derick.khumalo
Gibson Mhaka
[email protected]
THE National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) has said its annual NGO Expo and Winter School has become a key platform for showcasing the impact of civil society organisations while strengthening partnerships that enhance national development.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NANGO Western Region NGO Expo and Winter School 2026, held under the theme, “Fortifying Inclusive Civic Spaces and Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Maximise Development Impact,” at the Large City Hall Car Park in Bulawayo on Friday, NANGO executive director Mr Ernest Nyimai said the initiative provides an opportunity for organisations to demonstrate the transformation they are bringing to communities across Zimbabwe.
NANGO is the umbrella body representing registered non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe and has a membership of 878 organisations spread across the country.
Mr Nyimai said the annual expo brings together local and international NGOs, faith-based organisations, Government ministries and departments, independent commissions, academia, the private sector and other development partners to foster collaboration and strengthen development interventions.
“The NGO Expo and Winter School is a platform we have created for our member organisations and the broader civil society to showcase the work they are doing across the country.
“It also provides an opportunity for organisations to bring beneficiaries to share testimonies on the impact of their programmes,” he said.
“The idea behind the annual NGO Expo is to create a platform where NGOs are able to demonstrate the impact they are making in communities and the transformation that is being brought about through their work. More importantly, it is a platform for forging strategic partnerships where civil society organisations can better appreciate each other’s work, collaborate and build partnerships that improve development outcomes.”
Mr Nyimai said the programme is one of NANGO’s flagship annual events and has been decentralised to ensure all regions of the country benefit.
He said previous editions had already been held in Harare, Mutare for the eastern region and the Midlands, with the Bulawayo event catering for the organisation’s western region, which covers Bulawayo Metropolitan as well as Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.
Mr Nyimai said the western region exhibition had attracted a wide cross-section of organisations working in diverse sectors, reflecting the breadth of civil society interventions in Zimbabwe.
“We have organisations working in livelihoods, humanitarian assistance, democracy and governance, economic governance, health and well-being, as well as climate change and environmental management.
“This demonstrates the richness and diversity of our membership and the different ways in which civil society is contributing to national development,” he said.
He said the diversity of exhibitors also gives members of the public an opportunity to better understand the role that non-governmental organisations play in improving livelihoods and supporting communities.
Comparing the western region expo with previous editions, Mr Nyimai said participation had remained encouraging, noting that the eastern region event in Mutare attracted about 36 exhibitors, including Government ministries and departments.
He expressed optimism that the annual expo would continue to strengthen cooperation among development actors while creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, innovation and partnerships that contribute to sustainable and inclusive development across the country.
