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Abigale Mupambi, the National Coordinator of the Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum has said the Provincial Development Coordinator for Harare, Tafadzwa Muguti, is way offside on his attempt to supervise the operations of non-governmental organisations.
Mupambi’s statements are in response to reports that the Provincial Development Coordinators for Harare (Tafadzwa Muguti); and Masvingo respectively, ordered that non-governmental organisations will be obliged to submit work plans, monthly reports, and details of workshops among a host of other demands.
“I see no light ahead for Muguti. CSOs will simply not comply. The Harare Provincial Development Coordinator’s demands are sounding awkward. He can’t just wake up with a directive that CSOs must report to him in a new fashion without engagement as if someone is being hunted. After all, these are stakeholders and they must be treated with dignity. l, however, appreciate that as CSOs, we must work as complements to government, and our works should be made known and reported accordingly. It’s only that the PDC office’s sudden directive and demand sound so unstructured and barbaric and l don’t see light ahead, unfortunately. In my view, a few CSOs will comply with this.
“I do understand that of course there are some CSOs who are engaging in unclear operations that undermine national interests. Some abuse donor funds which are meant to reach out to the underprivileged whilst others are of course doing their best in line with their mandate. That has to be noted. There has to be a collective effort to develop and adopt a regulatory framework to harmonize the operations of non-state actors in Zimbabwe. Government and CSOs must find each other,” Mupambi said.
In the same vein, the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) said a multi-stakeholder approach is the new innovative way of partnering to deliver the development outcomes. The umbrella body for non-governmental organisations said the CSOs’ work can be facilitated and enhanced by an enabling environment.
It is against this background that NANGO calls on the following stakeholders:
Government: To ensure an enabling environment for CSOs so that they can continue implementing their programmes. There is a need to build trust and cooperation between the Government and CSOs as both works to enhance the lives of the general public and position the country in a trajectory of positive growth and development. We also urge the government and political parties to be more hospitable to NGOs as they are working towards the economic, social, civil, and governance development of our beloved country, towards Zimbabwe We Want.
CSOs: To ensure that organisations do continue to work in the areas within which the institution was established for. Further, as advocates for transparency and accountability, CSOs are encouraged to be open and transparent in their programming work.
Community: NANGO would like to urge beneficiaries of the services and goods offered by CSOs to be calm.
