By Trevor Makonyonga
The Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill was gazetted in November 2021 and has received massive backlash.
It would seem that the government has been working towards restricting and choking the activities of civil society organisations (CSOs) hence the draconian Bill which will ultimately act against the freedoms of citizens and organisations.
In July 2021, the Provincial District Coordinator for Harare Metropolitan Province tried to force CSOs to send him their operative documents but this was blocked by the High Court.
The current bill then seeks to induce the stipulations of the July directive that was blocked by the court.
The bill entails that CSOs should comply with the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) so that NGOs/PVOs are not misused by terrorist organisations and to prevent the exploitation of legitimate entities as conduits for terrorist financing.
The bill also seeks to streamline administrative procedures for PVOs to allow for efficient regulation and registration and to ensure that PVOs do not undertake political lobbying.
CSOs have been an extra hand covering for the government in some instances but with the current bill, their activities could be seriously restricted.
According to the bill, PVOs will be regulated. Any legal person, legal arrangement, body or association of persons, or institution designated as being at high risk or vulnerable to terrorism abuse may also be required to register as a PVO.
PVOs will also be prohibited from interfering with politics. The bill prohibits any private voluntary organization that supports or opposes any political party or candidate in a Presidential, Parliamentary or local Government election as a contributor of funds to a political party or candidate or otherwise shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine of level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both such fine or such imprisonment.
The Minister in charge of CSO is given so much power to restrict, dissolve and regulate the CSOs. They can recall and suspend a board or stop operations of a CSO.
The other drastic provision seeks to ask all PVOs to disclose their foreign funders.
The stiff penalties associated with failure to comply with any of the provisions of the Bill are regressive in nature and do away with freedoms that humans should enjoy. Giving power to the Minister could cause serious mayhem as individuals might settle scores using the law.
Also, the government might just over-regulate and criminalise the NGO sector taking advantage of the FATF recommendations. Asking for foreign funders could make funders shy away from providing humanitarian aid which is highly needed in the country.
Contrary to what some citizens might think, this bill affects everyone getting assistance from PVOs and those who work in these organisations and not only the organisations themselves.
