Human capital development is central to the overall socio-economic development matrix, Hon Jacob F. N. Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe has said. He made the remarks during the Plenary Session on “Investing in Human Capital Development: Legislative Priorities in the COVID-19 Era” at the conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments held…
By Elvis Dumba Zvimba – Persons with disabilities are urging Parliament to speed up the enactment of the updated National Disability Policy into an Act since the current one has many gaps. A National Disability Bill is currently before the august house to replace the 1992 Act. Terrence Nyamazani, Founding Director of The Faith, Love,…
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Introduction The March Policy Digest examines the Health Service Amendment Bill (HSAB) from a social and economic justice perspective. It seeks to determine if the Bill promotes health equity as well as value social and economic justice for all citizens. According to the government, the bill seeks…
The Supreme Court acquitted the former board members and directors of the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) who were being charged with criminal abuse of duty. According to the recently established Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10.31) that is administered by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC)’s Corporate Governance Unit, the Natpharm board…
The Wedza Residents Development Initiative Trust (WERDIT) applauds the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for nabbing serial murderer and rapist, Bright Zhantali (30) who was recently arrested on nine counts of rape and murder. Zhantali was arrested on March 19, 2022, on nine counts of rape and murder; crimes which he committed between January 14, 2022,…
By the Zimbabwe Election Support Network As Zimbabwe readies for the 2023 harmonized elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores the government of Zimbabwe to implement electoral reforms in line with the dictates of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG). Some of these reforms include; the need to create a conducive…
By Elvis Dumba Darwendale – Chinhoyi Regional Magistrate Ignatius Mugove last week sentenced 18-year-old Moment Abudara of Mvebi Farm in Darwendale to five years imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault on a nine-year-old boy. According to State Counsel Nyasha Sibesha, the court heard that on 27 February 2020, the complainant who was eight years then, was…
By Elvis Dumba Bulawayo – Zimbabwe National Army Spokesperson Colonel Alphios Makotore has warned any member of the army found on the wrong side of the law will face the full wrath of the law. This follows the sentencing to 15 years imprisonment of Lance Corporal Fortune Ndlovu, Private Ratiel Manyanya, and Private Kainos Masase…
By Linda Masarira International Women’s Day is a day set aside every year on the 8th of March to celebrate women’s achievements in all spheres of life. This year’s theme is a clarion call to all women to ensure that they play a participatory role in advocating for gender equality and ensuring the protection of…
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Case of Mines and Minerals Bill 1. Introduction This Policy Digest seeks to examine the current state of the mining sector in Zimbabwe and call for the fast-tracking of the Mines and Minerals Bill (MMB). The Bill was introduced in 2015 with the intention of amending the…
By Lovemore Chazingwa in Kadoma Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, has given a thumbs up to the performance of their current cycle. The man within the corridors of power at Parliament of Zimbabwe (PoZ), made the revelations last week during a strategic planning workshop held at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre. “We are doing very…
Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and courier services has said that embracing e-skills has the potential to modernise the justice delivery system and reduce the duration of litigation and attendant costs. He made the remarks yesterday in Harare during the e-skills training certification for Honourable Judges from the superior…
Court Reporter Harare magistrate Gloria Takundwa has acquitted prominent clergy, Prophet T Freddy of rape and assault charges levelled against him by a bitter ex-lover who was obsessed with the idea of revenge, ruling that the State has failed to prove a prima facie case against him. The complainant, a 33-year old ZBC presenter, had…
Church leaders under the banner of the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) have expressed concern over some aspects of the proposed Private Voluntary Organization’s Amendment (PVO) Bill. The ZHOCD made up of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), and Union for Development of Apostolic and…
