On 24th July in the National Assembly the Deputy Speaker announced the receipt of the Parliamentary Legal Committee's adverse report on the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill.   The Committee had been considering the Bill since its First Reading in the National Assembly on 9th May. 

The opening paragraphs of the report are as follows:

In pursuit of its constitutional mandate as provided for in section 152(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Parliamentary Legal Committee (herein referred to as “the Committee”) considered the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill [H. B. 3, of 2019].  The Committee held a breakfast meeting where a Consultant assisted the Committee in analysing the Bill.  The Committee proceeded to engage the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (who was the Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage at the time).  He was accompanied by the drafters of the Bill from the Attorney General’s Office and Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.  During dialogue with the Minister, the Committee expressed concern over provisions it found to be unconstitutional.    

After deliberations, the Committee unanimously (4:0) resolved that an adverse report be issued in respect of the Bill, due to the following reasons:

THE FULL REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED BELOW