The humanitarian and development sector is under pressure, and HR teams are feeling it more than most.

Shrinking donor funding, rising operational costs, and shifting global dynamics have created a perfect storm. Organisations are being asked to do more with less, often while navigating complex and rapidly evolving local labour laws.

But here is the reality: financial pressure does not override legal responsibility.

A Changing Legal Landscape in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, recent legal developments have made this clearer than ever.

Cases like Kamuka and Others v National Railways of Zimbabwe confirmed that employees cannot be expected to work without pay.

At the same time, updates such as the Labour Amendment Act 2023 and Statutory Instrument 191 of 2024 have significantly changed the rules around contracts, retrenchment, and workplace protections.

Risky Practices That Persist

Yet across the sector, risky practices persist:

• Short-term contracts with unclear terms

• Unpaid leave policies

• Informal approaches to performance management

These may feel like survival tactics, but they often expose organisations to serious legal and reputational risk.

The Values Gap

There is also a deeper tension at play.

The sector prides itself on values such as equity, dignity, and impact, but too often, internal employment practices fall short of those ideals.

For many professionals, the gap between mission and reality is becoming harder to ignore.

Why Strong HR Matters

Strong HR is not a luxury- it is a core function that protects both people and organisations.

That means having:

• Up-to-date contracts

• Clear policies

• Proper documentation

• Leadership teams that understand their responsibilities

Compliance Is Ongoing

If there is one takeaway, it is this:

Compliance is not optional, and it is not static.

It requires ongoing attention, investment, and advocacy, particularly when donor structures do not adequately fund HR systems.

Building for the Future

The organisations that get this right will not just avoid risk- they will build stronger, more sustainable teams in the process.