President Emmerson Mngangagwa has responded to concerns that were raised by over 140 Matabeleland civil society leaders who met him at the Bulawayo State House last month. The meeting engaged the presidency and government on socio-economic and developmental issues pertinent to the Matabeleland region. The civil society delegation that was led by Jennifer Williams the Director of Women of Zimbabwe Arise have received a response in a letter signed by Mrs V Mabiza the secretary for Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Zimbabwe has twin problems which are trade imbalances (trade deficits) and fiscal imbalances (budget deficits). Shortage of FOREX and cash are not the problem but simply symptoms of the underlying and unsustainable deficits and imbalances over decades. The fact that by our own admission we have broken our own laws through borrowing way beyond legally approved limits should be a wakeup call to us as a country in general and specifically to the Monetary and Fiscal Authorities. The insistence on an exchange rate of 1:1 and hence resistance to allow a market determined exchange rate between the RTGS rate and the USD has precipitated an effervescence in the economy which if not attended to will seriously dislocate the pillars on which our economy rests.
Click the link below to read the entire call for action.
CALL FOR ACTION – CEO AFRICA ROUNDTABLE….pdf
NANGO members have agreed on the need to observe elections and monitor the pre and post-election environment. This comes after the realisation that member organisations with diverse interests can find common ground.
24 organisations that attended the membership planning meeting on Wednesday 21 March 2018 concurred that NANGO should be involved in electoral processes that have been initiated by Zimbabwe Election Commission.
There is a need for NANGO to get the true reflection of election readiness from organisations that are already observing the political arena.
The meeting also emphasised that civil society needs play a parliamentary oversight role ensuring that election reforms are discussed taking into consideration the concerns of the electorate.
NANGO director, Leonard Mandishara, said NANGO is aligning itself with key players in order to observe pre and post-elections.
“NANGO is reaching out to key players with regards to elections. This will see to the harmonisation of partners dealing with elections,” he said.
Mandishara added that coordination will make it possible for civil society to come up with a barometer that covers all election related issues including mapping of conflict hot spots especially were election violence is most likely to occur.
NANGO members that were present also agreed on the importance of continuous interaction and rejuvenation of NANGO with a particular focus on the imminent elections.
Churches have contributed tremendously to the development of Zimbabwean’s education sector. Before independence, most rural schools that provided education for black students were developed and run by churches through missionary centres. Those mission schools only received a fraction of the grants given to white schools by the colonial government. In the 1970s, the Rhodesian regime withdrew financial support from mission schools and promoted the handover of rural day schools to local councils, which often lacked a sufficient revenue base and struggled to provide education for black students
The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO) is greatly concerned with the recent negative developments in the form of the arrest and detention of salient Human Rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, who was arrested on Sunday 17 March 2013.
The Association is calling for the urgent release of Mtetwa who was arrested by the police for her alleged obstruction of the course of justice following her rendering of legal representation to Thabani Mpofu whose residence was also raided and searched on the same day of Mtetwa’s arrest.
Mtetwa appeared before the Harare Provincial Magistrate, Marehwanazvo Gofa yesterday has since been remanded into prison to 3 April 2013 following the dismissal of her bail application filed by her lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu. NANGO alludes to these serial repeated random arrests as punctuation of the heightening levels of continued attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Organizations particularly Non Governmental Organisations.
NANGO demands government to end this escalating harassment and protect the basic human rights of all citizens in particular human rights activists and organisation especially during this very crucial moment in time when the country is anticipating a harmonized “free” and fair election. Whilst the political leadership of this country has made numerous utterances for peace and political tolerance in both print and electronic media, it is worrying to note that a lot of harassment and intolerance is being perpetrated not only by hooligans but also by the very law enforcement functionaries who are supposed to protect all citizens.
The Association urges government to respect fundamental human rights for all regardless of nationality and profession as we strive to work towards efforts for our collective social, political and economic development.
For more information and comments on this contact the NANGO Chairperson, Effort L. Ncube, on 0773 537 053
NANGO has been holding membership visits with the aim of familiarising with its members and strengthening synergies. The visits are the first of their kind and will extend to the southern, eastern and western regions.
