The year 2015 saw the end of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) which were guiding national development planning and programming in view to attain the 8 global goals which sought primary to address global poverty and inequalities. Many nations Zimbabwe included did not achieve the majority of the MDGs as such there is the unfinished business. However, the global commitment to address the socio-economic challenges assisted in developing a common framework of addressing these challenges across the world. In view of this, the Heads of State and Government adopted a successor package of global development goals and indicators to synchronize the efforts of member’s states in addressing the economic, social, governance and environmental challenges facing the world today through the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a life span of 15 years that is 2016 to 2030.
A few hours ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections NANGO deployed observers in the sampled 364 of 10985 polling stations in the northern, eastern, western, midlands and southern regions of Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately, political parties, independent candidates and civil society had not received the final voter’s roll from Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. This is deplorable as it is a breach of the Electoral Act.
NANGO continues to call for the nation to uphold peace and tranquillity during the entire electoral process. Political parties, candidates and the general citizenry are reminded to maintain peace, desist from hate speech and observe human rights before, during and after the elections.
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 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.
Presented by Wadzanayi Vere, NANGO Board Chairperson and Head of Mission of the NANGO Election Observation Mission on 29 July 2018.
27 Jul 2018
Political candidates in Manicaland ceased the opportunity to engage community members ranging from youth, women, people with disabilities and the elderly. The candidates eagerly set themselves apart and were clear on why they deserved to win in the looming elections.
Mr K F Chiororo an independent candidate, Takawira Mupakati from National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and C Hlatswayo from MDC Alliance explained the need for strong policies and promised to address these when elected into office. The youthful candidate from NCA proposed that when elected into office he will ensure legal reform processes to repeal the Communal Lands Acts which gives government power to dispossess people’s land without offering compensation. The National Constitutional Assembly aspiring candidate also argued that the current constitution centralises power in the hands of the president and said his party would spearhead a constitutional reform process which will usher in a new people driven constitution. The MDC Alliance candidate Mr C Hlatswayo promised effective service delivery.
Chipinge South independent candidate Mr K F Chiororo promised the electorate improved service delivery by the local authority and to crackdown corrupt council officials. He said that devolution could bring local economic development and added that all the candidates should pledge to campaign in peace and urge their supporters to co-exist despite divergent political ideologies. The candidates pledged to be accountable to the people and all agreed to use constituency development funds to build satellite clinics and other necessities which are not available in the constituency.
Platform for Youth Development Trust in collaboration with NANGO held this dialogue meeting between the electorate and candidates at New Checheche Conference Centre. Three out of an expected six candidates attended the meeting and more than 100 community members braved the chilly weather to interface with their potential leaders. This public dialogue meeting accorded citizens opportunity to discuss with the aspiring leaders issues affecting sustainable development and service delivery. A series of dialogue meeting will be held in all constituencies in Chipinge district and this would allow the interface between citizens and potential leaders.
27 Jul 2018
Harare residents have bemoaned the poor state of service delivery and call for all aspiring candidates to honour their pledges if they do win in the harmonised elections. Residents said that aspiring candidates should also respect the code of conduct which political parties have been mandated to sign and comply with.
Residents commended the code of conduct which binds all political parties, promotes conditions that are conducive for free and fair elections and a climate of tolerance in which electioneering activity may take place without fear, coercion, intimidation or reprisals.
However, somewhat content with the peaceful election environment, residents from the different constituencies highlighted grievances that cut across all constituencies. Residents called on the aspiring candidates to find lasting and sustainable solutions to poor access to clean and portable water, erratic electricity supply, irregular refuse collection, exorbitant rates, dilapidated recreational facilities, poor roads among other issues.
