A non-governmental organisation, Amnesty International, has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reject the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill saying it shrinks the democratic space in Zimbabwe.
The PVOs Amendment Bill sailed through Senate recently, with all Senators except Morgen Komichi (MDC Alliance) voting for it to be passed into law, according to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/amnesty-international-pleads-with-ed-to-block-pvo/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>.
The Bill now awaits the assent of President Mnangagwa to become an Act.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, said the Bill if passed into law in its current form, will have dire consequences for civic society organizations in Zimbabwe. Said Chagutah:
<blockquote>
The PVO Amendment Bill in its current form threatens civic society organizations working on human rights in Zimbabwe.
The proposed bill, if it becomes law, will have dire consequences, including restricting civic space and access to humanitarian support services in Zimbabwe as it will immediately render all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), not registered as PVOs, illegal.
This Bill, if passed by the president, could be used to deny registration of human rights organizations due to the work that they do, including defending rights such as freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
The Bill would also exacerbate the growing crackdown on civil society organizations, increase human rights violations and make it more difficult for the people to hold the government to account.
There is a risk that employees and board members of NGOs could be arrested and subjected to punitive measures, including imprisonment, simply for doing their work.
President Mnangagwa must use his leadership position to reject this Bill as it is repressive. The President must ensure that this Bill is never signed into law.
Any future law must fully reflect international human rights standards and reaffirm the country’s human rights obligations towards the promotion and protection of the human rights of everyone including those who work to defend the rights of other people.
NGOs must be allowed to operate freely and to do their work without any reprisals.
</blockquote>

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Amnesty International Urges Mnangagwa To Reject PVOs Amendment Bill

USAid Zimbabwe acting mission director Priscilla Sampil said that any law passed by the Zimbabwean government that restricts the operations of Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) and NGOs will negatively affect vulnerable people.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006897/senate-passes-pvos-billas-usaid-warns-of-funding-threat">NewsDay</a> on Thursday after the Senate passed the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill, Sampil said USAid has provided US$4.5 billion in support to Zimbabwe since 1980. She said:
<blockquote>
USAID remains committed to working with and supporting the people of Zimbabwe through assistance programs that promote a more resilient, inclusive, and democratic society.
This work is conducted through international partners as well as local PVOs and NGOs to ensure they benefit the people in need.
Without commenting on the contents of any proposed legislation, we note that anything that restricts the ability of these organisations to operate, and anything that creates a sense of trepidation or uncertainty among them, is likely to be unhelpful.
USAID has provided over $4.5 billion in assistance to Zimbabwe since 1980. US investments of more than $1.3 billion since 2006 to fight HIV and AIDS have contributed to an 80% decline in the annual number of HIV-related deaths.
</blockquote>
The PVOs Amendment Bill now awaits President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assent to become law.
The Bill has been criticised by opposition parties and civic groups who argued that it will restrict the democratic space.
The proposed law will reportedly give broad powers to the government to control the operations of civil society organisations (CSOs).

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