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Leaders of Zimbabwe national NGO platform arrested in November aquitted

7 December 2009

At the beginning of November 2009, Bond expressed its deep concern at the arrest of two representatives of the Zimbabwe national NGO platform, NANGO. Fortunately on 25 November, after a short trial, both Dadirai Chikwengo and Cephas Zinhumwe were acquitted on all charges. However, it remains worrying that civil society activists are targeted in this way and we will continue to monitor developments, not only in Zimbabwe but elsewhere.

Background to the story

NANGO Board Chairperson, Dadirai Chikwengo, and Chief Executive Officer, Cephas Zinhumwe, were arrested at the end of October after publishing a statement at the conclusion of a meeting of NGO directors, calling on the Zimbabwean government to fulfil its agreed commitments to action on a people-driven constitutional reform process, improvements in social service delivery, the facilitation of institutional reforms and the creation of economic stability. They were subsequently released on bail and are due in court on 25 November.

The NANGO representatives were arrested under Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act which bans the holding of political meetings without police clearance.

Commenting on the arrests, NANGO spokesperson Godwin Phiri stressed that NGOs have "the right to a voice on policy developments and decisions, the right to participate in political discourse, the right to monitor and comment on the governance process as watchdogs, and to speak up for and with the voiceless; the minorities and other vulnerable groups."

NANGO represents over 1,000 NGOs in Zimbabwe and works to support a thriving NGO sector and a positive enabling environment for civil society organisations.

These arrests are part of the recent rise in restrictions on the work of NGOs and the harassment of civil society and human rights activists in many countries around the world. The existence and effective functioning of civil society relies on guarantees of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly. When these freedoms are restricted, NGOs are less able to fulfil their vital functions in holding governments to account, protecting human rights, advocating for excluded groups, and providing essential services.

For more information on NANGO contact:

Godwin Phiri NANGO Board Secretary +263 11 396073 or Fambai Ngirande + 263 4708761.

For more information on Bond's work on an enabling environment for NGOs, please email the Bond Advocacy team.

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