25 Aug 2019
Amazing, but true! Despite a multitude of challenges people with disabilities (PWDs) face in accessing social media and the social trappings associated with it, findings by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Accessibility Report 2012, following a survey in 52 countries,revealed that social media has the greatest impact in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities (PWDs) in social, economic , political and cultural processes. This inclusion also encompasses an impressive array of developmental areas including healthcare, primary education, secondary education, tertiary, professional and lifelong education, employment and government services based on the survey data. This is despite that physical impaired users usually have difficulties in using input devices; Visual impaired users usually have difficulties in seeing display devices; hearing impaired users have difficulties in hearing audio information; and, people with learning/cognitive disability usually have problems in understanding system operations.
This contribution is closely followed by mobile phones, which, despite being one of the newer technologies from the ICT assessed, constitute the second-most valued ICT with regards to its contribution for PWDs. In particular, the use of mobile phones is instrumental in allowing the independent living of PWDs.
The exponential rise of social media resonates solidly with an observation made by a prolific writer and the world’s best known observer and analyst of global trends for more than 30 years, John Naisbitt, who made this poignant observation in 1982: “The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many.”Naisbitt was well ahead of his time, and with the advent of social media and its evident global proliferation, his analysis has been vindicated – no other communication platform allows the ordinary individual to generate and disseminate, at times almost instantaneously, one’s ideas, thoughts viewpoints and information to a wide and diversified audience as social media. No other communication platform has the ability to put information in the hands of many as social media. Person to person, country to country, continent to continent and global communication has been enhanced exponentially, scaling new heights in economic, social, political and cultural cooperation and development.
For the over 1 billion PWDs globally (15% of every population) , and critically, for the 2.4 nillion PWDs in Zimbabwe, who suffer from a documented lack of access to fundamental rights and freedoms that other people in society take for granted, social media holds unbriddled potential for ensuring disability inclusion in all spheres of social, economic, political and cultural life. The UNCRPD, bedrock of human rights for PWDs, equalisation of opportunities for PWDs and removal of the multifacetted barriers that legitimate disability discrimination calls, in Article 8 for all socially-conscious organs of the society to raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of PWDs;combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to PWDs, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life;nurture receptiveness to the rights of PWDs;promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards PWDs;and foster awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of PWDs.
The exponential rise of social media as the premier mode of communication is evidenced by rapid growth of social media; shift toward using social media on mobile devices; emergence of new accessibility options; increasing reliance on social media to communicate and achieve everyday tasks, and ; international shifts towards seeing social media as a democratic tool with strong potential for social inclusion.Social media is evidently not a passing fad and harnessing the full potential of this invaluable media would result in immense economic, social, and political benefits for PWDs.
The assessment also revealed that, more than any other ICT in use today, mobile devices and services have by far the greatest impact on independent living for PWDs. At the basic level, feature phones provide a means of on-demand communication for the user through both SMS and voice calls. This in itself can enable independent living by ensuring that emergency services, family members, personal aides, assistive and everyday services are just a call or text away.
Basic mobile phones, even in the Global South, have proved invaluable in providing a means of on-demand communication for users with disabilities through both SMS and voice calls. They have evidently had the greatest impact on independent living for PWDs.
At a more sophisticated level, smartphones address the unique sensory, physical and cognitive needs of customers with disabilities. A variety of smartphones are rated for hearing aid compatibility. Customers can enjoy open or closed-captioned multimedia content and use face-to-face video chat applications or dedicated video relay services to communicate via sign language. They are also able to access content non-visually through screen reading applications, customize alert settings to use a combination of audible, visual and vibration alerts and take advantage of voice-commands, adjustable font sizes, predictive text and a range of other innovative features, accessories, and third-party applications. By providing access to a wide number of computing functions, smartphones also exhibit social media capability and its attendant advantages of promoting the inclusion of PWDs in healthcare, primary education, secondary education, tertiary, professional and lifelong education, employment and government services. They therefore provide an avenue for PWDs to reconstruct disability imagery through skilful dialogue in disability inclusion content. They are designed for portability and are easily worn or carried by a user, unlike a laptop computer or television set.For PWDs, having a mobile device increases independent living not only because of the wide range of services that can be accessed, but also because this type of device allows access to those services (including emergency services) immediately at the time of need and from anywhere in the network.
