Mnangagwa’s administration has been under fire from
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) critical of the country’s poor human
rights record, with authorities constantly threatening to shut them down.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists
during a post-Cabinet briefing that Cabinet had approved the POVA Amendment
Bill which would monitor activities of the voluntary organisations.
“Whereas registration has all along been free, the
registrar is now empowered to collect registration fees from all PVOs, the Bill
prohibits PVOs from political involvement and requires them to discharge their
mandate for the benefit of the most vulnerable societies,” she said.
“PVOs are, therefore, prohibited from undertaking political
lobbying on behalf of any individual, organisations or political party and the
Bill stipulates penalties for those PVOs that violate the Act.”
The Zanu PF government has often accused Western countries,
particularly the United States, of sponsoring NGOs to pursue a regime change agenda.
Mutsvangwa said the amendments gave the registrar power to
deal with errant PVOs, including placing them under monitoring.
“The registrar can also impose penalties for those PVOs
which break the law, with high risk PVOs being placed under monitoring. The
executive committee of the PVOs can be suspended for either maladministration
or failure to discharge the declared mandate.”
Although Zanu PF has long been advocating for laws to cull
the influence of NGOs, government said it had come up with the proposed law
changes to curb money-laundering and financing of terrorism.
“Amendments seek to combat money-laundering and financing
of terrorism by any individual or institution in Zimbabwe operating under the
PVO banner. The amendments also seek to streamline the administrative
procedures of PVOs in order to ensure their efficient registration, regulation
and the combating of the financing of terrorism,” Mutsvangwa said.
“The registrar of PVOs is being accorded powers to penalise
non-compliant organisations. It was necessitated by the growing regional and
global concerns about money-laundering and the financing of terrorism
activities. It’s now known that terrorism activities can be committed using
seemingly authentic transactions either as humanitarian aid or development
assistance.”
In another development, government has also relaxed
COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by opening gymnasia and health spas for fully
vaccinated patrons only. Cinemas, art galleries and theatres can now operate at
50% sitting capacity.
Government also said travellers from countries afflicted
with the Indian variant, such as India, could no longer need to be put on
quarantine. Mutsvangwa also encouraged all athletes aged 14 and above to get
vaccinated. Newsday
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