Zimbabwe Passes Controversial NGO Bill

Zimbabwe's parliament passed a controversial bill on Thursday restricting foreign non-governmental organizations (NGO) involved in human rights work or issues of governance and cutting foreign funding to local groups engaged in similar work.

As reported by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), the bill, which provoked weeks of intensive debate and slammed by critics as draconian, was approved by 48 members and opposed by 28 lawmakers and was passed in the third reading in the 150-seat house.

One of four controversial bills being tabled in parliament, the NGO Bill seeks to repeal the Private Voluntary Organizations Act and establish new legislation that analysts have condemned as "patently unconstitutional, undemocratic and undesirable in a democratic country."

According to the Zimbabwe Independent news agency, the Bill grants the government extended powers to close down NGOs perceived to be critical of its policies by imposing