By Correspondent
A Zimbabwean citizen has filed an application against the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act which was signed into law by President Mnangawa in April 2025.
Yougerson Matete, Founder of the African Institute For Young People, said the law was came through a “legally irregular process” which “flouted the Constitution and the Standing Orders.”
Irregularities in Process
“The legislative process that culminated in the promulgation of the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act No. 1 of 2025 violated Sections 131 (2) and (4), of the Constitution and Section 133 (1) and 138 (1) of the Parliament of Zimbabwe (The Senate) Standing Rules and Orders and in that regard, Parliament failed to fulfil its constitutional obligations.
“In allowing the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill to sail through its processes in light of the violations referred to in paragraph 1 above, Parliament failed to fulfill its obligations in terms of section 119 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“It is inexplicable that a Bill approved during debate by the National Assembly would reach the Senate, in the same building, with missing clauses.
“Clearly, it is apparent that the National Assembly and the Senate in the first and second reading debated and passed two fundamentally different Bills.”
“In assenting to the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill, which had not been passed in accordance with the constitution as read with the Standing orders, the President failed to fulfill his constitutional obligations in terms of section 90 (1) of the Constitution obliging him to ensure the constitution and all other laws are faithfully observed.”
Matete added that he has a right to contest a law that isn’t passed in the correct manner.
“Being a concerned citizen, I thus have a right to see to it that the laws that bind me and other citizens are promulgated through processes not marred with irregularity,” Matete stated in his founding affidavit.
Right To Object
“Consequently I am entitled as such to being governed by laws that are properly promulgated in terms of the applicable procedural legislative processes and to challenge laws that fall below that standard.
“As such I have a direct and substantial interest in the matter.”
“Nothing legally valid can be born out of a legally irregular process.
“It is a nullity and cannot stand.
Matete is thus seeking that the Act be struck down and declared invalid.
The application, filed on 24 December 2025 cites as respondents, Parliament, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the President and the Attorney General.
Challenges With PVO
The PVO Bill was enacted in April 2025.
According to various activists the new law represents an unprecedented attack on civic space in Zimbabwe and will have a detrimental impact on fundamental freedoms.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) have all spoken out against the law.
They have urged authorities in Zimbabwe to repeal this law and to guarantee in all circumstances freedom of association and expression in the country.
