Civil society in Zimbabwe continues to play a critical and irreplaceable role in service Cdelivery, humanitarian response, democratic accountability, and community resilience. At a time of deep economic strain and institutional transition, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) remain essential partners in sustaining livelihoods, protecting vulnerable populations, amplifying citizen voices, and supporting national development objectives. This Watch Report is produced at a moment of profound transformation for the sector. Legal and regulatory reforms, shifting donor priorities, economic volatility, and evolving global compliance regimes have converged to fundamentally reshape the operating environment for civil society. These dynamics have generated both heightened risk and new forms of adaptation, creating a complex landscape in which CSOs must navigate uncertainty while continuing to meet urgent community needs. The 2025 edition of the State of Civic Space in Zimbabwe builds on previous assessments while responding to an unprecedented convergence of regulatory reform and administrative uncertainty following the enactment of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act. It documents how these reforms are being experienced in practice—across regions,thematic areas, and organisational types—and examines their implications for civic space, organisational sustainability, and democratic participation.
State-of-Civil-Society-Operating-Environment-Watch-Report-2024-2025.pdf