The citizens Committee has welcomed the revised Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Bill as long as it is not meant to undermine operations of any organisation.
Committee Executive Director, Gregory Chifire, says his organization will support the bill provided it helps promote democracy in the civil society as opposed to frustrating operations of organisations.
Mr Chifire told ZANIS in Lusaka today, that regulating operations of NGO’s should be done in a manner that will positively impact on democratic values of the country.
He said NGO’s contribute significantly to national development hence the need to put in place laws that will not retard their growth.
He said the Bill should be enforced as a tool for promoting performance of the civil society.
Meanwhile, Mr Chifire also pointed out that he expects the Bill to adjusted in a manner that would enhance transparency and accountability in the way donor funds are been utilized by NGOs.
He said donors, who gets tax payers money from other countries, are eager to know how their funds are utilized by the NGO’s.
He, further, challenged other NGO’s to be transparent in their operations and ensure that they reach their targeted audience and save the intended purpose that they were formed for.
Government is expected to table the bill that is aimed at regulating the operations NGO’s in the country when parliament resumes sitting this week.
Meanwhile, some Civil Society Groups in the country have objected the move by government saying the NGO’s the bill will stifle their operations and prevent them from providing independent checks and balances.
ZANIS
efinshi ifi
When there are too many restrictive Laws, authoritarianism suppresses transparency in governance and democracy is destroyed and burried.
Will Obama ever visit to Zambia?
“He who intends to destroy a people only needs to remove the laws that govern them”
Napoleon
Yes …I will support the bill if it is inttended to improving the welfair of the people the NGO’s serve. I have known many Pastors and other people who have pocketed the money meant for the poor children. They have built manssions with this blood money. I will not support it if it is just meant to supress the checks and balances of NGO’s on govnt.
Chifire you think that the bill will be in your favour bcoz you support the ruling party. Wait when they join the opposition, you will understand that laws should not be changed anyhow.
Help us guys on Lusakatimes. We students in Cuba we haven`t been paid for three months. The Zambian embassy in Canada is holding our money. We have no one to listen to us since we don`t have an embassy here. Please do something.
“Meanwhile, Mr Chifire also pointed out that he expects the Bill to adjusted in a manner that would enhance transparency and accountability in the way donor funds are been utilized by NGOs. He said donors, who gets tax payers money from other countries, are eager to know how their funds are utilized by the NGO’s.”
Why stop at NGOs? We need an even higher degree of transparency in GRZ.
“The citizens Committee has welcomed the revised Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Bill as long as it is not meant to undermine operations of any organisation”.
If the bill contains the possibility that it will be used to undermine the ops of any organization, then it is not a good bill. And knowing Zambian politicians, they will use it to undermine the ops of their real and imaginary…
But some NGO’s are doing a commendale service to society I am afraid there are some which have become personal to holder entities even the way they employ its like its done on the moon. There is need to make laws that are going to ensure NGO’s are accountable in their operations and achieve their purpose for the intended groups. They should not be seen to target certain vocal or critics of GRZ.or punish. Lessons drawn from donors withholdingtheir funding to health sector Fat cats are still fat and still grobe trotting but the power are even being pinished further by donors. The fat cats arecrying crocodile tears “donor please u ve hit us below the belt, we nid to discuss we shall never to domthe same wrong thing”. Yet privately say I managed to cox them into resuming what is next…