Following events unfolding in trying to set new systems of regulating Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi, one would wonder whether the new policies and regulations being put in place are means of punishing NGOs or silencing them.

Recently, Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare in consultation with the NGO Board of Malawi raised annual fees for NGOs by almost 1900 percent. In addition, government rushed with implementing the validation workshop on the Draft NGO Policy despite NGOs resolved at the 2017 CONGOMA Annual General meeting to postpone the validation till early 2018 to give more room for input and rectify some sections that deem not NGO friendly once implemented. Furthermore, government through the Ministry of Gender also produced an amendment of the NGO Act (2000) without consultations a situation which raised eyebrows among NGOs and so far, the amendment has been withdrawn and will go through the Malawi Law Commission process.

These developments have not been digested well by the Civil Society Organisations as many are of the view that once government becomes adamant and proceeds with the current hiked fees, implement the NGO policy which gives more powers to government then most NGOs would be shut down.

Commenting on this, former Board Chairperson of Council for Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi Mac Bain Mkandawire said that with the current pace, NGOs would likely to close down.

“NGOs are at risk of being closed because the fees are too exorbitant. Furthermore, the NGO Policy which is to be implemented gives more powers to NGO Board rather CONGOMA meaning NGOs wouldn’t question the operations of NGO Board, hence the Policy will be used against NGOs. Coming to the NGO Act, I was privileged to see the draft amended Act and I noted that the Act recognises NGO Board only implying removing powers of CONGOMA in electing representatives at NGO Board. This will result in having political figure heads representing at NGO Board, as such NGOs will be policed rather being regulated and in the long run killing space of Civil Society Organisations in the country”, explained Mkandawire with passion.

Conquering with Mkandawire, Executive Director of Youth And Society Charles Kajolowereka described CSOs space as struggling and he called upon all CSOs to unite and protect the space of NGOs before things turned out of hand.

“Civil Society in Malawi is a struggling space and under threat because there a number of issues that are standing in our way of progress of civil society. It is not easy to operate as civil societies but still have the remnants that we still stand by the values of civil society and willing to protect the space. The current state of civil society space is shrinking by each day current examples being fee hike by NGO Board, the draft of NGO Policy and the attempt to amend the NGO Act. These are critical issues that have a bearing of civil society space and we need to bang heads and give a position as organisations under CNGOMA” stressed Kajolowereka.

Reacting to this, Presidential Advisor on Civil Society Mavuto Bamusi refuted sentiments of having CSOs space under threat. He said that presently NGOs freely express themselves in the media and some even hold demonstrations in the country without government interfering.

“NGOs have access to information, they freely express themselves in the media, utter negative comments about the current government, some NGOs even small have been holding demonstrations in the country without government interfering”, explained Bamusi.

Meanwhile, government is yet to respond to concerns from NGOs on the unreasonable fees hike as NGOs in Malawi agreed not to pay new hiked fees to NGO Board. But will government going to rescind its decision on the fees hike?