Paul Nyathi

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has tasked Parliament to fast track the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill which his goverment wants to use to subdue Non Governmental Organisations he accuses of derailing government programmes.

Mnangagwa made the call during his opening of the third session of the ninth parliament broadcast from the state house.

Mnangagwa accused the NGOs and private voluntary organisations (PVOs) of deviating from their humanitarian agenda and venturing into partisan politics.

“The conduct of some non-governmental organisations and private voluntary organisations who operate outside their mandate and out of sync with the government’s humanitarian priority programmes, remain a cause for concern,” he said.

“This august House will, therefore, consider the PVO Amendment Bill to revamp the administration of NGOs and PVOs and correct the current anomalies,” said Mnangagwa.

The Zanu PF government has for over the years been at war with NGOs, most of whom it accuses of either funding opposition political parties or promoting anti goverment messages.