A statement from Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said that Maluleke was “flanked by the Assistant Provincial Policing Officer, Deputy Provincial CIO boss and Assistant Provincial Administrator Chitsika when he read the riot act to the NGOs”.
Maluleke, according to the CiZC, said that such meetings would be held every month.
In February 2012 Maluleke banned 29 NGOs in Masvingo.
“NGO leaders who attended the meeting were reportedly subjected to a roll call where they were called one after another and coerced to reveal their work plans and partners. They were also told that from now onwards they should work with government departments and the security sector in all their projects,” reads the CiCZ report.
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Coordinator, Gamuchirai Mukura, said: “We were told that NGOs should now work with the district police officers and line ministries in implementing our programs.
He added: “They told us they are going to be monitoring our donors and what programs we are being funded for and what programs we are doing saying NGOs should not be involved in election related programs.”
Mukura said this latest development was an attempt to cramp NGOs as the country heads for the constitutional referendum on 16 March and harmonised elections expected later this year.
“These series of meetings will clearly be used as a platform to strangle and suffocate NGO work in Masvingo ahead of the forthcoming elections. The dimension the crackdown is taking has become multi-faceted in order for the ploy to be successful,” said Mukura.
Maluleke’s action comes hard on the heels of the raiding and arrests of civic society offices and employees by the police.
Affected NGOs include the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, Zimbabwe Election Support Network, COTRAD and the Zimbabwe Peace Project.
The CiZC report said the actions by Maluleke and widespread raids on NGOs could have been triggered by a resolution made by Zanu (PF) at its 13th Annual National People’s Conference in Gweru in December 2012.
The party resolved to urge government to shut down all NGOs seeking regime change by working to remove President Robert Mugabe from power.
“In a closely related development, a humanitarian organisation which gives food relief to the vulnerable communities, CARE Zimbabwe International has reportedly suspended its activities in Chivi District in Masvingo Province.
“The Non-Governmental Organisation reportedly cited some complications and hurdles in dealing with the Masvingo Provincial Administrator’s office in a development which could see many families being exposed to hunger,” reads the CiZC.
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