Transparency International Zambia says it is very saddened with the High Court Judgment pertaining to the deregistration of the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD).
TIZ Executive Director Goodwell Lungu in a statement released to QFM today says the whole episode of the intended deregistration is unfortunate and a wrong signal of the democratic standing of Zambia.
He says the judgment if unchallenged on appeal will set a bad precedent in terms of individuals Zambians enjoying their inalienable freedoms of associations and expression.
Mr Lungu says the verdict will further narrow the political space available for civil society organizations to participate freely in national development, adding that the judgment completely ignored Section 13(3) of the Societies Act which is specific in protecting and ensuring procedural fairness when it provides that prior to cancelling any registration under the provisions of section 13,the registrar shall notify his intention to the society concerned and shall give such society an opportunity to submit reasons why the registration should not be cancelled.
He says TIZ finds the ruling by the High Court as a perpetuation of the rather unfair and unfortunate antagonistic approach towards Civil Society Organizations by the current Government.
He adds that the ruling adds impetus to the continued victimization of civil society organizations particularly governance NGOs who constructively criticize Government for non-performance or poor prioritization of national development issues.
Mr Lungu further states that the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance in Zambia has reached a crossroad and therefore the deregistering any of the NGOs cripples the efforts and strides towards building a culture of transparency and integrity in Zambia.
He says SACCORD has been one of the few independent civil society organizations that was key in promoting good governance and conflict resolution and therefore throwing out the application by the high court is a drawback to the civil society fraternity.
QFM
