ED set to sign controversial PVO Bill despite UN warnings

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has revealed that ED will sign the controversial Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Bill into law despite warnings from UN Experts.

Mnangagwa had been warned by experts from the United Nations not to sign the repressive Bill into law as it was not in line with international democratic practices.

However the ZANU PF leader is adamant on signing the Bill despite strong opposition from the international community and civil society groups.

In a lengthy tweet,Charamba said that Mnangagwa was obliged to sign the Bill into law despite the warnings by the UN Experts.

“Laws are made by the people through their elected representatives in Parliament,”he said.

“The President ascents to Bills that would have passed legislative processes, in other words, the President, as an obedient servant of the people, is obligated to obey Constitutional dictates,”he added.

The Bill has attracted nationwide criticism from human rights experts who have condemned the Bill as it will give the state powers to clamp down on dissenting voices and shut down civic space.

The government has often cricticized organisation that speaks out against human rights violations and government malfeasance, describing them as agents of regime change and this Bill is considered a weapon to whip NGOs into line.

The Bill was passed by the Senate earlier this month and is now awaiting the President’s signature.