Coverage of NGO Bill The Bill encompasses just about every conceivable organisation or association involved in civic work, including humanitarian assistance, social assistance and legal aid. It also covers organisations set up as trusts. An organisation is only a local organisation if it consists exclusively of citizens or permanent residents of Zimbabwe domiciled in Zimbabwe. If a local organisation has only one non-Zimbabwean on its board or a Zimbabwean who is not domiciled in Zimbabwe, it will be treated as a foreign NGO. Principal target The main target of this legislation is NGOs whose activities involve promotion & protection of human rights and issues of governance. No local NGO can receive foreign funding or donations to carry out activities involving or including the promotion and protection of human rights and issues of political governance. No foreign NGO can be registered if its sole or principal objects involve or include these activities. Most foreign NGOs such as Konrad Adenaur and Friedrich Ebert Foundation will have to close down as they are all deeply involved in human rights and governance issues. An NGO can only lawfully operate if the Council registers it. An NGO must renew its registration annually. It is a criminal offence for persons to take part in management or control of an NGO knowing it is operating without being registered. (The maximum sentence is 3 months in prison). NGOs registered under the old Act are deemed to be registered under the new Act. An NGO not previously registered can only continue to operate if it obtains registration under the new legislation in respect of the objects for which it was constituted. 6