Residents also encouraged some of the aspiring candidates to relook at their priorities and ensure that what they prioritise is in line with needs of the people they intend to serve. As part of development for their communities, the candidates promised youth empowerment projects, setting up ward non-partisan ward development committees, improving road networks within constituencies, advocating for more water sourcing for areas like Mabvuku and Chitungwiza, fundraising to procure a local ambulance, resuscitating recreational centres, refurbishing public toilets, renovating designated public transport pick up points, introducing neighbourhood watch to curb criminal activities and to lobby for affordable education for orphans and vulnerable children.
The aspiring candidates that got the opportunity to interact with their respective community members were Mary Terai and Tafadzwa Thomas both from Build Zimbabwe Alliance, Fortunate Musinake of the People’s Rainbow Coalition, Cleytos Mahlathini and Luke Dzinamarira from Coalition of Democrats, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi and Blessing Nhende representing MDC Alliance and Margaret Mweru from Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity. Only one aspiring Member of Parliament, Simbarashe Manomano participated in the interactions. He is vying for MP representing MDC led by Thokozani Khupe.
Less than two weeks before the Harmonised elections, Harare Residents Trust (HRT) and NANGO held meetings to capacitate residents and rate payers so that they make informed decisions come the election day. It was of paramount importance to also create platforms of engagement between the electorate and candidates vying for public office.
Picture by NANGO
HRT, a citizen rights group in Harare and NANGO, organised the interaction dubbed ‘Meet your potential leader’ with some of the candidates set to contest in the elections in Glen Norah, Mabvuku, Tafara, Chitungwiza and Highfield constituencies.
NANGO is a non-party political, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational official coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. It is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe. NANGO also coordinates various civil society responses to emerging issues in Zimbabwe.
By Keane Matenga and Franklin Mukwaira
28 Jul 2018
NANGO commends the nation for the peaceful environment that has been prevailing ahead of the 2018 plebiscite although there are incidences of politically motivated violence that have been highlighted in some parts of the country. We urge the nation to exercise their democratic rights in a peaceful manner. NANGO upholds that elections give the general citizenry an opportunity to participate in democratic processes through exercising their rights. In this regard, NANGO through its membership contributes towards the creation of an enabling environment that allows for a democratic process to be undertaken in a free, fair and peaceful environment thereby enhancing the credibility of the election outcome.
As part of a strategy of fostering sustainable peace, NANGO have been engaging key stakeholders along the governance value chain. In this regard, NANGO membership developed the Green Paper Series, which is a compendium of critical issues for consideration by key actors such as political parties, independent candidates, independent commissions, general citizenry, donor community and civil society amongst others.
NANGO engaged ZANU PF, MDC Alliance, People’s Democratic Party, MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube, Zimbabwe African People’s Union, Mthwakazi Republic Party, and Alliance for People’s Agenda as well as independent candidates. Furthermore, NANGO also engaged Independent Commissions notably, National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the Gender Commission. NANGO also made an endeavour to engage ZEC, MDC-T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe and the People’s Rainbow Coalition but the meetings did not take place owing to other pressing commitments by stakeholders.
The key issues for consideration and further reflections with pivotal governance actors included the following:
All political parties and candidates made commitments to free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. They pledged to preach and practice the tenets of peace within their parties. This is the environment that we respect and acknowledge as NANGO, which sets a solid foundation for sustainable economic, social and political development.
NANGO observed that political parties were highly committed to the electoral process and the openness of democratic space that allowed for political parties to campaign freely. Political parties appreciated the invitation of international observers as it signifies commitment to transparency in holding elections. However, the political landscape was not uniform as independent candidates in some instances were hindered from accessing the electorate with some state institutions requesting them to get clearance to access the electorate.
A striking issue across all political parties is the low representation of women as candidates at all levels. This is against the background that Zimbabwe has a National Gender Policy which seeks to achieve a gender just society where men and women enjoy equality and equity and participate as equal partners in the development process of the country. In addition, Zimbabwe is signatory to protocols that promote gender equality in all facets of development such as SADC Gender Protocol, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and Beijing Platform of Action among others. Therefore, low representation of women in positions of authority continues to marginalise the key development aspects and voice of women. In view of the above NANGO envisions an improved political environment that allows for the meaningful participation of women in electoral processes.
