SWRGN capacitating communities for local governance and decision making processes
Nothando Nkomo
BULAWAYO – South West Region Gender Network, a regional gender focused non-governmental organisation has revealed that it is currently implementing a project titled ‘Promoting Civil Society Engagement in Local Government Policies and Decision Making Processes’ in Matabeleland with support from Diakonia and the European Union.
Through a statement released by its Communications Officer, Methembe Songo, SWRGN said the project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of CSOs, community based organisations and rights holders to “meaningfully participate and engage in local government policies and decision-making processes in Zimbabwe.”
According to Songo,the project’s target areas for implementation are four (4 wards) of Gwanda district and four (4 wards) of Matobo district. He added that marginalised groups in society are being prioritised.
“Our primary target beneficiaries are women, youths, people with disabilities, elderly and other marginalised groups. Final beneficiaries are men and women residing in selected rural districts, Media, CSOs and CBOs in Matabeleland South that will benefit from increased opportunities for policy engagement, local authorities, government line ministries, independent commissions and the Government of Zimbabwe,” said Songo.
Songo highlighted that through implementing the project, his organisation is complementing government and local authorities’ efforts to promote a bottom up approach to development.
“This (approach) will lead to equitable distribution of public goods and services to meet the needs of women and other vulnerable groups and their active participation in decision making.
This also increases transparency and accountability of local and national decision makers and delivery of public services that fulfil the socio-economic rights of citizens in an equitable way,” said Songo.
While invoking Chapter 14 of the 2013 Zimbabwean constitution, Songo articulated that SWRGN seeks to “support the engendering of the devolution process so that women, youths, people with disabilities benefit from the ongoing devolution agenda through implementation of responsive policies and laws, and facilitation of inclusive and participatory decision making processes.”
The Communications Officer further explained on how SWRGN in partnership and collaboration with local authorities (RDC, DDC), women affairs, and social welfare ministries amongst others has managed to create what he called ‘safe spaces’ for dialogue and engagement between local authorities and rights holders through community dialogue meetings, public meetings, sensitization of socio economic rights and radio programmes.
In keeping with the times, Songo said the organization has taken advantage of the project to run awareness campaigns on Covid 19 in rural communities where accessing information on the pandemic is a challenge for many.
“The project has also been instrumental in providing education and awareness on Covid 19 in rural areas which are usually marginalised in accessing credible information about the pandemic,” he said.
Songo said SWRGN calls upon the government and local authorities to “support implementation of the approved 30% women in local authorities leadership in order to achieve gender equality and women empowerment,” and also ensure the implementation of the National Disability Policy which seeks to address the marginalisation and discrimination of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe and empower them to improve their quality of life.
