29 Jul 2018
Good afternoon fellow Zimbabweans, local and international observers. My name is Wadzanayi Vere, the National Chairperson of NANGO and Head of Mission of the NANGO Election Observation Mission.
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.
Yesterday, I gave press statement on the processes that NANGO has been facilitating together with is its membership to ensure that the 2018 harmonised elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful environment.
As we draw closer and closer to the elections day we note the zeal the nation has to exercise their democratic rights and the commitment by key stakeholders to holding free and fair elections. It is critical to note that elections provide an opportunity to shape the development trajectory the nation will take post elections. Thus, NANGO and its membership has also been analysing the promises that were made by various political parties to the electorate through their political manifestos. These are the issues that will transform the nation and bring about sustainable development.
As NANGO we view the elections as a process that is critical in redefining the path of social, economic and political development. Complimenting efforts by our members and Non State Actors such as Zimbabwe Elections Support Network, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Zimbabwe Council of Churches and many more. NANGO has deployed static observers in 364 polling stations in the country’s ten administrative provinces. Our observers will be static, meaning that they will be stationed at particular polling stations throughout the whole voting process.
I am happy to inform the nation that today NANGO observation team will be documenting the state of preparedness of ZEC to manage the election tomorrow. Key issues that will be considered include availability of all legally provided for material such as the voters roll, voting booths and tally sheets amongst others. Also our observers will take note how accessible the polling station is to people with disabilities, and that the stipulated polling station parameters have been cleaned of political party campaign materials.
Tomorrow our observers will be documenting the voting process, starting with the procedures of opening the poling stations, the voting, conduct of the voters and the general environmental polling conditions. Lastly our observation mission will witness the closing of polling stations, counting of the votes and transmission to the command centre.
NANGO implores all stakeholders to be peaceful and tolerant as we go to cast our votes tomorrow.
Thank you.
28 Jun 2018
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) is implementing a Vendors Voices Project that is creating opportunities for policy engagement between Bulawayo City Council and informal traders. The project is funded by Trust Africa.
Vendors Voices Project uses formal and informal-strategies such as onsite digital age vendors trainings which equip informal traders with digital literacy skills like photography and video filming, use of social media platforms and use of smart mobile phones to report injustices. The project also makes use of Community Based Advocacy Teams (ComBATs), community mobilisation tools like policy engagement stokvels and other spaces for dialogue on issues affecting the informal traders.
The Vendors Voices Project has seen 83% of the participants trained in digital literacy opening Facebook and Twitter accounts to share and post information. As a result of these advocacy strategies, informal traders are engaging council and demanding better vending sites. In these dialogue spaces vendors have also called on the Bulawayo City Council to act on reported grievances.
Some issues that rile informal traders include overcrowding of vending sites and lack of toilets at sites that traders currently occupy. Some vendors that do have access to toilets close to their vending sites have passed complaints over the poor state of infrastructure and how the toilets pose health hazards.
Speaking to the BVTA Vendors Voice, Annoyance Musanhi said, “The lack of toilets in vending sites affects our operations. Customers hesitate to buy or do not buy at all because of the smell from the area. People relieve themselves at a nearby trench and there is obviously no place for them to wash their hands. This is unhygienic.”
Vendors have also vowed to confront Bulawayo City Council and push it to reduce exorbitant licence fees. Due to high vending licencing fees, most informal traders end up selling their wares illegally in undesignated sites. This results in violent raids by the Municipal Police and confiscation of goods, leading to loss of income and failure to fend for families.
The project continues to equip informal traders with knowledge of their rights and how they can meaningfully participate at local level decision making processes. BVTA will also continue imparting vendors with skills on advocacy and creating a number of accessible platforms for policy engagement between Bulawayo City Council and informal traders.
22 Jun 2018
NANGO commends the launch of the National Health Financing Policy and Zimbabwe Health Financing Strategy that was officiated by the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa at Murehwa District Hospital on 6 June 2018.
