NGORA gives unlicensed, unregistered civil rights groups, NGOs till March 31 or face complete ban in Malawi

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Authority (NGORA) has given unlicensed, unregistered civil rights groups, NGOs till March 31, 2024, or face complete ban in Malawi

NGORA has also disclosed that will publish names of licenced organizations in the newspaper for the general public and service providers to be in the know.

The authority hinted that unregistered and unlicenced civil rights groups could be suspended or banned after March 31, 2025.

NGORA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edward Chileka Banda told a news conference in the capital, Lilongwe, on Tuesday, February 4 that NGOs and civil rights groups which are not complying with the law put the country at risk.

Chileka Banda clearly warned that only licensed NGOs will be allowed to operate in Malawi.

He therefore urged NGOs operating in the country to submit their reports and comply with licensing laws while underscoring the significant roles that NGOs play in the country.

“We recognize the significant role NGOs play in advancing Malawi’s development agenda. The contributions of these organizations, from enhancing healthcare and education to promoting human rights and sustainable development, are invaluable to our society.

“However, for this impact to be both meaningful and sustainable, we must ensure that all NGOs operate within the framework of our laws,” Banda said.

He stated that non-compliant organizations would be deterred from using district councils’ and banks’ services as a way of preventing them from operating without licenses.

Banda said names of all organisations operating in the country with valid licenses in 2025 will be published in newspapers to ensure the institution’s transparency and accountability.

He commended the notice made in November, which prompted other NGOs to comply with legal obligations.

“Following the public notice, a total of 121 NGOs complied with the directive; 55 NGOs registered with NGORA, 55 NGOs submitted their reports and 11 NGOs renewed their licenses,” he said.

According to Banda, out of 1,132 registered NGOs, only 553 organizations have submitted their reports, which include technical and financial audit statements.

Meanwhile, 649 organizations held valid licenses by the end of 2024, and only 167 NGOs have valid licenses for 2025.

According to Banda, the total reported income in the NGO sector for 2024 amounted to K734 billion.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.