Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs

2013 to 2023 - Virginia Mabhiza, Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Following the 23-24 August 2023 elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced his new cabinet on 11 September 2023. The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is headed by Ziyambi Ziyambi with deputy Obert Mazungunye. ^[1]
The Attorney General was Virginia Mabhiza.

Devolution

On devolution, Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), Community Water Alliance (CWA) and Member of Parliament Rusty Markham went to court in 2023, and in October, the High Court ordered that:

Any or all of the respondents shall, within a period of six (6) months, that is to say, by 31 March 2021 submit a bill or Bills for gazetting by the Parliament of Zimbabwe which Bill or Bills will give effect to an Act of Parliament governing the devolution of powers as contemplated in Chapter 14 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The Minister of Local Government Rural and Urban Development was the first respondent with the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs being the second respondent the Minister of Finance and Economic Development was the third respondent. The matter was presided over by Justice Mushore. Residents were represented by Mr Tendai Biti, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. ^[2]

As of March 2023, none of the respondents had complied with the court order, meaning all the government ministers were in contempt of court.

Foreign Currency Auction System

Delays in foreign currency payments to companies under the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe auction facility, of up to two months, caused alarm, and led to a court case in June 2021. The foreign currency auction system, introduced in 2020 by the central bank was hailed as a ‘game-changer’ in alleviating shortages of forex and boosting transparency and efficiency in the foreign currency market. However, during the Wednesday National Assembly question-and-answer session, MPs accused government of lying that it had disbursed money to the affected companies, adding that some of them had gone for a month without getting their dues. Harare North MP Rusty Markham (MDC Alliance) said: “Last week, we were told by the Deputy Minister of Finance (Clemence Chiduwa) that all the money due from the auction system had been paid. Has this, indeed, happened, and have the banks paid their customers? What is government policy to ensure that customers are given the allocations they applied for?” Markham said in his research with big banks, he discovered that they were eight weeks behind in the allocation of foreign currency through the facility. But Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC Alliance) said government had given the impression that all was in order in the foreign currency auction system.

Leader of government business in the National Assembly, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in response said government policy was that those accessing the funds through the facility would be notified by their banks.
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda ruled that the Finance minister should investigate the problems and ensure corrective action is taken to deal with the delays. ^[3]

Departments, Commitment And Standards

Deeds, Companies And Intellectual Property

To register and protect the proprietary rights in land, formal business organizations and Intellectual Property in a manner which seeks to enhance rapid economic development.

All complaints arising from their failure to fulfill the undertakings stated in this department and or any other complaint should be lodged with:

Registrar of Deeds or Registrar of Companies or Registrar of Trade Marks, Patents and Industrial Designs. On the following contact details: P.O. Box CY 177, Causeway, Harare or P.O. Box 214, Bulawayo Telephone : (04) 775544/6, 777373 Fax : (04)777372 Website : www.dcip.gov.zw

Constitutional And Parliamentary Affairs

Bookfares and Exhibitions

• Preparation of concepts papers and budgets 5 days
• Logistical arrangements 1 month
• Development and gathering of materials 2 weeks
• Attending exhibitions and distribution of materials 5 days
• Drafting reports 5 days

Campaigns through mass media

• Logistical arrangements 3 days
• Preparation of talking points 1 week
• Attending Radio Show 1 hour

Advocacy meetings

• Preparation of concept note and budgets 5 days
• Logistical arrangements 1 month
• Pre-visits to provinces 3 weeks
• Development and gathering of materials 2 weeks
• Attaining Advocacy meetings and distribution of materials 4 weeks
• Drafting the report 5 days

Distribution of copies of the Constitution

Filling in of distribution voucher and distribution 1 day

Awareness Campaigns Approximate time

• Preparation of concept note and budgets 5 days
• Logistical arrangements 4 weeks
• Pre-visits to provinces 3 weeks
• Development and gathering of materials 3 months
• Attending awareness workshops 3 months
• Drafting the report 3 weeks

Alignment of legislation to The Constitution

• Identifying new Acts for alignment 4 weeks
• Logistical arrangements 2 weeks
• Attending alignment meetings 2 months
• Preparation of minutes 2 weeks
• Drafting or periodic reviews 1 week

Functional Parliament approximate Time

• Drafting Second Reading Speeches 1 week
• Drafting answers for questions without notice 3 days
• Drafting reminder letters 1 day
• Attending parliamentary sessions (as and when Parliament is sitting)

Public Sector accountability and transparency laws

• Drafting layman’s constituency 2 months
• Development Fund Bill

References