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ZIMBABWE: Controversial Rights Law

ZIMBABWE: Controversial Rights Law The ‘draconian’ move will close an already shrinking civic space.On February 2nd Zimbabwe's upper house of parliament approved legislation that critics say will gag civil society groups, placing them under the threat of harsh sanctions and strict government control.The senate voted in favour of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill, which needs to be ratified by the president before passing into law. The text sailed through the country's other chamber of parliament, the national assembly, in late December.Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the law was a “necessary measure to improve the administration, accountability and transparency” of charities working in the country.He accused some of “directing money to favoured political parties.”“We cannot run the risk of charities of a public character being used as a cover for theft, embezzlement, tax evasion, money laundering or partisan political activities,” Ziyambi told the senate on February 2nd.Rights groups and opposition parties complain of an increased government clampdown on dissent as the country heads towards general elections later in 2023.The bill bans civil society organisations from engaging in politics and allows the state to interfere in their governance and activities, such as making changes to their internal management and funding.Those found in breach http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Africa Research Bulletin Political Social and Cultural Series Wiley

ZIMBABWE: Controversial Rights Law

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
ISSN
0001-9844
eISSN
1467-825X
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-825x.2023.10930.x
Publisher site
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Abstract

The ‘draconian’ move will close an already shrinking civic space.On February 2nd Zimbabwe's upper house of parliament approved legislation that critics say will gag civil society groups, placing them under the threat of harsh sanctions and strict government control.The senate voted in favour of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill, which needs to be ratified by the president before passing into law. The text sailed through the country's other chamber of parliament, the national assembly, in late December.Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the law was a “necessary measure to improve the administration, accountability and transparency” of charities working in the country.He accused some of “directing money to favoured political parties.”“We cannot run the risk of charities of a public character being used as a cover for theft, embezzlement, tax evasion, money laundering or partisan political activities,” Ziyambi told the senate on February 2nd.Rights groups and opposition parties complain of an increased government clampdown on dissent as the country heads towards general elections later in 2023.The bill bans civil society organisations from engaging in politics and allows the state to interfere in their governance and activities, such as making changes to their internal management and funding.Those found in breach

Journal

Africa Research Bulletin Political Social and Cultural Series – Wiley

Published: Mar 1, 2023

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