The major drive for the Zimbabwe Health Financing Strategy and the Zimbabwe National Health Financing Policy is to address the challenges that people are facing in the health sector, these include failure to pay for health services, high out of pocket expenditure for health and low and unpredictable government allocations to the health sector.
The Zimbabwean government is mandated to deliver quality and equitable health services to the population of Zimbabwe with the desire to have the highest possible level of health and quality of life for all citizens. This is to be attained through the combined efforts of individuals, communities, organizations and the government. This will allow Zimbabweans to participate fully in the development of the country. This vision will be accomplished through guaranteeing every Zimbabwean access to an essential health service package.
In 2001, the African Union countries met and pledged to set a target of allocating at least 15% of their annual budgets to improving the health sector. In Zimbabwe the Abuja Agreement has not been achieved as the allocations have been ranging between 6 to 9%. Every year the health sector needs $1,3 billion to lessen the complaints on accessibility and affordability of medicines, gloves and other utilities. Human resource for health is key and there has to be appropriate drugs, correct infrastructure which includes equipment, buildings, X-ray machinery, transport and communication. The Ministry of Health and Child Care has therefore committed to the goals or key result areas which are; strengthening priority health programs, improving service delivery platforms or entities and improving the enabling environment for service delivery.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) together with technical cooperating partners which are the World Bank, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Health Development Fund (HDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Zimbabwe Health Financing Strategy and the Zimbabwe National Health Financing Policy. The target is to ensure that every one has access to quality health services irrespective of the geographic location or financial status, thus improving the health delivery system in Zimbabwe.
The Health Development Partners that are funding the Health Development Fund (HDF) have raised about US$120 million towards maternal and child health and the main aim of the HDF is to ensure equitable access to quality health services for women and children. The main goal is to contribute to reduction of the maternal mortality rate by 50% and under 5 mortalities by 50% by 2020. The main focus is to look at the efficient use of available resources in the health sector and also to promote equity and equality.
At the launch the Minister, Dr Parirenyatwa, stated that Zimbabwe has implemented various innovative financing reforms and some, like the AIDS levy, have been successful.
Zimbabwe was the first in the world to start the AIDS levy where 3% of every formally employed individual’s salary is channeled towards the AIDS levy and many countries are learning from it. Results based financing method is now being used and the health levy fund where 5 cents is taken from every $1 of airtime and channeled towards the health sector. The money that has been collected through this is estimated to be around $20 million.
CHAI expressed commitment to supporting implementation of the policy and strategy. The launch was a pathway for every Zimbabwean to have access to quality health services they require with minimal hindrances like distance or affordability and achieving this would require political will and technical support.
According to WHO, among countries that have completed their National Health Policy and National Health Strategy in the WHO AFRO Region, Zimbabwe is the 17th while other countries are still at planning stage.
There is hope that implementation of the National Health Financing Policy and Zimbabwe Health Financing Strategy will not be faced with lack of sustained government commitment, adequate human resources and lack of technical capacity.
The launch of the two was also attended by government officials, parliamentarians, CSOs, health development partners and donors.
22 Jun 2018
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) has met commissioners from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) at a time when preparations for the 30 July harmonised elections reach their peak. NANGO is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe.
The election environment continues to be highly polarised, intra and inter party political violence persist, there is an increase of human rights abuses, marginalisation and exclusion of women, youths and other vulnerable groups, lawlessness, disrespect for the sanctity of life, use of abrasive language, festering of conflict among different groups within society, unequal distribution of resources.
These critical issues, if unattended at this stage, will delegitimise everything being done by the civil society, non-state actors, government and commissions in ensuring that citizens freely support political parties and candidates of their choice without fear of harassment, threat or intimidation.
Through its ten sectors NANGO collated concerns and demands that were presented to the commissions. NANGO demands from all independent commissions a public strategy that ensures peace, tolerance, safety, security, upholding of human rights, and respect for the sanctity of life. NANGO recommends putting in place conflict indicators and early response mechanisms that ensure protection of the general citizenry ahead of the elections.
