Four Hundred and Sixty (460) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have resolved not to register under the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Act until all the necessary amendments on the proposed unconstitutional Act of 2009 is resolved.
Non Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Chairperson, Beatrice Grillo, said the Act of 2009 is retrogressive and that it is not in the best interest of some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
Ms Grillo revealed the development during a press briefing held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today.
She said no genuine NGO is prepared to register under the Act in its current form.
Ms Grillo stated that the Act is in conflict with Article 21 of the constitution as its scope goes beyond the prior restraints permissible under the Article and restricts freedom of association and movement.
She stated that the Article is heavy as its requirements impinge on the internal affairs of NGOs especially taking into account that each NGO operates on different mandates in accordance with their own priorities and use different methodologies and reporting lines to achieve their objectives.
She charged that its application and registration provisions are unclear and place a financial burden on NGOs unnecessarily.
Ms Grillo also noted that the Act does not recognise the previous legal status of the registered NGOs under the existing legal frame work(societies Act) and the provision in the NGO Act on re-registration are confusing and ambiguous.
Last year Government warned that Non Governmental Organization (NGOs) that will not register under the current NGO Act risk being deregistered and will not be allowed to operate.
Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister Joseph Katema said in an interview last year that all NGOs should register under the current Act even if they had other licenses for them to be allowed to operate.
Dr Katema said most NGOs had already registered in accordance with the Act and that his office would soon compile a list of those that had not done so.
The NGOs threatened that they would continue operating without registering under the Act as they are registered with other Acts.
“Even though they are registered with other Acts it mandatory that they register with the NGO Act if they were to continue operating.
Dr Katema refuted claims that the NGOs have engaged with Government to find an amicable solution to the Act.
“I just heard about their complaints in the media and I am not going to resolve matters through the media , that’s not how I operate,” he said.
They are all nonentities in my opinion
They are busy making noise quietly I see
Thanks
this mr katema tree… is another confused charater!!! Most of these NGOs do a great job for Zambians on the ground,,, now this fear of the unknow by sata and muyaya obsesion is causing hell confusion,, everything is now registeration, sim cards, NGOs, damnit!! your secret agendas will catch up with you one day!!
Just ignore these one-man, one-woman NGO’s.
Fusek
Sata is reliable why change when things are better ubupuba sana.
Is it a full time job to belong to an NGO? Are they even at all necessary in the development of our country?
If I were the powers that be, I let this one pass quietly
Thx
Just go home NGO CC, recall your role in bringing PF into power, just eat the humble pie…..
Just register imwe.Ifitala napashilingile kwati niba general Godfrey Miyanda.Smh
If these NGOs are genuine then they are just being difficulty for nothing, otherwise they are being used as money laundering or political fonts or both.
‘money laundering or political fronts’
Just register imwe ba kondongo !
PF , lurching from one crisis to another. This is really is a government made in hell.
Tax dodgers den. They use their tuntemba NGOs to import cars without and goods cheaply. They also charge people to use their papers to dodge paying taxes at the border. The benefits for some of these NGOs to the nation are NIL or Zero. Ban the whole lot. Answerable to no one but themselves. Some of the directors are made of wife, husband and children.
“Some of the directors are made of wife, husband and children.”
Just like our Government ????? !!!!!!!!
M****** stop making noise and leave the NGOs alone.
Echo mwabela nobugo mwefikabolala fyabulamano
mwilasebanya ama NGOs.Zambian NgOs are the worst.
because the government do not support them financially
and now you want to start stealing from them. You big
Dog.