United Nations Warn Mnangagwa Against Signing The PVO Bill Into Law
United Nations (UN) experts have warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa against signing the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Bill into law saying it will infringe on the fundamentals of human rights.
The Bill amends the PVO Act and the government says it will curb money laundering and PVOs’ participation in politics. It proposes harsh penalties, including jail time of up to one year for perceived offences.
According to the experts, the legislation would close an already shrinking civic space, which will likely be detrimental to the nation’s engagement and re-engagement efforts.
The United Nations experts speak after Mnangagwa stated in October last year that he is ready to sign the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill once the Parliament is done.
The PVO Amendment Bill gives the newly created Office of the Registrar of PVOs huge and unrestricted powers without granting it any independence from the executive branch, which worries the United Nations.
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The legislation now awaits Mnangagwa’s signature for it to become law after the senate last week passed it.
Some of the concerns raised by the UN experts include the power of the government to cancel operational licenses of PVOs already operating, NewZimbabwe reported. Said the international body in a statement:
The bill’s requirements would also immediately render existing organisations, operating lawfully as trusts and associations, illegal.
The Office of the Registrar will also have extensive powers to intervene in and monitor the activities of PVOs.
UN experts raised additional concerns about the prohibition of any “political affiliation” and unjustified restrictions on PVOs’ ability to obtain funding, including foreign funds.
UN experts echoed remarks by a legal think tank, Veritas, that the vagueness or non-definition of many provisions in the bill also raises concerns that the proposed law will be misapplied.
They warned that actions considered to be in breach of certain provisions in the Bill could lead to criminal prosecution, with penalties ranging from heavy fines to imprisonment.
Authorities state that the Bill aims, among other objectives, to counter money laundering and terrorism in Zimbabwe.
UN experts say by enacting this legislation, authorities would effectively be closing an already shrinking civic space. They are urging president Mnangagwa to turn down the bill. They said:
It is not too late for the President to change course.
We stand ready to assist the Government to revise the Amendment Bill to ensure compliance with international human rights norms and standards.
They said Mnangagwa should consider calls by the Civil Society Organisations who have strongly opposed its statutes.
Human rights defenders, some politicians and many CSOs warned of impending attacks on democracy advocates owing to the PVO bill.
Early last year, prominent economist Prosper Chitambara warned that the proposed PVO Amendment Bill will hit the economy hard saying NGOs are filling the gaps in public programmes and services that States have failed to perform or provide owing to limited fiscal space.
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