ZIMBABWE's socialist government passed
the Private Voluntary Organisations
Amendment Act in July, to the consternation of the nation's NGO community.
NGOs believe the Act will expose them to
unnecessary restrictions and control by
the government and open up channels
for interference in their affairs.
Under the new law, the ministry of
social welfare has acquired powers to
remove NGO officials and blacklist any
NGO in the "national interest", thus preventing them from operating in the
country, "This creates an atmosphere of
apprehension, uncertainty and insecurity as far as those of us in the NGO community are concerned," says Reginald
Matchaba-Hove, chairperson of Zim-rights, the Zimbabwean human rights
Organisation.
The government cites increasing
maladministration and corruption in
the organisations - born out by accusations against them in the press and
public fora - as the reason behind its
move.(IFS)
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