The National Assembly resumed discussions on the Roads Bill, with Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, responding to concerns raised by MPs regarding road safety measures and fencing along major roads.

Minister Mutorwa stated that the initial idea behind the Roads Bill, in terms of road safety, is to ensure that all trunk, main, and district roads are fenced off.

However, Mutorwa cautioned that fencing off roads in communal areas may not be practical.

"Access to water and grazing in communal areas is shared. If you restrict movement with fences, I can guarantee you that fence won't last long. It has happened before, and it will happen again. The reality is that people and animals need to move freely."

Mutorwa explained that though Section 30 of the bill provides flexibility, allowing the Roads Authority or the Minister to determine where fences may be erected in communal areas, it is not practical.

Meanwhile, another debated provision of the bill proposes fines for those who damage roads or collide with roaming cattle.

Mutorwa stressed that while road users must drive cautiously, livestock owners also bear responsibility for ensuring their animals do not stray onto the roads.

The minister also observed that roaming cattle are not only an issue in communal areas but also in commercial farming zones, urging all motorists to be more vigilant.

In response to concerns about other potential gaps in the bill, Mutorwa reassured MPs that legislation is not enacted without consultation but rather evolves over time through implementation and review.

"Laws are not just passed and forgotten. They are enacted, tested, and refined over time. That is how we identify gaps and improve them."

Parliamentary debates on the public gatherings bill were postponed to Thursday.