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Herald Reporters

The Private and Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) amendment that was received and approved by cabinet on Tuesday was long overdue as it addresses concerns around money laundering and financing of terrorism through seemingly innocent organisations, political analysts said.

The amendments will also put an end to the dabbling in politics by non-governmental organisations that have, since the turn of the millennium, been used by the country’s enemies to push for an illegal regime change.

Hitherto, the Act has been silent on the matters giving Civil Society Organisations a blank cheque to do as they please, and at times putting national security at risk.

Amid growing global concerns on rising terrorism Zimbabwe, which is a member of the International Financial Action Task Force, had to come up with legislation that addresses the emerging challenges.

“Whereas registration has all along been free, the Registrar is now empowered to collect registration fees from all PVOs. The Bill prohibits PVOs from political involvement and requires them to discharge their mandate for the benefit of society’s most vulnerable. PVOs are therefore prohibited from undertaking political lobbying on behalf of any individual, organisation or political party, and the Bill stipulates penalties for those PVOs that violate the Act. The Registrar can also impose civil penalty orders on PVOs which break the law, with high-risk PVOs being placed under monitoring. The Executive Committee of a PVO can be suspended for either maladministration or failure to discharge the declared mandate,” Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said on Tuesday.

Reacting to the Bill, academic and researcher Alex Manyonga said the Bill will instil responsible behaviour among PVOs.

“Without being checked PVOs can be used as agents of post-colonial colonisation. If unchecked they can act as catalysts that speed up Western hegemonic goals not only in Zimbabwe but the developing world at large. The amendment Bill acknowledges developmental role played by PVOs but give an acute gaze at whether these PVOs are not double edged socio-political and economic swords in the hands of the country’s detractors. The amendments are in line with the practice across the globe. No country can grant unlimited and suicidal freedom to organisations sponsored from without. Even America cannot allow foreign organisations to operate without a watching eye from the state. What is important to note is the fact that though branded as non-profit making, most NGOs are amassing huge social, economic and political profits for their hegemonic sponsors,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Munyonga said in the 21st century the socio-economic and political landscape has changed that it is easy for terrorism to flourish under the guise of PVOs.

“If not checked vices like money laundering, nourishing of terrorist activities and other national destabilising acts will be fertilised and bloom. The agents of all these vices will remain in the background as their ‘war horses’ ( NGOs) are strategically placed as ‘front line warriors’ who can insulate the country’s detractors from direct blame.

“The Amendment Bill is simply calling for accountability and adherence to registration mandate. The payment of registration fees for PVOs is a sifting method. It is excellent in separating the dross from the alloy. Relaxed registration protocols for PVOs in the past meant that unpatriotic individuals would simply register PVOs and be puppet foot soldiers for the country’s detractors. It is important to note that most local NGOs have a corrosive look at ‘West Policy’ as they try to please their cash cows at all cost and even at the detriment of national peace, sovereignty and integrity,” he said.

Another analyst Mr Caution Torovei weighed in saying the bill was long overdue.

“There is need to clip the wings of some fly-by-nights NGOs who want to destabilise the peace that prevails in the country under the guise of human rights,” said Mr Torovei.