Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Emerine Kabanshi, says government is revising the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Act No 15 of 2009 in order to enhance Civil Society Organisations’ participation in service delivery.
Ms Kabanshi says Civil Society Organisations play a critical role in fostering economic development in the country as well as uplifting the living standards of the less-privileged people in society.
The Minister said this at the official opening of a meeting of the European Union with Civil Society Organisations and Disabled people’s organisation at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.
She disclosed that 555 NGOs have successfully been registered and that out of which 428 are local NGOs while 127 are international organisations.
The minister also urged the NGOs to abide by the legal provisions of the NGO’s Act and be transparent in their service delivery.
She further acknowledged the support government has continued to receive from the European Union and other co-operating partners.
And European Union Ambassador to Zambia, Alessandro Mariani, said the European Union is committed to working with government and Civil Society Organisations in Zambia to fight poverty in the country.
Ambassador Mariani said the European Union’s main concern is to effectively support the agricultural sector as a way of eliminating poverty, especially in the rural areas.
He said the EU will remain committed to working with the Zambian government in many sectors of the economy.
Good move.
Last minute, knee jerk ejaculations.