An analysis of the characteristics of social media – participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness – reveals that these are the very principles that social inclusion is built on. Econet has been able to build national awareness on a number of social issues through an SMS quiz competition, leveraging successfully on the principles of participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness. Disability problems are multiple, interrelated and interconnected, requiring integrated and holistic solutions that address this interconnectedness. This requires that multilateral stakeholders come together to act collaboratively, collectively and inclusively to ensure disability inclusion using the expertise at their disposal. Disability organisations will provide disability-specific services across all the areas of the convention; civil society organisations will mainstream disability into their programs, policies, activities, plans and strategies; social media service providers will ensure awareness through an appropriate disability SMS quiz competition and society will integrate PWDs into their public and political activities. When stakeholders collaborate this way, they will be able to approximate the v-formation adopted by wild geese when migrating from cold to warmer climates, which is the epitome of teamwork. They reach their destination faster as they will be uplifted by the morale and encouragement of thers just like wild geese flying in the thrust of others and there is no drag or resistance; just like wild geese, which honk to encourage each other, the team also constantly encourages each other. Also just as wild geese rotate leadership in flying point when one becomes tired, secor specific competences among the multilateral stakeholders will allow each stakeholder to lead as need arises. Just like wild geese that will help out each other and remain with a faltering goose until it is able to rejoin the formation, the inclusion team will assist each other to achieve inclusion goals. When social media comes into contact with other inclusive forcess in society, its potential as a megatrend that can transfom the ives of PWDs in all spheres becomes heightened considerably and it becomes plausible to conceive it as a panacea for disability exclusion. Social media providers can play a preponderate role in disability inclusion in Zimbabwe, if and when they decide to exercise the option for inclusion.
The author, Lovemore Rambiyawo, is the Acting Executive Director of National Asociation of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) is an umbrella body to 70 disability organisations in Zimbabwe. NASCOH is a member of the Non State Actors Alliance – a disbility chapter under NANGOThe writer can be reached at: nascohdisability@gmail.com
25 Aug 2019
The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), the official umbrella body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe, notes with grave concern violent incidences that are happening in the country. Zimbabweans are known and cherished by many for their peacefulness and tolerance. However, events following demonstrations that were to be held in Harare on Friday 16 August, Bulawayo on Monday 19 August, Gweru on 20 August 2019 and other areas are denting the nature and character we are known for as a nation.
The state has an obligation to uphold the supreme law of the land and respect freedom of expression. NANGO, therefore, implores the government and state security to exercise restraint when responding to demonstrations. State and security agents should uphold the sanctity of life as prime and most important. They should also ensure the safety and security of women, children and people with disabilities.
NANGO encourages citizens to exercise their rights responsibly, respect the rights of others and stand guided by the constitution in order to effectively communicate grievances to the state. We encourage all key players to air grievances in an amicable way that ushers in sustainable peace and national development.
NANGO is a non-party political, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational official coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe with a membership complement of over a thousand organisations. It carries under its wings an amalgam of various issue constituencies and representative groups all with the singular focus of meeting the development needs of men, women and children in Zimbabwe.
21 Aug 2020
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) is concerned that our country continues to experience protracted national crisis. This crisis is characterized by continued intolerance, polarization, corruption, disregard for the rule of law, contravention of the constitution and marginalisation of vulnerable groups and communities, among other factors.