The meetings that have been held so far are giving direction to NANGO while also bringing to the fore issues that individual members are most passionate about and what programming is expected in that regard.
The National Director, Leonard Mandishara has so far met with directors of Counselling Services Unit (CSU), ZimRights, Heal Zimbabwe, Kunzwana Women’s Association, Practical Action, Zimbabwe Association of Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO), Harare Residents Trust and Legal Resource Foundation.
The heads of these organisations have concurred that 2018 is a politically complicated year as the country prepares for elections that indicate to be like none other.
CSU director, Dr Frances Lovemore, said there is need for peace champions to be present at every polling station. She also suggested that commissioners should be met so that they are furnished with details of the current political landscape in order for them to find what role they can play in ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections.
Okay Machisa, ZimRights director, asserted that NANGO has a role of liaising with various organisations so that they each find their footing with regards to impending elections.
“Organisations in each sector of NANGO have a crucial role to play during the election period. Players should not be limited to human rights and elections. With the proper engagement NANGO can even sit with humanitarian organisations and deliberate issues around elections,” he said.
Rashid Mahiya, Heal Zimbabwe director, spoke on the need to prevent electoral violence and mitigate effects of violence. He highlighted that this is an ongoing process that should not be limited to election periods.
Harare Residents’ Trust director reiterated the importance of civil society setting the tone as the nation heads for a plebiscite.
“There is need for membership development and leadership development within structures. This will prepare organisations and citizens to handle community conflict that may rise during and after elections,” said Precious Shumba.
Mandishara also met NANGO members in Gweru and Bulawayo where members presented their challenges and proffered solutions that are specific to the regions.
The member organisations encouraged NANGO to hold sector specific programs, open space within sectors to allow for more players and prioritise membership capacity development.
The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2018 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council will be held from 9 to 18 July 2018; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from 16 to 18 July 2018 in New York, USA.
The theme is “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. The meeting will review progress towards Sustainable Development Goals and sub-set of Sustainable Development Goals that will be reviewed in depth by the HLPF 2018 will be the following, including Goal 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development) that will be considered each year:
In addition, 47 countries are expected to present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) during the ministerial meetings and Zimbabwe will not be present. For more information, click https://sustainabledevelopment.un.rg/hlpf/2018
Objectives
In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/288 and 67/290, the Forum, consistent with its universal intergovernmental character, shall:
Simphiwe Development Trust a non-governmental orgainisation in the Western Region is conducting a donation of books campaign that aims at assisting orphans and vulnerable children towards improving their academic needs in Matebeleland North.
The campaign is an initiative by Simphiwe Development Trust to assist and care for the less fortunate who cannot afford basic stationery. The organisation is targeting at least 1000 exercise books to be donated to vulnerable children.
Leeman Dube, Executive Director of Simphiwe Development Trust said “I believe that everyone has a social responsibility especially as Zimbabweans or Africans. One of our core values is Ubuntu which entails that we have to take care of each other.”
Dube also said, “The donation of books is a start of contributing to society as Zimbabweans, so I would like to urge everyone to make a difference and change the learning environment of orphans and vulnerable children.”
Last year, Simphiwe Development Trust donated over 900 exercise books to schools in Tsholotsholo. Some of the schools that beneficted from this donation include Matupula Primary, Sepepa Primary and Tsino Primary.
This year, the organisation is targeting the Khoisan children in schools as a way of encouraging them to focus on their education despite walking long distances to school.
Dube said they want to donate some of the books to a Khoisan Early Childhood Development (ECD) center in Tsholotsho.
“The San people are amongst the minority groups in the country, this year we want to donate some of the books to over 80 ECD children in Tsholotsholo and other San children doing their primary and secondary education,” said Dube.
Directors of organisations in the children sector praised Simphiwe Development Trust for starting a campaign that would benefit many children in the region.
Tapuwanashe Mapenga, Director of Educate a Child Foundation, said, This is a good initiative by Simphiwe as they try to make a difference to orphans and vulnerable children, let’s all unite and support them by donating exercise books.”
