It’s not true that NGOs reluctant to dialogue with government-Chipenzi

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has charged that it is not true that Non Governmental Organizations in the country (NGOs) are too reluctant to dialogue with government over the NGO Act uncertainty.

Government had earlier stated that it is still willing to dialogue with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) over the NGO Act on condition that they first register in its current form.

But FODEP Executive Director, MacDonald Chipenzi, has told QFM News in a telephone interview that just yesterday; the council of NGOs tried to seek audience of the Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister, Emerine Kabanshi, but were not allowed to see her to dialogue over the matter.

Mr. Chipenzi says the council of NGOs HAS always been ready to dialogue with government over the NGO Act but that government has never given them chance to dialogue.

He says the council started seeking government’s attention when Dr. Joseph Katema was still minister of Community Development Mother and Health Minister but have not been successful.

Meanwhile, Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Executive Director Father Leonard Chiti has advised NGOs in the country to take advantage of government’s willingness to dialogue over the NGO Act and settle the matter.

Father Chiti says government should also understand that the NGOs have refused to register under the same Act because they feel it is a very bad law and thus to dialogue over it.

Father Chiti says another reason why these NGOs are resisting to register under the NGO Act is that most of them are registered under PACRA or Registrar of Societies and they see no reason of registering under the Act when they are already registered.

And a Lusaka based Political Analyst, Dante Saunders, has advised NGOs not to register under the NGO Act but rather dialogue with government over the pros and cons of the Act.

Mr. Saunders has told QFM News in a separate interview that there is need for MGOs to remind government that this is one of the laws they condemned when in opposition and thus the need for government not to lure NGOs to register under the NGO Act.