Bill gazetted

The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill was gazetted today [see under Status of Bills]

Bills passed this week and now awaiting Presidential assent and gazetting

One-Stop Border Posts Control Bill

Appropriation (2008) Bill

Finance (No. 2) Bill

Electoral Laws Amendment Bill [with amendments made by the House of Assembly] [Electronic version of updated Bill available]

Public Order and Security Amendment Bill*

Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill*

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Bill*

* Fast-tracked – gazetted on 14th December, passed through House of Assembly on 18th December, and Senate on 19th December. There were no amendments to these three Bills so the Act will be the same as the Bills.

Update on Acts

We can now offer electronic versions of the Electricity Amendment Act [No. 12/2007] and the Warehouse Receipt Act [No. 13/2007], gazetted on 14th December. [If you want either Bill, please request]

The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill has still not yet been gazetted as an Act. Note: Section 51(2) of the Constitution states that when a Bill is presented to the President for his assent he has 21 days within which to either assent or withhold assent to it. It probably went to the President’s office about three weeks ago. Once the President has signed it there could still be a delay gazetting it.

Update on currency changes

The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in his address of 19th December launched Operation Sunrise II – including the withdrawal of the current $200 000 bearer cheque at the end of December; issue of three new bearer cheques in denominations of $250 000, $500 000 and $750 000; postponement of the expiry of other bearer cheques until 31st July 2008. [Electronic version of full text of the Governor’s address available]

SI 204/2007, gazetted in a Government Gazette Extraordinary dated 19th December, provides for the measures above [Electronic version available].

SADC Tribunal interim ruling in Zimbabwe land acquisition case

On 13th December in Windhoek, Namibia, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal accepted jurisdiction and granted interim relief in the case in which a Zimbabwean farmer has challenged the acquisition by the Government of his farm in the Chegutu district. The Tribunal’s order states that pending the determination of the main case the Republic of Zimbabwe shall take no steps, or permit no steps to be taken, directly or indirectly, whether by its agents or by orders, to evict, or interfere with the peaceful residence on and beneficial use of the farm by, the farmer, his family, his employees and the families of his employees. [The Tribunal’s ruling is available in electronic form. Please request if you want it.] [Also available is the Protocol establishing the SADC Tribunal]

EU-Africa Summit – Lisbon Declaration of 9th December 2007

The declaration adopted by participants, including Zimbabwe, at the conclusion of the recent EU-Africa Summit includes commitments to inter alia: the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals; the establishment of a robust peace and security architecture in Africa; the strengthening of investment, growth and prosperity through regional integration and closer economic ties; and the promotion of good governance and human rights. [Full text of declaration available in electronic form]

Status of Bills as at 21st December 2007

Senate

None

House of Assembly

Engineering Council Bill [H.B. 9, 2007] Gazetted 21st September 2007 [Electronic version available]

Ministry: Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development

PPC: Local Government

Stage: Awaiting Second Reading [having received a non-adverse report from the Parliamentary Legal Committee[PLC] on 28th November]. The Minister has given notice that he will propose amendments to the Bill during the Committee Stage.

Summary: The Bill provides for the establishment of an Engineering Council of Zimbabwe. The Council will be responsible for the registration of all engineers and engineering technicians and the regulation of their practice in Zimbabwe. Practice by unregistered persons will be prohibited. The existing Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (Private) Act will be amended.

Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill [H.B. 14, 2007] Gazetted 16th November 2007 [Electronic version available]

Ministry: Mines and Mining Development

PPC: Mines, Energy, Environment and Tourism [Clerk: Ms Dube]

Stage: Awaiting report from PLC [Bill introduced and referred to PLC on 29th November]

Summary: This Bill amends the Mines and Minerals Act to make provision for [1] the indigenisation and localisation of the mining industry and [2] the first major overhaul and modernisation of mining law for over thirty years. For a fuller summary see Bill Watch Special of 22nd November.

Bill awaiting introduction

Local Government Laws Amendment Bill [H.B.15, 2007] Gazetted 21st December 2007 [Electronic version available]

Ministry: Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development

PPC: Local Government [Clerk: Mrs Nyawo]

Stage: Awaiting introduction. In view of the fast-track treatment given this week to the other Bills in the package agreed on between ZANU-PF and the MDC factions, it is likely that this Bill will be fast-tracked through both Houses when they resume sitting in mid-January.

Summary: Not yet available. The Bill is consequential to the harmonisation of Presidential, Parliamentary and local authority elections required by Constitution Amendment No. 18.

Bills passed but not yet gazetted as Acts

Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill, H.B. 6A, 2007 [final reading 02.10.2007]

One-Stop Border Posts Control Bill [final reading 18.12.2007]

Appropriation (2008) Bill [final reading 18.12.2007]

Finance (No. 2) Bill [final reading 18.12.2007]

Electoral Laws Amendment Bill [final reading 19.12.2007]

Public Order and Security Amendment Bill [final reading 19.12.2007]

Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill [final reading 19.12.2007]

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Bill [final reading 19.12.2007]

Where this posting says “electronic version available”, please email egcross@africaonline.co.zw…