*Legal personnel shortage delays ICT draft Bills* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VajK5EjDeOMygRZPPb0v THE Information and Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services ministry is struggling to draft key Bills due to a severe shortage of legal personnel, Parliament was told on Monday this week. Appearing before the parliamentary portfolio committee on ICT, secretary Beaulah Chirume said the principles of the Bill and the Draft Bill of the Postal and Telecommunications Amendment Bill were submitted to the Attorney-General's Office for drafting. She, however, said the ministry was yet to receive the Bill. “The challenge seems to be the shortage of personnel in the AG’s drafting section which is currently busy with the Postal and Telecommunications Amendment Bill. The ministry has only one legal person. “The delay in the finalisation of the Bill is due to the resignation from service of the drafter who initially was allocated to work on the Bill,” she said. Chirume said a new drafter was given the Bill in 2023 and a workshop was conducted in 2024 to discuss and draft the Bill. “It was during the workshop that it was noted that there was a need to amend the principles. In 2024, the amended principles were approved and we now await the final draft of the Bill. “The ministry is doing a follow-up to check progress and is urging for expedited momentum so that the Bill can be finalised during the first quarter of 2025,” she said. Chirume said the ministry would, however, continue to push for the finalisation of the Bills as alluded to. “We have made follow-ups, but the challenge seems to be the shortage of personnel in the AG's drafting section, who are currently busy with the Postal and Telecommunications Amendment Bill,” Chirume said. *©2025. NewsDay Zimbabwe*