Zimbabwe:Human rights defenders reject attempts to introduce tighter controls on NGOs

Human rights NGOs in Zimbabwe are mounting an orchestrated campaign to block new legislation aimed at controlling the activities of NGOs.

Further Information

The Government of Zimbabwe has recently tried to introduce tighter control of NGOs. On 27 May 2009 the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) issued a statement castigating the move as an attempt by the government to interfere in the work of NGOs especially those working in the field of human rights. We attach the statements.

"Civil Society Organisations have outrightly rejected the draft Joint Memorandum by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Labour and Social Services to amend the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) and the Deeds Registries Act. The intended Ammendment will amongst other things pave the way for efforts to enforce the compulsory registration of organisations currently operating as Trusts under the draconian PVO Act - a move that could hinder the continued operations of many Trusts currently doing human rights, democracy and governance work. Many organisations have over the years been refused or hindered from obtaining registration as PVOs".

The full text of the statement is available on NANGO