NANGO notes with great concern the government’s approach to address the grievances of the general citizenry and the vilification of dissenting voices that are calling for the promotion of lawfulness, tranquillity, peace, equity and fairness, inclusive and sustainable development, respect for human rights and constitutionalism. We urge the government to lend an ear to alternative voices all which hope and yearn for a better and prosperous Zimbabwe where everyone’s dreams and aspirations are possible. The refuting of alternative voices and views demonstrated by the responses to the call by various concerned stakeholders and citizens does not project a nation that is accommodative and democratic, this undermines efforts to move towards sustainable peace and development.
The citizens and communities look forward to a nation that provides them a platform to contribute in a meaningful way to ending the current economic, social, governance and environmental challenges we are facing. Thus, government hostilities towards citizens, reflected in its response characterised by hate speech, derogatory language and labelling of groups and tribes, is a cause of concern.
NANGO, like many other institutions was hopeful that the visit from the South African envoy was going to yield the much needed mediation between the government and its people. We are taken aback, that the envoy left without consulting non-state actors and other concerned stakeholders. However, we remain hopeful that the envoy will return with a refined, people centred and inclusive strategy.
We believe that the national crisis needs an all-inclusive and holistic approach in addressing the myriad of challenges that bedevil the country more so, when poverty and hunger are on the rise and the COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying public finance management, social service delivery and governance issues.
We note that the deteriorating economic environment characterized by projected negative growth rate of 5% coupled with galloping inflation rate amid reduced incomes has further deepened poverty and inequality indicators for the majority. Low incomes for the formally employed in both public and private sector have left most households with inadequate disposable income to purchase basic commodities. The informal sector, which employs the majority of people, has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures.
NANGO notes with concern the level of autonomy of the Judiciary, following the recent events that have been a reflection of how the Zimbabwean justice system has failed to induce confidence on its independence. Citizens and communities feel that the Judiciary Institutions have been used as an arm to further repress and deny citizens their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Countrywide, over the past few weeks citizens have been arrested over trumped up charges ranging from criminal nuisance, participating in a public gathering with intention to cause public violence and obstructing or endangering the free movement of persons or traffic. Over half a dozen are still withheld without bail, in stark defiance of the provisions in the constitution.
We emphasize the need for all stakeholders to work together towards the dream of the Zimbabwe We Want, to this end we urge
NANGO is the officially recognised coordinating body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe. NANGO, the largest umbrella non-governmental organization in Zimbabwe established in 1962, 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.
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches prayerfully presents the Household Care Burden Survey (HCBS) for the nation’s consideration. It is the Church’s hope that the Report will inform evidence-based policy debate and collective efforts to reduce the care burden on struggling households.
Over 88% of the households have average monthly incomes below US$600 as they depend on the informal economy for their survival. However, the reality is that informal economy jobs are often low paying, unpredictable and insecure. Most of those in formal employment have depressed incomes. As a result, most households are forced into difficult copying strategies such as borrowing (32%), cutting food expenditures (29%), assistance from relatives and friends (25%), cutting health expenditure (9%) and cutting education expenditure (5%).
Many households are in a state of poverty, precarious employment and unemployment. Austerity measures, heavy cut backs to basic social services and incessant price hikes increase the economic vulnerability of many households. Recurrent economic shocks and lock many households in multigenerational cycles of poverty. The Church calls for broad based and inclusive policy measures to uplift struggling households.
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) remains the country’s leading trade and investment multi-sectoral exhibition whose impact and influence are unmatched south of the Sahara. Founded in 1960 as a “shop window for the Federation”, the show post-independence continues to be the most exclusive networking event for local businesses as they get a chance to mix and mingle with regional and international partners. Through ZITF, businesses have been able to find leads to help them grow and develop. Celebrating its diamond jubilee, the fair remains as energetic as ever in helping local and international brands to get to the top.
The theme, Propagating industrial growth through trade and investment, is a rallying call to industry and commerce to participate in ZITF 2019, a dais to further explore and cement synergies to promote trade and investment. The event therefore seeks to spotlight local and international products services and ideas in a bid to promote trade and investment, cornerstones for economic growth.
The Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC) on behalf of the Child Rights Coalition in Zimbabwe is deeply concerned with reports and evidence on the arrest and detention of children accused of public violence. Evidence gathered from our member organisations working on the ground shows that children have been arrested and detained without following the international and local standards that uphold children’s rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 81 and the Children’s Act. The ages of the children arrested range from 9 to 17 years.
NANGO remains seized with the issue of the continued harassment of NGOs and criminalization of the work of NGOs.
Over the years NGOs have tremendously contributed towards the development and sustainability of vulnerable and marginalized communities in this country. NGOs in Zimbabwe are operating in various sectors across the country to compliment the otherwise inadequate state resources and to meet the needs of citizens.
We note with alarm the increasingly unstable operational environment for NGOs characterized by insecurity of persons, random office raids and mounting negative publicity being promoted through hate speech in the public media. The GNU should take all necessary steps to protect and ensure that crucial services offered by NGOs to communities continue without unnecessary disruptions at the instigation of the state. NANGO is surprised by the lack of attention being given by leaders in the inclusive government and political parties to the plight of NGOs but they are rather preoccupied with power politics focusing solely on the pending referendum and elections. However, these can only be conducted in a free and fair environment in which citizens are able to fully engage with the political processes.
NANGO fully attributes these dysfunctional and insecure circumstances affecting NGOs to the inaction and failure by the inclusive government to execute its responsibility to protect and ensure that NGOs and citizens have a safe and conducive operational environment. Political parties in the inclusive government need to focus on addressing broader human rights issues rather than strictly on power politics. NANGO therefore holds them fully accountable for the crack down on NGOs due to their silence on the matter and failure to act on the accesses of state power by the police.
NANGO demands that government and all political actors take steps to progressively realize the full application of the rule of law, including its impartial application and observation of rules of procedure. This implies that there be immediate cessations on the onslaught of NGOs on a selective and predatory manner as has been the case in the past three months. In addition, NANGO as the apex body remains available for constructive engagement on the operations of NGOs in this country so that we address any suspicions and perceptions that may be there about the mandates to these entities.
For more information and comments on this contact the NANGO Chairperson, Effort L. Ncube, on 0773 537 053
The dates for the Zimbabwe International Book Fair have been set for 29 July – 2 August 2019. The Indaba Conference will therefore take place on 29 and 30 July 2019. The theme of the 2019 Indaba Conference is “Footprints of the Book: Milestones & Opportunities”. The many previous themes of the Indaba looked at the character and the future of the book in its various forms and looked too at important issues that affect the writing, publishing and sale of books like piracy, reading culture, pricing and the digital character of the book of today, etc. These, however, tended largely to bemoan the goings on in the book sector in Zimbabwe and Africa since 1980. We tended to be gloomy. It is the Association’s submission that a theme such as Footprints of the Book: Milestones and Opportunities, would give ZIBF an opportunity to look back and identify what stakeholders think are the milestones achieved so far, celebrate them as well as point out clearly how and where each milestone was achieved and what opportunities are should be exploited to bring back the renaissance. A case in point is to go back and see what caused the boom of the 1980’s (which saw the rise of Dambudzo Marechera, Charles and David Mungoshi, Barbara Nkala, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Yvonne Vera, Virginia Phiri, Chenjerai Hove, Musaemura Zimunya, Shimmer Chinodya etc) and find what facilitated it and how it could be triggered again.
Sub-Themes:
Presenters are encouraged to submit their own innovative topics and abstracts that speak to the theme, “Footprints of the Book: Milestones & Opportunities”.The following sub-themes are meant to guide possible research areas although they may be used as research topics:
1) Mutation and the Evolution of the Book
2) Forwards and Backwards: Reminiscing the Book
3) Motivating Content Generation in the Digital Age
4) Creating Synergies in the Book Industry
5) The Political Economy of the Book in Africa
We therefore urge and encourage contributors to the 2019 Indaba to come up with ideas that will benefit all participants in the book value chain.
