President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned non-governmental organisations (NGOs) against meddling in politics, saying the Government will not hesitate to deregister them.
He made the remarks while addressing ZANU PF supporters during a star rally at Siabuwa Business Centre on Saturday in Binga District to drum up support for Kuda Munsaka, the ruling party’s aspiring candidate for Binga North National Assembly seat in the March 26 by-elections.
He said NGOs that are bent on destabilising the prevailing peace, unity and harmony through dabbling in politics will be kicked out of the country. He said:
Each and every NGO has been given a mandate, but when they start doing things outside their mandate, it’s now politics. We want to remind you that as Zanu-PF, we are the ruling party and what about you? We simply say to you leave our country and there is nothing that you can do about it because we have the powers to do.
His remarks come amid debates on the Private Voluntary Organisation Amendment Bill which was gazetted last year in November which, among other things, seeks to ensure that NGOs do not meddle in politics.
Critics say the BIll is vague and will potentially result in the shrinking of the democratic space as what amounts to meddling in politics is not clearly defined.
More: The Chronicle