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has been banned from all cricket for three and a half years after he accepted breaching four charges of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and, separately, one charge of the ICC Anti-Doping Code. Mr. Taylor admitted to being in breach of the following provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code: Article 2.4.2 – Failing…
Court Reporter A key state witness in the trial of Goodness and Mercy Ministries visionary and founder, Prophet T Freddy on rape accusations has told the court that there was nothing worth arresting the accused for when police officers were called to a meeting at Chief Chikwaka’s homestead because from the discussion it was clear…
By Ronnie Chisamba The Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) is suing the Chitungwiza Municipality for contempt of court following the destruction of illegal vending and other business structures in Zengeza earlier last week – in total disregard of a court order which ruled against the demolition process. Speaking on behalf of Chitrest, Alice Kuvheya (the organization’s…
Court Reporter The trial of Goodness Mercy Ministries leader Tapiwa Freddy on rape charges took a new twist today with second witness Chief Chikwaka acknowledging in court to have concealed crucial evidence and giving a false narrative of the alleged rape incident in a recorded interview with an online news publication. Defence counsel, Everson Chatambudza…
Prophet T Freddy’s trial on rape accusations resumed yesterday at the Harare Magistrates Court, with an audio recording in which a female voice alleged to be that of the complainant being heard confessing to having fabricated rape charges to fix the accused, played in court as evidence. In the recording, a female voice believed to…
By Veritas On Monday 10th January 2022 the Chief Justice Luke Malaba officially opened the 2022 legal year and delivered his State of the Judiciary Address [SOJA]. The occasion ran with the theme for 2022: “Use of Technology to Enhance Efficiency and the Rule of Law in the Judiciary”. The complete address is available on…
Court Reporter The trial of prominent cleric and musician Tapiwa Freddy on rape charges kicked off Thursday (yesterday) at the Harare Magistrates Courts with the defence team cross examining the alleged victim on details of the alleged rape. Freddy, who is accused of raping a 33-year old ZBC presenter under controversial circumstances as well as…
Elliot Chinomwamwaza (44), who allegedly ran over and crippled a 7-year-old juvenile was finally convicted and faces 12 months imprisonment over a case that he evaded justice for 19 years. The driver appeared in court yesterday and was charged with 2 counts according to Section 52 (2) for negligent driving and section 6 (1) for…
By Blessing Dzamara Chipo Zhento (26) is looking for fair justice after she was crippled at the age of 7 years in 2002 after being involved in a serious accident that occurred along First Street Road in Kuwadzana. “The accident occurred in 2002, whilst I was on my way from school with my colleagues. My…
A new campaign and petition calling on the Zimbabwe Government to make lasting commitments to people with disabilities were launched last month ahead of the second Global Disability Summit. The Summit will be held in February 2022 in Norway, to address the global needs of people with disabilities and ensure they are integrated into policies…
Chitungwiza Magistrate Gladys Moyo on Wednesday 24 November 2021 set free Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) Director Alice Kuvheya after ruling that the charges she faced of inciting some residents to commit public violence were defective. Kuvheya was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on 14 June 2021 and charged with incitement to commit violence as…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Harare Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro on Monday 22 November 2021 upheld an application for exception to charges of inciting people to commit public violence filed by opposition Transform Zimbabwe political party leader Jacob Ngarivhume and ordered the State to amend its charge sheet so that it clearly specifies the particularities which created the…
By Veritas African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance Instrument of Ratification of the Charter Signed by President On 11 November 2021, Veritas was informed by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs that President Mnangagwa signed the Instrument of Ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance [hereinafter called “the Charter”]….
