Bill Watch 23/2019
Update on Bills and Gazettes
5th to 19th April
22 April 2019
47 provides for this and will also continue in force directions or orders given,
regulations made and licences issued under the Acts to be repealed [there is
no corresponding provision for Gazette notices establishing Special
Economic Zones, an omission that needs to be corrected]. Processes already
begun under the Joint Venture Act, however, are to be completed as if that Act
were still in force.
ZIDA staff Clause 48 permits ZIDA to offer employment to civil servants from
the Joint Venture Unit, and to employees of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority
and Special Economic Zones Authority, without imposing any obligation on the
new body to do so.
ZIDA Board There is no provision obliging the responsible Minister to appoint
outgoing board members of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority and Special
Economic Zones Authority board members to the ZIDA Board.
Note: The Bill contains typos and minor errors betraying haste in the final
stages of drafting, e.g., Zimbabwe Investment Agency instead of Zimbabwe
Investment Authority in clause 47(6), frequent instances of “Authority” instead
of “Agency” in the explanatory memorandum and one instance in clause 4(3).
Cabinet Approval of Principles of Bills
At its meeting on 16th April, Cabinet approved the principles of the following
two Bills from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, thus
clearing the way for the Bills to be drafted by the legal drafters in the AttorneyGeneral’s office.
Constitutional Court Bill
This Bill will provide for the powers, practice and procedure of the Constitutional
Court; its composition as prescribed in section 166 of the Constitution; and its
jurisdiction [information from Cabinet press release]. It is listed in the
Legislative Agenda for this session.
Supreme Court Amendment Bill
This Bill will address deficiencies in the existing Act and align it with the
Constitution of Zimbabwe by incorporating constitutional provisions for: the
right to access justice for all persons; ensuring that every person has right of
access to the courts or to some other tribunal or forum established by law for
the resolution of any dispute, without any limitation; that all persons are equal
before the law; the Supreme Court’s position as the final court of appeal in
Zimbabwe, except in matters over which the Constitutional Court has
jurisdiction; and the provision that every person has the right of access to the
courts, and equal protection of the law [information from Cabinet press
release].