News / National
Over 80 Acts to be realigned with new Constitution
09 Nov 2013 at 19:26hrs | Views
The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has compiled a list of 86 Acts that urgently need to be aligned with the new Constitution and also directed all Government ministries to actively work towards realigning the entire batch of laws under their respective jurisdictions.
Although the list could not be released immediately, the minister, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, said the 86 laws would be prioritised.
He said all ministries were advised of the critical need to realign laws to avoid Constitutional breaches and legal misinterpretations.
"In the ministry, we have the department of the Law Development Commission.
"It is the body that checks all laws of the country to see whether they conform to the Constitution," said Cde Mnangagwa.
"Following on advice from this Commission, we have directed all ministries to examine all Acts that fall under their administration and realign them to the law.
"This is work in progress and, as we speak, all the ministries are in the process of doing this.
"We have identified the 86 Acts as part of prioritising the laws that need to be enacted first. You will understand that there are hundreds of legislations that need to be aligned with the new Constitution, but some are more important than others. This is the reason why we want to start to work with the 86."
The minister said no specific time-frame had been given for the completion of the exercise.
He pointed out that those involved were working speedily to complete the task.
"It is work in progress. So, it is difficult to put a specific time-frame to it. There is no particular deadline, but the job will be done in due course. All parties concerned are working to clear this matter."
Section 2 (1) of the Constitution states that the supreme law is the overarching legal statute of Zimbabwe, meaning "any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency".
The new Constitution was gazetted on May 22 this year after being overwhelmingly endorsed by the public in the March 16 referendum.
The charter incorporates provisions that spell out the setting up of a Land Commission, a Peace Commission and a National Prosecuting Authority, among other important institutions.
Although the list could not be released immediately, the minister, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, said the 86 laws would be prioritised.
He said all ministries were advised of the critical need to realign laws to avoid Constitutional breaches and legal misinterpretations.
"In the ministry, we have the department of the Law Development Commission.
"It is the body that checks all laws of the country to see whether they conform to the Constitution," said Cde Mnangagwa.
"Following on advice from this Commission, we have directed all ministries to examine all Acts that fall under their administration and realign them to the law.
"This is work in progress and, as we speak, all the ministries are in the process of doing this.
"We have identified the 86 Acts as part of prioritising the laws that need to be enacted first. You will understand that there are hundreds of legislations that need to be aligned with the new Constitution, but some are more important than others. This is the reason why we want to start to work with the 86."
The minister said no specific time-frame had been given for the completion of the exercise.
He pointed out that those involved were working speedily to complete the task.
"It is work in progress. So, it is difficult to put a specific time-frame to it. There is no particular deadline, but the job will be done in due course. All parties concerned are working to clear this matter."
Section 2 (1) of the Constitution states that the supreme law is the overarching legal statute of Zimbabwe, meaning "any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency".
The new Constitution was gazetted on May 22 this year after being overwhelmingly endorsed by the public in the March 16 referendum.
The charter incorporates provisions that spell out the setting up of a Land Commission, a Peace Commission and a National Prosecuting Authority, among other important institutions.
Source - Sunday Mail
