The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has strongly criticized the Senate’s approval of the contentious Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill (H.B.2A, 2024) on October 17, 2024.
Initially gazetted on March 1, 2024, this Bill aims to amend the existing Private Voluntary Organisations Act. It follows the failure of the 2021 PVO Amendment Bill, which the President did not sign due to concerns.
ZLHR expressed alarm at the rapid pace at which the Senate passed the Bill without proper debate, stating that the contents remain unclear as no detailed reading was documented in the Hansard.
Despite serious concerns raised by local civil society organizations, citizens, and international bodies, the Bill moved swiftly through Parliament. ZLHR noted that this expedited process occurred in the face of significant public opposition and violent consultation experiences.
The passage of the PVO Amendment Bill now allows President Emmerson Mnangagwa to sign it into law. ZLHR highlighted the dangers of the Bill, which they believe undermines freedom of association and imposes excessive executive control over civil society organizations (CSOs).
The amended Bill, similar to its predecessor but with even harsher provisions, could lead to further restrictions on civic space, which has already been shrinking since August 2018. ZLHR emphasized that the Bill legitimizes unwarranted government interference in CSO activities and could criminalize their operations.
The ZLHR pointed out that the Bill contradicts Zimbabwe’s international obligations to uphold the right to freedom of association and disregards guidelines set by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They argue that the legislation jeopardizes the ability of civil society to operate effectively, which is essential for human rights protection and economic contribution.
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While the Minister of Justice claims the Bill addresses FATF recommendations to combat illicit financial flows, ZLHR argues this justification is merely a guise for further restricting civic space. They assert that the FATF’s recommendations are being misused to impose undue limitations on CSOs.
The ZLHR is calling on President Mnangagwa and the government to reject the Bill, urging them to respect the desires of the majority of Zimbabweans for greater civic freedoms.
