CIVICUS discusses restrictions on civil society with Glanis Changachirere, founding director of the Institute for Young Women Development, a Zimbabwean civil society organisation (CSO) working for women’s rights and against structural inequalities.
On 11 April, the government of Zimbabwe enacted the 2025 Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act, granting authorities sweeping powers to suspend or deregister civil society organisations on vaguely defined security and public interest grounds. The new law forms part of the government’s ongoing campaign to restrict civic space and silence dissent. Civil society leaders particularly warn about provisions targeting human rights advocates, transparency watchdogs and accountability campaigners.