Harare, (New Ziana)- A Parliamentary consultative hearing on the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Amendment Bill was abandoned on Friday after some members of the public opposed to the legislation started singing to drown the voices of those who supported it.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare and the Thematic Committee on Gender Development were jointly conducting the public hearing on the Bill, which was gazette in March this year.
In Masvingo on Thursday legislators and members of the public had to scurry for safety after fighting broke out between those who supported and those who opposed passage of the Bill, with several people reportedly sustaining serious injuries.
Non-governmental organizations operating in Zimbabwe and foreign embassies have been campaigning against the amendment Bill, arguing that it is an attempt by the government to throttle civil society groups.
Before the hearing was disrupted, those in support of the PVO Bill said if passed into law, it would assist the government in monitoring activities and sources of funding for Civil Society Organizations operating in Zimbabwe.
“I am in full support of the Bill because a country should have a set of requirements to be followed by CSOs wishing to operate here. Their shenanigans should be regulated by the government,” said a man who only identified himself as Mashanda.
Archbishop Parani of the Zimbabwe United Council of Churches said the Bill sets the tone for the transparency and accountability of NGOs and was supported by Lameck Manyiwa from Mbare who said it should be allowed to progress to become an Act.
Passionate Fuza of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform was booed by those who supported the Bill, who appeared to be in the majority, when she said she was against its passage and enactment.
The Bill requires organizations not previously within the scope of the PVO Act to now register as PVOs, with time being given for compliance.
President Mnangagwa caused the delay in tabling the PVO Amendment Bill in Parliament when he exercised his right and withheld his assent to it last year.
New Ziana
