EU Cuts Funding to Zimbabwe Over Controversial PVO Bill

By Shingirai Vambe

The European Union has made a significant decision regarding its funding to Zimbabwe, announcing that it will halt its planned 2025 funding following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signing of the contentious Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill into law. This move has sparked widespread concern and disappointment among human rights groups, civil society organizations, and international observers.

The PVO Amendment Bill, which was officially gazetted as Act No. 1 of 2025, introduces stringent regulations and oversight measures for civic groups and non-governmental organisations operating in Zimbabwe. The law grants the government sweeping powers to monitor and control the operations of these organizations, including scrutinizing their ownership structures, funding sources, and affiliations.

EU Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann expressed deep disappointment over the restrictions on civic space, stating that the decision to discontinue funding comes after the government failed to uphold its commitments under the Structured Dialogue Framework. The framework, designed to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Zimbabwe, emphasizes the importance of expanding civic space and promoting good governance.

Ambassador von Kirchmann highlighted Zimbabwe’s mounting debt, exceeding $21 billion in arrears to bilateral and multilateral creditors, and emphasized that the country’s governance promises were not upheld. He noted that the EU’s funding support was withdrawn after the government rushed the PVO Amendment Bill through, undermining Zimbabwe’s debt resolution and reform process.

The ambassador’s remarks on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) underscored the EU’s concerns about the implications of the new law on Zimbabwe’s civic space and governance. He emphasized that the EU remains open to reconsidering its position if the Zimbabwean government demonstrates a genuine commitment to meeting its governance obligations.

The PVO Amendment Bill has been widely criticized by human rights groups and civil society organizations, who argue that it could be used to suppress dissent and target organizations that challenge government policy or expose corruption. The law’s provisions, including the deregistration of organizations, seizure of assets, or dissolution of entities that breach the new provisions, have raised concerns about the government’s intentions and the potential impact on civic space.

The EU’s decision to halt funding is seen as a significant blow to Zimbabwe’s civic space and governance, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the criticism and concerns raised by the international community. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the implications of the PVO Amendment Bill will be far-reaching, and the international community will be watching closely to see how the government implements the new law and upholds its governance commitments.

About The Author

Post On Sunday

See author's posts