adminZvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Government’s decision to freeze recruitment of staff has contributed to the delay in finalising the re-alignment of laws to the Constitution, Parliament heard yesterday.Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister Fortune Chasi said the drafting department of the Attorney-General’s Office was handicapped by staff shortage after former Finance Minister Tendai Biti froze staff recruitment in all departments as part of fiscal measures to contain overhead costs.
Cde Chasi said this in Senate yesterday while responding to a motion moved by Masvingo Senator Misheck Marava (MDC-T) calling for the expeditious re-alignment of laws.
He said a lot of ground had been covered so much that they would bring the amendments to Parliament for its consideration soon.
“I wish to say legal drafting is a highly technical area and we have a shortage of staff in this area. As you may be aware there has been a freeze of recruitment but nonetheless we are burning the midnight candle to do the work. I wish to assure the House that the ministry is treating this with extreme urgency,” said Cde Chasi.
Earlier on Cde Chasi had sought to have debate on the motion deferred saying they needed more time. Senate president, Cde Edna Madzongwe asked Mr Marava’s views who insisted that debate should continue while the ministry was working on the amendments.
Chiefs Council president Fortune Charumbira said there was need to give the executive time to settle, since most of them were still new and were still trying to familiarise with their work.
Chief Charumbira reminded senators that there were a lot of processes to be followed for a Bill to be brought to Parliament. “The Bill has to go through Cabinet but how many days has Cabinet sat? Very few. Some ministers are still familiarising themselves so let us give them more time,” he said.
Some of the laws to be re-aligned have to do with declaration of rights. These include the right to life where the death penalty would be imposed on restricted circumstances.
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