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CAB3 submissions consolidation comes to a close
4 hrs ago |
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The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is set to hold its final meeting on Friday to consolidate public submissions on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.
The committee has been processing input gathered during the 90-day nationwide consultation exercise, which included written submissions delivered to Parliament, emails, and public hearings conducted between March 31 and April 2 across the country.
Committee chairperson MP Eddison Zvobgo Jr said the upcoming meeting will mark the final stage of consolidation before the committee compiles its report.
"We have had several meetings and on Friday we will have another meeting to finalise consolidating the submissions," he said, adding that the report is expected to be completed in the first week of June.
According to Zvobgo Jr, the final report will reflect views from different sectors of society and assist legislators in making informed deliberations on the proposed constitutional changes.
He also said the report will outline the legal implications of the Bill and provide guidance for parliamentary debate.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda expressed satisfaction with the level of public participation during the consultation process.
"We are happy as Parliament because it confirms that we put in place mechanisms to enable the public to participate," he said.
Chokuda said the next stage will be the formal presentation of the Bill in Parliament through its First Reading, after which substantive debate will begin at the Second Reading stage.
He explained that the First Reading is a procedural step where the long title of the Bill is read without debate.
"The substantive debate happens at the second reading stage, where ministers will motivate the Bill and explain its details to members of Parliament," he said.
Chokuda added that, unlike ordinary legislation, Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 will not be referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee after the First Reading, as it seeks to amend the Constitution.
He said Parliament will then proceed to the Committee Stage, where the Bill will be examined clause by clause before final consideration.
The committee has been processing input gathered during the 90-day nationwide consultation exercise, which included written submissions delivered to Parliament, emails, and public hearings conducted between March 31 and April 2 across the country.
Committee chairperson MP Eddison Zvobgo Jr said the upcoming meeting will mark the final stage of consolidation before the committee compiles its report.
"We have had several meetings and on Friday we will have another meeting to finalise consolidating the submissions," he said, adding that the report is expected to be completed in the first week of June.
According to Zvobgo Jr, the final report will reflect views from different sectors of society and assist legislators in making informed deliberations on the proposed constitutional changes.
He also said the report will outline the legal implications of the Bill and provide guidance for parliamentary debate.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda expressed satisfaction with the level of public participation during the consultation process.
"We are happy as Parliament because it confirms that we put in place mechanisms to enable the public to participate," he said.
Chokuda said the next stage will be the formal presentation of the Bill in Parliament through its First Reading, after which substantive debate will begin at the Second Reading stage.
He explained that the First Reading is a procedural step where the long title of the Bill is read without debate.
"The substantive debate happens at the second reading stage, where ministers will motivate the Bill and explain its details to members of Parliament," he said.
Chokuda added that, unlike ordinary legislation, Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 will not be referred to the Parliamentary Legal Committee after the First Reading, as it seeks to amend the Constitution.
He said Parliament will then proceed to the Committee Stage, where the Bill will be examined clause by clause before final consideration.
Source - The Herald
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