By Own Correspondent

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has bemoaned the shrinking Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) space on the back of calls for the sector to remain vigilant.

Delivering his keynote address at the CSO Symposium Commemorating World NGO Day 2025 hosted by NANGO in the capital of Harare, ZCTU Acting Secretary General Runesu Dzimiri said CSOs are currently operating under very tough times.

The event was held under the theme “Strength in Solidarity: Celebrating NGO’s Impact and Building Financial Sustainability.

It was noted that the theme is in sync with the labour impression of freedom as a universal concept. The theme calls for the full realisation of organisations’, citizens’ and workers’ rights. It emphasises the ideals for all of humanity to be sustainable, realise and enjoy unity and freedom in all spheres of life including in labour.

Dzimiri said “It is with a heavy heart that we commemorate NGO’s Day 2025, when the CSO’s are facing an existential threat.

“The onslaught from right wing governments in Europe and the USA is posing serious viability challenges for local NGO’s as they are cutting their financial aid. “Owing to our lack of domestic capacity to finance NGO work, the far right cyclone requires us to think outside the box and carve both financial and social sustainability strategies,” he said.

The local political climate is increasingly becoming precarious by the day as the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Bill which is basically a chainsaw hanging over the heads of NGO’s. If passed, the bill threatens to annihilate the operations of NGO’s by criminalising their work and imposition of punitive measures including imprisonment.

NGO’s which have a watchdog role over the government would then be silenced.

“We will have no one to speak out against human rights violations, constitutional violations etc. Even labour rights which are under siege will be exterminated if the bill passes.” We now need to come up with a serious broad alliance to defend our turf. We now need solidarity with each other more than ever before. It is our demand that the government starts to respect workers’ rights because workers’ rights are human rights” Dzimiri added.