HARARE, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's upper house of parliament has approved legislation that critics say will gag civil society groups, placing them under the threat of harsh sanctions and strict government control.
The senate voted late
Wednesday in favour of the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill,
which needs to be ratified by the president before passing into law. The text
sailed through the country's other chamber of parliament, the National
Assembly, late last year.
Justice Minister Ziyambi
Ziyambi said the law was a "necessary measure to improve the
administration, accountability and transparency" of charities working in
the country.
He accused some of
"directing money to favoured political parties."
"We cannot run the risk
of charities of a public character being used as a cover for theft,
embezzlement, tax evasion, money laundering or partisan political
activities," Ziyambi told the senate on Wednesday.
Rights groups and opposition
parties complain of an increased government clampdown on dissent as the country
heads towards general elections later this year.
The bill bans civil society
organisations from engaging in politics and allows the state to interfere in
their governance and activities, such as making changes to their internal
management and funding.
Those found in breach of its
provisions risk up to a year in jail and the closure of their organisation.
Only one senator voted against
the law. The chamber is dominated by the ruling ZANU party, with the main
opposition group -- the Citizens Coalition for Change -- holding no seats.
The lone dissenter, Senator
Morgen Komichi, called the bill "obscene", saying NGOs provide key
support in areas including health, education and food security.
"Zimbabwe is a country
that does not have a strong economy which can cater for every Zimbabwean,"
Komichi said.
Critics argue that the law's
broad scope risks de facto criminalising the activity of any organisation
disliked by the government.
Some warned it could lead to
drastic cuts in foreign aid, which comes through non-governmental
organisations, and is estimated to be Zimbabwe's third-largest revenue stream.
Prominent journalist and
activist Hopewell Chin'ono, said on Twitter the "draconian"
legislation was similar to an apartheid-era law in South Africa that barred
certain civil organisations from receiving foreign aid or funds.
"This is the lowest any
modern state can get to. Especially a state that was born through struggle for
freedom, independence and democracy," Peter Mutasa, director of the Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition, a civil society umbrella group, told AFP.
"We never expected that
we could sink this low".
Up to 18,000 people working
for non-governmental organisations in the country risk losing their jobs, he
said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa,
who replaced long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, faces widespread discontent
as he struggles to ease entrenched poverty, end chronic power cuts and brake
inflation.
No comments:
Post a Comment