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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Government suspension of NGO field operations - Index of articles
Government
of Zimbabwe lifts suspension of some NGO field operations
National
Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in Zimbabwe (NANGO)
September 01, 2008
- NANGO cautiously
welcomes lift of suspension
on NGO operations, awaits further clarification from government
- NANGO wary
of selective application of the lift of the ban
- Lift of suspension
set to benefit millions of Zimbabweans in desperate need of humanitarian
assistance
Broader
efforts required to secure a positive and enabling operating environment
for Civil Society amidst unabated harassment of some sections of
Civil Society.
The National
Association of Non Governmental Organisations representing Non Governmental
Organisations operating in Zimbabwe cautiously welcomes the lifting
of the suspension of Non Governmental Organisations [NGOs] field
operations.
In a statement
signed by the Permanent Secretary for Public Service Labour and
Social Welfare, the suspension of field operations is lifted with
immediate effect to Organisations operating in the following areas:
- Humanitarian
assistance, food aid, relief, recovery and development
- Family and
Child Care Protection
- Care and
Protection of Older Persons
- Rights and
empowerment of people with disabilities
- HIV/AIDS
treatment, Care and related support services
The lift therefore
characteristically excludes organisations operating in areas such
as transitional justice, human rights, governance and democracy.
It also does not cognise the inseparability of Civil Society's
social, economic, cultural, political and civic responsibilities.
NGO field operations
have been under "official suspension" since 4 June 2008,
thus endangering the lives of millions of Zimbabweans, presently
in need of widespread assistance amidst the country's rapidly
deteriorating social service delivery and economic conditions. The
initial suspension which was characteristically outside the provisions
of the legal statute covering the operations of NGOs has been variously
enforced by various arms of the state to the detriment of humanitarian
and development conditions around the country. Millions of Zimbabweans
amongst whom are the food insecure, People living with HIV/AIDS,
the elderly, the disabled, orphaned children and others are the
biggest casualties of the unfortunate suspension.
A similar clarification
on the suspension issued by the Minister of Public Service Labour
and Social Welfare, to allow the continuance of child supplementary
feeding and HIV/AIDS interventions was largely ignored by state
structures on the ground who have continued to restrict and disrupt
NGO operations. As such it is NANGO's expressed hope that
the government will substantiate the lift of suspension through
the following measures as will facilitate the development of a conducive
operating environment for Civil Society in Zimbabwe;
- Reform of
the Private
Voluntary Organisations Act and other repressive pieces of
legislation including AIPPA,
POSA,
- Confidence
building mechanisms to allow stronger cooperation between the
State and Civil Society through amongst other things the retraction
of unfounded statements by public officials accusing all NGOs
of politicising humanitarian assistance in support of the Movement
for Democratic Change and western imperialism.
- Tangible
commitments by Government to remove the bureaucratic, security,
financial and other restrictions to effective humanitarian operations
by Non Governmental Organisations
- Recognition
of the inter-related nature of democracy and development as should
compel the speedy resolution of the political parties dialogue
and the implementation of much needed constitutional and governance
reforms
- Strengthening
of severed ties to the global community particularly to multilateral
Institutions such as the Commonwealth and members of the donor
community who were compelled to flee Zimbabwe
NANGO extends
its invitation to a meeting of NGOs and other relevant stakeholder,
convened by the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare
on Monday 01 September 2008, to clarify the operation modalities.
Visit the NANGO
fact
sheet
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