Political parties and candidates bemoaned vote buying and use of public resources to influence voters. For instance, the use of constituency development fund, presidential input scheme and command agriculture were viewed as instruments to lure votes for some political parties.
NANGO is concerned that Independent Commissions need to instill confidence of Zimbabweans in national processes. However, the credibility of these institutions is enhanced by their transparency and accountability in the way they discharge their mandates. In particular, the credibility of elections is questioned by political parties, candidates civil society and general members of the public.
It is worth noting that after engagements with these stakeholders NANGO observed improvements in a number of the key demands that were presented to them. This is encouraging as it testifies that dialogue and engagement with stakeholders is a key instrument to influence in a positive way critical national processes.
NANGO calls on the electorate to go and exercise their right to vote on Monday 30 July 2018 as we elect into office the president, members of parliament and councillors who are going to be governing us for the next five years. The electorate is also reminded to uphold peace and tranquillity pre, during and post-election day. Remember, your vote is your right.
To the political parties and candidates, NANGO urges you to call upon your supporters to exercise their political rights in a peaceful manner and desist from using hate speech and intimidating those holding divergent views.
NANGO implores all Independent Commissions to diligently execute their mandate to enhance constitutionalism by promoting transparency and accountability in public institutions as well as entrenching human rights and democracy during these elections.
We pray that Zimbabwe emerges stronger, unified and prosperous after the 2018 harmonised elections.
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.
Presented by Wadzanayi Vere, NANGO Board Chairperson and Head of Mission of the NANGO Election Observation Mission on 28 July 2018.
12 Jul 2018
With the long-awaited polls just around the corner, it’s important to be well-informed about the procedure and your options before you cast your vote. Here’s a quick guide that also clarifies some of the most common questions.
Why vote in the harmonised election?
Because you can then hold the elected representative accountable for the changes that you want to see in your community.
How do I know if I can cast my vote?
You can only vote from a polling station in your ward and your name must be on the voter’s roll. The electoral roll is comprised of names of all citizens who can vote in a specific ward.
You can check if your name appears in the electoral list on the official website of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), using either your registered name and National ID Card Number or serial number.
Which is my ward and constituency?
Take a look at the map view of all wards and constituencies in Zimbabwe. You can find the corresponding assembly constituency for your ward on this database.
Where is my polling station?
To know your constituency, polling station address and other details, you dial *265# and enter your National ID Number.
Can I vote if I do not have a Voters Registration Slip?
As long as your name is there on the electoral roll, you can vote. In case you do not have your Voter registration slip, you will have to carry a valid ID card when you go to the polling station. The alternative photo ID cards accepted by the Election Commission are:
How do I know who is contesting from my constituency?
It’s important to know who you cast your vote for because they will be representing you in the National Assembly and council for the next five years. If you want to know the names of candidates contesting from your constituency and the parties they represent, find the database of all candidates according to ward and constituency here.
You need to also analyse the work of sitting councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) in your constituency and ward, you can check all details — including their personal contact information, MP Constituency Development Funds utilisation, details furnished in the election nomination court etc. Reading their profiles, interviews and past achievements will help you make the right decision.
What is the Code of Conduct that all candidates should follow?
The Code of Conduct is a set of instructions announced by the ZEC to be followed by both political parties and candidates contesting elections. These include guidelines and instructions on general conduct, campaigning, meetings and rallies etc.
You can check out the detailed guidelines with respect to each of the above on the website of ZEC on the following link: http://www.zec.org.zw/pages/coc.php
Where can I report if I observe any violation of the code of conduct or any other violations?
If you come across any violation to code of conduct or any election related violation, you can get in touch with the ZEC on +263 242 756252 / 759130 / 774095 or email: inquiries@zec.org.zw or the Local Election Officers. You can also file a complaint with Zimbabwe Republic Police and election monitoring patrol team.
What is the process inside the polling station?
