Update: ZEC & NGO Bills

Both the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission & Non-Governmental Organisations Bills went through Committee Stage last night/this morning, after much resistance from the MDC benches and many Divisions, and both are referred to PLC for the Amendments passed. It has been misreported in today's "Herald" that MDC has agreed to the Bills - this is very far from the truth! We were out-voted on every Amendment proposed by our side - and we proposed extensive Amendments to both Bills.

There has been no major amendment to either Bill. It is expected that Parliament will not sit next week (post-Budget week), so the Bills are unlikely to be passed before Tuesday 7 December at the earliest, unless in an unusual move they are pushed through after the Budget tomorrow.

Indeed the much-touted Amendment to NGO Bill on "Governance" to apply only to first-generation human rights issues was WITHDRAWN by Minister Paul Mangwana last night! Now ALL "NGOs" involved in human rights work and governance issues will be banned from receiving foreign funding.

Parliament is not sitting today, but will reconvene for the Budget presentation tomorrow afternoon.