PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has literally sounded the death knell for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) by signing the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill into law.
The legislation could spell the doom for the NGO sector in Zimbabwe, which is struggling after US President Donald Trump paused aid under his Make America Great plan, an inward-looking programme that seeks to put Americans first.
The PVO Bill had sailed through the Senate in October last year.
Although toned down a bit compared to the initial Bill, the Act will have a devastating ripple effect across the country.
European Union’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann said it “is disappointing” to see that the country has not upheld its commitments under the arrears clearance process, “particularly regarding the expansion of civic space”.
“The enactment of the PVO Amendment Bill, without concluding consultations to address the concerns of civil society organisations, has further reinforced negative trends in governance. As a consequence, the European Union has decided to discontinue its planned targeted 2025 funding in support of the government’s good governance initiatives under the structured dialogue framework,” the diplomat posted on X on Saturday.
The EU supports several key institutions, such as Parliament and marginalised groups.
Funding to these groups is under threat.
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The NGO sector has been plugging the holes created by low tax revenue, which has seen the government failing to fund critical sectors.
Mnangagwa’s signature brings to an end a controversial process after suspected Zanu PF supporters disrupted the Bill's public hearings in what analysts said was choreographed with the ultimate goal of silencing perceived government critics.
The second republic has been bragging about being a reformist, saying it is different from its predecessor.
This single act displays its true colours despite claiming to be wearing a “reform jacket”.
Plans to clamp down on NGOs began in the first administration when the late former President Robert Mugabe equated them to regime change agents.
But despite his misforgivings about the sector, Mugabe refused to sign the then NGO Bill into law after it had sailed through Parliament.
There is no doubt that this administration intends to silence dissent as the trigger-happy cabal pushes for the extension of Mnangagwa’s stay by two years to 2030.
With the assent, the administration has completed the annihilation of perceived critics. It decimated the opposition to the extent that it has become a mirror image of the ruling Zanu PF party.
The administration’s eyes are trained on civil society organisations that have been a thorn in its flesh, debunking government lies and, in some instances, exposing human rights violations.
The legislation has been topical in the country’s arrears clearance and debt resolution plan being championed by African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina.
It was part of the governance reforms — the housekeeping issues that accompany the arrears clearance and debt resolution plan — alongside economic reforms and compensation for former farm owners, including those whose land was protected under the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements.
When the structured dialogue collapses, the blame should fall squarely on Mnangagwa for his act of political expediency. He has waded into a territory that the reviled Mugabe feared to tread.
