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Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa flanked by Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabhiza( right) and Attorney-General Prince Machaya at a press briefing in Harare yesterday

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
MUCH ground has been covered in the alignment of laws to the Constitution and with commitment and diligence the process will be completed by next year, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Updating stakeholders and the media in Harare yesterday, VP Mnangagwa, who also oversees the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said the bulk of the work has since been completed.

“Looking at the figures, a substantial part of the alignment work has been completed as we are now left with the final lap.

“If we remain committed to our mandate of performing all constitutional obligations diligently and without delay, we will be able to finish the alignment within reasonable time,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said three Bills have since been passed into law while several others were now at an advanced stage.

“The Electoral Amendment Bill was successfully passed into law; the National Prosecuting Authority Act is already operational. The Public Debt Management Act was also successfully passed into law.

“The Gender Commission Bill was passed in Parliament,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said 154 laws have since been aligned with the new Constitution.

The General Laws Amendment Bill of 2015, VP Mnangagwa said, has addressed 125 Acts of Parliament while 51 others were amended under the National Prosecuting Authority Act that has since been passed into law.

“To date, 206 Acts out of the 396 Acts require alignment to the Constitution.

“The National Prosecuting Authority Act (Chapter 7:20) has amended 51 Acts and the General Laws Amendment Bill of 2015, has addressed 125 Acts.

“The Public Debt Management Act (Chapter 22:21) has also amended two Acts,” VP Mnangagwa said.

Of the outstanding 116 Acts, VP Mnangagwa said, 67 required minor amendments of ensuring gender equality in them.

“Of the total outstanding 116 Acts, 76 are confined to making appropriate provisions for the representation of women in statutory bodies.

“This, therefore, leaves us with 49 Acts of Parliament requiring substantial amendments,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said during the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament, three Bills were introduced in Parliament while six others were still to be introduced.

“The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde RG Mugabe as he set out the legislative agenda of this Third Session of the Eighth Parliament, made mention of the General laws Amendment Bill, Criminal Procedure and evidence Amendment Bill, Land Commission Bill, which are already before Parliament and the following Bills; Education Amendment Bill, Local Authorities Bill, Public Health Bill, Children’s Amendment Bill, national Security Council Bill, War Veterans, Ex-political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees and War Collaborators Bill which are still to be introduced during this session,” he said.

Government, VP Mnangagwa said, has established the Inter-Ministerial Task-force on legislative alignment which is responsible for spearheading the process.

“The IMT has a technical committee which is comprised of three departments in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs namely, the Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, the Law Development Commission and the Attorney-General’s Office Legal Drafting Division,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa urged all line ministries to submit outstanding drafts, principles and Bills to the AG’s office for the speedy completion of the process.