Vagrancy Act under review: MP

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop says City Hall is reviewing the Vagrancy Act, in alignment with the Constitution, which will be tabled in Parliament when completed.
He said this was because of the increasing rate of law and order issues in the city.
Parkop said MPs, when the review of the Vagrancy Act was tabled in Parliament, should debate and pass it “to control the movement of people”.
“It could be a way to improve people’s quality of life especially through (paid) employment,” he said.
He said the freedom of movement concept was introduced to help people address their economic rights.
He explained that monitoring of the legislation would be done through the use of the National Identification (NID) system.
“In the city, I would like to see an outcome where certificates are given to people with permanent and temporary resident status, or visitors,” he said.
“Visitors will be monitored especially those without jobs or are not educated.”
Parkop told the FM100 Talkback Show on Tuesday that the idea had been used successfully in other countries.
He said to ensure social balance, working with the NID was needed to bring some level of regulation into people’s movement, without affecting their right to freedom of movement.