To clarify one contentious point regarding the Zimbabwe Republic Police and roadblocks, you Do Not have to carry money with you, and according to the law, you can insist on paying at the nearest police station if you cannot pay the fine on the spot.

According to Bill Watch 33/2012 from Veritas, in Parliament last month The Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs was asked about the way the police deal with spot fines and gave an impromptu reply outlining in some detail what the law says on the subject. Points he made included the following:

• spot fines are legal and constitutional
• the maximum spot fine per offence is $20 [a level 3 fine]
• spot fines are for use only for petty crimes where guilt is admitted by the offender – a crime warranting a fine of more than $20 should be taken to court
• if the offender cannot pay on the spot, he or she can insist on paying at the nearest police station
• records of all spot fines imposed are submitted to a magistrate to be reviewed, as a check to ensure police are acting within the law
• the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs supports the proper use of the spot fine system because it helps to counter congestion of the court system by large numbers of petty cases in which guilt is admitted.

With a huge thanks to our colleagues at Veritas – The much disputed and discussed Zanu PF amendments to the draft Constitution are available here.

Amid reports that Zanu PF has sent amendments to the draft Zimbabwe Constitution to the principals, that the MDC has rejected them, and that Zanu PF will be debating this further this weekend, here is a very sensible suggestion from a subscriber about the way forward:

Can we please push for a balanced panel on national television whenever there are issues concerning a discussion of the draft constitution. So far we are tired of Mahoso and Chivaura’s consistently negative views on the draft constitution. Is this to mean that everything about that constitution draft is bad. Also my reading of the same did not show any providing guaranteeing sexual orientation rights and yet it is being used to stir away people from liking the draft. National television is one of the most effective tools reaching even the most remote areas. Should we sit back and let these guys feed lies to the people? Its high time the correct information be disseminated and people be given an opportunity to make their choice.  Lets push for a balanced panel that does not praise-worship and boot-lick Mugabe at the expense of national interest causes. -    JC

While you’re at it, read the draft Constitution for yourself and decide what you think.

Also read this comprehensive interview with Studio 7 and Alex Magaisa about the provisions in the draft Constitution.

This morning I overheard a proud parent showing another her young son’s penmanship homework. She was thrilled with how tidy his writing was – and how he stayed inside the lines.

I want to be the parent who’s thrilled when her daughter writes outside the lines. Surely that’s where progress is made in this world – by people who don’t stay inside the confines we prescribe for them?

Okay. So maybe it’s the same world over. But I found the headlines from this weekend’s papers particularly depressing:

• Go to hell, Tsvangirai tells Generals (The Standard)
• Mugabe wants deadlock on constitution (The Standard)
• Armed forces averted coup, says Shiri (The Herald – Talking not about any specific or recent coup, but about a coup that might have been in the era of the rapidly collapsing Zim Dollar)
• COPAC Management Committee exposed (The Sunday Mail)

Is this really as pathetic as our politics is? Or is it just as good as our local press can do?

Three headlines in today’s Herald newspaper paint a dark (sorry) picture for Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), already struggling with electricity demand that far outstrips supply, and frustrated customers who believe ZESA over charges them on bills – and under delivers on power.

• ZESA takes PM’s brother to court over bill (He’s certainly not the only one who hasn’t been paying,and ZESA complains that unpaid bills is part of why they can’t deliver service.
• ZESA workers threaten to switch off power (The lowest paid ZESA worker currently earns just $190 / month. They argue management has received pay increments, but not lower grade employees)
• Debt cripples Kariba Power Station ($21 million in debt, with $7.5 million in interest. Ouch. Meanwhile, outdated equipment at the power station runs up ever higher maintenance and repair bills.)