By Tatenda Mujeyi Cabinet ratified the Beijing Treaty on Audio and Visual performances in a development that will ensure that artists will benefit from their work. “Cabinet considered and approved the Ratification of the Beijing Treaty on Audio Visual Performances which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,” the Chairperson of…
Adverse Report by Parliamentary Legal Committee By Veritas On the 24th July the Deputy Speaker of Parliament announced that the Parliamentary Legal Committee had issued an adverse report on the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill, meaning that the Committee had found some provisions of the Bill to be unconstitutional. The report can be seen on…
By Farai Chirimumimba For four months, one seat in National Assembly has sat empty. Three more have been vacant for the past month. That the seats are empty in the first place was an affront of nature. The previous incumbents, elected only in 2018, died less than a year in office. The first seat fell…
By Veritas The Government’s long-awaited Marriages Bill, which is intended to consolidate our marriage law and bring it into line with the Constitution, was published in the Gazette on the 19th July. It can be viewed and downloaded on the Veritas website[link]. Background to the Bill Ever since the 1980s the Government has wanted to amend and…
By Veritas Our recent Bill Watch bulletins have concentrated on either Parliamentary progress on Bills [Bill Watches Nos 29, 30, 31] or SI 142’s unexpected reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar [ZWL] as the sole legal tender in the country on 24th June [Bill Watches Nos. 32 and 33]. This bulletin sketches non-legislative business in the National…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has voiced concern over the purported request by the ZANU PF Political Commissariat for medicine supplies at local clinics as assistance in respect of the Lupane East by-election campaign scheduled for 3 August 2019. In a statement ZESN said whilst it acknowledges the right for political parties to solicit…
By Veritas Over the years the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission [ZACC] has been at the receiving end of insults and derision from the general public, which felt it was doing less than it should to contain corruption. In an attempt to strengthen ZACC by giving its officers more powers, on 28th June, the Minister of…
The government on 5 July 2019 gazetted the Freedom of Information Bill [H.B. 6 of 2019]. This is the first of three official Bills meant to replace the much-criticised Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). AIPPA is the omnibus law that currently caters for access to information, protection of personal information and…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo on Monday 15 July 2019 ended the detention of MDC National Vice-Chairperson Hon. Job Sikhala after granting him ZWL$5 000 bail. Hon. Sikhala had been detained at Masvingo Remand Prison after he appeared before Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa at Bikita Magistrates Court on Thursday 11 July…
The MDC has said it noted with serious concern the developments within Bulawayo City Council where the Town Clerk has been suspended. Party Spokesperson, Daniel Molokele said his party believes in Constitutionalism, due process, the rule of law and zero tolerance to corruption. “The party leadership has directed that the status quo ante be upheld, in…
There is need for real media law and policy reforms, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter’s Executive Director, Tabani Moyo has said. “The more things change the more they remain the same in the Zimbabwean context in as far as it pertains to the media law and policy reforms. Zimbabwe has taken…
By Veritas SI 142 of 2019 [link] ‒ the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Legal Tender) Regulations, 2019, to give it its full name ‒ declared that the Zimbabwe dollar should be the sole legal tender in Zimbabwe for all transactions. Other currencies, specifically US dollars, British pounds, South African rand and Botswana pula, are no longer legal tender….
