend offenders and enforce local authority by-laws under a new Bill approved by Cabinet.
Cabinet on Tuesday considered and approved the Municipal Police and Courts Bill, which seeks to strengthen the legal framework governing municipal policing and establish dedicated municipal courts to handle by-law offences and other minor cases.
The Bill was presented by the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
According to the post-Cabinet media briefing, the proposed law is aimed at improving governance, service delivery and access to justice by equipping local authorities with stronger enforcement mechanisms.
“The Bill strengthens the legal framework for municipalities to establish and maintain dedicated and professional police services focused on community safety, by-law enforcement, traffic management, and local crime prevention,” reads the statement.
“Additionally, the Bill provides for the creation of municipal courts; definition of the courts’ jurisdiction, including over municipal by-laws, minor offenses, traffic violations; and the appointment of municipal magistrates, among other matters prescribed by the law.”
The statement said the Bill is also designed to professionalise municipal policing while improving public safety and environmental management.
“Accordingly, local governance structures will be enhanced in line with the constitutional Devolution principles and improved public safety and environmental management outcomes,” reads the statement.
If enacted into law, the Municipal Police and Courts Bill will provide local authorities with expanded legal tools to enforce by-laws, prosecute offenders and improve service delivery in urban and rural communities.