Figure 1 Source: ZEC Website
How to ensure that my vote cast on the Ballot Paper has been correctly recorded?
There will be a list of candidates standing in your constituency. Candidates will be ordered alphabetically. Each candidate will also have the name of the party they are standing for, or whether they are an independent candidate. Mark your ballot paper with an X – not a tick – next to the candidate you would like to vote for. You must vote for only one candidate. However, for the visually impaired as in the 2008 and 2013 elections when they voted in the presence of a police officer and two other electoral officers, ZEC has indicated that it is not providing braille ballot papers for the 2018 elections.
When are polling stations open?
The polling stations are open from 7am in the morning until 7pm at night.
Be an informed and engaged citizen and cast your vote on July 30, 2018.
6 Jul 2018
Twelve aspiring candidates from various constituencies in Mutare identified unemployment as the major challenge affecting residents. The residents convened to engage aspiring Members of Parliament and councilors and to interrogate issues affecting communities.
Eight out of the 12 participants pointed out unemployment as a major cause for concern in their communities. The second most common problem in the different constituencies was of lack of infrastructure development which was raised by six candidates. Health issues were the least commonly identified problems as identified only by 5 candidates. Only one aspiring councilor identified corruption and disunity among Penhalonga community members as a top priority in her constituency.
High unemployment has gravely affected the youth and increased vices such as criminal activities, prostitution and drug abuse. Sustainable developmental initiatives or projects that eradicate poverty and significantly improve the livelihoods of vulnerable people, people with disabilities, the elderly and orphans were identified as critical. Residents said they do not anticipate aspiring candidates to proffer provision of food hampers as solutions but are looking forward to long term solutions.
Lack of health facilities, poor and inconsistent refuse collection, illegal dump sites and erratic water supply were said to pose major health threats to residents. The people most prone to be affected by these are women and children.
Community members highlighted the need for those aspiring for public office to prioritize people with disabilities, women and youth in their development agendas and not to just focus on infrastructure development but spearhead sustainable development as well.
Considering how Zimbabwean elections have been riddled with violence, at the debate candidates and community members were encouraged to conduct themselves in a manner that is not violent or that does not instigate violence. Transparency and inclusivity were encouraged so as to level the playing field for candidates, especially women.
The aspiring candidates are drawn from Alliance for People’s Agenda, Zimbabwe Democracy Union, Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity and the Movement for Democratic Change. Of these 12 candidates, eight are men and four are women. Only six candidates are vying for the Member of Parliament seats, of these six only one woman is contesting. For council there are six aspiring candidates, with only three females.
The election debate was dubbed #HerDebate, held on 21 June 2018 at the Chikanga Community Hall and facilitated by Women’s Coalition Zimbabwe (Mutare Chapter). The debate created a platform for aspiring candidates to engage with community members in a bid help the electorate make informed decisions ahead of the elections and to let the candidates hear the need of the people from the people. The platform empowered previously marginalized groups like people with disabilities, women and the youth to air their views without intimidation.
6 Jul 2018
150 packs of sanitary pads were donated to young mothers between the ages of 13 and 24 years from Hwange. The donation was made by Women Arise and Shine in partnership with Maternity and New Born Care at St Ignatius Primary School this past Saturday 30 June 2018.
Louise Staddon, the Director of Women Arise and Shine expressed that the organisation is driven towards educating the vulnerable young mothers and promoting good hygiene.
She said, “It is sad to note that some of these girls use cloths and toilet paper during their menstruation cycles. Most of what they use is not advisable, unhygienic and leaves them at high risk of contracting diseases. We are glad to contribute towards making a difference to them and educating them about hygiene and sanitation.”
The two organisations took the opportunity to educate the teen mothers about different family planning methods, sexual abuse, gender-based violence and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Jane Tele, Director of Maternity and New Born Care urged young mothers to report any forms of abuse to the police and encouraged them to use family planning methods so as to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
“Most of these young mothers have had unplanned pregnancies due to lack of knowledge of family planning methods, hence l urge them to learn more about these methods and plan better for their future. They should also report any forms of abuse that they experience to the nearest police stations.”
