We trust you all had a good and restful holiday and you are rejuvenated to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the year 2023. We officially resumed our operations across all regions today, the 9th of January 2023, and we are ready for yet another busy but promising year. The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) Board and Secretariat would like to express their profound gratitude to you for the great commitment and support demonstrated throughout the year 2022. The year 2022 was certainly a year like no other. Not only for NANGO but for all Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), 2022 was one of the most challenging years, cognisant of the experiences, complexities, and anxieties that we were subjected to owing to diverse factors, chief among them being the shrinking civic space.
On the socio-economic side, the economy has been confronted with various challenges, which include price and exchange rate instability, low investment, high inflation, multiple exchange rates, unsustainable debt levels, ineffective control of public spending, and limited structural transformation. Despite these challenges, we are proud of the results we achieved as NANGO and you, our members towards the betterment of the lives of the general populace. We appreciate the firmness and resilience you demonstrated in very difficult circumstances. You remain unwavering in the quest to address the various needs of the people of Zimbabwe.
As we begin 2023, we note that the threat of the closure of civic space is still with us with the passing of the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Amendment Bill at the National Assembly. As a result, defending and improving civic space in pursuit of an enabling CSO operating environment will remain a top priority for the year. We note the need to strengthen civil society voices and enhance coordination, convening, and collaboration amongst CSOs, with the imperative to strengthen CSO impact and operational efficiencies. Improving NANGO’s value proposition to its membership as a convener and coordinating organization as well as making the NANGO brand more attractive to Zimbabwean CSOs can never be overemphasised.
This year, we also seek to further strengthen NANGO the institution to become a solid platform for advocacy, lobbying, and policy influencing in matters related to the CSO operating environment as well as national development issues. We envision an NGO sector that will increasingly converge and develop a unified voice in the quest to influence policies, laws, regulations, and funding practices that have a bearing on the civil society operating environment in the country. We aspire to better connect, convene and coordinate diverse groups of NGOs in Zimbabwe through the creation of spaces and platforms for experience sharing, mutual learning, multistakeholder engagement, linking networks, and alliances as well as strengthening civic voices.
It is equally imperative to keep the government accountable to its promises and commitments for political and socio-economic turnaround and reforms. Thus, we encourage you to play your critical role pre, during, and post-elections to ensure free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections. We encourage you to effectively contribute towards electoral integrity during the upcoming elections. However, we continue to encourage all our members to stick to our non-partisan character, remain within our mandate, and acquire the necessary accreditation to conduct elections-related work.
We are only able to achieve our vision through your continued support. Here is to a prosperous 2023! We look forward to working together in the new year.
