On 11 April 2025, Zimbabwe officially gazetted the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill into law. This marks a major shift in how Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are regulated in the country. The Act, first reintroduced in Parliament on 1 March 2024, moved through all legislative stages despite ongoing concerns from CSOs about some of its provisions and their impact on civic space.
Throughout the process, CSOs engaged openly with the government, hoping to help shape a law that promotes both accountability and a supportive environment for civic work. CSOs have long been key partners in Zimbabwe’s development, contributing to governance, service delivery, and alignment with international standards. Contrary to popular belief, CSOs are not against regulation. They have always shown a willingness to cooperate with the government to ensure a clear and fair operational space.
As part of their engagement, CSOs submitted proposals to Parliament, met with the Minister of Justice, and responded to a call from the Attorney General to share feedback. At one point, the Attorney General even promised to arrange a meeting with the President to resolve outstanding concerns. However, the law was passed before these discussions could take place—disappointing many in the sector and undermining the spirit of inclusive dialogue.
Although the Act claims to promote a better working environment for PVOs, many of its provisions fall short. One major concern is the very short transition period. Section 14 of the schedule gives existing charitable organisations just 90 days to register under the new law. This is not enough time for most organisations, which often need to hold Annual General Meetings (AGMs), change their constitutions (with at least three months’ notice), complete audits, and consult with members and partners. Some may even need to dissolve or restructure existing trusts—steps that take time and legal support.
Initially, CSOs proposed a 12-month transition period. The Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare recommended nine months. Yet, the final law set the deadline at only 90 days, without explaining why. This rushed process risks disrupting the sector, causing legal confusion and potential non-compliance. It also conflicts with Section 68 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which guarantees fair and lawful administrative action.
Another problem is the lack of clarity in the registration process. The law does not outline how applications will be processed, how long decisions will take, or what organisations should do if their applications are rejected or they choose not to re-register. The Registrar has wide powers to demand extra requirements at any time, which could lead to endless delays. Additionally, the new standard constitution model fails to reflect the diversity of CSOs, especially those that are not membership-based.
Public consultations on the Bill also raised concerns. Hearings held in May 2024 were disrupted in cities like Harare, Gweru, Masvingo, and Chinhoyi. Citizens were blocked from participating, and some hearings were abandoned. Still, the Portfolio Committee managed to compile a report with feedback from those who were able to take part.
The law-making process itself also faced issues. Changes made in the National Assembly were not included in the version passed by the Senate in October 2024. These were only partly fixed in February 2025, highlighting poor coordination and transparency in finalising the law.
Beyond legal issues, CSOs have played a vital role in Zimbabwe’s development. They have supported humanitarian efforts, promoted human rights, and worked with the government on health, education, economic development, and disaster response. As Zimbabwe moves from the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) to NDS2, strong partnerships with CSOs will remain critical.
CSOs have also supported international development goals and taken part in key reform processes, such as the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution initiative. Worryingly, the new law may affect Zimbabwe’s performance on global governance indicators. By April 2025, the country had already dropped in nine of sixteen indicators on the Mo Ibrahim Index—an outcome that could worsen if civic space continues to shrink.
Although the Act claims to support PVO operations, many of its provisions create legal confusion, administrative burdens, and restrictions that could prevent CSOs from carrying out their work effectively. If not improved during implementation, the Act could harm Zimbabwe’s democratic growth and development progress.
Zimbabwean CSOs remain committed to transparency, accountability, and national development. They call on the government to reopen inclusive dialogue to ensure that their work is not disrupted. As NANGO, we believe that a strong, independent, and empowered civil society is essential to Zimbabwe’s success—not only in delivering services but in building trust, encouraging innovation, and making sure no one is left behind.
The Summit of the Future 2024 is an essential event for tackling global issues and shaping international collaboration. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe have a pivotal role in influencing the summit’s outcomes and advocating for a civic space where fundamental freedoms are upheld.
CSOs Advocate for a More Equitable Future
CSOs in Zimbabwe are calling for a future that is built on principles of human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Their key messages for the Summit include:
Human Rights and Social Justice: We advocate for the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable populations in all decision-making processes. Our emphasis is on the need for policies that address social inequities and promote justice. The Pact and Declarations should include strong commitments to protect human rights including freedom of expression, assembly, and protection from discrimination.
Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability: We urge the Summit to prioritise urgent climate action, with concrete commitments to reduce emissions, support renewable energy, and protect biodiversity. Emphasis is placed on Governments and the UN to prioritise environmental sustainability, poverty eradication, and sustainable cities and communities in their development trajectory.
Peace and Security: Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding are paramount. We advocate for measures to prevent conflicts and support peacebuilding efforts, including addressing root causes such as inequality and lack of access to resources. The UN and its member states should promote initiatives aimed at disarmament, particularly the elimination of nuclear weapons, and support for international treaties and agreements on arms control.
Universal Health Access and Pandemic Preparedness: Declarations should be made for investments in public health systems to ensure they are resilient and capable of responding to pandemics and other health crises. We advocate for equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and healthcare services, especially for the poor and marginalized communities.
Economic Justice and Inclusive Growth: The UN and member states should promote fair trade practices and the protection of labour rights, ensuring decent work and economic opportunities for all. We call for policies that address economic inequality, including progressive taxation, social protection measures, and resolution of debt distress especially in many African countries.
Technology and Digital Inclusion: The digital divide must be bridged, ensuring access to digital technologies and the internet for all, particularly in remote areas. Ethical frameworks for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are necessary to prevent exacerbating inequalities and ensure they benefit all societies.
Strengthening Multilateralism and Global Governance: The Summit should emphasise the need for inclusive multilateralism. There is a need for an inclusive and participatory approach to global governance, where CSOs and other non-state actors have a meaningful voice. This calls for reform of international institutions to make them more democratic, transparent, and responsive to global challenges.
Protection of Civic Space: There is a need for international resolutions that advocate for legal frameworks protecting the rights of civil society actors. This includes ensuring freedoms of association, expression, and peaceful assembly. The future we want should have established civil dialogue mechanisms that facilitate open communication between civil society, governments, partners, and international bodies.
The Summit is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.
This once-in-a-generation opportunity serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively tackle current challenges as well as those that have emerged in recent years or may yet be over the horizon.
We already have the “what” in the form of many existing agreements and commitments, starting with the UN Charter and including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and many others.
The Summit of the Future will look at the “how” – how do we cooperate better to deliver on the above aspirations and goals? How do we better meet the needs of the present while also preparing for the challenges of the future?