Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), which has been
signed by President Mnangagwa into law, is expected to open up democratic space
by entrenching the right to demonstrate and present petitions, among other
far-reaching freedoms that Government is determined to promote.
The Companies and Other Business Entities Act was also
assented to by the President last week.
MOPA replaces the Public Order and Security Act (POSA),
which the President previously described as symbol of the old Zimbabwe.
In a bid to entrench democratic values and freedoms in line
with Vision 2030 of achieving an upper middle income economy, President
Mnangagwa’s leadership has implemented a raft of reforms designed to transform
the political and economic environment.
The Head of State and Government told people who attended
the anti-sanctions rally in Mahusekwa yesterday of the new milestone.
“We now have a new law. We have removed POSA and it has
been replaced by what we call MOPA. I signed MOPA into law just last week,” the
President said.
In addition to granting the right to protest, the new law
also regularises the way the military is deployed to assist the police in
maintaining law and order.
Experts believe the signing of MOPA by the President is a
key milestone in the opening up of robust re-engagement with countries that
viewed the law as somewhat draconian and out of sync with the opening up of
democratic space in the New Dispensation.
Besides opening and deepening diplomatic engagement, the
experts say MOPA will be in sync with provisions contained in the new
Constitution that include the elargment of civil liberties to citizens.
On the Companies and Other Business Entities Act, Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza said
new Companies Act was major milestone for business.
“It combines the private business corporations and
companies into one. It also introduces electronic registration and
transactions. This was not present in the old Bill, now we can do electronic
transactions from wherever we are, even company registrations or any other
company transactions,” she said.
“There is also a provision of mergers and takeovers,
something that was not provided for in the old Bill. Above all, in line with
our ease of doing business reforms, the new Act replaces criminal liabilities with
civil penalties. You find that we have substituted wherever we had criminal
penalties with civil penalties that are implemented through the office of Chief
Registrar of Companies.”
She said the new Act also compels directors to be more
transparent and disclose any issues to do with conflict of interest.
Mrs Mabiza added: “It also provided for re-registration of
companies. This is important in that there is going to be a grace period in
which companies are going to be re-registered and this will be coordinated
through our companies’ office.
“We are in the process of finalising regulations for
implementation of the Act.” Sunday Mail
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