NGO’s urged to defy suspension by Masvingo governor

Posted by on Thursday, February 16, 2012 in NGOs, Zimbabwe politics | 3 comments

Professor Lovemore Madhuku

By Tererai Karimakwenda
16 February 2012

This week’s suspension of 29 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Masvingo province had no basis in law and was done by an individual with no authority, a lawyer’s group announced in Harare on Thursday.

The statement was made in response to Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke, who on Tuesday summoned NGOs in the province to a meeting, where he said 29 of them had been suspended, after failing to submit memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to the local authorities.

At a media briefing at the offices of the Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights (ZLHR), Professor Lovemore Madhuku described the suspensions as “a mere statement” made by an “ordinary man” with no power to regulate NGOs.

The lawyers issued a defiant statement that said Masvingo Governor Maluleke had violated section 21 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association. They urged NGOs that were suspended to ignore the ban.

The director of the ZLHR, Irene Petras, expressed concern that Governor Maluleke had chosen to announce the suspensions in the presence of senior officials from the army, police and prison services.

All local and international charity groups operating in Zimbabwe are registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare. Many are providing humanitarian aid in areas where the government has failed to assist.

But the Mugabe regime accuses them of cooperating with the MDC formations and other “enemies of the state”. Foreign NGOs were temporarily banned from operating in the country ahead of the elections in 2008.

It is feared the move by the Masvingo governor is just the beginning of a new crackdown on NGOs, ahead of any new election.

  • Anonymous

    Maluleke muchangani asingatozivi hwunonzi hupenyu kwahwo . He is from the minority community of Zimbabwe. Ignore all his rubbish speeches.

  • http://brianradkelaw.com/ WilbertS Keane

    I think higher authority will do justice.

  • Murambatsvina

    Is this a merely coincidence ?
    The Masvingo Governor Titus MALULEKE has banned all NGOs from distributing food to the need people of Masvingo.
    Top CIO Killer Joseph MWALE accompanys PM to Chiadzwa Diamond Mines.
    These two individual names do not sound Zimbabwe enough. Is it because the true natural descendants of our country have been nurtured not to kill or cause suffering to another human being. Is it because Zanu PF can not recruit such people from our peace loving indegenious people of Zimbabwe.We give these people a home and comfort and in turn ,they kill us,maim us and torture us.
    We fear death and the sight of blood. We fear the demons that will haunt for ever if you kill.
    Are you also aware that The ministry of justice has been failing to recruit a HANGMAN locally.
    All the killings in Zimbabwe must be led and sanctioned by people who are not Zimbawean by nature but by accident of birth.