The European Union (EU) delegation team recently met with the civil society organisations from the Western Region at Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo to discuss the EU Roadmap exercise for 2018-2020.
The delegation wanted to get first-hand information from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at grassroots level and get to understand their concerns and recommendation that can be addressed by the union.
The CSOs in the region were tasked to look at three thematic areas that covered their enabling environment, meaningful participation in policy dialogue and domestic policies, and capacity development.
CSOs highlighted the need for the government to revise their stringent laws so as to open an enabling environment for them to operate without any fear.
One of the participants in the meeting, National Youth Development Trust director, Liberty Bhebhe said, “One of the major challenges with the new dispensation is that this government is still restrictive. We are worried of what will happen after elections.”
Laws like Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) are still identified as major laws that hinder free operating environment for CSOs. These also undermine their civil liberties such as freedom of association among others.
The EU delegation members alluded to the important role that CSOs can play in national development in Zimbabwe stating that their continous support will help promote a democratic and inclusive society in the country.
CSOs added that there was minimal meaningful participation in policy dialogue and domestic policies at regional or grassroots level as they are not fully included in some decision making policies in the country.
Anglistone Sibanda, the director of Shalom Project, a community based organisation in the region said, “At grassroots level CSOs rarely meet with local authorities to engage on sectorial policies therefore they do not get a chance to influence public legislation.”
However, he argued that there was still a lot to be done in the capacity development sector because the CSOs still do not have the skills required in capacity building.
“Lack of funding is a major concern that hinders capacity development within CSOs in the region or at a national level, the skills can be attained when there is adequate funding, hence, we call EU to help us in these areas so as to improve our skills,” said Justice Zvaita, the director of Emmaus International.
The EU delegation team was requested to establish a civil society fund that will fund CSOs in strengthening their internal capacity in fundraising, research, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation.
In the meeting, it was noted that the EU was planninng to sharpen their roadmap focus and have more realistic priorities that are achievable by 2020 and also to improve participation by CSOs in other sectors such as the agriculture, health and environment.
EU was represented by eight ambassodors from France, Britain, Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Portugal.
By Lovejoy Phiri, NANGO Western Region