The commissions have a duty to defend the Zimbabwean Constitution and a mandate towards protection and promotion of human rights. NANGO implores the ZHRC to be proactive, and thoroughly investigate human rights violations, and recommend effect measures to promote human rights and freedom. To initiate a vigorous campaign to reach out to society, through CSOs, political parties, the police and other key stakeholders in human rights work.
The hostile political environment has directly and indirectly led to the disenfranchisement of women, youths and other vulnerable groups. This is further compounded by the legislative framework that objectifies these groups. Ultimately, women’s and youths’ participation in political party spaces or as the electorate is heavily compromised. In light of this, NANGO urges the NPRC to timeously intervene, and begin to exercise its independence in its operations, thus giving public confidence in the law and the commission.
All commissions are urged to promote and enforce good practices and ethics among political parties, monitor hate and abusive speech in the public interest to ensure fairness and diversity of views that represent the Zimbabwean society. NANGO also implores all commissions to speak out against exclusion and repression in order to uphold, promote and develop freedom of association and speech.
Following past injustices that have not been resolved which continue to hound and affect the citizenry in their daily interactions NANGO intreats the NPRC together with other independent commission to prioritise creating a sustainable people driven infrastructure for peace building.
A need has also been identified for independent commissions to put in place mechanisms and systems that enforce political tolerance at all levels of electoral process. This should be enforced within the existing legal frameworks and electoral guidelines espoused in the Electoral Act of Zimbabwe, the Constitution, regional and international best practices.
22 Jun 2018
Steward Bank donated food humpers and clothing to Methodist Caring Hand (MethoCare), a community based non-governmental organisation, during the organisation’s launch last Saturday 16 June 2018 at Methodist Church in Luveve.
The donations will go a long way in providing essential food and clothing to vulnerable children in Dundubala, a village on the outskirts of Bulawayo. The donated items included sugar, rice, cooking oil and mealie meal.
Speaking at the launch of MethoCare, Nonhlanhla Ncube, the Operations Supervisor at Steward Bank said, “It is an honour to contribute towards helping the less privileged and vulnerable members of our communities. As Steward Bank we are pleased to partner and to be working with MethoCare in making a difference in someone’s life.”
Ncube also asserted that Steward bank will be honoured to assist the organisation in their future activities.
“We are promising to be helping MethoCare in their future endeavours because each and every one of us has a social responsibilty role they have to play in helping vulnerable communities and contributing to the development of our communities.”
The Director of MethoCare, Revrend Tapiwanashe Marambi expressed gratitude over Steward’s Bank donation.
“We are extremely grateful for this substantial supplementary aid package and Steward Bank’s continued commitment to help societies and communities and may God bless them for the good work they are doing,” said Rev Marambi.
MethoCare also received praise from the guest of honour, Russel Mhlanga, the Director of Russ Glass and Alluminium.
He said,”I am greatly moved by your actions to try and change someone’s life in this deteriorating economy. I highly commend you for the compassion towards vulnerable children in our society.”
During the launch, it was highlighted that the organisation existed as a result of a family they saw in Dundubala which was struggling to cater for children’s basic needs. The organisation has since then aimed to assist as many children as they can within different communities in and around Bulawayo.
The organisation has pledged to provide children with food, clothes, school fees and stationery.
MethoCare said their vision was to spread love through giving, assisting vulnerable communities and to reducing poverty.
By Lovejoy Phiri, NANGO Western Region intern
22 Jun 2018
At a dialogue meeting hosted by Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) civil society concurred that there is grave need for a trauma-healing and rehabilitation framework, capacity building of stakeholders on peace building beyond elections, inclusion of the youth, people with disabilities, women and other marginalised groups as well as synergies between Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission among other stakeholders.
These recommendations were made by young people, policy makers, political parties, academia, and civil society when the varying stakeholders met to discuss interventions for the delivery of a peaceful electoral process which is pertinent for the observation of human rights, peace and stability for the country.
