Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika, Senior Zimpapers Reporter
THERE is currently no law banning tints on car windows, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told Parliament yesterday.
Minister Ziyambi made the remarks while responding to questions from legislators during the National Assembly’s question time, following an announcement of the ban by the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Mr Tafadzwa Muguti, on Tuesday. Mr Muguti had stated that the ban applied to both private and public transport vehicles, with exemptions only for official Government VIP vehicles and factory-standard tints. He said the measure was aimed at curbing crime involving vehicles with tinted windows, citing the recent rape of a Grade Seven girl in a minibus at Rezende Bus Terminus in Harare’s CBD.
However, Minister Ziyambi clarified the legal position, stating that Parliament would need to be involved for such a law to be enacted. “At present, we do not have any law banning tinted windows on vehicles. If we are to introduce such a law, it would require consultations between my Ministry and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and we would also need to bring it before Parliament,” Minister Ziyambi said.
Responding to a question on what the Government would do to compensate motorists who were fined for driving vehicles with tinted windows following Mr Muguti’s pronouncement, the minister said affected individuals were free to seek recourse through the courts.
“You must be charged for violating a specific law, and I am not aware of how those motorists were charged under a law that does not exist. Our police are professional, and I do not believe they would act outside the law.
“However, the admission of guilt ticket issued by the police is a court document, and if there are motorists who have received such tickets, they are free to approach the courts for redress,” Minister Ziyambi said.
He also explained how Government policy positions are formally communicated to the public.
“Government policy pronouncements are made through the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, and the Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana, or the Presidential Spokesperson, Deputy Chief Secretary Mr George Charamba,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi said that Government Ministries are also empowered to make public pronouncements on issues related to their respective portfolios.
“As for me, I can only speak on Government policies when I am in this House (as Leader of Government Business), but not when I am outside,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Ziyambi said the Government would soon launch a Drugs and Substance Abuse Agency to tackle the growing menace of drug and substance abuse.
“This agency will be responsible for addressing the drug and substance abuse problem and for the rehabilitation of addicts. It will be a multi-stakeholder agency,” Minister Ziyambi said.
He added that Cabinet had approved the establishment of the agency following recommendations from the Ministerial Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse, chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
