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Banning of NGOs in Zimbabwe inhumane
Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC)
March
07, 2012
The MDC views the banning
of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Masvingo by Titus Maluleke
for failing to register with his office on 14 February 2012 as very
callous and unfortunate.
The affected
NGOs must not take the threats by Maluleke seriously because the
ban is a legal nullity. As far as MDC is concerned, only the Minister
of Labour and Social Services, Hon. Paurina Mpariwa or anyone representing
her office is mandated by the Private
Voluntary Organisations Act to register, deregister and set
the conditions of operation for NGOs. Maluleke cannot be the Governor
and the Minister of Labour and Social Services at the same time
when the Minister is not on leave.
MDC sees NGOs
as partners in development and appreciates their efforts in the
community. NGOs countrywide have complemented government efforts
to feed, defend, clothe, offer medical assistance, developmental
funding and other support to communities.
They have funded
the resuscitation of the decaying education system as well as health
delivery during the cholera and typhoid outbreaks. NGOs have initiated
several community projects aimed at alleviating the effects of the
HIV and AIDS pandemic. Above all, NGOs are credited with averting
massive hunger among the Zimbabwean populace over the years.
Thousands are
facing starvation throughout the country and more so, Masvingo Province
is the worst affected. To ban activities of NGOs at such a crucial
period is, therefore sadistic and satanic, to say the least.
It must be stated
categorically, that the MDC dissociates itself from the short sighted
move taken by the Masvingo Governor, Titus Maluleke and condemns
his action in the strongest possible terms. Maluleke's ban
is irresponsible, heartless and unlawful.
It is a documented
fact that ZANU (PF) always try to shrink democratic space and curtail
the operations of NGOs in the run-up to elections because they are
objective. In 2004, an NGO Bill was promulgated to control all humanitarian
organisations' projects ahead of the 2005 elections.
Before the 2008
elections, several NGOs were banned by the then Minister of Labour
and Social Welfare, Nicholas Goche for promoting democracy and advocating
for the upholding of the rule of law.
ZANU (PF) should
never be allowed to continue violating people's rights in
contravention of the African
Charter on Human and People's Rights as well as the United
Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
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