The Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill has concluded its Committee Stage in the National Assembly and is now awaiting review by the Parliamentary Legal Committee to assess its constitutionality.
The bill, aimed at regulating non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Zimbabwe, has made significant legislative progress. Here’s a breakdown of the key developments:
Committee Stage Completion: The bill successfully passed through the Committee Stage in the National Assembly on September 1st, 2024. During this stage, numerous amendments were proposed and debated.
Parliamentary Legal Committee Review: The bill is currently under review by the Parliamentary Legal Committee, a body tasked with assessing the constitutionality of proposed legislation.
Amendments: Several amendments were introduced during the Committee Stage, including changes to the composition of the PVO Board, the powers of the Registrar, and the principles governing PVOs.
Controversial Provisions of the PVO Bill
Despite the amendments, the bill continues to face criticism from various stakeholders.
Concerns have been raised that the bill’s increased government oversight and registration requirements could limit the operational freedom of PVOs, particularly those involved in human rights advocacy and political activism.
Critics argue that the bill could hinder the ability of PVOs to provide essential services to vulnerable populations, such as healthcare, education, and food security.
The bill’s requirements for financial accountability and reporting may disproportionately burden smaller PVOs with limited resources.
Dzikamai Bere, National Director, of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, said there is hypocrisy and deception in the way “funding” is proposed to be handled.
“ There is no justification whatsoever for the PVO Bill. The government receives funding from the West. Does that make them puppets? It is the ideals that we pursue that matter. Look at the Chinese building that we call Parliament. Beautiful from the outside but the true representatives of the people are not found there. Instead, we have imposters. Now, that is capture” said Bere.
There are also concerns that the increased government control over PVOs could create a chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to censorship of dissenting voices.
“The PVO Bill suppresses freedom of association, and freedom of speech and it does not hold the government to account”- says Mbuso Fuzwayo from Ibhetshu Likazulu, a Nonprofit organisation based in Bulawayo Zimbabwe in pursuit of justice for the victims of post-independence genocide and other related human rights abuses.
What’s Next
If the Parliamentary Legal Committee issues a favourable report on the bill’s constitutionality, it will proceed to the third reading in the National Assembly and then be sent to the Senate
The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill remains a significant piece of legislation with far-reaching implications for Zimbabwe’s civil society. While the bill has undergone some changes, concerns persist regarding its potential impact on human rights, democratic freedoms, and the ability of PVOs to serve vulnerable communities effectively.