Elections in Zimbabwe have been marred by violence. The 2013 elections as well as the by-elections that later followed had reports of violence. This past experience has led to a situation where various stakeholders are uneasy and on high alert. The identified drivers of Election-Related Violence (ERV) are; power as an avenue to wealth, intraparty conflicts, splits resulting in conflict that cascades down to supporters, uneven political playing field, skewed access to media and unfettered access to state resources. It has also been noted that sometimes violence is a function of ignorance and manipulation of people.
The youth that attended the meeting expressed concern over how ZRP are partisan and this hinders youth participation in elections as they are prone to violent attacks if they do not support the ruling party. Young people also requested for platforms of engagement between youth groups and the security sector.
In response ZRP officials that sat through the meeting said that the police operate in the spirit of the new dispensation and added that they are going through transformation that may take time.
A question was raised as to whether the low number of cases of pre-election violence reported to ZRP and ZHRC was a result accessibility or lack of trust in the two by members of the public. ZRP said often the case is that people find court processes to be time consuming while the ZHRC said they receive a higher number of reports through CSOs that they partner with.
Attendants at the meeting said the case of the two-year old boy, Professor Lumbe, who lost his life in Greendale, Mazowe North is not inspiring and reminded the officials from ZHRC and ZRP that Zimbabweans as a whole and the international community are watching how the gross human right violation will be handled and waiting for justice to take its course.
On 7 September 2017 ZESN created a similar platform that identified and profiled triggers of ERV, mapped out roles for mitigation, came up with policy frameworks and highlighted challenges to policies.
22 Jun 2018
Fifty Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in Manicaland and eleven government ministries met with Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa on 15 June 2018 at the Mutare Queens Hall to deliberate with development partners on how to improve relations with government and identify windows of opportunity and collaborations.
Minister Mutsvangwa appreciated efforts by civil society organizations in the province and further reiterated Matsanga’s sentiments of the need for government to work hand in hand with civil society organizations. The Minister also noted how the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentarians benefited immensely through capacity building training and workshops facilitated by the Women Coalition of Zimbabwe, thus improving their conduct and operations within Parliament.
“There is need for partnerships and collaboration so as to learn international best practices that government should implement so as to uphold the rights of the citizens, adhere to good governance and democracy and eradicate poverty”, said Minister Mustvangwa.
She added that in the agricultural sector, possible areas of cooperation include introduction of sustainable smart agriculture led by new technology and research to enhance food security.
She acknowledged that although civil society has contributed much to the social services cluster, there is opportunity to improve ways to achieve gender equality and advocate against child marriages especially through sensitization of traditional leaders. She also spoke of how government has to assist and equip one-stop centers for victims of abuse.
The Minister reminded civil society organizations on how to operate within their mandates and follow laid out operational guidelines.
“Civil society should work with central, provincial and local governments so that both parties achieve the same goals of assisting the people. There should be transparency of civil society organizations in conducting their operations as this ensures that there are no unnecessary skirmishes between them and government. The new dispensation is about transparency and creating an ease of doing business.”
“Let bygones be bygones, the era of forcing civil society organizations close their operations during the election period has passed and is never coming back, therefore they should continue with their programs as planned but must adhere to the principle of championing peace in their areas of operations”, said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Simukai Executive Director and NANGO Eastern Region Chairperson, Barbra Matsanga, said it was important to highlight the role of government in such platforms.
She said, “There is need to reiterate the roles and responsibilities of government which is responsible for development initiatives and also creates an enabling environment for civil society to come in and compliment their efforts to achieve development goals.”
Matsanga further appealed to civic society organizations to register with apex bodies such as NANGO as it is important especially when it comes to disseminating information.
“Government needs to align and harmonize its laws, as this helps critical stakeholders who need assurance that there is a full realization of human rights, democracy, good governance, poverty alleviation and sustainable development”, concluded Matsanga.
14 Jun 2018
The Global Foundation of Public Speaking (GFPS) will be celebrating the Day of the African Child together with other developmental organisations in Zimbabwe and from around the African continent through its annual GFPS Kwanzaa tournament on 16 June 2018.
GFPS is an educational trust that grooms young people and imparts effective communication skills, develops self-directed learners and builds the capacity of students through public speaking centered activities.
