By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – The Government of Mozambique plans to centrally coordinate the activities of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) through the Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD). Although it remains unclear how this coordination will be implemented, the move is raising concerns among civil society leaders, who fear potential government interference in their operations.
Government spokesperson, the Minister of State Administration and Public Service, Inocêncio Impissa, stated on Tuesday in the city of Lichinga that the Government wishes to be involved in managing the support received by NGOs, ensuring that resources effectively reach local communities.
“There seems to be an appetite among some NGOs to choose where they want to operate and carry out their actions. On our part, there has not been a unit to coordinate the distribution of NGO partner activities,” said Impissa.
The Government has yet to clarify how it intends to manage and distribute NGO operations. A legal framework is expected to define the terms. However, Paula Monjane, Director of the Centre for Learning and Capacity Building of Civil Society (CESC), told MOZTIMES that such coordination must not become a tool for control or a restriction of NGO autonomy.
“The Government does have a role in coordinating activities within its territory, but that should not translate into interference in the autonomy of civil society organisations,” Monjane said. “The Government is trying to silence critical voices and control resources, under the belief that NGOs receive excessive funding,” she added.
The relationship between the Mozambican Government and NGOs, particularly those involved in governance monitoring, has long been marked by mutual distrust. The Executive accuses some organisations of serving foreign interests, often using such allegations to justify tighter control over their activities.
On the other hand, NGOs have consistently exposed corruption and poor public resource management by the Government, bringing to light irregularities committed by officials.
Augusta Atija, Provincial Delegate of the Mozambican Association of Women in Legal Careers (AMMCJ) in Cabo Delgado, told MOZTIMES that the Government lacks the capacity to manage the aid received by NGOs.
“There are clear shortcomings in the Government’s management of humanitarian aid. Between 2022 and 2023, we recorded cases of diverted assistance intended for families resettled due to terrorism,” Atija said.
Government efforts to control NGOs are not new. In September 2022, the Council of Ministers approved a draft law aimed at regulating the creation, structure, and functioning of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), under the stated objective of combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
The proposal sparked concerns within civil society, where many saw it as an attempt to increase control and silence dissenting voices.
The draft law was submitted to Parliament and went through a public consultation period between 6 and 16 February 2023. As of now, no official information has confirmed whether the proposal has been approved or rejected.
In the current political climate, where the opposition parties struggle to consolidate themselves, NGOs continue to play a vital role beyond development aid, especially in defending human rights and monitoring governance. (NM)
