President assents to AG, Energy Regulatory Authority Bills

same time Government yesterday gazetted the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commis-sion Bill that seeks to operationalise the commission and look into the issues of human rights violation in the country. Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda announced in a Government Gazette yesterday the assent to the bills by the President.
“The following laws, which have been assented to by His Excellency the President, are published in terms of Section 51(5) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” read the notice in the Government Gazette.
The Energy Regulatory Autho-rity Act establishes a single regulatory authority in the country covering both the electricity and petroleum sectors, which currently are being regulated by separate bodies.
The Attorney General’s Office Act constitutes the AG Office Board to administer and supervise the office as well as appointing persons to the Office. The effect of the legislation is to transfer employees in the AG’s Office from the Public Service to the AG’s Office, among other pertinent issues.
Gazetting of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill paves way for it to be tabled in Parliament for debate before passage either with or without amendments.
Setting up of the ZHRC is also consistent with Section 100R of the Constitution, which creates such a body. The body would be an independent entity that will look into rights violations by individuals, private and State bodies.
Its role is to investigate conduct of any authority or person where it is alleged that any rights have been violated by that authority or persons.
President Mugabe, who is also Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, has since sworn-in members of the ZHRC. Professor Reginald Austin chairs the body.
He is deputised by Dr Ellen Sithole. Other members are Dr Kwanele Jirira, Mrs Nomathemba Neseni, Mrs Carrol Khombe, Mr Elasto Mugwadi, Dr Joseph Kurebwa, Mr Japhet Ndabeni-Ncube and Mr Jacob Mudenda.