Zimbabwe

Overview

ICNL provides technical assistance to local partners on proposed amendments of key legislation affecting the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression. We have produced a practical guide to help organizers of gatherings, processions, and public demonstrations in Zimbabwe comply with the new Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, 2019. ICNL partners with organizations including the National Association of Youth Organizations to advocate for increased youth participation in civic space issues and associated law reform efforts, and the Media Institute of Southern Africa – Zimbabwe to respond to civic space constraints introduced in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Key Resources

Civic Freedom Monitor

ICNL’s Civic Freedom Monitor provides up-to-date information on legal issues affecting civil society and civic freedoms, including the freedoms of association, expression, and peaceful assembly. Read our Zimbabwe report here.

Practical Guide to Zimbabwe’s PVO Act (2025 Amendments)

This practical guide helps civil society organizations in Zimbabwe navigate recent changes to the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Act, which governs all PVOs in Zimbabwe. Amendments to the law came into effect in April 2025. The guide describes eight actions PVOs can take to strengthen their resiliency to continue operating under the law.

Read Here

Teal patterned background with map of Zimbabwe and text: "Zimbabwe’s Maintenance of Peace and Order Act: Ensuring Compliance by Organizers of Assemblies"

Practical Guide: Zimbabwe’s Maintenance of Peace and Order Act

Zimbabwe’s Maintenance of Peace and Order Act governs gatherings, processions, and public demonstrations and thus impacts the freedoms of assembly and expression in Zimbabwe. This Practical Guide highlights key steps and considerations for organizers (or “conveners”) of assemblies.

Read Here