Zimbabwe's economy is expected to experience another meltdown if the Non Governmental Organisations Bill becomes law, officials working with NGOs have said. Jacob Mafume, the co-ordinator of the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations'(NANGO) team working on a response to the Bill, said the full impact of the law was still being assessed. "We are still finalising the full economic and social impact that the bill will have on Zimbabweans but a conservative estimate is that if each of the 3 000 NGOs is employing five people, then 15 000 people will lose their jobs." Meanwhile, the bill made a midnight debut in Zimbabwe's parliament this week. Read a briefing on the process through the link below.
Looming NGO lay-offs threat to economy
http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/econ/041031zimstand2.asp?sector=ECON
Wednesday 17 November 2004
Midnight Debut for the NGO BILL
The NGO Bill made its Parliamentary debut yesterday and today might be
the day of reckoning. Many thanks to those who heeded the call and attended
the Parliamentary session yesterday, we need an even stronger presence in
the public gallery today [never mind the schoolkids taking up all the space,
just try to be there by 2pm]
Proceedings on the NGO Bill began at 12:00 midnight amidst high
dramma and ravaging debate and ended today at 6am. Four MDC Mps were thrown
indicating the intensity of debate around the Bill and the resoluteness of
the state to pass the Bill as it is. The state indicated great concerns
around the issues of national security, foreign interferance, infringement
of political space and human rights. That these concerns are unfounded is
apparent, but what is appalling is the fact that there was little
recognition on the state's part of the great work that NGOs have been doing
in promoting national development. All of a sudden NGOs have become a
national threatt when throughout the years they have essentially been
complementary partners to government in fostering development.
The debate will resume again today at 2:15pm with the tabling of the
meagre ammendments sent out by the Minister and voting on the Bill.
The entrenchment of a Legacy of bad laws
As our Parliament cotinues to invest in oppressive laws, about which
it has shown record determination, the NGO Bill stands next in line and
indications show a high likelihood of it being passed in its current state.
The Adverse Report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Bill was
thrown out, thus diminishing the last hope of the Bill being redrafted. It
therefore remains for the NGO Sector to start counting its losses and
focusing on the way forward.
National Advocacy Committee Meeting
NANGO continues to closely monitor the parliamentary process and will
be keeping you up to date as events unfold. However speeded emphasis is now
being placed towards cementing the post-Bill response strategy. In this
regard the National Advocacy Committee will meet on Thursday to deliberate
on the way forward, please be advised that the advocacy process will still
proceed even after the promulgation of the Bill. The challenge remains in
spite of the Bill for us all to continuously advocate for a positive and
enabling operating environment and an unrestrained civil society in
Zimbabwe.
Responses
We will be glad to respond to queries and questions pertaining the
Bill proces and the response strategy. Please contact Jacob or Fambai on our
hotline 732612.
Author
Anonymous (not verified)
