A CRITICAL shortage of drafters at the Attorney-General’s Office has significantly delayed the finalisation of the Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection (DRMCP) Bill.
This was revealed in a report tabled in Parliament by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Public Works.
“The committee found out that the protracted delay in finalising the Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection (DRMCP) Bill was due to a shortage of drafters at the Attorney-General’s Office,” the report read in part.
“This has been a recurring aspect that has affected the finalisation of Bills including the DRMCP Bill.”
The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a civil protection organisation and provide for the operation of civil protection services in times of disaster.
It also seeks to provide for the establishment of a fund to finance civil protection and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.
Parliament heard that a roadmap towards finalising the Bill had been crafted with all the stages set to be concluded by the end of 2024.
“It was gathered that in order to address the problem of drafters, the Local Government and Public Works ministry, in conjunction with the Attorney-General’s Office, initiated the process of outsourcing the services of drafters,” the report read.
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“In addition, the Department of Civil Protection in the Ministry of Local Government has secured financial support amounting to US$20 000 from a development partner out of a required budget of US$60 000 to finalise the DRMCP Bill drafting, validation and approval processes.”
Parliament heard that the Local Government ministry concurred that the increasing disaster impacts in the country were partly blamed on weak legislation.
The ministry said clear legislation was needed to assign clear mandates and responsibilities to actors at the local and national levels.
The committee, however, urged the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry to improve the welfare of employees at the Attorney-General’s Office to attract and retain drafters.
“The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, in conjunction with law faculties in tertiary institutions, must initiate drafting classes for students who will be assimilated by the Attorney-General’s Office upon completion of studies by December 2025.”