Musasa – a Gender Champion and Women’s Organisation in Zimbabwe has been calling for a minimum mandatory sentence on rape to be applied in Zimbabwe. This year the organisation submitted a petition to the Parliament of Zimbabwe with the request to amend the Criminal Codification Act to make provisions for the minimum mandatory sentence. The…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Twenty-eight Chiadzwa villagers were on Thursday 4 November 2021 released from prison custody after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers for allegedly protesting against Chinese diamond miner, Anjin Investments. The 28 Chiadzwa villagers, who included Robert Chiadzwa, a 90-year-old Headman, were arrested on Wednesday 3 November 2021, and charged…
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has noted with great concern, plans by the government to restrict freedom of speech and expression through the deployment of a cyber team to monitor citizens on social media. On November 4, 2021, Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa announced that the government had set up a cyber team to “monitor what people…
The African Disability Protocol (ADP) is necessary to address the continent’s unique cultural practices, customs, and traditional beliefs that hinder people with disabilities (PWDs) from an opportunity for equal treatment and access to products and services. This emerged at a meeting held at Holiday Inn Hotel in Harare on 4 November 2021, to review the…
Parliament’s pre-budget seminar for 2022 kicked off in the resort town of Victoria Falls today with the Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube predicting that the economy is on a growth trajectory with the gross domestic product (GDP) still projected to grow by 7.8% in 2021, attributed to favourable rainfall season, higher international mineral commodity…
By Veritas Legal practitioners (i.e. lawyers) have to possess certain qualifications before they can be registered and allowed to practise in Zimbabwe. The qualifications for registration are set by a body called the Council for Legal Education which is established in terms of the Legal Practitioners Act. Generally, persons are qualified to be registered if: · they have a…
Senior representatives of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) had a meeting with President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi to brief and consult him in his capacity as the Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with regard to developments at PAP in view of the African Union (AU) Permanent Representative Council (Ambassadors) and Executive Council…
By Veritas The 10th of October is the World Day Against the Death Penalty and we need to ask ourselves the question: Where does Zimbabwe stand on this issue? The answer is that Zimbabwe has a President who has spoken out against the death penalty and we may be on the verge of bringing in a Bill…
By Veritas In a judgment handed down last Wednesday, a judge of the High Court, Justice Mafusire, ordered the reinstatement of six former opposition Members of the National Assembly who had had to vacate their seats on the ground that they no longer belonged to the party for which they were elected. The six are Kucaca…
By Joyce Mukucha The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka has communicated that Cabinet was concerned about the increase in the numbers of cattle rustlers and warned that measures were being put in place to ensure that the vice is curbed. He revealed this while presenting the update on…
By Joyce Mukucha The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) in collaboration with the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), are geared to host the 13th NANHRI Biennial Conference virtually in Zimbabwe from 3-5 November 2021. In a statement, ZHRC said the 12th Biennial Conference which was hosted by the National Council for Human…
By Kumbirai Mafunda THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) says it is yet to receive an environmental impact assessment report from Heijin Mining Company, a Chinese mining company, which is on the verge of displacing several villagers from their ancestral land in Uzumba Maramba-Pfungwe. On 2 September 2021, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights…
By Veritas Nine High Court judges have been appointed by President Mnangagwa on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission following the public interviews of 35 candidates conducted by the Commission. The new judges were sworn in by Chief Justice Malaba on Tuesday 29th September, the day after the appointments were announced. In alphabetical order…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Thursday 30 September 2021 petitioned Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to furnish the human rights organisation with a written undertaking in which law enforcement agents shall be directed to desist from the prevalent practice of throwing teargas canisters into loaded public transportation vehicles….
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) is disturbed by recent arrests of journalists in Zimbabwe and has condemned such acts. The condemnation comes after 10 journalists were arrested and detained at Harare Central Police station after the law enforcers picked them up while covering a Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) stakeholders meeting at the commission’s Harare…
By Joyce Mukucha In pursuit of promoting worker empowerment and protection as well as regulating individual and collective employment relations, Cabinet has approved the Labour Amendment Bill. Speaking in a post-Cabinet briefing this Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said the Bill also provides for the rights to fair and…
By Spiked Online Media Reporter The Freedom of Information Act (FIA) came into law on the 11th of July 2020, its agenda being to facilitate the exercise of constitutional rights by citizens which include freedom of expression and freedom of media, and the right to access to information. This law repeals and replaces the Access…
By Jacob Kudzai Mutisi The Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill is awaiting the signature of the President of Zimbabwe to become law. The purpose of the bill is to consolidate cyber-related offences and provide for data protection with due regard to the Declaration of Rights under the Constitution and the public and national interest,…