The District Administrator of Hwange, Simon Muleya expressed gratitude towards Women Arise and Shine and Maternity and New Born Care stating that it was a marvel to see them intervening and helping the young mothers who cannot afford some essentials.
Muleya said, “On behalf of the beneficiaries l want to express my sincere gratitude for the work done by organisations operating in Hwange and may they continue to help the vulnerable young women whenever they can.”
The directors of the two organisations said they would continue helping girls and teen mothers through providing food, clothing and other relief services.
6 Jul 2018
Addressing the NANGO Eastern Region disability sector that attended the 6th edition of the National Disability Expo, Special Advisor to the President on Disability Issues, Joshua Malinga called on civil society and government do more to mainstream disability issues within their operations.
Malinga expressed concern over how state and non-state actors are doing little in their planning processes to factor in people with disabilities and are not bringing forward solutions to issues facing the marginalized group.
In his six months in office Malinga has managed to assist the government in mainstreaming disability issues within its operations. This will soon see the government unveiling a policy for people with disabilities. Malinga also said he looks forward to feedback platforms where the government comes in to inform the public on what has been addressed.
The following concerns were raised at the 6th Disability Expo:
6 Jul 2018
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and UNICEF commend the Zimbabwean government for its commitment towards improving budget transparency in Zimbabwe.
The commitment has been evidenced by the government’s adherence to Open Budget Survey (OBS) recommendations and meaningful participation on national and international forums.
NANGO, in partnership with UNICEF, convened a meeting on 19 June that brought together a panel comprising of Jacob Nyamadzawo, UNICEF Social Policy and Data Analyst, Percy Takavarasha, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Deputy Director Recurrent, Brian Masawi, Deputy Director of Audit at the Auditor General’s Office and Kenny Chokuda the Clerk of Parliament to interact with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from across the country. The panel concurred on the need for various stakeholders to complement each other in order to improve Zimbabwe’s ranking in the OBS.
Social Policy and Data Analyst, Nyamadzawo asserted that there is a need to have more information published so that every citizen understands the budget processes. He highlighted the need for transparency and improvement in terms of participation of children to attain child friendly budgets.
Takavarasha, Deputy Director Recurrent, said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has a platform that allows for members of the public, business sector, CSOs and other institutions to play an oversight role in budget processes. He added that the reason why Zimbabwe scored a low percentage of 23% on transparency of budget processes is that, there is poor turn out of citizens that participate. He therefore encouraged CSOs to create platforms and invite the ministry to share information.
The Deputy Director of Audit, Masawi stated that the role of the Auditor General is to audit financial performance of different ministries and then report to parliament. He said although the reports are bulky and expensive to print and distribute, individuals and institutions were welcome to request copies or visit their highly interactive website.
The Clerk of Parliament, Chokuda, mentioned that there are challenges in building capacity of all Members of Parliament to speak with the same voice regarding budget processes. In a bid to improve the effectiveness of the MPs, Chokuda said when the next parliamentarians sit there are plans to educate them on budget processes and their role in improving the country’s ranking.
116 countries from six continents participated in the 2017 round of the OBS then in May 2018, Zimbabwe, South Sudan and several other countries from the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) participated in an OBS workshop in Nairobi-Kenya, co-organized by the IBP and the UNICEF ESAR office. Country delegates to this workshop discussed their 2017 OBS results and developed action plans to help improve their respective country scores in the upcoming 2019/20 round of the OBS. Amongst other things, the South Sudanese delegation to the Nairobi OBS workshop resolved to hold a National Budget Transparency Stakeholders’ workshop in Juba, South Sudan.
