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
31 Jul 2019
NANGO Board Chairperson, Ronika Mumbire, chaired a meeting between Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials and NANGO members on 5 June 2019. The meeting deliberated on the PAYE and VAT calculations that were introduced through Public Notice 17 of 2019.
The ZIMRA clarified that:
Employers are required to calculate PAYE using the relevant tax tables. The remuneration in RTGS$ and foreign currency should be added then PAYE determined based on that total amount.
One PAYE return [Form P2] shall be completed in RTGS Dollars. The employer must attach separate schedules showing total remuneration and PAYE in foreign currency and in RTGS Dollars. Tax payable in RTGS Dollars shall be remitted to the Commissioner General’s RTGS Account and the tax payable in foreign currency into the Commissioner General’s Nostro FCA.
The employer shall:
Concerns
30 Jul 2019
The government of Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU) launched the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Program Fund which is expected to boost the livestock sector, maximise smallholder farmers’ profits and improve competitiveness on domestic and international markets. The programme will be implemented by EU partners over a four-year period and is worth US$45 million.
The ZAGP program mainly targets small to large scale livestock producers, private sector integrators, processors, research organizations, farmers unions and financial service providers among others. ZAGP, which is covering all the country’s 10 provinces, will address the weaknesses and gaps in the livestock sector that have prevented the industry from growing.
Under ZAGP, there will be knowledge and innovation services delivered by agricultural education, extension and research in animal disease control and food safety, institutional reforms and policy alignment. The program is focusing on different value chains and projects within Zimbabwe namely; beef, poultry, dairy, pig and goats, focusing on productivity, production and incomes to their potential.
The EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen said that ZAGP is the main program in agricultural growth in Zimbabwe.
“There is need for political willingness to address structural bottlenecks such as security of tenure on land, which is crucial for domestic or foreign investment,” he said.
He expressed concern over the challenges in the livestock sector which he said were affecting production.
Ambassador Olkkonen said “The price of feedstock has increased to more than 50 percent in one year, which will have a terrible impact on the competitiveness of the feed intensive sectors like pig, poultry and dairy in comparison with other sub sectors; there are also regular outbreaks of animal diseases like new castle and foot and mouth diseases that are not contained by the surveillance and disease protection systems”.
The Ambassador also clarified that the ZAGP will reduce risk perception in the livestock sector and will encourage more investment which will improve productivity and competitiveness in the domestic and regional markets.
He called for more efficient ways to use resources and supply food for the population of Zimbabwe to ensure the country is self-sufficient in terms of food.
The Provincial Affairs Minister for Mashonaland West, Mliswa-Chikoka, who was standing in for the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Perrance Shiri, said the nation’s agricultural growth program in is line with the Government of Zimbabwe’s commitment to transform agricultural systems, increase agricultural production, create greater access to markets and increase investments in livestock value chains.
“Zimbabwe has taken a deliberate policy to promote investment in the agricultural sector due to its importance to the economy. The livestock sector has the potential to increase the country’s contribution to food security and nutrition, foreign currency earnings as well as the creation of employment throughout the livestock related value chains,” she said.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka encouraged all stakeholders to work together to make the programme successful by strengthening collaboration between the government and ZAGP so that the programme can effectively transform the livestock sector in Zimbabwe through increased and sustained agricultural production, productivity and competitiveness.
“Although the livestock sector continues to record steady growth, there are a number of challenges limiting its contribution to the national economy. These include access to finance and market, diseases leading to low productivity,” said the Minister.
NANGO officials that graced the event had an opportunity to tour different exhibition stands that reflected different value chains and projects within the agriculture sector namely; beef, poultry, dairy, pig and goats. Among the stands visited was the Inclusive Poultry Value Chain, a program awarded EUR 6 million towards improving the poultry value chain in Zimbabwe. The project is set to run for three years from February 2019 to January 2022 and is supported by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, Livestock and Meat Advisory Council, Sustainable Agriculture Trust and Welthungerhilfe.
The Beef Enterprise Strengthening and Transformation project is being implemented in five provinces of Zimbabwe. World Vision and Zimbabwe Agriculture Development Trust are some of the partners. The project seeks to create a competitive beef value chain that promotes enhanced trade, employment creation, food security and inclusive green economic growth by 2023.
Zimbabwe Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Services’s goal is to establish an integrated, dynamic, market oriented and farmer centric agricultural knowledge and innovation service system that meets the needs of modern agriculture in Zimbabwe. It promotes interconnectivity of agricultural education, research and extension ensuring relevant and up to date knowledge at all levels.
The veterinary services department provides extension and advisory services on good animal health care, hygiene and husbandry. It carries out surveillance, prevention, control and eradication of specified animal diseases and pests. It generates and provides new knowledge and technologies on pest control and animal health, production practices and decisions and provides information on the components, developments and impacts of the national livestock resource. The veterinary services department also provides regulatory services for the promotion of fair marketing, sanitary safety, quality and animal welfare and develop and implement livestock policies and strategies.
NANGO is monitoring the implementation of the National Indicative Program (NIP) where Agriculture is one of the three pillars of agriculture, health and governance and institution buidling under the program. The launch was attended by over 400 people including government officials, EU officials, representatives of various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private sector and farming community.
24 Jul 2019
NANGO urges the Government to employ public consultative approaches when developing national and legislations instruments. This comes after prolonged realisation and recognition of exclusion of the public in the various legislative and policy reforms that have been promulgated by the Government.
Section 13 on National Development, subsection 2 of the Consititution provides that ‘Measures referred to in this section must involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development and programmes that affect them’. Thus, the Constitutional provides that the Government must involve the people in formulation of policies and legislations.
Recently, the Government instituted Statutory Instruments (SIs) that have a negative bearing on the welfare of the general public in particular the SI 142/19 and SI 145/19 to mention a few. Evidently, these were developed without an iota of public involvement. These were developed without due diligence and without respect for the right to administrative justice as guaranteed in Chapter 4 Section 68 of the Constitution.
The Government has an obligation of consulting citizens before announcing and effecting any legal and policy instruments. The public have the right to administrative conduct that is lawful, prompt, efficient, reasonable, proportionate, impartial and both substantively and procedurally fair. Ownership and buy-in of new policies by the public is imperative for the success of new policy reforms yet there are several policies that the Government has developed and went on to implement without effective public participation and engagement.
Due to this, NANGO calls on government to follow due process and respect administrative rights ahead of effecting any legal instrument that affects the day to day lives of Zimbabweans.
NANGO is the officially recognised coordinating body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe. It is the largest umbrella body for non-governmental organisations and was established in 1962. It is a non-partisan, non-profit making and non-denominational coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. NANGO is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe.
24 Jul 2019
NANGO Board Chairperson, Ronika Mumbire, led a delegation that met the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr. J. P. Mangudya, on the 17th of July 2019. The objective of the engagement was to seek clarity on Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 and the subsequent RBZ Directives. The engagement was a result of a membership meeting where NANGO members resolved to seek clarity and commitments from the Governor.
The Governor clarified the provisions of SI142/19 and assured NGOs that the Bank is implementing these reforms in view of creating a constructive environment for all sectors to thrive. This he said is envisaged to ultimately contribute to economic growth and development.
The Governor clarified that:
The Governor assured and committed to the following:
