Mugabe says ‘NO’ to new controversial law

President Mugabe has thrown back to Parliament the Special Economic Zones Bill after expressing reservations on a clause which seeks to suspend the Labour Act whose effect would have exposed workers to serious abuse by employers.

Parliament will now have to meet again next week to consider reservations expressed by the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

The Special Economic Zones Bill becomes the first proposed law to be referred back to Parliament by the President during the life of the Eighth Parliament.

Mugabe says ‘NO’ to new controversial law

A fortnight ago, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda announced in a Government Gazette that he had submitted the Bill to the President for his assent after it sailed through both the National Assembly and Senate.

Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda confirmed that President Mugabe referred the Bill back.

“Yes, the Bill was referred back to Parliament in terms of Section 131 (6) of the Constitution. Parliament will have to consider issues raised by the President when it resumes sitting. He has a right to do that if he feels that there is something that needs to be considered which he has done in respect of this Bill. The Speaker of the National Assembly will notify the House of the referral and Parliament will sit on October 5 2016 to consider the issues raised by His Excellency the President,” said Mr Chokuda.

Although Mr Chokuda declined to divulge reasons for the referral, a reliable source said President Mugabe cited section 56 of the Bill, which he said was not consistent with section 65 of the Constitution as it sought to suspend operations of the labour laws in special economic zones.

Section 56 of the Bill provides as follows: “The Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] and the Indigenisation

Economic Empowerment Act [Chapter 14:33] shall not apply in relation to licensed investors operating in a special economic zone.”

Section 65 (1) of the Constitution provides; “Every person has the right to fair and safe labour practices and standards and to be paid a fair and reasonable wage…(4) Every employee is entitled to just, equitable and satisfactory conditions of work.”