Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Accountability Lab Zimbabwe (ALZ) has ended its project, which contributed to the transformation of service delivery in Mbare, Harare, through youth empowerment and civic engagement.
ALZ worked in collaboration with the Amandla Centre of Zimbabwe in the five-year New Narratives for Accountability in Zimbabwe (NNAZ) project.
The Mbare close-out follows similar sessions held in Bulawayo and Goromonzi, with the final two engagements set to take place in Chitungwiza and Glen View this month.
Speaking during the close-out meeting this week, ALZ project and campaigns manager Beloved Chiweshe expressed sadness that the project funding had been stopped.
“In January 2025, Accountability Lab Zimbabwe, like numerous organisations worldwide, suspended its key initiative, the New Narratives for Accountability in Zimbabwe project.
“This decision resulted from a global halt prompted by US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, which aimed to reassess and modify foreign aid from the United States,” Chiweshe said.
He added that the project had raised awareness about citizens’ rights in local governance, empowering residents to demand greater accountability regarding essential services such as electricity and water.
“This shift has contributed to a more engaged and informed community, capable of holding authorities to account. In Mbare, residents can engage with Zesa and the city council,” he said.
City of Harare community service officer Mary Zvimba said the project had improved service, especially in terms of refuse collection.
“For the past five years, NNAZ has helped to reduce refuse in the community because there are areas that they introduced for the people to put refuse.
“It also improved water availability in Mbare because it’s not every time that council water is available, so because of boreholes, it has made it easier for the community to fight cholera,” she said.
Zvimba said they wished donors would shortly give NNAZ more opportunities.
“In the near future, we hope that donors will grant NNAZ more opportunities to expand its impact and better serve the communities,” she said.
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