By Michael Mashiri A local woman has dragged to court a man whom she claimed was her ‘husband’ for abusing her and locking her outside her matrimonial home. Talent Makumba took to the Harare Civil Court Edison Mahachi whom she accused of abusing her in various ways. Mukumba said she was still married to Mahachi,…
Under the high patronage of H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in collaboration with the Republic of Congo and the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), will hold a High-Level Pan-African Summit on HIV/AIDS and health financing in Africa from 11 to 12 July 2019 in Brazzaville, Congo. The…
By Veritas Introduction 26th June was the International Day in Support of Torture Victims Yet another 26th June has come and gone without Zimbabwe having adopted the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [CAT]. Previous Government undertakings and assurances given to the UN Human Rights Committee and…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Harare Magistrate Barbra Mateko on Tuesday 25 June 2019 dismissed the State’s bid to revoke the bail granted to Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) President Obert Masaraure and to commit him to prison for allegedly violating his bail conditions. The State had petitioned the Harare Magistrates Court seeking to revoke…
By Kumbirai Mafunda The trial of two pro-democracy campaigners charged with plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government got off to a false start on Monday 24 June 2019 after the State indicated that it was not yet ready to commence with trial despite undertaking to do so at the last remand proceedings. Pastor Evan…
By Veritas Both the National Assembly and the Senate sat last week and this week. Two Bills were passed and progress made on two others. Bills Passed Consumer Protection Bill Following the announcement of the PLC’s non-adverse report on the extensive Committee Stage amendments made previously, the National Assembly passed the amended Bill on 13th June. …
26th annual Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy begins its work in Tbilisi The Pan-African African Parliament (PAP) is among international Parliamentary organisations invited to take part in the 26th Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O) currently underway in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Assembly is being held from 19 to 23 June 2019 under the theme: “The contribution of…
By Tatenda Mujeyi Human Rights activists affiliated with the Human Rights NGO Forum have blasted the security services systems for undemocratic tendencies at the launch of a Anti- impunity Report in Harare today. The report explored how challenges are faced in line with human rights abuse especially by the state security agents. The report was…
This represents a natural step for Centurion given the group’s strong market share within the oil & gas sector in sub-Saharan Africa and its increased activity Centurion Law Group (“Centurion”) (Centurionlg.com) is set to become the first African legal and energy advisory firm to be publicly-listed this year, as it prepares to join one of…
On 14 June 2019, ZESN observed the Nomination Court proceedings for the Lupane East National Assembly by-election scheduled to be held on 3 August 2019. The seat fell vacant following the death of Sithembile Gumbo of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), who was the Member of Parliament (MP) on 5 April 2018. Veritas…
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has announced with regret, the loss of Hon. Elhadj Diao KANTE, a national of Guinea Conakry. Hon. Kante succumbed to death in the morning hours of 13 June 2019 in South Africa, after suffering from a cancer related illness that bound him on a hospital bed since the May Parliamentary Session that…
The MDC Parliamentary Caucus was disheartened by the untimely death of Hon. Vimbai Tsvangirai – Java, a young and promising MP who had a good political future in the party that her father founded twenty years ago. In a statement, the Parliamentary Caucus said it was distraught by the loss one of its own…
By Kumbirai Mafunda A Zimbabwean school teacher has been hauled to appear before a disciplinary hearing to answer to misconduct charges after he was accused of denouncing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling ZANU PF party and criticising one of his allies for causing untold suffering among citizens. Stephen Mangoma, a teacher at Mateta (Rujeko) High School…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Two civil society leaders who were arrested last month and charged with subverting constitutional government have been set free after High Court Judge Justice Amy Tsanga granted them $1 000 RTGS bail and imposed some stringent reporting conditions for them. The two CSO leaders Beauty Rita Nyampinga aged 61 years and Stabile…
By Kumbirai Mafunda High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi on Friday 7 June 2019 set free four human rights campaigners, who had spent more than two weeks in prison after they were arrested last month and charged with subverting a constitutional government. The four human rights defenders namely George Makoni, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura and…
By Kumbirai Mafunda High Court Judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi will on Thursday 06 June 2019 hear an urgent chamber application filed by the family of a Mutare man seeking an order to compel Zimbabwean authorities to conduct a post-mortem examination on the body of their deceased relative who was shot dead by a former police…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is holding an Electoral Reforms Petition workshop to review the legal framework governing elections in light of the petition submitted to Parliament by ZESN on the 3rd December 2018. The workshop is attended by the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on…
