The Zimbabwe Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Amendment Bill was gazetted on 05 November 2021. The Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Private Voluntary Organisations Act [Chapter 17:05]. The objectives of the Amendment Bill are to ensure that the country is compliant with the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) Recommendation 8 such as ensuring that non-profit organisations are not misused by terrorist organisations; to prohibit political lobbying, and to streamline the registration of PVOs.
The Amendment Bill has received widespread criticisms for having provisions which are vague, open to abuse and arbitrary and sporadic interpretations. The Amendment Bill has also been criticised for giving the Minister extensive powers, for enacting a tedious registration framework and for seeking to restrict fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of association. The government has received recommendations to redraft or completely abandon the bill including recommendations from UN member states during the country’s 3rd cycle UPR review in January this year.
