PVO Act signals the death of democracy in Zimbabwe

The
recent
gazetting
of
the
Private
Voluntary 
(PVO)
Act
signals
the
death
of
democracy
and
a
consolidation
of
authoritarian
rule
and
a
push
towards
a
one
party
state
in
Zimbabwe.

The
PVO
Act,
in
simpler
terms,
transfers
ultimate
authority
and
control
of
Non-Governmental
Organizations
(NGOs)
from
private
boards
to
the
Government.

In
essence,
NGOs
in
Zimbabwe
have
now
been
converted
into
Government
Owned
Organizations
as
the
law
gives  the
responsible
Minister
powers
to
replace
Boards
and
executive
officers
with
their
own
appointees.
The
essence
of
independence
is
lost.

The
Coalition
asserts
that
the
PVO
Act
is
a
well
calculated
strategy
to
achieve
the
2030
agenda
as
it
seeks
to 
muzzle
all
critical
and
opposing
voices
to
this
undemocratic
manoeuvring
to
extend
the
term
of
office
for
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa.

The
Act
will
impact
the
operations
of
civil
society
organisations
and
this
negatively
impacts
on
democracy
and
civic
engagement
in
Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe
continues
to
systematically
witness
mutilation
of
the
constitution
with
the
ruling
party,
ZANU
PF
manipulating
the
law
for
selfish
political
gains
while
weaponisation
of
the
law
has
resulted
in
victimisation
of
pro-democracy
and
opposition
activists.

The
situation
has
been
further
compounded
by
judicial
capture
which
has
resulted
in
selective
application
of
the
law.

It
is
ironic
that
the
ruling
ZANU
PF
party
leadership
are
beneficiaries
of
non-governmental
organizations
support
during
their
years
in
detention
before
independence
in
1980.
Today,
almost
45
years
into
Uhuru,
they
disable
the
very
societal
pillars
which
help
the
state
to
improve
its
own
systems
as
well
as
human
wellbeing.

It
is
very
unfortunate
that
we
continue
to
witness
the
continued
reversal
of
the
gains
made
when
the
country
adopted
its
constitution
(which
was
lauded
as
one
of
the
most
progressive)
in
2013.

Restricting
and
criminalising
the
NGO
sector
in
Zimbabwe
will
negatively
impact
the
economy
given
the
contribution
of
this
sector
to
national
development.

Statistics
show
that
the
NGO
sector
brings
in
over
US900
Million
per
year
into
Zimbabwe’s
economy.
The
PVO
Act
will
certainly
result
in
the
reduction
of
foreign
currency
inflows.
Eventually,
this
will
have
downstream
adverse
effects
on
the
whole
economy,
particularly
marginalized
populations.

Way
Forward

We
reiterate
that
the
PVO
Act
is
unjust
and
not
in
tandem
with
the
constitution.

Therefore,
the
Coalition
will
be
engaging
its
membership
and
various
stakeholders
on
a
collective
way
forward
to
challenge
this
piece
of
legislation.

Our
initial
response
is
resolute:
We
will
categorically
reject
and
resist
oppressive
and
unjust
laws.

Therefore,
we
will
use
all
available
mechanisms
in
our
constitution
to
fight
this
legislation.

Post
published
in:

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