PVO Bill sails through National Assembly #StopThePVOBill
The controversial Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill (PVO Bill), which seeks to grant the government greater control over civic society organizations, has successfully passed through the National Assembly.
Despite significant opposition from organizations both within and outside the country, the Zanu PF-led government has moved forward with the legislation.
Following the Bill’s Third Reading, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described the development as “revolutionary.”
“Before I move to the next item, I want to thank Hon. Members for this historic moment in which the Private Voluntary Organisations Bill has been passed by the National Assembly.
“The Bill is largely revolutionary and will allow the sector to be governed in a way that reflects our identity as a nation. I appreciate the robust debate and the improvements contributed by Hon. Members,” he said.
The PVO Bill has now been transmitted to the Senate, where it will begin the Second Reading stage. The temporary President of the Senate announced the receipt of the Bill to the senators.
“I have received the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill [H.B. 2A, 2024] from the National Assembly,” stated the President of the Senate.
Key provisions of the Bill include granting the minister the authority to suspend executives of PVOs without providing them an opportunity to defend themselves. Under this clause, the Minister can seek court validation of the suspension after it has been enacted.
During the Committee Stage debate, Minister Ziyambi argued that notifying PVO executives of their suspension would allow them to “cover their tracks.”
“Giving PVO executives notice will give them a chance to clear their house and put it in order. The Minister must act to prevent further damage and then go to court for confirmation.
“We are trying to avoid a situation where we go to court with those individuals still in office, as they could adequately prepare their defence because they remain in control of the relevant materials,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi also rejected proposals from Honourable Edwin Mushoriwa to incorporate the recommendations and guidelines from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) into the Bill.
He stated that the government had tailored the recommendations to fit the local context and that there was no need for direct replication.
“FATF provided guidance, but we have adapted it to better suit our environment, enabling us to effectively address issues of charitable fund misuse,” the minister concluded.
PVO Bill sails through National Assembly
