. The government is rushing the Bill through without sufficient public participation. Gazetted on 10 February 2017, the Bill is scheduled for first reading in Parliament for 13 March 2017 and on the same day for public hearings around the country without the Parliamentary Legal Committee having scrutinized the Bill in line with the law. The Executive has tried to undermine the constitutional provision 234 which gives independent Commissions power to hire their own staff. This has been done through attempts in the NPRC Bill to give the Minister responsible for healing and reconciliation a say in the establishment of the Secretariat of the NPRC. Inline with the above, the Executive has already, without any force of law, seconded staff from the President's Office to act as Secretariat of the NPRC which in itself undermines the independence of the Commission and threatens its integrity because the Office of the President in Zimbabwe has always been accused of playing a role in human rights violations. This will undermine public confidence in the NPRC as there is a real possibility that the President's Office will interfere with the NPRC's operational independence contrary to the UN Principles. The President and the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders are still to initiate the process of appointing the Chairman of the NPRC to succeed the late Dr. Cyril Ndebele. . . . 2.1 b. Strengthening the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Section 246 of the Constitution establishes the Zimbabwe Gender Commission with the following functions: a. To monitor issues concerning gender equality as provided in the Constitution b. To investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender; c. To receive and consider complaints from the public and to take appropriate action; d. To conduct research into issues relating to gender and social justice, and to recommend changes to laws and practices which lead to discrimination based on gender; e. To advise public and private institutions on steps to be taken to ensure gender equality; f. To recommend affirmative action programmes to achieve gender equality; g. To recommend prosecution for criminal violations of rights relating to gender; h. To secure appropriate redress where rights relating to gender have been violated; and i. To do everything necessary to promote gender equality. 2017 National Budget Statement, available on http://www.zimtreasury.gov.zw/ 3 STATE OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE 2017 REPORT NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP ZIMBABWE