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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Index of articles surrounding the debate of the Domestic Violence Bill
House
passes amendments to Domestic Violence Bill
The
Herald (Zimbabwe)
December
21, 2006
The House of
Assembly had passed amendments to the Domestic
Violence Bill that were effected by Senate two weeks ago.
The amendments to the
Bill incorporate the abuse of disabled persons under the definition
of domestic violence and gives jurisdiction to primary courts to
deal with cases stemming from the crime.
Clause 2 of the Bill
under the definition of "courts," the words "community
court" have been deleted and substituted with "local
courts" and the same shall apply wherever the word "community"
appears.
Clause 3 (n) of the Bill
has been expanded in defining domestic violence by adding the paragraph
"abuse perpetrated on the complainant's physical, mental
or sensory disability, including a visual, hearing or speech functional
disability of the mind".
On Clause 19, the word
"Committee" has substituted with "Council"
in reference of the Domestic Violence Council.
The amendments that were
moved by the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,
Cde Patrick Chinamasa sailed through Senate and now awaits Presidential
assent to become law.
The Bill seeks to give
relief and protection to victims of domestic violence.
It has generated a lot
of debate in the House with some legislators mostly women supporting
it saying it was overdue while their male counterparts expressed
reservations on some provisions which they felt was against cultural
values.
Meanwhile, the
House of Assembly has adjourned to February 20, 2007.
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