The Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, and Dzivarasekwa legislator, Hon. Edwin Mushoriwa, engaged in a spirited debate last Tuesday over the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Amendment Bill.
In February 2024, Parliament reintroduced the bill, which is currently at the Committee Stage. President Emmerson Mnangagwa had returned the first iteration after it passed through Parliament.
Clauses 5 and 6 propose regulatory shifts. Clause 5 streamlines PVO registration by giving the Registrar sole authority to evaluate applications, bypassing the board. Clause 6 mandates PVOs to amend their registration if “material changes” occur in their constitution or functions.
These changes include shifts in objectives or ownership structures, such as mergers or takeovers. The Registrar would have the power to demand re-registration, centralizing control within the Registrar’s office.
Ziyambi and Mushoriwa Debate the PVO Amendment Bill
Mushoriwa argued for the PVO board to have greater control over these significant changes. “We need transparency and accountability,” Mushoriwa emphasized, insisting the board, not the Registrar, should decide on material changes.
He warned that centralizing power in one Registrar could lead to abuse and undermine democratic governance. However, Ziyambi defended the bill’s current provisions, arguing that the Registrar’s involvement would streamline processes and reduce bureaucracy.
“The Registrar’s involvement will ensure changes are managed efficiently and effectively,” Ziyambi countered. He suggested that involving the board could complicate matters, causing delays and inefficiencies that would hinder effective PVO management.
