PVOs bill sails through Senate,awaits Mnangagwa’s assent to become law
Harare- THE Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill is soon to become law after sailing through Senate Wednesday and awaiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assent ,Express Mail Zim can report.
The controversial bill has attracted divergent views with Zanu PF senators throwing weight behind it while their opposition counterparts are against it and blamed the National Assembly for rushing the bill through without participation or contribution of opposition members.
“This bill will dwarf the democratic space and gives a ceiling on the operation of of local PVOs and NGOs.
” NGOs deemed to be anti-government will shut down and fatigue of funding will affect operations which is a huge blow to the masses and people in need,”said Panashe Sambo a human rights defender.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told Senate Wednesday that the bill is targeting organisations who come in guise of charity but are champions of terrorism and other criminal activities bent on pushing regime change.
“This Bill does not speak to those law-abiding organisations, but those who come in the guise of charity to carry out undesirable harmful and criminal activities. For instance, we received communication from the Financial Action Taskforce that some charitable trusts are being misused as a means of channelling funds to fund terrorism and other criminal activities,” said Ziyambi.
MDC Alliance senator Morgen Komichi urged government to enact laws that would ensure foreign organisations supporting developmental projects in the country work without interference.
CSOs had a united dissenting voice over the contents of the proposed legislation which they said does not promote “resilient,inclusive and democratic society.”
