Bill Watch 67/2019
ZIDA Bill Passed, Progress Made on
Money Laundering Bill & Coroner's Office Bill
6 December 2019
delivered a brief speech explaining the purpose of the Bill and commencing the
Second Reading Stage. In the absence of the chairperson of the relevant
Portfolio Committee to present the committee’s report on the Bill, the House
then adjourned the debate until Tuesday 10th December; the practice is that
presentation of this report is the next step after the Minister’s speech.
PLC Non-Adverse Reports on Bills
On Thursday 5th December the Speaker announced that the PLC had
submitted non-adverse reports on the following Bills:
• Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill
• Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill
• Constitutional Court Bill.
Note: A non-adverse report on a Bill normally take the form of a two-sentence
letter to the Speaker or the President of the Senate, whichever is appropriate,
reporting the date of the PLC meeting and the Committee’s opinion that the Bill
is not in contravention of the Constitution. No reasons for the opinion are given.
Privileges Committee’s Report on Allegations of Soliciting Bribe
by Four MPs
In February this year a Committee of Privileges, chaired by Senator Chief
Charumbira, was established to inquire into allegations of soliciting a bribe
against four members of the National Assembly, all of them members of the
Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development at the relevant time.
On Wednesday 4th December Senator Chief Charumbira presented a motion
asking the National Assembly to take note of the committee’s report on the
matter. The lengthy report concludes that: there was no breach of privilege or
contempt of Parliament but that their meeting with the Goddard Team (Messrs.
Goddard, Tundiya and Steyn who later accused them of soliciting a bribe)
outside the parameters of official Committee business at night and by further
engaging in a discussion on a matter that was before the Committee (a mining
contract at Hwange) created an impression of impropriety. Therefore the
Committee recommended disciplinary measures for their actions inconsistent
with Parliamentary decorum, i.e., that the four Members should be prohibited
from sitting in the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development for
the rest of the 9th Parliament; they should prepare and deliver a statement of
apology to Parliament; and they should forfeit one sitting allowance. Debate
on Chief Charumbira’s take note motion was adjourned, to be resumed on a
later date.
Appointment of Privileges Committee to Investigate MDC-A MPs’
Conduct
On 3rd December the Speaker announced that the Committee on Standing
Rules and Orders had nominated a Privileges Committee as called for by the