CSOs REJECT NGO BILL

By NATION REPORTER

A CONSORTIUM of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), has urged the Government to halt its desire to proceed with the introduction of the proposed Non-Governmental Organisations Bill, 2025 because it lacks broad consensus and meaningful consultation with the very NGOs it seeks to regulate.

The CSOs say the media and NGOs had consistently rejected statutory regulatory mechanisms disguised as “self-regulation” because history had shown that such laws, though seemingly well-intentioned, were often weaponized to silence dissent and critical voices.

The CSOs included Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre – AIPAC, Zambian Civil Liberties Union – ZCLU, Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research, and Support-GEARS.

Others are Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes – SACCORD, Measures of Justice and Democracy Foundation, Zambian Institute of Governance and Civil Liberties Advocacates Platform and CLICK HERE TO READ MORE