Staff Reporter

Political analysts have rubbished a Communique by the United Nations Rapporteur Clement Nyaletsossi Voule for criticising the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment (PVO) Bill which Government seeks to enact.

Voule, claims the PVO Bill legislation is Government’s  ploy to curtail freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression.

Political analyst, Munyaradzi Gwenzi said, “It is necessary that Zimbabwe enacts this Bill as it is in compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“Voule is irked because the PVO Bill will put to an end to the West’s Regime Change Agenda which they financed by pouring huge amounts of unaudited money into the activities of the opposition political party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC),” said Gwenzi.

Gwenzi further highlighted that the UN Special Rapporteur's case was misplaced and exposed the West’s double standards.

“FAFT requires countries to enforce laws and regulations that govern non-profit organisations so that the organisations are not abused for financing terrorism.

“Zimbabwe is implementing the requirement through the enactment of the PVO Amendment Bill to ensure that the West does not finance rogue opposition elements to cause civil unrest, destroy infrastructure and bring harm from people,” Gwenzi said.

After the enactment of the PVO Amendment Bill, the NGOs, CSOs and PVOs are going to use the banking systems for all their transactions, leaving a paper tailp that will inform auditors on the operations of their business and connections. This will help curtail financing of rogue activities such as the financing of militia and terrorists.

Meanwhile, Botswana amended its Criminal Procedure and Evidence (Controlled Investigations) Act in order to comply with the recommendations of the FATF, while Malawi Parliament also passed a law meant to regulate Civil Society.