Bill Watch 49/2019 [Parliament Sits
This Week to end its First Session] 24 September 2019
Senate
Education Amendment Bill
This was the only Bill before the Senate. The document Senators had to
consider was the Bill as amended by the National Assembly, now labelled the
Education Amendment Bill [H.B. 1B, 2019]. On Wednesday 4th September
Senators promptly approved the Second Reading of the Bill without further
debate, but then took up the rest of an unusually long 4½ -hour sitting to
express concerns about two matters in particular:
(1) High fees at private schools Senators complained that the Minister does not
have the power to control the high fees charged by private schools. The
Minister he pointed out section 21 of the Education Act already regulates
fees and levies at non-Government schools and that clause 10 of the Bill
would amend the section to make the National Competitiveness
Commission responsible for granting or withholding approval of such fees
and levies, a function previously exercised by the former National Incomes
and Pricing Commission. The Minister also explained that section 75 of the
Constitution allows independent educational institutions as long as they
meet reasonable standards and do not discriminate on any ground
prohibited by the Constitution, and went on to assure Senators that the
Government no longer subsidises the salaries of private school teachers.
Senators then dropped their calls for the Bill to be amended.
(2) Appointment of "sexual and reproductive health personnel" in schools, as
envisaged by clause 14's amendment of section 64 of the Education Act.
Citing Zimbabwean cultural reasons, Senators insisted that the words
"sexual and" be deleted and the Minister accepted an amendment to that
effect.
The amended Bill – with clause 14 now minus the words "sexual and" – was
referred back to the Parliamentary Legal Committee – which is hardly likely to
give an adverse report on this amendment.
National Assembly
Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill [link]
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs delivered his short
Second Reading speech on 3rd September, before debate was adjourned to
allow the Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development
to report on the public hearings on the Bill scheduled for 9th to 12th September.
Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Bill [link]
Continuation of the Committee Stage of this Bill featured on the Order Paper
but no progress was made.
Coroner's Office Bill [link]
The continuation of the Second Reading debate on this Bill was not tackled.
Bills under consideration by PLC as at 5th September
The Parliamentary Legal Committee did not submit reports on the three Bills
given their First Reading in the National Assembly and immediately referred to it
after their First Readings on 29th August: Marriages Bill, Freedom of