Key stakeholders from corporate and donor organisations have come on board to support the GFPS Kwanzaa and to ensure that more than 1500 students benefit from this event. Participation is free and by invitation for the top debate and quiz secondary schools across Zimbabwe.
The Foundation is aware of the role young people are expected to play in national, continental and global issues as well as the capacity gaps that hinder them from doing so effectively. In light of this, GFPS has put together a highly competitive debate and quiz tournament known as the GFPS Kwanzaa so as to realise three main objectives. Firstly, creating a platform to groom effective young advocates to lobby for various social, cultural and economic issues that affect the success of the 21st century youth in Africa. Secondly, to raise awareness on the need for civic involvement from a young age on various national, regional and global issues. Lastly, to include the urgent need for financial literacy and financial inclusion of young people in the mainstream discussions and programming areas in academic circles.
Africa is widely regarded as an emerging market with many exciting opportunities in almost every economic sector. As a result, organisations like the African Union have identified the continent’s youths as a key stakeholder in unlocking Africa’s success through strategies like tapping into the demographic dividend agenda.
Schools and institutions that wish to participate can request an invitation letter to be sent to them before 15 June 2018.
Any individuals or organisations that wish to be involved in the GFPS Kwanzaa in any way can reach out to the Debate and Quiz Administrators on debate@gfps.co.zw and quiz@gfps.co.zw or 08644 145 078 and 0716 042 377.
10 Jun 2018
The Albino Trust of Zimbabwe will be commemorating International Albinism Awareness Day with the official opening of a special needs resource centre on 13 June 2018 at its Borrowdale offices.
Visual impairments of people with albinism hamper their access to information. Most information of public interest is in print and not braille. The Albino Trust of Zimbabwe realises that poor access to information impacts negatively on academic performance and employment of people with albinism.
Ending poverty through self-sustainability has been on the centre of the organisation’s goals. The Albino Trust of Zimbabwe encourages use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) that enables people with disability to read and work independently without challenges. Currently the organisation is working on exposing its beneficiaries to a computer software called JAWS in a bid to promote access to information and the internet.
The resource centre bridges lack of knowledge and skill of using computers and will also be a platform to train teachers that work with students with disabilities and other special needs.
The Albino Trust of Zimbabwe looks forward to running a project where there will be installation of at least one computer with JAWS in every school as part of inclusive education.
The guest of honour for the event will be the Minister of ICT and Cyber Security, Supa Mandiwanzira and members of the public and private sector are also invited to attend.
10 Jun 2018
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Faith Based Organisations from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Burundi and Togo converged at Holiday Inn in Harare to reflect on the religious mandate of churches, strengthen capacity of churches and provide a platform for learning and best practice.
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) Programs Manager, Nomaqhawe Gwere presented on the cross-pollination model which entails reflection from the Church and Civil Society Forum (CCSF).
CCSF is a coalition of the church and civil society and has a desire to see a peaceful Zimbabwe. It was born after a realization that since independence the church has been active in peace building and conflict prevention and CSOs also were needed to share results and problems. It was formed in 2015 and it comprises 28 stakeholders. The approach was to work on behaviour and attitude change programmes, evidence-based lobby and advocacy and conflict prevention, management, resolution skills development to bridge capacity gaps in peace building.
The overall objectives of the forum are training and building the capacity of traditional, religious, political, youth leaders to hold sustained dialogue, speak louder and more coordinated with regards to conflict prevention, research and documentation, evidence-based lobbying and against violence.
Gwere said, “CCSF has managed to advocate for a local and national level mechanism for violence prevention and promotion of community cohesion and has identified and strengthened local mechanisms for violence prevention. CSOs and FBOs have learnt that peace is not just a gift to be received but a task to be performed. In our diversity lies our strength of comparative power.”
On capacities critical for sustaining peace, reconciliation and understanding peacebuilding initiatives Bishop Ambrose Moyo, the Executive Director of Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum (ECLF), said churches need to seriously take social responsibility in social, economic and political issues.
