IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSES TO COVID 19 ON CSOs IN ZIMBABWE

BACKGROUND
Like several other sectors in Zimbabwe including
business and public service, civil society
organisations are greatly affected by the COVID19 pandemic. They are also affected by the
mechanisms that the government in Zimbabwe
has put in place to contain the spread of the
virus.
CHALLENGES FOR CSOs
To begin with, civil society organisations were
not recognised as essential services, which
seriously compromised the sector’s ability to run
its programmes, respond to the crisis and serve
the target beneficiaries. Although some civil
society organisations targeted essential service
sectors like media and health, the interpretation
of essential services in terms of the regulations
did not apply to them. Further, due to the
restrictions in public gatherings, CSO
programmes that needed physical meetings
were also affected. Some civil society
organisations worked with groups in rural and
marginalised communities and due to the
restrictions in movement, engaging or assisting
such groups was not possible at the time.

Further, although some activities could be
implemented
virtually
for
instance
consultations, engagements, report launches or
trainings, challenges relating to internet access
and affordability affected the use of such
alternative tools and platforms.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CSOs
The government’s responses to COVID-19 also
provided opportunities for CSOs in Zimbabwe to
collaborate with the government. This was done
in several ways including the following:
•
•

•

•

CSOs assisted in the monitoring and
documentation of COVID-19 statistics
CSOs were also critical in disseminating
COVID-19 information and ensuring this
information had a wider reach.
Due to the abundance of information
and the prevalence in misinformation,
CSOs played a critical role in information
verification and fact checking trainings
CSOs also ensured that government
responses were gender sensitive and
also catered for the specific
requirements
of
people
with
disabilities.

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