Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Director Irene Petras has been crowned the 2011 Director of the Year by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango).
Petras, a lawyer and renowned Human Rights campaigner received the award at a ceremony organised by Nango at the NGO Directors’ Summer School, held in Kariba over the weekend.
The Directors’ Summer School is an annual Nango event, bringing together directors from NGOs operating in Zimbabwe to reflect on their work, discuss the way forward as civil society and issue statements targeted at the development of Zimbabwe, among other objectives. Petras said she felt humbled by the award and paid tribute to her team at ZLHR.
“This honour would not have been possible if it was not for the great team that I have all around the country, and the dedication, energy and enthusiasm that they show when going about the work of the organisation,” said Petras.
“We can take courage from the acknowledgement which our peers have provided to renew our strength and to serve our beneficiaries and stakeholders. There may be dark days ahead as we approach elections, but together I am sure we can continue to make a difference to the lives of our fellow Zimbabweans and to our country at large,” she said.
