adminOswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
NON-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have urged Zanu-PF and MDC-T to desist from political violence ahead of their respective congresses.
National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango) chairman Paul Juru told journalists on the sidelines of a consultative meeting at a local hotel yesterday that political violence erodes investor confidence.
“Intra-party violence in MDC and Zanu-PF creates political uncertainty. The general population may continue wallowing in poverty due to lack of investors to cushion our ailing economy if this issue is not dealt with. We urge political parties to put their houses in order and national interest first before personal ambitions,” said Juru.
He added that they were calling for government to align laws in line with the Constitution.
“We are lobbying for amendment of Private Voluntary Organisations Act because it is very restrictive in nature and allows much government interference.
For example, one has to sign a Memorandum of Agreement between rural district council, local authorities, traditional leaders which is not supported by any legal framework. This Act is not user friendly to operations of NGOs which complement government efforts in solving humanitarian needs,” said Juru.
Various non-governmental organisations such as Bulawayo Agenda, Legal Resource Foundation, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, and Zimbabwe Election Support Network called for decentralisation of Legal Aid Directorate from big cities like Harare and Bulawayo to smaller cities.
“Legal Aid must be decentralised so that people in rural areas can access legal assistance. Failure to have such may result in abuse of human rights such as having a fair trial to accused persons,” said an official from Zimbabwe Human Rights Association.
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