Maravi

Monze NGOs resolve to discuss implications of NGO bill

Monze NGOs resolve to discuss implications of NGO bill
By George Zulu in Monze
Mon 26 Oct. 2009, 04:00 CAT

A forum of Monze district NGOs has resolved to organise mass sensitisation meetings with various stakeholders on the implications of the recently enacted NGO bill into law by government.

During a meeting held at Health Help International (HHI) and attended by Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), Zambia Land Alliance, Anti Voter Apathy (AVAP), Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) and many other organisations operating in the district, they noted that government, through members of parliament, did not consult its citizenry before enacting such a retrogressive law.

The Forum said the law was targeted at silencing some non-governmental organisations perceived to be anti-government especially in the anti-corruption crusade and those which demanded accountability and transparency in the manner government utilised public funds.

“The Zambian government has made into law the disputed non governmental organisation bill 2009. NGOs in the country are not opposed to having a specific law regulating the sector but we are worried with the manner our colleagues in government went about enacting this act and further what it contains. This law poses a lot of threats to the work and the growth of NGOs and civil society in general and above all it hinges and infringes on the freedom of association and assembly as well as that of expression,” the forum observed.

The Forum also noted that the act provided wide discretionary powers to the Minister and fell short of prescribing what parameters the minister as a public officer shall exercise powers.

The Forum also noted that the act had a lot of flaws, citing the excessive powers given to the minister to exercise his wisdom in choosing and appointing fifteen of the sixteen members of the NGO Registration Board which would be answerable to his office.

The forum indicated that the constitution of the board was questionable in the manner they would operate independently if they were appointed by the minister and answerable to the appointing authority, adding thatthere was no value such a board would bring to the operations and regulation of NGOs in the country.
They also observed that the formation of the NGO council was not in the best interest of the players in the sector as those that were perceived to be anti-government would not be included in the council.

The forum said the NGO law was a barrier to the activities of various NGOs in the country, saying the provision in the law of approving the areas of operations of work was one component of stopping people from exercising the freedom of association.

They further said the act on the function of the board contradicts with the Constitution of Zambia because it infringed on the fundamental rights and freedoms of expression of an individual.

The forum has since written to three members of parliament for Monze district to explain the rationale Parliament took to let such a bill become law.
The forum has further lined up various activities to express their displeasure on the new law to regulate the operations of NGOs and other civil society organisations.

Labels: MONZE, NGOs

posted by MrK @ 5:45 AM