Staff Reporter

Cabinet has approved amendments to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill in its bid to continue suppressing anti-social conduct likely to disrupt society.

Addressing the media after the 34th Cabinet session today, Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere said that the amended Criminal Law will provide for a mandatory sentence in rape and murder cases, among other things.

“The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill, 2022 enhances the provisions of the Criminal Law Code in matters relating to the country’s sovereignty through the criminalization of conduct that undermines Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, dignity, independence and national interests.

“The Bill also provides for a mandatory sentence in rape and murder cases. In addition, it expands the definition of “dangerous drugs” and also amends the elements which form the crime of abuse of public office,” said Minister Muswere.

At the same post Cabinet media briefing session, Minister Muswere added that Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe visited United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month and got the opportunity to learn how technology can be deployed and utilised to enhance policing, security and safety of communities.

Minister Muswere added that Cabinet  also resolved to review the Private Investigators and Security Guards (Control) Act (Chapter 27:10) in order to improve the private security industry to ensure that only Police-trained guards work in law enforcement.

The Minister said that this position was arrived at given the role the private security companies play in complementing the efforts of the Police in reducing crime in the country.  

Meanwhile, Cabinet resolved that there was need for private security guards to receive basic formal training before commencing their duties.