The European Union (EU) has suspended its planned 2025 funding for Zimbabwe’s good governance initiatives in protest against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s approval of the controversial Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill.
The law has drawn widespread criticism for its potential to severely restrict the operations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The new legislation introduces extensive changes to Zimbabwe’s regulatory framework for civic groups and NGOs, granting authorities greater powers to monitor and control their operations.
This includes scrutinising funding sources and ownership structures, and enables the government to deregister organisations, seize assets or dissolve entities deemed non-compliant.
While government officials argue that the law is necessary to curb terrorism financing and money laundering, human rights groups and international observers have warned that it could stifle dissent and target organisations critical of government policies.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jobst von Kirchmann criticised the enactment of the law, stating that it undermines the country’s commitments to reforms outlined in its debt resolution process.
“It is disappointing to see that Zimbabwe has not upheld its own commitments under this process, particularly regarding the expansion of civic space,” von Kirchmann said in a social media post on Sunday.
Zimbabwe has over US$21 billion in debt and arrears with bilateral and multilateral creditors.
As part of efforts to resolve debt crisis, the Zimbabwe government initiated a commendable arrears clearance and debt resolution process under which it committed to extensive political reforms, among other things.
“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,” von Kirchmann said.
“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.” he added.
The EU’s decision to withhold funding marks a significant blow to Zimbabwe’s efforts to reengage with the international community.
The EU stressed that it remains open to reconsidering its position if Zimbabwe demonstrates a genuine commitment to meeting its governance obligations and addressing civil society concerns.
JN/APA