CSO’s have called on President Lazarus Chakwera not to assent to the recently passed NGO Amendment Bill of 2022

Over 40 local and international organisations met in Lilongwe and have called on President Lazarus Chakwera not to assent to the recently passed NGO Amendment Bill of 2022. The CSOs under the coordination of Youth and Society (YAS), Centre for Human Rights Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) note that the bill contains problematic provisions which if passed into law will seriously suffocate active citizenship and operations of the CSOs.

The bill does not pass the test of the constitution and international law. For example, under the bill, it is a criminal offense for CSOs to engage in political governance issues in what it is called “politicking”. Again, the Trustees and Directors of NGOs risk a two year imprisonment and 5 million kwacha fine for merely not submitting their annual reports. Such sanctions are punitive and inconsistent with international human rights law. These are but just two examples, there are several of such dangerous provisions in the bill. We trust the president will send the bill back to the Parliament