GOVERNMENT red tape and delays in appointing a Special Economic Zones (SEZ) board have reportedly stalled the operationalisation of the Special Economic Zones following promulgation of the Act last November.
by VENERANDA LANGA
Legal think-tank Veritas yesterday said the delays could also have been caused by lack of a statutory instrument identifying the specific Vice-President or minister to whom President Robert Mugabe has assigned the administration of the Act.
“The Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, piloted the Bill for the Act through Parliament, but that does not constitute assignment of the administration of the Act for legal purposes,” Veritas said.
“No Special Economic Zones have been brought into existence — that is a function of the authority, and without a board there cannot be a decision to declare Special Economic Zones.
“The SEZ Act has been in force since November 1, 2016, and the Special Economic Zones Authority has, therefore, existed in law ever since, but it has been merely paper existence because the Act has not been operationalised.
“There has been no appointment or announcement of the members of the board of the Special Economic Zones Authority, which means the authority, cannot function.”
Part II (5) of the Act says the board shall consist of not more than 11 members divided equally between men and women, where possible, of whom six shall be appointed from the private sector by the minister after consultation with the President, with each having qualifications, skills or experience in one of the areas such as law, investment analysis, information technology, accounting, economics and human resources.
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Ministries such as Finance, Economic Planning, Industry and Commerce and Public Service and the Office of the President and Cabinet shall also each appoint one person to sit on the board.
In September last year, Mugabe refused to sign the SEZ Bill after he raised objections over a clause which sought to suspend the Labour Act, exposing workers to potential abuse by employers.
He then signed it in November after Parliament incorporated his proposals aimed at protecting workers against abuse, particularly by foreigners operating in the Special Economic Zones.
