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NGOs won’t respect Rupiah’s law to regulate them – Habasonda

NGOs won’t respect Rupiah’s law to regulate them – Habasonda
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Thursday, September 03, 2009 12:14:23 AM

SOUTHERN African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda has said NGOs will not respect President Rupiah Banda’s law to regulate them Commenting on President Banda’s recent assenting to the bill that will regulate the operations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Habasonda said the law was shortsighted.

“I think as far as we see it, that NGO law is shortsighted and it is shortchanging the freedoms of the people of Zambia for the selfish politicians,” Habasonda said.

“I think that it is a setback for those of us working in the area of civil society but obviously what is gratifying is that those that have made it are not going to remain permanently where they are and clearly these are some of the laws some of us will work to reverse. It is a law that has not been thought through very clearly. We have no respect for it anyway. It is puzzling how the legal system is beginning to work in this country.”

Habasonda said the NGOs were considering certain options that they would undertake against the passing of the law, which they had consistently opposed before its assent.

“We are going to ensure that government listens to the people. They should not think that just because they are in government, they are more Zambian than some of us. That is a mistaken notion,” said Habasonda.

“We are practically very unhappy, particularly the NGOs, that this law has passed…and everybody pretends that it is okay when it is taking away from the fundamental freedoms and rights enshrined in our Constitution. In fact, it is ultra vires the Zambian Constitution.”

Parliament recently passed a bill to regulate the operations of the NGOs in the country, which President Banda has since assented.

But the NGOs have rejected the law, calling for its review.

Labels: LEE HABASONDE, NGOs, RUPIAH BANDA, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 11:16 PM