President Emmerson Mnangagwa State of the Nation Address, 23 November 2022

 In the financial services sector, the Insurance Bill seeks to replace the Insurance Act to address regulatory gaps and weaknesses.  The new Session must expedite passage of the Labour Amendment Bill.

Cabinet recently passed the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (Compliance, Monitoring and Evaluation) Regulations, 2022 as well as the Amendments to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (General) (Amendment) Regulations, 2018 which among other provisions, will require all procuring agencies to establish the market value of goods for ease of evaluation of quotations.

In line with the Agriculture Food Systems and Transformation Strategy, amendments to the Plant Breeders Act; the Land Commission Act; and the Bees Act will be tabled.  Equally, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill; the Agricultural Resources Conservation Bill; and the Agricultural Education Bill will enhance the attainment of food and nutrition security.  In addition, the Sugar Act is being reviewed in order to classify sugarcane as a strategic crop.

The Mines and Minerals Amendments Bill now awaits gazetting.  Farming and mining activities will be accorded due recognition in the resolution of disputes.  The Bill will also strengthen environmental protection.

The Fifth Session must speedily consider legislation towards alignment of the Devolution and Decentralisation Programme of the Second Republic, through amendments of the Provisional Councils and Administration Act; the Rural District Council’s Act; as well as the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act.  The Disaster Risk Management Bill will promote the involvement of all citizens in effective disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery measures.

Government shall be seeking Parliamentary ratification of various Memoranda of Understanding regarding partnerships to promote ICT infrastructure and skills development. Through the Electronic Transactions and Electronic Commerce Bill, Government seeks to establish a legal framework that facilitates fair, accessible, responsible and sustainable online transacting, including the recognition of digital signatures.

The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistle Blowers) Bill, 2022; the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Witness Protection Bill; the Zimbabwe Human Rights (Amendment) Bill; and the Legal Aid (Amendment) Bill must all be tabled during this Session. The Electoral (Amendment) Bill, which spells out new provisions for holding the 2023 Harmonised Elections, should be speedily concluded.

Outstanding Bills from the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament must be expedited. These include the Child Justice Bill, the Judicial Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Prisons and Correctional Service (Amendment) Bill.

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