The National Budget Transparency Stakeholders’ workshop that was organised by Ministry of Finance and Planning (Budget Directorate) and UNICEF South Sudan (SPPME) then followed on 7 June 2018. The objective of the multi-stakeholder workshop was to orient the Executive, the Legislature, the Office of the Auditor General, and a selected group of OBS/public finance management stakeholders on key transparency themes pertaining to budgetary processes in the country, including on their respective roles in national budget processes.
The workshop was attended by NANGO Executive Director, Leonard Mandishara, Deputy Director of the Parliament Budget Office, Asha Jenje and Deputy Director Takavarasha. The heads of both the Specialised Committee on Accounts and the Committee on Economy, Finance and Development at the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, the Secretary General of the Government of South Sudan, and the Deputy Auditor General. In addition, in attendance were senior civil servants from the Ministry of Finance and the social sector institutions such as the Director General of Education and Health; Gender, WASH together with colleagues from their respective UNICEF sections, representatives of the UN World Food Programme, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and members of civil society organisations and the academia (e.g. University of Juba) were also in attendance.
In their presentation, the Zimbabwean delegation summarised their OBS processes and results, including how to identify what information is expected to be released during the budget process; identify the types of information required in the key budget documents to be comprehensive and useful; support parliament and civil society to use budget information and their engagement in budget process and engage civil society to support and contribute to government reforms.
Participants gained further insight and knowledge on the OBS and relevant processes, particularly in respect to establishing and maintaining relationship amongst key OBS stakeholders such as Ministry of Finance, the Parliament and CSOs. Importantly, the visiting delegation also shared their experience pertaining to the development and implementation of a public finance reform matrix in Zimbabwe, and as part this, the relevant OBS/PFM reforms being implemented in Zimbabwe.
The government of Zimbabwe has shown great commitment to reforms that can improve the country’s budget transparency. This is anchored on the understanding that national budgets that are accountable, efficient, and transparent are crucial in the fight against poverty, inequality and also promote economic development. Further, a transparent national budget is a key imperator for ensuring the fulfilment of rights of the marginalized communities and progress towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, budget transparency leads to better-informed public debate about the design and results of fiscal policy, makes governments more accountable for budget implementation, and thereby strengthens credibility and public understanding of macroeconomic policies and choices.
The recently released 2017 OBS results, however classified Zimbabwe among countries that provide minimum budget information, with minimum opportunities for civil society and citizen participation in budgeting processes, as well as weak budget oversight. Zimbabwe is ranked 87 out of 115 countries, with a score of 23 over 100, a marked decline from 35 out of 100 in 2015.
On the back of declining scores, the country has taken key steps towards finding answers, including an all stakeholder workshop in Mutare, wherein, the key budget departments expressed commitment to take actions that improve budget transparency. Key actions identified included the need to prioritise publishing, online and in a timely manner, the pre-budget statement, executive’s budget proposal, enacted budget, citizen’s budget, in-year reports, mid-year review, year-end report and audit report.
In addition, the government committed to ensure that the Executive’s Budget Proposal that is posted online matches the printed version, increased information on expenditure and revenue provided in the Executive’s Budget Proposal by including expenditure by functional classification and individual sources of tax and non-tax revenue as well as ensuring that the published Enacted Budget has more information as in the Executive Budget.
This should be complemented by institutional arrangements for the OBS, supporting citizens’ engagement and capacity building or orientation of parliament.
The International Budget Partnership (IBP), in 2006 developed the OBS, which is a global research and advocacy program aimed at promoting public access to budget information and the adoption of accountable budget systems. The OBS is an objective, comprehensive, independent, global survey (the OBS) that analyses and evaluates whether governments give the public adequate access to budget information and opportunities to participate in the national budgeting process.
OBS is a biannual measure, anchored on three pillars: budget transparency; public access to key national budget information, public participation; opportunities for public participation in budget processes and budget oversight, the role of formal oversight institutions.
NANGO and UNICEF have been supporting the government efforts towards improving budget transparency as this is seen as an important step towards improving budgetary outcomes for the citizens, including the millions of women and children in Zimbabwe.
