Source: CAB3 submissions consolidation comes to a close – herald
Nyore Madzianike-Senior Reporter
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will on Friday hold its final meeting to consolidate submissions from members of the public on Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3.
The committee has held several meetings to process submissions received by Parliament during the 90-day nationwide consultation process.
Submissions were made through hand deliveries to Parliament, via email and during public hearings conducted between March 31 and April 2 across the country.
Committee chairperson MP Eddison Zvobgo Jr yesterday said the committee would hold a final meeting on Friday before compiling its report.
The report will be tabled in the House during the Second Reading of the Bill.
Parliament is expected to resume sittings on June 2 after adjourning to allow processing of the submissions.
“We have had several meetings and on Friday we will have another meeting to finalise consolidating the submissions. We are hoping to complete everything regarding consolidating submissions, that is, if there are no other issues that will arise,” he said.
MP Zvobgo said after Friday’s meeting, the committee would begin working on its report, which is expected to be completed during the first week of June.
“We are expecting to complete the final report in the first week of June,” he said.
MP Zvobgo indicated that the report will carry views from different sectors that submitted their views and will educate and assist legislators in coming up with informed debates on the Bill.
He also said the report will unpack the legal implications of the proposed Bill.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda last week expressed satisfaction with the progress of the process and the public response during consultations.
“We are happy as Parliament because it confirms that we put in place mechanisms to enable the public to participate.
“We are very happy about that,” he said.
Mr Chokuda said the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs would formally present the Bill in Parliament through the First Reading process.
“The next stage will be when the minister will formally present the Bill in Parliament after the elapse of the 90 days, where he does the first reading and like the usual process, the first reading is simply the Minister reading the long title of the Bill.
“There is no discussion or debate that happens at that stage,” he said.
Mr Chokuda said substantive debate on the Bill would only begin during the Second Reading stage.
“The substantive debate happens at the second reading stage, where the ministers will come in and then go into details in terms of motivating the Bill, explaining the Bill to members of Parliament.
“Then the chairperson of the relevant committee will present the report of the committee, including the findings from the public and the recommendations of the committee.
“Thereafter, all the other members of Parliament will then participate in the debate. So, that’s the next stage,” he said.
Mr Chokuda said, unlike ordinary Bills, Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill would not be referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee after the First Reading because it seeks to amend the Constitution.
He said after the Second Reading stage, Parliament would move to the Committee Stage, where legislators would scrutinise the Bill clause by clause.
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