He added that “There is need to design a peace-building programme that would heal the people to transform the mind and heart and change mind-sets. Transform hearts to the values of love, justice, peace, reconciliation, compassion to restore Ubuntu, and the need for an all-inclusive program. There is a need for reflection and Christians have to risk being misunderstood.”
ECLF is a peacebuilding forum and an initiative of church leaders.
In his conclusion, Bishop Moyo said that there is need to invest in peace by giving people peace, and peace brings development, a dialogue is necessary and it must be preceded with healing and the need to capacitate the community with skills to produce sustainable peace.
Thomas Kagwe Mbugua presented on lessons from Kenya. He pointed out that Kenya experienced 2007 post-election violence where there were human rights violations, deaths, and injuries. The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission was formed to stop violence, take measures to address the humanitarian crisis, to precede the formation of a power-sharing government to overcome political crisis and to come up with long-term solutions such as constitutional, institutional and legal reforms.
“The commission sought to identify constitutional, legislative and institutional reforms, make bold declarations and propose robust reparation in Kenya. Its weaknesses include making recommendations that did not follow from findings, some violations were more comprehensively investigated than others, the commission was unable to identify victims in many cases, the conduct of some Commissioners undermined the credibility of the report and there were no linkages to current reform processes”, said Mbugua.
Jean-Louis Nahimana presented on lessons from Burundi. He said Burundi has known a lot of tribal violence with great impact on the socio-political situation. There have been clashes that led to massacres in 1962,1965,1969,1971,1972,1982,1991 and 1993.The 1993 crisis resulted in the assassination of the president by the army and this caused a lot of hysteria and marked an increase in ethnic conflict.
“Burundi wanted to begin a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a mechanism to consolidate peace. The church was to play an important role in peace building”, said Nahimana.
The commission in Burundi sees the importance of the church in peace building. In June 2006, the president met religious leaders and asked them to put in place the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, from this the church realized its role and put in place campaigns and initiatives. In 2007 the United Nations asked the government of Burundi to include four church leaders in the 12 men commission and it was officially recognized in 2008. In May 2008, a council of Inter religion was put in place and is composed of the National Council of churches in Burundi and it included Muslims and Catholic priests and it was meant to come up with strategies for peace. The church came up with strategies for dialogue and collaboration.
250 religious leaders are carrying out peace projects whose first phase is awareness programmes and the second is operational activities of the commission.
On lessons from Togo, Nicodeme Barrigah narrated that in 2006 a year after the death of a long-standing leader, all political actors met in Ouagadougou and put in place a Global Political Agreement, where there was a request for a commission.
Togo’s 2006 elections were violent and a commission was set up to investigate political issues from 1958-2005 and there could only be conditional amnesty.
Barrigah asserted that “The commission began work in 2009 and it was made up of church leaders and the members from CSOs, human rights defenders. It was mandated to investigate and bring an end to violence, propose transitional justice, compensation and a mechanism to avoid mistakes of the past (review the constitution, reform the constitution, reform within civil society. The strategy was to make investigations, report, and recommendations, public hearings, consultations and make a database of the 22 415 victims.”
Results include relative calm socio, political and economic, institutional reforms, compensation and rehabilitation of victims, report, constitution now has better protection, mediation, and facilitation of human rights, freedom of speech and 68 recommendations were made.
“The weaknesses are that there is still a lack of confidence, lack of funding, political blockage, selective recommendations and blockage in parliament. The commission was created to bring peace and now it’s in the reconciliation phase”, he added.
He said that lessons learnt include that TRC is one of the steps of a process and added that sometimes a nation can be misled to think that the TRC will solve all their problems. There is need for a phase of preparation for the commission to operate effectively and there is no need for violations of human rights. He said that the TRC process cannot be a success and desired results are not achieved if perpetrators do not cooperate fully and without political will.
The meeting was meant to support the peace and reconciliation process in Zimbabwe and Africa using the agency of the church. The church is neutral and has moral integrity and it goes beyond the law.