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Public
hearings on Electoral Amendment Bill finally approved
Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust
October 10, 2011
Parliament
has finally cleared the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal, Constitutional
and Parliamentary Affairs to conduct public hearings on the Electoral
Amendment Bill (H.B. 3 - 2011) after some procrastination following
disruptions of public hearings on the Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission Bill in July this year. The committee
will be conducting country-wide public hearings on the Bill starting
from 17 – 24 October 2011.
Public hearings
provide a platform to members of the public to express their views
on draft legislation and government policies. The Committee will
capture public views in their report which will be presented at
the second reading stage of the Bill in the house of Assembly. Hence
public participation in these public hearings is very crucial because
it enhances the quality of legislation passed by parliament.
The Electoral
Amendment Bill is a result of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) negotiations towards an election roadmap.
Broadly speaking, it seeks to address electoral challenges that
have caused disputes in the previous elections. Some of the major
changes in the Bill are as follows:
- The Bill
will repeal the ZEC Act (Cap 2:12) and incorporate its provisions
into the Electoral
Act (Cap 2:13)
- Will base
voting at the polling station level: voters will vote at their
nearest polling station rather than at any polling station in
their constituency
- Will ensure
the availability of electronic voters rolls in analysable format
- Will restrict
postal voting to those outside Zimbabwe on Government busines
- Electoral
officers & security sector personnel away from constituencies
will cast their votes in advance
- To introduce
greater transparency in the counting & collation of votes
at all levels
- To introduce
mechanisms for the prevention of political violence & intimidation
- Will extend
the jurisdiction of the Electoral Court
- Will ensure
the speedy announcement of presidential election results
Dates and venues
for the public hearings are given below;
| DATE |
TIME |
VENUE |
DISTRICT |
| 17 October
2011 |
10:00 hrs
|
Mbuya Nehanda
Hall |
Marondera
|
| |
14:00 hrs
|
Headlands
Hall |
Headlands
|
| 8 October
2011 |
10:00 hrs
|
Mutasa
Rural District Council, DC Centre |
Mutasa
|
| |
16:00 hrs
|
Beit Hall,
Sakubva |
Mutare
|
| 19 October
20111 |
12:00 hrs
|
Nyika Growth
Point |
Masvingo
|
| |
16:00 hrs
|
Mucheke
Hall, Masvingo |
Masvingo
|
| 20 October
2011 |
12.30 hrs
|
Plumtree
Town Council Hall |
Plumtree
|
| 21 October
|
12.00 hrs
|
Lupane
Community Hall |
Lupane
|
| |
17:00 hrs
|
Small City
Hall, Bulawayo |
Bulawayo
|
Those who are
not able to attend the public hearings, are free to send their written
submissions to:-
The Clerk of
Parliament
ATT: Portfolio Committee of Justice, Legal, Constitutional &
Parliamentary Affairs
P. O. Box CY 298
Causeway
Harare
clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
Should you require further details, please contact the Committee
Clerk, Mr. Shepherd Manhivi on telephone No. (04) 700181-9, 252963-50
ext 2164.
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