Lawyer Blessing Nyamaropa has been elected the new chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum), taking over from Zimbabwe Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko who had been at the helm for three years.
The Forum is a coalition of twenty-two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in the country.
Nyamaropa is the deputy director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), an affiliate of the Forum.
In his acceptance speech, Nyamaropa said the greatest challenge facing NGOs in Zimbabwe is the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill. He said:
I humbly accept my election as chairperson. I am aware of the challenges facing NGOs now and in the coming year.
Our greatest threat now is the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill.
We will, therefore, work with like-minded organisations to lobby against this Bill.
Patience Zirima, the Media Monitors Zimbabwe (MMZ) director will deputise Nyamaropa.
Other new board members include Zimbabwe Human Rights Association director Dzikamai Bere, Wellington Mbofana of the Civic Education Network Trust and Lyn Walker of Tree of Life.