Zimbabwe's civic space is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent years, with civil society organisations (CSOs) grappling with restrictive legislation, funding shortages, administrative hurdles and increased scrutiny of their activities, according to a new report released by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango) and Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights).
The report, titled State of Civic Space in Zimbabwe Watch Report (2024–2025), provides an assessment of the operating environment for CSOs between January and December 2025 and concludes that civic freedoms remained under sustained pressure throughout the year.
According to the report, implementation of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act, continued application of the Patriot Act and significant donor funding reductions combined to create an increasingly difficult environment for organisations working in governance, human rights, media freedom and accountability.
"In 2025, the civic space, both online and offline in Zimbabwe, remained under sustained pressure, driven by restrictive legal reforms, administrative paralysis, shrinking financial resources, and the increasing securitisation of civil society work," the report stated.
The report identifies the implementation of the PVO Amendment Act, which came into effect on April 11, 2025, as a major source of uncertainty within the sector.
According to the findings, the law's implementation has been characterised by delays, uncertainty and inconsistent application, creating widespread concern among organisations about their legal status and future operations.
Nine months after the law came into force, at least 325 registration applications reportedly remained pending, with no publicly confirmed approvals recorded by early 2026.
The report argues that the delays have left many organisations operating in legal uncertainty, affecting their ability to plan programmes, secure funding and maintain operational stability.
Nango and ZimRights also reported that fear of regulatory action has led to increased self-censorship within the sector, particularly among organisations working on governance, elections, accountability and human rights issues.
The report alleges that some organisations have faced surveillance, disruptions to meetings, selective enforcement of regulations and delays in obtaining operational approvals.
Media organisations and media-support groups were also highlighted as being particularly affected by enforcement of the Cyber and Data Protection Act.
"Media and media-support organisations were subjected to criminalisation under the Cyber and Data Protection Act of 2021," the report said.
"This law has been widely interpreted and implemented to criminalise freedom of expression and journalism under the guise of protecting cyber-security and personal data."
Women's rights organisations were identified as facing additional challenges, with the report noting that some activists had experienced intimidation and threats linked to their advocacy work.
Beyond regulatory concerns, the report highlights the significant financial strain placed on civil society following reductions in international donor support, particularly after the suspension of certain United States foreign aid programmes in early 2025.
According to the report, Zimbabwe experienced funding losses exceeding US$388 million annually, including more than US$90 million previously allocated to HIV-related programmes.
"The impact was severe and immediate, resulting in programme closures and downsizing, retrenchment of thousands of CSO staff, weakened public health and community systems, and heightened organisational vulnerability," the report stated.
Many organisations surveyed reported operating with significantly reduced budgets, while some community-based groups were relying almost entirely on volunteer support to sustain activities.
The report warns that the combined effects of legal uncertainty, financial constraints and operational challenges have disproportionately affected grassroots organisations, advocacy groups, women-led organisations and youth-led initiatives.
To address the situation, Nango and ZimRights called for reforms aimed at strengthening civic participation and institutional resilience.
Among their recommendations are amendments to the PVO Amendment Act, review of the Patriot Act, stronger protections for journalists, human rights defenders and civil society actors, as well as greater transparency and due process in the enforcement of laws affecting civic activities.
The organisations also urged authorities to avoid treating civic and humanitarian work as a security issue and instead foster an environment that enables constructive engagement between government and civil society.
The report comes amid ongoing debate over the state of civic freedoms in Zimbabwe, with governance and human rights groups arguing that stronger protections for freedom of association, expression and participation are essential for democratic development and public accountability.
- newsday
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