EU Halts 2025 Governance Funding to Zimbabwe Over Controversial NGO Law

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The European Union (EU) has decided to halt its planned 2025 financial support for Zimbabwe’s good governance programs in response to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signing of the controversial Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill.

The legislation has faced widespread backlash for potentially placing severe restrictions on the activities of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It significantly alters the legal environment for civic groups in Zimbabwe, giving authorities expanded powers to oversee and regulate NGO operations. This includes the ability to investigate funding sources and ownership, as well as deregister, dissolve, or seize the assets of organisations deemed non-compliant.

While Zimbabwean officials claim the bill aims to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, critics—including human rights organisations and international observers—warn that it may be used to silence dissent and target groups critical of government actions.

EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jobst von Kirchmann, condemned the law, saying it undermines the reform promises Zimbabwe made as part of its debt relief strategy. “It is disappointing that Zimbabwe has failed to uphold its own reform commitments, especially those related to expanding civic space,” von Kirchmann stated in a social media post on Sunday.

Zimbabwe currently owes over USD 21 billion in debt and arrears to both bilateral and multilateral lenders. In its bid to resolve this crisis, the government had launched an ambitious debt resolution and arrears clearance program, which included pledges to implement broad political reforms.

Von Kirchmann noted that passing the PVO Amendment Bill without completing dialogue with civil society only worsens the country’s governance issues. “As a result, the EU has chosen to withdraw its planned 2025 funding for governance initiatives under the structured dialogue framework,” he added.

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This move by the EU deals a major setback to Zimbabwe’s attempts to rebuild ties with the global community. However, the EU indicated it would be open to revisiting the decision should Zimbabwe show a sincere effort to honor its governance commitments and engage meaningfully with civil society.