By Byron Mutingwende Social dialogue is an effective tool for people to find each other, forge a new national vision and commit to walk together towards a common purpose, Ms Hopolang Phororo, the Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia has said. Ms Phororo made the remarks…
By Own Correspondent A group of suspected security agents reportedly besieged the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson, Mr. Rashid Mahiya’s residence at around 5AM. The men spent 30 minutes knocking violently at his door and refused to identify themselves. Mahiya was arrested in February following the January 2019 clampdown by the state on civil society…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Karoi Magistrate Sam Chitumwa on Friday 31 May 2019 acquitted three aides of human rights lawyer and opposition political party leader Hon. Tendai Biti, who had been on trial for allegedly violating the country’s immigration laws. Biti’s lawyer Nqobizitha Mahole Mlilo and two of the opposition legislator’s aides Clever Rambanepasi, and Tawanda…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Four human rights defenders (HRDs) who were arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government will endure more jail time after a High Court Judge deferred delivery of his ruling on their bail application to next week. The four HRDs namely George Makoni, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura and Frank Nyasha…
The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO) has noted with great concern the continued arrests of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) officials and sternly condemned efforts to inhibit operations of civil society by Government. The association argued that the shrinking of civic space is exacerbating by day and this is against the expectations of…
By Kumbirai Muafunda Two civil society leaders were on Tuesday 28 May 2019 arrested upon arrival at Robert Mugabe International Airport and immediately detained at Harare Central Police Station amid indications that Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers want to charge them with subverting constitutional government. Rita Nyampinga, the Director of Female Prisoners Support Trust and…
By Tatenda Mujeyi The Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DTZ) has urged government to amend the Education Amendment Bill to make it more inclusive for people with disabilities (PWDs). The call follows efforts by the government to enhance inclusivity through being a signatory to treaties and conventions and the need to accommodate PWDs in all national processes….
Pan-African Parliament to establish African Parliamentarian Caucus on Immunisation The Pan-African Parliament has adopted a resolution on the establishment of an African Parliamentarian Caucus on Immunisation, to drive forward the body’s commitment to ensuring that all children across the continent have access to the vaccines they need. “Expanding access to immunisation will help lay the…
Public Prosecutors Public prosecutors in the High Court are reported to have “downed tools” after one of their number was arrested, allegedly for agreeing that a prominent former politician who is awaiting trial on corruption charges should be given back his passport. The prosecutors suggested that the arrest was instigated by a Special Anti-Corruption Unit in…
By Kumbirai Mafunda The Supreme Court will on Friday 24 May 2019 preside over the hearing and determination of an appeal filed by Gift Machoka Konjana of MDC Alliance party who is seeking an order to overturn the Electoral Court’s decision confirming Dexter Nduna of the ruling ZANU PF party as the legislator for Chegutu…
By ZLHR Information Department Three opposition political party legislators have slapped government with a lawsuit demanding more than $20 000 as compensation for violation of their fundamental rights when some law enforcement agents assaulted them in Parliament in November 2018. The three opposition MDC party legislators namely Hon. Lynette Karenyi (Proportional Representation), Hon. Thabitha Khumalo…
By Talkmore Thulani Gandiwa Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook have transformed the way political figures interact with their constituencies. Fifteen years ago, campaigns were drastically different. Reflect back to Robert Mugabe Vs Morgan Tsvangirai election of 2002. There was hardly social media. Facebook was to be launched two years after these elections, and when it came…
By Tatenda Mujeyi The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is committed to uplifting standards of the country’s courts through renovations and building new courts. The revelation was made by most speakers at the official opening of the Labour Court in Rotten Row Harare. The Labour Court was officially opened by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa, following commencement…
By Staff Reporter Media reforms are an imperative if Zimbabwe is to fully embrace the human and constitutional rights of freedoms of the press, association and assembly. Media rights are guaranteed in the Zimbabwe constitution in Section 61 and 62 and globally in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The revelations were made at…
By Veritas Introduction Corporal punishment ‒ the beating of a person with a cane or stick as punishment for committing a crime ‒ has been a sentence that Zimbabwean courts could impose on convicted criminals, usually as an alternative to imprisonment but sometimes in addition to it. The courts always treated it as a severe punishment,…
By Jacob Mafume (MDC Spokesperson) We have just been advised of the High Court of Zimbabwe judgement issued by Justice Edith Mushore today. We fundamentally disagree with the judgement. The choice of leaders of any political party, the world over is the sole preserve of the members of that party. It can never be a…
