News / National
Banning of NGOs in Zimbabwe inhumane says MDC-T
07 Mar 2012 at 13:32hrs | Views
The Tsvangirai led MDC (MDC-T) on Wednesday said it 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-T 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-T 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-T 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.
The affected NGOs must not take the threats by Maluleke seriously because the ban is a legal nullity. As far as MDC-T 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-T 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-T 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.
Source - MDC-T
