CHIPENZI

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA-
GOVERNMENT and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have agreed to review the NGO Act number 26 of 2009 to bring to rest the contentious issues observed by the stakeholders.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Mcdonald Chipenzi confirmed in an interview yesterday, that the decision was arrived at following the fruitful discussion held with the NGOs, Justice Minister and Attorney General recently.
Mr Chipenzi said the parties also agreed to suspend the punitive measures that Government had put in place to compel NGOs to migrate from the societies Act to the NGO department in the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health.
‘‘Following this decision to open consultations, the NGOs have withdrawn the court injunction against Government to allow for the fruitful deliberations,’’ Mr Chipenzi said.
He said a consultant would soon be engaged to commence the revision of the Act, with a roadmap agreed upon to have the law enacted by July 2015.
‘‘We agreed that we should come up with a law that would be fair for both parties as we try to promote transparency and accountability in the operations of the NGOs,’’ he said.
He commended Government for heeding the calls for consultation on the NGO Act as civil society organisations and the NGOs were partners in development complementing each other’s works.
He said the spirit that Government had exhibited to engage in consultation over the NGO Act should be extended to the Constitution making process.