Submission of abstracts
Abstracts of not more than 500 words and word-processed in Times New Roman script with 1.15 line spacing should be submitted by 15 April 2019 by email toevents@zibfa.org.zw with a copy to zibfa@yahoo.com. The abstracts will be reviewed by experts and authors of selected abstracts will be notified by 30 April 2019. Presenters should submit the full papers and PowerPoint presentations of the full paper by 31 May 2019. Power-point presentations are required and must summarise the full paper in bullet form and should enable presenters to speak to the paper within the allotted time. However, those that must read the paper should summarise it and present within the allotted time.
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) mourns the loss of, Frank Mudimba, the Director of Basilwizi Trust and a development torch bearer from the NANGO Western Region.
He was 46.
Mudimba worked closely with NANGO from the time he got into office as Basilwizi Trust Director in 2009 and also sat on the NANGO Western Region board.
During his time as the Director of Basilwizi Trust, the organisation achieved numerous milestones. He coordinated the Zambezi Valley Advocacy Project which led to the recognition of the rights of fishermen from Binga, Hwange and Nyaminyami Districts. He sourced funding from the British Embassy to build a fishing warehouse and a cold room for the Kujatanakwesu warehouse in Binga. Mudimba also coordinated the Community Capacity Building in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Project which contributed towards peaceful elections in 2013 in Binga District. He coordinated the Self-Help Group which contributed to women empowerment, some of the women currently hold leadership positions in their respective institutions. Three women from Nagangala/Sinampande ward chair key community developmental committees – dip tank, school development and clinic committees.
Under his tutelage, Basilwizi, received numerous awards including the 2017 NGO Community Development Partner of the year and best implementing partner for the OVC Good Practice Programming award from Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
An avid reader, researcher, philanthropist and child rights advocate, at the time of his death Mudimba was supporting three disadvantaged girls from Tyunga, Kalungwizi and Siabuwa wards in Binga while in the past he supported vulnerable children through paying for their education and other material needs until they completed secondary level.
His legacy within the NGO sector speaks for itself.
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), the official umbrella body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe, is concerned with the social, economic and governance trajectory our beloved nation is currently undergoing. Zimbabwe is currently experiencing diverse challenges which call for true servant and inclusive leadership premised on the need to deliver positive development outcomes for all.
NANGO acknowledges at this juncture that Zimbabwe is in need of political leadership, which unites the nation for the common good. Political leadership that has no political boundaries but is driven by the national agenda for development as espoused in various national policies and programmes. Effective implementation of these will contribute towards sustainable socio-economic and governance development. We are cognizant that Zimbabwe has come of age, and that there is sincerity in all-political players to dream and visualize a Zimbabwe that all will cherish and pledge their patriotism.
It is against this background that NANGO calls upon all political players to find each other for the benefit of those living in vulnerable conditions for instance children, women, youths, persons with disabilities, and indigenes amongst others. All what citizens are yearning for is a nation that can offer them opportunities and allow them to realize their dreams, a nation where its people progressively realize their social, economic, environmental and governance rights. All this can remain a mirage if there is discord within the politics of the day.
We therefore call upon our political leaders to consider coming to the table and collaboratively finding a progressive solution to the current challenges we are facing. Only by working together can we move forward. Our country is greatly divided and this is one of the major determinants of our slow to no progress. The just ended harmonized elections showed that the two main political parties have a huge following all garnering over two million votes apiece. As such with the right political leadership we can galvanize development if and only if our political leaders can lead in the unification agenda and work together in developing the nation. Political stratification will not deliver sustainable development but will succeed in perpetuating the current economic outlook. Our humble and heartfelt request is for ZANU PF and MDC to unite for nation building. Zimbabwe let us work together for nation building.
NANGO is a non-party political, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational official coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe with a membership compliment of over a thousand organisations. It carries under its wings an amalgam of various issue constituencies and representative groups all with the singular focus of meeting the development needs of men, women and children in Zimbabwe.
