399 NGOs face accountability queries

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on-governmental Organisations Regulatory Authority (Ngora) has listed 399 NGOs, for failure to submit annual reports, including audited accounts and funding sources and has warned they risk consequences for non-compliance.

Youth and Society (YAS), Centre for the Development of People, Public Affairs Committee, Episcopal Conference of Malawi, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia Church and Society Programme, NGO Gender Coordination Network and Civil Society Agriculture Network are among the prominent ones making the list.

Ngora argues that it is only fulfilling its legal mandate and that all players have to be accountable, but some of the listed NGOs have accused the authority of being used by politicians to stifle the civic space.

In its analysis of compliance issues from 2021 based on audited financial reports submitted by 307 out of the registered 715 NGOs, Ngora said there was total expenditure of K412 billion compared to K244 billion in 2020 from the 228 NGOs that submitted their audited financial reports.

Reacting to Ngora calls, YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka yesterday said the current compliance levels reflect the actual measure of NGOs’ trust and confidence in the authority.

He accused Ngora of being used by politicians to oppress players in the NGO sector.

Kajoloweka said Ngora should invest in building trust with the NGO constituency it seeks to regulate, fix its internal integrity system and insulate itself from self-seeking and political manipulation.

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Gift Trapence said he was worried that Ngora continues to be politicised.

He claimed the authority was being used as a political tool by governing parties to shrink the civic space by silencing civil society.

Trapence, whose NGO Cedep is among the non-compliant ones, said: “HRDC is very worried with Mr. Voice Mhone’s [Ngora head] anti-civil society work, as such we are demanding his resignation or government should terminate his contract. He does not represent values of good democracy. We are accountable, always.

“He [Mhone] started fighting against civil society during the time of DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] by bringing these draconian laws which civil society managed to block through court injunction.”

But Mhone said he will not comment on the accusations as the list of non-compliant organisations and regulations were there for everyone to see.

He said: “It is very important for NGOs to be transparent and accountable. If that happens, it will be very easy for them to hold government accountable. We have the warnings, but also scheduled meetings for non-compliant NGOs.”

A notice published on Wednesday this week shows that Ngora will hold orientation meetings for all trustees and members of boards of non-compliant NGOs to tell them of their duties public accountability.

The meetings will take place between January 9 and 16 2023 in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Machinga.

Meanwhile, Council for Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi chairperson Kossam Munthali has called for soberness on the matter, saying all those involved should prioritise dialogue to bring an end to the mistrust.

He said the NGOs should appreciate the need for accountability by submitting reports while Ngora should not be used by politicians to stifle the civic space.

Under Section 22 of the 2014 NGO Act, which the report is based on, every registered NGO is supposed to submit audited annual financial statements, annual report outlining activities, annual return reflecting details of its trustees, directors, office bearers, auditors but also source of funding.

The revised Act of 2022 prescribes stiffer penalties for NGOs that do not comply with the law, which some NGOs have said are not in line with international standards and best practice.