MDC Blasts Govt For Threatening To De-register NGOs Dabbling In Politics
5 years agoFri, 14 Dec 2018 04:57:30 GMT
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume criticised threats by Acting Public Service Minister Kazembe Kazembe to ban Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) caught dabbling in national politics.
Mafume said the threat is meant to stop party MPs and councillors from attending functions hosted by different NGOs. He said Zimbabwean laws do not forbid NGOs from taking part in any political activities. Said Mafume:
We are aware that the idea behind the statement is to closeout space for MDC MPs and councillors who have been invited to take part in the CSO activities. We view this new prescription of rights specifically freedom of association. The law does not prohibit NGO’s from politics. CSOs are only expected to be non-partisan and the minister misses the simple difference. As a matter of fact, when the organisations registered as trusts, they state their objective of participation in governance issues. These organisations are therefore watchdogs of political processes.
More: NewZimbabwe.com
