TIZ on PVO Bill
Providence Moyo
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has decried the Private Voluntary Organisations Bill’s implications on civic space in the country.
The organisation castigated the bill in a statement to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day.
“TIZ further notes the shrinking civic space which is necessary for Citizens to hold duty bearers to account and participate in government processes. This is in view of the PVO bill and the patriotic provisions into the Criminal and Codification (Reform) Act Provisions. These pronouncements are a threat towards championing for greater transparency and accountability in government processes.
On this day we call upon the government to of Zimbabwe to create a conducive environment for different stakeholders to execute their mandate, by providing mechanism for collaboration and coordination among state and private sector to ensure that there is unity of purpose in the fight against corruption in the country.”
TIZ said efforts to close ranks between the government and CSOs is essential in the fight against corruption.
“Over and above, mending government- CSOs relations and including citizens in the fight against corruption is also made much more easier when legislation and supportive frameworks are introduced to protect whilstliblowers, without whom the fight against corruption is more challenging.”
TIZ also called for citizens to actively seek access to information to build strong structures that scrutinise duty-bearers, expose corruption and call for accountability enhancing the fight against corruption.
The United Nations is on record saying the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and the involvement of each and every person and institution can we overcome the negative impact of this crime. States, government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth, alike, all have a role to play in uniting the world against corruption.
On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General designate the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as the secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties (resolution 58/4). Since then, 190 parties have committed to the Convention’s anti-corruption obligations, showing near-universal recognition of the importance of good governance, accountability, and political commitment. The Assembly also designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it.
In Zimbabwe, CSOs have challenged the bill which government believes will combat money laundering and financing of terrorism by any individual or institution in Zimbabwe operating under the PVO banner, streamline the administrative procedures for them to ensure their efficient registration, regulation, and the combating of the financing of terrorism.
Under the bill, PVOs will be prohibited from undertaking political lobbying on behalf of any individual, organisation or political party and the bill stipulates penalties for those PVOs that violate the Act.
