By Takudzwa Changadeya
Human rights activists have reproached Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa for expressing enthusiasm in signing a bill that will restrict civic space and access to humanitarian support services in Zimbabwe, as it will render all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), not registered as Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO), illegal.
The PVO bill, which has now passed various parliamentary processes, is supposedly aimed at thwarting all organisations which are critical of the government ahead of 2023 elections and retain those aligned to Zanu-PF.
Speaking to Bustop TV, human rights activist Pride Mkono said the majority of organisations in the human rights and democracy sector will be affected and effectively barred from operating, therefore such action is reminiscent of colonial periods.
“The upcoming PVO law is draconian and designed to close democratic space for civil society which has been doing tremendous work in educating communities about their rights, providing humanitarian assistance and defending human rights.
“The law is clearly unconstitutional and violates a broad range of fundamental rights set in the constitution as well as international human rights norms and instruments”, he said.
Speaking to Bustop TV, another human rights activist Charles Nyoni fumed against Mnangagwa’s administration saying it’s regime is determined to stifle the operational area that human rights organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have been operating in.
He also said human rights defenders have vanished as a result of harassments and arrest.
“This has been adamant in all the laws they are pushing to pass so that they have a tight control over our freedom of expression, freedom of association and the space that we have been operating in. Now we no longer have human rights defenders because the space has been closed,” he said.
Writing in his weekly column in the state run The Sunday Mnangagwa said he will ‘speedily’ sign the bill once it reaches his desk and no amount of pressure from foreign governments will stop him from signing the bill into law.
“I will sign it into law once it reaches my desk. Thereafter, Zimbabwe will enter a new era of genuine philanthropic and advocacy work, unsullied by ulterior political or financial motives.
“This has been our goal as Government in drafting such a law to protect our society, specifically the needy and the vulnerable against the greed, wiles and subterfuges of the crooked, found both here at home and abroad,” he said.
Recently, United Nations (UN) experts urged Munangagwa to reject enacting a bill, in its current form, that would invade civic space and the right to freedom of association in the country.
“It is not too late for the President to change course. We stand ready to assist the Government to revise the Amendment Bill to ensure compliance with international human rights norms and standards,” the experts said.
With the country only a few months from elections, some opposition parties and civil society organisations have accused Mnangagwa’s administration of
stepping up efforts in closing the democratic space and doing nothing to promote fundamental human rights, warning this could result in the country heading for another disputed election.
