Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
HEAVY penalties, including jail terms, will be imposed on people and organisations found violating radiation laws once the proposed Radiation Protection Amendment Bill, 2026 becomes law.
The Bill is awaiting gazetting after Cabinet approved the proposed new laws. The proposed Bill seeks to provide for the safe use of nuclear energy and radiation technologies to protect people, both present and future generations.
It also seeks to protect the environment against the harmful effects of ionising radiation and allow for the beneficial and peaceful use of nuclear technology and its applications.
The proposed new piece of legislation also seeks to provide for the establishment of an adequate system of regulatory control, safety and security of radiation sources and radioactive waste.
The Bill will also provide for the establishment of a framework for the regulation of non-ionising radiation and repeal the Radiation Protection Act (Chapter 15:15).
According to the proposed new law, inspectors from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe may, without a warrant or prior notice, enter any vehicle, premises or facilities where activities or practices are carried out under authorisation.
During their operations, the inspectors may be accompanied by police officers or any other authorised persons.
“Every person whose premises have been entered in terms of subsection (1) and every employee or agent of that person in or on those premises shall forthwith provide the inspector and his or her assistants with whatever facilities the inspector may reasonably require for the exercise of the powers conferred on them by those subsections.
“Any person who hinders or obstructs an inspector or his or her assistant in the exercise of his or her powers under this section or without just cause, fails or refuses to comply with a lawful request of an inspector or his or her assistant in terms of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” reads the Bill.
Under the proposed new law, people or organisations who fail to give information or produce documents as required by inspectors may be prosecuted before a court of law.
The amended Bill says any person who wilfully obstructs radiation protection officers from exercising their duties may be jailed for up to six years upon conviction.
Any person who wilfully, without reasonable excuse, fails to produce a licence or other document required to be produced under the proposed new law will face prosecution.
“Any person who wilfully prevents or attempts to prevent any person from giving information as to their ownership or management of a radiation source or wilfully withholds any information as to the ownership or management of a radiation source; or gives information which he knows to be untrue or has no reason to believe to be true shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level thirteen or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six years or both such fine and such imprisonment.
“Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act relating to or in connection with the importation, possession, transportation, use or disposal of irradiating devices or radioactive materials or deals in any radiation source without a valid licence shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level thirteen or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”
According to the Bill, the court may, in addition to any punishment imposed for an offence under the proposed Act, order the forfeiture of any irradiating device, radioactive material or radiation source.
The court will also determine the manner of disposal of the device or material.
