Zimbabwe has 35 000 non-governmental organisations, more than the size of the country’s army, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi told the people of Mt Darwin today.
The figure had earlier been mentioned by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri.
Previous reports have said there are just over 1 000 NGOs. A 2014 study by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations and the European Union said there were 993 registered NGOs.
The Zimbabwe National Army is reported to have 30 000 members and 22 000 reserves.
Mohadi queried why there were so many NGOs because though they were supposedly non-governmental they paid allegiance to the governments that funded them.
Mohadi said the NGOs and Western governments were destabilising the country and he asked what was so special about the country.
He asked the West to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration space to build the country adding that history was replete with examples of how the West had destroyed other nations by decimating Red Indians in the United States and Maoris in New Zealand.
Mohadi called on the people to be vigilante because there were some Zimbabweans who were selling out the country for financial gain but he vowed that the country would never be recolonised as long as those who fought for the liberation of the country were still alive.
All the top four in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front: Mnangagwa, Constantino Chiwenga, Mohadi and Muchinguri are former liberation fighters.
Ed: Help us understand: Does Zimbabwe have 35 000 NGOs or just over 1 000?
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