How will the registrar's office enact a PVO registration bill in Zimbabwe?

The Senate passed the bill on 1 February 2023, and the legislation is currently before the President of Zimbabwe for his decision on its enactment. The Registrar’s Office powers will include the ability to consider, grant or reject the registration of PVOs, with little to no judicial recourse against such decisions.

Is the PVO Bill incompatible with international human rights obligations?

The UN experts submitted an analysis of the bill to the Government in 2021, concluding that the Amendment was incompatible with international human rights obligations, in particular the right to freedom of association. Despite consultations with authorities and legislators, the current version of the PVO Bill does not address these concerns.

What does PVO stand for?

Responding to the Senate’s passing of the Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Amendment Bill, which now awaits President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assent to become law, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, said:

What is the PVO Amendment Bill?

The PVO Bill places all civic organizations registered under different laws under one law in an attempt to control civil society organizations perceived to be ‘anti-government.’ The PVO Amendment Bill is not the first attempt by the Zimbabwean authorities to regulate NGOs.

Does the PVO Amendment Bill provide disproportionate and discretionary powers?

The experts expressed deep concern that the oversight regime in the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill for civil society organisations provides for disproportionate and discretionary powers to the newly established Office of the Registrar of PVOs, without independence from the executive branch.

Should Zimbabwe reject a freedom of Association Bill?

UN experts* today urged Zimbabwe’s President to reject enacting a bill that would severely restrict civic space and the right to freedom of association in the country.