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Grace Chekai
Correspondent
The Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill passed by Parliament recently is a game changer to the citizens of Zimbabwe, as it will deal in accordance with those people who tarnish the image of the Government and also breach the laws of the country.
President Mnangagwa is yet to sign the Bill so that it becomes effective as an Act.
The PVO Amendment Bill, among other things, seeks to upgrade the financial accountability of NGOs, monitor funding in Zimbabwe and how funds are used.
This is largely to stop people using a PVO to launder funds, or fund terrorism, to ensure that a PVO is operating in the areas where it is registered, such as health or education or supporting the vulnerable and disadvantaged.
The PVO Amendment Bill also seeks to upgrade the existing financial controls to ensure that those who donate to a PVO are not being taken for ride by a group of co artists.
The Bill would criminalise any action by civil society organisations to support, oppose or fund political parties or candidates in elections and would lay down civil penalties for receiving or moving money outside the formal banking system.
This is because the PVOs are not supposed to sponsor for regime change agenda. They must build and develop the countries that they operate in.
The Bill provides for an annual all-stakeholder meeting for non-Government organisations and the Government to discuss issues of mutual interest, maintaining the discussion culture so that they cannot ride away from their mandate of delivering to the people without spearheading some of their hidden agenda of regime change.
Under clause 9B of the Bill, “Any Private Voluntary Organisation that supports or opposes any political party or candidate in a presidential, parliamentary or local Government election, or is a party to any breach of Part III of the Political Parties (Finance) Act as a contributor of funds to a political party or candidate or otherwise, shall be guilty of an offence.”
The clause makes it clear that this does not apply to a PVO which assists members of disadvantaged groups to become candidates for election to Parliament or any local authority, provided that such assistance is afforded in a strictly non-partisan manner.
Clause 11 provides additional amendments that allow for civil penalties on movement of money outside banking channels by civil society.
This was to close certain loopholes in the general tightening of Zimbabwean financial civil society, uses the banking system and maintains Zimbabwe’s established and growing reputation for defeating those who wish to launder money and is part of Zimbabwe’s commitment under international agreements to ensure there is no laundering and no way terror groups can be financed.
It reads as follows; “A registered private voluntary organisation shall be guilty of a civil default if there is well founded information available to the Registrar indicating that it has not used formal channels (That is to say registered banking institutions or other financial intermediaries regulated in Zimbabwe or in any other state) for the transmission of its funds at every point from source to destination.”
The Bill compels anyone applying for the registration of a PVO to provide the Registrar with particulars of any beneficial ownership and of the persons who control the organisation to ensure transparency.
The existing Act already requires returns of office holders, with the amendment meant once again to ensure that those running the organisation, if they are not office holders, are known.
So this entails that if the PVOs are to go against this Bill if it is passed into law, a heavy penalty would be passed on the offenders.
Some PVOs usually register to the Registrar of Companies in good faith, they will divert from their mandate once they are registered.
The PVOs are very much aware of their wrong doings; this is the reason why they are against this Bill together with their handlers.
The PVOs claim to defend the rights of individuals in Zimbabwe, but the truth of the matter is that they only defend the opposition political parties, especially if they breach Government`s laws and put behind bars.
This is the same with the case of opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) deputy chairperson Job Sikhala, who was arrested for inciting unrest after the Nyatsime’s violent scenes.
These PVOs are now at the height of calling for the release of Sikhala who is a suspected criminal.
Sikhala is gaining support from these PVOs because they are there to ensure that opposition parties attack the Government and get away with it so that they can influence their regime change agenda.
The coming in of the PVO Amendment Bill will ensure that these PVOs remain focused on their mandate.
This include, developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation.
The PVO Amendment Bill is welcomed by Zimbabwean citizens as the Government and the people of Zimbabwe would perform their duties and enforcing their laws without any hindrance.
Online Reporter