Zimbabwe rights commission flags PVO Act
By Staff Reporter
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has added its voice to wide concerns that the newly enacted Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act will shrink civic space in the operations of all affected organisations in the country.
The dreaded law, seen as a sharp tool to curtail the activities of NGOs that have kept government under scrutiny, was signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently.
Zimbabwe introduced the law ostensibly to “counter terrorism and prohibit political lobbying by non-governmental organizations.”
However, civic society organisations feel the law paves way for stringent measures that would place them under direct government supervision and weaken their oversight role on government.
This supervision includes monitoring financial transactions and granting the state the authority to shut down NGOs deemed to be acting against government interests.
In a statement in commemoration of Zimbabwe’s 45th Independence, the ZHRC noted that it was also concerned about the proposed Broadcasting Services law which is set to violate human rights including freedom of the media.
“The ZHRC urges The Government to address the labour rights of workers and promote upholding of civil and political rights and ensure non-discrimination in the treatment of arrested persons, human rights activists and journalists,” the organization said.
ZHRC noted that efforts should be directed towards intensifying curbing corruption in all sectors so as to promote an ethical society that upholds fairness, justice, transparency, good governance, accountability and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms.
These sentiments dovetail with those of the European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Johst von Kirchmann who also lamented the enactment of the legislation, subsequently discontinuing its planned targeted 2025 funding until the Government fixes the issue.
Kirchmann said:” The enactment of the PVO Amendment Bill, without concluding consultations to address the concerns of civic society organizations, has further reinforced negative trends in governance.”
The ZHRC also zeroed in on the need for full enjoyment of human rights and freedoms by every Zimbabwean.
“…More should be done to ensure full enjoyment of human rights and freedoms by every Zimbabwean and provision of quality and efficient service delivery across all sectors in particular in education, health as well as water and sanitation,” it said.
The ZHRC also urged the Government to address the labour rights of workers and promote upholding of civil and political rights.
