THE National Association of Non-governmental Organisations (NANGO), the official co-ordinating and representative body for Zimbabwe’s civil society sector, has resumed operations outlining a year of intensified support for members amid a tight regulatory and funding climate.
In a 2026 welcome message, NANGO executive director Ernest Nyimai reaffirmed the association’s core mandate to strengthen, represent and co-ordinate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) even as the operating environment grows complex and challenging.
The government last year passed a law that seeks to regulate NGOs and civic society organisations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe, with observers saying the legislation will curtail their activities.
“NANGO remains steadfast in its mandate to co-ordinate, represent and strengthen the civil society sector in Zimbabwe,” Nyimai said.
He said CSOs in Zimbabwe were bracing for a tough 2026 amid regulatory shifts, political, socio-economic uncertainties, shrinking development financing and deepening social challenges.
“As we embark on 2026, we remain acutely aware that the operating environment for CSOs in Zimbabwe and beyond continues to evolve in complex and often challenging ways,” he said.
A central concern highlighted by Nyimai was the ongoing partial implementation of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act.
Nyimai said critical components, including the gazetting of regulations, the reconstitution of the PVO Board and the establishment of a registrar’s office, were outstanding.
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“In addition, a significant backlog of registration applications remains unresolved. For many organisations in transition, this situation has generated heightened anxiety, uncertainty and frustration as they seek to regularise their legal status.
“These realities underscore the continued importance of sustained and constructive engagement with regulators, alongside the provision of practical compliance guidance and strengthened sector-wide co-ordination.”
The operational environment is further strained by what NANGO describes as a “growing mismatch between needs and resources”.
He said shifts in global development financing, donor realignment and domestic budgetary pressures were affecting the sector in Zimbabwe.
Concurrently, Zimbabwe grapples with high unemployment, rising substance abuse, worsening mental health and deepening poverty all intensifying demand for CSO services.
“These challenges have intensified demand for CSO intervention at a time when available resources are increasingly constrained.
“We are called not only to adapt, but to innovate, collaborate and collectively safeguard civic space,” Nyimai said.
He underscored the urgency of exploring new partnerships and domestic resource mobilisation.
To address these sector-wide issues, NANGO announced a number of flagship initiatives for 2026 including the third CSO Symposium for World NGO Day, a dedicated CSO Capacity Development Programme, regional NGO expos and the 16th Annual NGO Directors’ Summer Retreat.
The association will also continue its “Talk to Your Regulator” sessions and compliance clinics to help members to navigate the legal landscape.
