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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is amending all pieces of legislation under its purview to align them with the country’s Constitution and entrench Government’s devolution agenda.

This comes as Government is working to ensure that every section of society including departments contribute towards meeting the country’s Vision 2030 of achieving an upper middle-income economy.

A three-day meeting being attended by directors and other officials from the ministry and Attorney-General’s office, as well as local authorities started in Victoria Falls yesterday.

The Local Government and Public Works Ministry’s legal department in collaboration with the Attorney-General’s office is leading the process in line with the 2021 legislative agenda submitted to Cabinet by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

The process will result in draft documents for the ministry’s legislative agenda to be presented to Parliament.

Some of the Acts targeted for amendment are the Traditional Leaders Act, Disaster Risk Management Act, Urban Councils Act, Rural District Councils Act, Liquor Licensing Act, Provincial and Metropolitan Councils Act, and that of the Municipal Courts and Local Boards.

The idea is to have pieces of legislation that speak to the country’s aspirations.

For example, the Disaster Risk Management Act should address critical issues of improving disaster preparedness as envisioned in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

Part of the discussions by participants were around the need to decentralise every Government intervention to the local level with the critical role of local authorities being key.

Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Mr Zvinechimwe Churu said the process had been delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Due to Covid-19 lockdown measures, the stakeholder consultations were held in abeyance. The ministry intends to present to Parliament legislation for the implementation of the devolution agenda.

Of note is the presentation of the Provincial Council’s Amendment Bill, Urban Councils Act, Rural Districts Amendment Bill, Regional Town and Country Planning Amendment Bill, the Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill, Municipal Courts and Police Bill as well as the Liquor Licensing Bill. These are being amended to ensure efficient functioning of such arms of the local authorities,” said Mr Churu.

He said the Disaster Risk Management Bill is also being worked on to strengthen the country’s responsiveness and preparedness to disasters. — @ncubeleon