Nosihle Ndlovu, Director of Revival of Hope, said, “A simple donation of an exercise book for a child can make a difference in changing their attitude towards their education. Therefore, let’s come together and support Simphiwe in their campaign.”
Those who want to contribute in helping the orphans and vulnerable children can make their contributions by contacting the Executive Director of Simphiwe Trust, Leeman Dube on 0784093737.
Also, direct funds can be sent through ecocash to Godfrey Moyo on 0774689754 or visit www.simphiwe-trust.org for more information.
By Lovejoy Phiri, NANGO Western Region
NANGO has been working closely with its membership to ensure that the 2018 harmonised elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful environment.
NANGO observers were manning polling stations as early as 6am on 30 July 2018 and were stationed until vote counting and closing of election day processes. Through the observers, NANGO is informed that most polling stations opened at 7am. One polling station in Chegutu had the wrong ballot papers and it has been confirmed that it will be open until midnight.
Reports indicate that there was resounding turnout of women and youth and the NANGO command centre is still verifying the statistics. A few polling stations were not disability friendly while others did not offer rest rooms for voters.
A major cause of concern on election day was voters that were turned away after they reported to the wrong polling stations. The highest number that has been reported by end of day on 30 July was 63 people in Mkoba, Gweru. In some parts of the country voting went on until very late and it seems this was not anticipated as there were no provisions for lighting within polling stations. We hope Zimbabweans that are still queuing will not be deterred but will be patient and exercise their right to vote.
We will continue giving you updates on developments that will be coming to keep you informed on the key issues.
As we wait for the counting and announcement of the votes NANGO urges the nation to be peaceful and tolerant during this period.
NANGO is the umbrella body of non-governmental organisations operating in Zimbabwe. It is an apolitical, non-profit making and non-denominational umbrella body of NGOs, founded in 1962. NANGO promotes a proactive community of NGOs that are responsive and committed to the sustainable development needs of all people in Zimbabwe and the full realization of human rights, democracy, good governance and poverty alleviation.
Presented by Wadzanayi Vere, NANGO Board Chairperson and Head of Mission of the NANGO Election Observation Mission on 30 July 2018.
NANGO is deeply concerned and condemns violence that occurred in Harare where the sanctity of life was violated resulting in the loss of lives of innocent people. NANGO implores all stakeholders to explore all possible dialogue channels to resolve any forms of conflict and differences without resorting to violence. Our sincere condolences go to the families that have lost beloved ones in these skirmishes. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
NANGO commends all observers that were part of the NANGO Election Observer Mission who diligently observed election processes from mid-day on Sunday 29 July until the early hours of Tuesday 31 July. Ultimately, NANGO static and roving observers assessed voting at 3244 polling stations sampled across the country. We also extend our appreciation to Zimbabwean citizens in their entirety that remained peaceful and calm.
In an effort to promote election transparency, 364 NANGO observers manned polling stations until ballot boxes were securely transferred to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission command centres. Our teams made a number of key observations which will be highlighted in detail in the Preliminary report shortly. However, NANGO deems unfortunate the high number of potential voters that were turned away for various reasons ranging from bringing with them invalid identity documents, being in the wrong polling stations or their names missing completely from the voters roll despite having been registered.
Building on election transparency, NANGO believes that results should be traceable up to polling station level. In this regard, before transferring of ballot boxes, in accordance with the Electoral Act Chapter 13 Section 64, candidates and party agents should have been present to observe recording of results on the polling-station return.
Social media keeps the citizens abreast on what is happening countrywide, however the same unfortunately is being used largely to then circulate unofficial and wrong information which may resultantly cause alarm and despondency. We urge all NANGO members, observers and general citizens to refrain from circulating unconfirmed information and to maintain peace and harmony.
NANGO is an apolitical, non-profit making and non-denominational umbrella body of NGOs in Zimbabwe, founded in 1962. NANGO promotes a proactive community of NGOs that are responsive and committed to the sustainable development needs of all people in Zimbabwe and the full realization of human rights, democracy, good governance and poverty alleviation.