PVOs Bill must be shot down

ZIMBABWE is already regarded as an insecure destination for donor funding. Many donors will not bring funds to Zimbabwe if government goes ahead with the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Bill.

Government rhetoric suggests a donor-led regime change agenda is brewing and thus, government has generally been hostile to donor organisations.

However, there is no evidence to support that all these donors are interested in regime change.

There are many well-meaning donor countries and organisations that have continued to work in Zimbabwe despite the uncertainties to do with currency stability, unclear laws and heightened partisan-based polarisation.

The proposed law will bring forth a new wave of donor flight and this will further weaken the national development agenda of opening Zimbabwe for national, regional, and international business.

The non-State or civil society organisation space is a significant source of free funds.

According to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, in 2021 alone, free funds channelled into the Zimbabwean economy by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were US$975,16 million.

There is likely going to be a significant decline of these free funds if the Bill is passed.

The NGO sector is increasingly growing into a major source of employment for many graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions. This will be negatively affected if NGOs face closure due to the change in law.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) are globally recognised for credible innovations and leadership development.

Locally, innovations such as

Pfumbvudza and rainwater harvesting were first developed and piloted by NGOs before government adopted them.

Traditional systems such as “Zunde raMambo/isiphala seNkosi” have been further refined by NGOs to create community resilience.

The two were agrarian measures adopted by civil society to enhance food security in impoverished communities.

It cannot be overstated that the proposed Bill will poison the operating environment for civil society-based organisations.

There is need to go back to the drawing board and consult widely on best practice from practitioners, beneficiary communities and best practices from other countries.

Government must consider viable options which will be less destructive to CSOs’ operations.