Cabinet approves amendment of key pieces of legislation

Harare (New Ziana) – Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Health Services Amendment Bill which primarily seeks to designate workers in the health sector as an essential service in line with section 65(3) of the Constitution.

Section 65(3) states that: “Except for members of the security services, every employee has the right to participate in collective job action including the right to strike, sit in, withdraw their labour, and to take other similar concerted action, but a law may restrict the exercise of this right in order to maintain essential services.”

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said under the amended law, it shall be the responsibility of every member of the health service to ensure that emergency medical service and critical care service receive adequate coverage, even during times of job action.

“The key features of the Health Services Amendment Bill include the designation of the health service as an essential service in line with Section 65(3) of the Constitution, substitution of the Health Services Board with the Health Services Commission and specifying the functions thereof,” she said.

“Specification of the membership of the commission as comprising the chairperson who must be the chairman of the Civil Service Commission, a deputy chairperson and a minimum of two and maximum of five other members appointed by the President and appointment of an executive secretary (who should be a medical doctor with at least 7 years of experience)and other staff members of the Commission, who will be responsible for day to day administration and management of the Commission.”

Meanwhile, Cabinet also considered and approved another crucial piece of legislation, the Police Amendment Bill.
She said the Bill seeks to align the procedure for the appointment and tenure of office of the Commissioner General of Police in the Police Act (Chapter 11:10) with the provisions of the Constitution.

“(It also seeks) to align the Police Act with various provisions of the Constitution which seek to regulate the operations of the Commissioner General of Police to comply with written directives of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Prosecuting Authority in line with Sections 243 (2), 255(2) and 259(11) of the Constitution and to align the provisions relating to the appointment, promotion, discharge, retirement and conditions of service of members of Police Service with the provisions of the Constitution,” she said.
New Ziana