Reject evil NGO bill, urges NAQEZ
By Tony Nkhoma
REJECT the proposed NGO Bill of 2025, otherwise it will swallow civil society’s voice in the country, the National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has warned.
NAQEZ executive director Dr Aron Chansa said the NGO Bill 2025 currently at second reading in Parliament was evil, barbaric and undemocratic for the people of Zambia.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast, Dr Chansa said the NGO Amendment Bill of 2025 had the capacity to wipe out both local and international non-governmental organisations because it seemed to be crafted to stifle divergent views.
“The United Party for National Development (UPND) government is pushing for a law in Parliament with clear intentions of killing the NGO sector in Zambia. This is evil. It is undemocratic and Zambians must reject this bill as it will shrink civil society voices in Zambia,” he said.
Dr Chansa expressed worry that the bill, which is at the first reading, would introduce inspectors who would in turn have power to enter offices and search without prior notices.
“Section 9 of this bill allows these inspectors to search computers, books and officers at any time. According to Section 9(3) (c), refusing to be searched will be a criminal offence whose jail sentence will be three years with hard labour. This bill infringes on the right to privacy,” he said.
He said 9 of the NGO bill requires renewal of operating certificates every five years, adding that organizations which were critical to Government may obviously not have their certificates renewed.
“In the proposed law, the Registrar of NGOs will be able to cancel certificate of an NGO, when circumstances dictate so, this is stated in Section 23(1)(h). If this is not killing the NGO sector, then we do not know what it is,” Dr Chansa said.
He appealed to MPs to reject the bill, saying if the bill became law, it would be impossible for critical voices to operate in the country freely.
Dr Chansa said it was also clear that the bill was tied to elections.
He urged the civil society organisation, Zambians, the Church, the media, traditional leaders, the diplomatic community and progressive members of Parliament to stand up and reject the proposed law.
