<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:dt="uuid:C2F41010-65B3-11d1-A29F-00AA00C14882" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta name="Microsoft Theme 2.00" content="Papyrus 011"> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 12"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01CFFA8C.F1A399F0">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white background="cid:image001.gif@01C9B7BF.A511BF10" lang=EN-ZW link="#427800" vlink="#AD5C00" style='tab-interval:.5in'> <img src="cid:image001.gif@01C9B7BF.A511BF10" v:src="cid:image001.gif@01C9B7BF.A511BF10" v:shapes="_x0000_Mail" width=0 height=0 class=shape style='display:none;width:0;height:0'> <div class=Section1> CONSTITUTION WATCH 11/2014<o:p></o:p> [7th November 2014]<o:p></o:p> Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission & Zimbabwe Media Commission Parliament Re-opens Call for Public Nominations of Candidates <o:p></o:p> In advertisements in this week’s newspapers and on its website Parliament has re-opened its earlier calls for members of the public to nominate persons to serve as members of:<o:p></o:p> <![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission   <o:p></o:p> <![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>the Zimbabwe Media Commission. <o:p></o:p> The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is already without members:  its chairperson came to the end of his term of office on 31st August, and the terms of office of its other eight members ended on 31st December 2013.   All eight members of the Zimbabwe Media Commission are due to come to the end of their terms of office on 10th February 2015.  <o:p></o:p> Previous calls for nominations from members of the public were made in April for the Media Commission, and July for the Anti-Corruption Commission.   Previous nominations in response to those calls should not be resubmitted.   <o:p></o:p> How to Submit a Nomination<o:p></o:p> Closing date  <o:p></o:p> The closing date for submission of nominations is Friday 21st November.  <o:p></o:p> Submission of nominations  <o:p></o:p> Nomination material must consist of: <o:p></o:p> <p class=section1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo8'><![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>a completed nomination form [Soft copies of the nomination form are available from Veritas at the addresses given at the end of this bulletin; hard copies can be obtained at Parliament’s offices.]<o:p></o:p> <![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>the candidate’s CV <o:p></o:p> <![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>a typewritten submission [no more than two A4 pages] stating why the nominee is a suitable candidate. <o:p></o:p> Nominations must be addressed to the Clerk of Parliament in envelopes clearly marked with the name of the Commission and must either be posted or hand delivered:<o:p></o:p> The Clerk of Parliament<o:p></o:p> Parliament of Zimbabwe<o:p></o:p> Parliament Building<o:p></o:p> Cnr. Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Third Street<o:p></o:p> P.O. Box CY 298<o:p></o:p> Causeway, Harare<o:p></o:p> <span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA'>or emailed to: <a href="mailto:clerk@parlzim.gov.zw">clerk@parlzim.gov.zw</a> <o:p></o:p> Procedure after Receipt of Nominations<o:p></o:p> Under section 237 of the Constitution Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders [CSRO] is responsible for nominating persons for the President to appoint as members of both these Commissions, and the President must make the appointments from the lists of nominees submitted by the CSRO.  <o:p></o:p>  The procedure laid down by section 237 requires the CSRO to take the following steps after advertising the vacancies and inviting the public to make nominations:<o:p></o:p> <p class=BillWatchNormal align=left style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left; text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:351.0pt'><![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>conduct public interviews of prospective candidates<o:p></o:p> <p class=BillWatchNormal align=left style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left; text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:351.0pt'><![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>prepare a list of the appropriate number of nominees for appointment [see below]  <o:p></o:p> <p class=BillWatchNormal align=left style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:left;text-indent:-.25in; mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:351.0pt'><![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>submit the list to the President <o:p></o:p> Number of nominees needed  As there are 8 vacancies to be filled on each of the Commissions, the CSRO must submit a list of at least 12 nominees to the President for each of them [Constitution, sections 254(1)(b) and 248(1)(b)].  <o:p></o:p> So the next step will be public interviews of prospective candidates by the CSRO on a date to be advised.  After that the CSRO must come up with its two lists, each one naming at least 12 persons, and submit the lists to the President.  The President must then appoint eight members to each of the Commissions from these lists; there is no provision for him to call on the CSRO to repeat the procedure and come up with another list.    <o:p></o:p> Gender balance  A relevant factor, is that section 17 of the Constitution requires that at least half the members of every constitutional commission be women.  This is something that will have to be taken into account by the CSRO when compiling its lists of recommended candidates and by the President when making the appointments.  Parliament’s advertisement for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission specifically mentions this and says that the CSRO will accordingly be nominating equal numbers of each gender as candidates.<o:p></o:p> Qualifications Required of Candidates<o:p></o:p> Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission<o:p></o:p> Section 254 of the Constitution provides that all members must be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge of and experience in administration or the prosecution or investigation of crime or for their general suitability for appointment.  It also requires that there must be at least one legal practitioner and one accountant [each with at least 7 years’ experience] and at least one person with at least 10 years’ experience in the investigation of crime.<o:p></o:p> Zimbabwe Media Commission<o:p></o:p> Members must be chosen for their integrity, their competence in administration and their knowledge and understanding of human rights issues and best practices in media matters [Constitution, section 248(2)].<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied<o:p></o:p> To subscribe or unsubscribe from this mailing list please email <a href="mailto:veritas@mango.zw">billwatch@mango.zw</a><o:p></o:p> If you wish to contact Veritas please email <a href="mailto:veritas@mango.zw">veritas@mango.zw</a> <o:p></o:p> If you are requesting legislation please email <a href="mailto:veritas@mango.zw">veritas@mango.zw</a> or look for it on <a href="http://www.veritaszim.net">www.veritaszim.net</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>