Public Hearings – PVO Amendment Bill and Persons with Disabilities Bill

BILL WATCH

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES SERIES 10/2024

The Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Thematic Committee on Gender Development have jointly announced a series of public hearings to discuss:

The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill, which will impose severe restrictions on the activities of private voluntary organisations (i.e. non-governmental organisations), and
The Persons with Disabilities Bill, which seeks to confer additional rights on persons with disabilities with a view to integrating them fully in society.

The hearings will be conducted by two teams, and the times, dates and venues will be as follows:

Team A:

Date	Place	Times	Venues	Bill to be Discussed
Monday 13th May	Nkai	9 – 11 a.m. 12 – 2 p.m.	Agape Hall Agape Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Tuesday 14th May	Bulawayo	10 am. – 12 pm. 2 – 4 p.m.	Lobengula Hall Selbourne Hotel	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Wednesday 15th May	Gwanda	9 – 11 a.m. 12 – 2 p.m.	Constituency Hall Constituency Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Thursday 16th May	Masvingo	9 – 11 a.m. 12 – 2 p.m.	Mucheke Hall Civic Centre	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Friday 17th May	Gweru	9 – 11 a.m. 12 – 2 p.m.	Mutapa Hall Theatre Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill

Team B:

Date	Place	Times	Venues	Bill to be Discussed
Monday 13th May	Mutare	10 am. – 12 pm. 2 – 4 p.m.	Sakubva Hall Sakubva Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Tuesday 14th May	Marondera	10 am. – 12 pm. 2 – 4 p.m.	Mbuya Nehanda Hall Mbuya Nehanda Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Wednesday 15th May	Bindura	10 am. – 12 pm. 2 – 4 p.m.	Chipadze Hall Chipadze Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Thursday 16th May	Chinhoyi	10 am. – 12 pm. 2 – 4 p.m.	Chinhoyi Hall Chinhoyi Hall	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill
Friday 17th May	Harare	10 am. – 12 pm. 2 – 4 p.m.	Waterfalls Hall Ambassador Hotel	Persons with Disabilities Bill PVO Amendment Bill

Persons in military uniforms, signs of rank, flags or badges and political party regalia will not be allowed access to the hearings.

These public hearings provide an opportunity for citizens, legal experts, and civil society organizations to express their views on the Bills. The committees will consider these views as they deliberate on potential legislative changes.

Written submissions

Written submissions and correspondence are welcome and should be addressed to

The Clerk of Parliament

Attention: Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare