Related documents
- Repeals Public Order and Security Act
Zimbabwe
Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, 2019
Chapter 11:23
- Published on 15 November 2019
- Commenced on 15 November 2019
- [This is the version of this document from 15 November 2019.]
Part I – Preliminary
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11:23].2. Interpretation
In this Act—"authorised officer" means a police officer appointed in terms of section 5(4) or (5);"convener" means—(a)any person who, of his or her own accord, convenes a gathering; and(b)in relation to any organisation, any person appointed by such organisation in terms of section 5(1);"convening notice" means a notice of a gathering referred to in section 7;"election period" has the meaning given to that term by the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13];"gathering" means—(a)a procession or public demonstration; or(b)a public meeting;"meeting" means a meeting held for the purpose of the discussion of matters of public interest or for the purpose of the expression of views on such matters;"Minister" means the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage or any other Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of this Act;"organisation" means any association, group or body of persons, whether or not such association, group or body has been incorporated, established or registered in accordance with any law, and includes any branch thereof;"peace officer" has the meaning given to that term in section 2 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [Chapter 9:07];"police district" means an area designated by the Commissioner General of Police as a police district for the purposes of the administration of the Police Service;"procession" means a procession in a public place;"prohibition notice" means a notice prohibiting a procession or public demonstration referred to in section 8(9);"private place" means any place that is not a public place;"public gathering" means a public meeting or a public demonstration;"public demonstration" means a procession, gathering or assembly in a public place of persons and additionally, or alternatively, of vehicles, where the gathering is in pursuit of a common purpose of demonstrating support for, or opposition to, any person, matter or thing, whether or not the gathering is spontaneous or is confined to persons who are members of a particular organisation, association or other body or to persons who have been invited to attend;"public meeting" means any meeting of more than fifteen persons in a public place or meeting which the public or any section of the public is permitted to attend, whether on payment or otherwise, but does not include a meeting of any organ or structure of a political party or other organisation held in—(a)any private place, whether or not it is wholly or partly in the open; or(b)any public place that is not wholly in the open;"public place" means any thoroughfare, building, open space or other place of any description to which the public or any section of the public have access, whether on payment or otherwise and whether or not the right of admission thereto is reserved;"publication" includes a document, book, magazine, film, sound or visual broadcast, tape, disc or other material, medium or thing whatsoever in which, on which or by means of which a statement may be made;"regulating authority", in relation to any area, means the police officer who, in terms of section 3, is the regulating authority for that area;"responsible officer" means a person appointed in terms of section 6(1) as responsible officer or deputy responsible officer, and includes any person deemed in terms of section 6(3) to be a responsible officer;"statement" means any expression of fact or opinion, whether made orally, in writing, electronically or by visual images;"thoroughfare" means any road, street, lane, path, pavement, sidewalk or similar place which exists for the free passage of persons or vehicles.3. Regulating authorities
4. Temporary prohibition of possession of certain weapons within particular police districts
Part II – Gatherings
5. Appointment of conveners and authorised officers in the case of processions and public demonstrations
6. Appointment of responsible officers in the case of public meetings
7. Notice of processions, public demonstrations and public meetings
8. Consultations, negotiations, amendment of notices, and conditions with respect to gatherings to avoid public disorder
9. Exemption of certain gatherings from sections 5, 6, 7 and 8
Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall not apply to gatherings of a class described in the Schedule.10. Gatherings in vicinity of Parliament, courts and protected places
11. Appeals
12. Civil liability in certain circumstances of convener of a gathering
13. Powers of Police
Part III – Enforcement and preservation of public order and security
14. Persons to carry identity documents
15. Cordon and search
16. Powers of stopping and searching
17. Powers of police officers in relation to aircraft, aerodromes and airstrips
Part IV – General
18. When Defence Forces may assist Police Service under this Act
19. Powers of seizure and forfeiture in relation to vehicles, aircraft and vessels
20. Powers of search, seizure and forfeiture generally
21. Special jurisdiction of magistrates
22. Amendment of Schedule
23. Saving of other laws as to riotous gatherings, etc.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the right or duty of any person under any other law to disperse riotous gatherings and to prevent or suppress other unlawful acts, or to assist in such dispersal, prevention or suppression.24. Repeal of Cap. 11:17
The Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11:17] is repealed.History of this document
15 November 2019 this version
Commenced