19 Mar 2020

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working and programming under the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO) health sector led by Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN) engaged through various platforms and came up with a common position in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. COVID 19 was declared a global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30 January 2020 and is spreading rapidly and causing untold mortalities.

Premable

CSOs in the health sector are concerned that any potential spread of COVID-19 has social, economic, and security threats for the country. Further, taking into consideration that the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Universal Health Coverage, Transition Stabilization Program, National Health Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals, which are strategic agendas for the socio-economic transformation of the health sector in the country, will be severely disrupted by disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 if there are no measures for timely coordination, collaboration, and communication of bold decisions.

Cognizant that any potential COVID-19 spread in Zimbabwe would be devastating in light of the multiple health challenges that the country is already faced with, which include: (1) incapacitation of health personnel; (2) acute shortage of essential drugs owing to foreign exchange incapacities (3) existing endemic diseases such as HIV, TB and Malaria, (4) antiquated health equipment and infrastructure, with limited resilience to numerous disease outbreaks;

Noting the role of public health institutions to respond to public health emergencies as declared by WHO and all relevant stakeholders;

Noting and cognizant of the strong evidence that health security depends on the establishment of resilient and adaptive national health systems, with a clearly defined public health coordination mechanism that is well funded;

Acknowledging efforts by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and other stakeholders including CSOs, private sector and the statement by the President of Zimbabwe in response to COVID-19 outbreak;

The CSOs Health Sector

Commits to coordinate efforts and collaborate with other stakeholders including the Government in response to COVID-19.

Welcomes the statement made by Government to enhance capacity to respond to any potential cases of COVID-19.

Enhances community-based monitoring and surveillance for COVID-19.

Ensures effective communication and community engagement by sharing correct, apt and timely information concerning COVID-19.

Calls upon the Government of Zimbabwe to consider the following actions as part of the national response:

• To restrict entry into the country of people coming from countries with confirmed cases;
• To facilitate the repatriation of citizens who may want to come back home, but ensure that they are properly assessed to identify potential cases of COVID-19;
• To ring fence national resources to support a robust national response and
• To enhance the mental wellbeing ofpeople in quarantine zones and for health care providers.

We call upon CSOs to consider the following actions as part of the national response:

• To redesign programming methodologies including reviewing conferences, workshops and internationaltravel;
• To enhance workplace safety issues through providing hand sanitizers and scale down on meetings; and
• To ensure the wellness of staff members through introducing flexible working hours.

27 Feb 2020

The state of disaster preparedness and climate resilience in southern Africa will come under the spotlight at a gathering taking place in Mutare, Zimbabwe, from 2 to 4 March 2020. This dialogue will also mark the first anniversary of Cyclone Idai and Kenneth which struck the region on 14 March 2019 and 21 April, respectively.

A little over a month after Idai, the region was hit by another cyclone, Kenneth, which made landfall in northern Mozambique. The aftermath of these massive cyclones resulted in unprecedented humanitarian disaster with millions of people left without shelter, food and water, and millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes and public infrastructure. The cyclones exposed the dire need for a proactive approach to preparing for disasters by governments as well as rescue and civil societyorganisations in the region.

In response to this, seven organizations have formed consortium to convene a dialogue that will gather representatives from affected communities and other stakeholders in the region. The dialogue will reflect on lessons learnt from the cyclones and responses by various actors in the region and contribute to better disaster preparedness and climate resilience in southern Africa. Outcomes from the dialogue will be presented to regional government bodies towards ensuring relevant policy and practice reforms.

The partner organizations are Southern Africa Trust, Centre of African Philanthropy and Social Investment, Amnesty International, National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, Action Aid, Southern Africa Youth Forum, and SADC Council of Non-Governmental Organisations.

The will dialogue will run under the theme “Preparing SADC region for disasters in the age of climate change”. The expected participants are survivors, community representatives, first responders, government and civil society bodies from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

23 Feb 2020

Monitoring  & Evaluation and  Youth Officer

Deadline: 6^th March 2020

A local female Christian organization is urgently seeking for the services of Volunteer M & E and Youth Graduate Interns for :

Harare

1. TheCommunications and M &E graduate Intern, under the guidance of the National General Secretary,will have the following responsibilities:

• Supporting activities relating the communications, advocacy and media including social media.
• Supporting in all data collection, analysis and learning activities and help ensuring accountability and efficiency and all project activities.
• Edit, prepare and publish YWCA publications.
• Implementation of monitoring tools and data collection procedures, and reporting systems.
• Any other duty as assigned

Qualifications.A bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, experience in project management and M&E will be an added advantage.

Youth Intern (below 30 years of age)

• Generate reports on activities undertaken
• Assist in proposal writing

•  Recruit and mobilize youths for the organisation
• Running youth related activities and programmes
• Advocating for youth rights on behalf of the organisation
• Work  hand in hand with  programmes person
• Perform any other duty as assigned

Qualifications:  Honours Degree in Social Sciences,

Interested candidates should send their CV’s and Motivational letters to the following email: gs@ywca.co.zw

Please note that this a female only organization

24 Feb 2020

Deadline: 28 February, 2020

About

Sentinel Hub is an upcoming media organization that facilitates news and information dissemination through social media, online platforms, citizen journalism and freelance journalism. The organization is primarily based in Harare but has working scopes that spread across Zimbabwe. 

Position summary

The position of Digital and Social Media Projects Officer requires a motivational and creative team player who will guide and lead a team of content producers in disseminating news on multi-media platforms. She/he will a spearhead the organization’s digital and social media enterprises and will be required to generate relevant proposals and reports. 

Job Description

The Digital and Social Media Projects Officer will be expectedto:Implement editorial policy, plan and direct editorial activities; update and populating the organisation’s online news portal and related social media platforms; supervise the editorial team and establish production schedules; manage the organisation’s social media platforms; write stories and editorials; do copy editing; write proposals and reports; mentor upcoming writers and multi- media practitioners; design and implement business plans;

Qualifications, Competencies & Skills

The Digital and Social Media Projects Officer must:haveA first degree in journalism, media and communication studies, social sciences or related fields; proven skills in news editing, news writing and digital marketing; requisite experience in news editing, news writing and digital marketing; be technologically savvy, business and target oriented;be able to work independently, with clear goals little supervision; must have deep familiarity with current affairs in Zimbabwe and at global level;  ability and scope to work online; additional ICT related qualifications will be an added advantage

To apply

Apply by sending a one-page resume and an application cover letter tht is not more than one page to:vacancy2020digital@gmail.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

23 Feb 2020

Every Child In School #ECIS Campaign is pleased by the response the minister has given to ours and the many other voices that SPOKE against the increase in examination fees for Ordinary and A’ Levels. We appreciate the swift move in respond to the press statement that we released yesterday calling for the revoking of the examination fees. We also asked the government to scrap the the Examination Fees altogether. 

The examination board last week had announced that; Ordinary level examination fees per subject for private and non private shall be RTGs $190 up from TRGs $15. Advanced level students will have to pay RTGs $351 up from RTGs $26.  

In his reversing statement, the minister said that; 

Following the publication of the 2020 public examination fees, it has been found necessary to carry out further consultations. While the examination fees that were published are based on the actual cost of each examination, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform parents and guardians that following further representations, the recently released circular no the 2020 examination fees has been cancelled with immediate effect. New fees will be announced after further consultations have been made with all the relevant stakeholders. Parents and guardians are therefore advised to continue paying the old fees approved in 2015. Please be advised that deadlines for examination fees payment remain the same. 

In her response statement, Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe, the leader of Every Child In School Campaign -ECIS welcomed the action by government and said that we remain worried: “What we have just leant from this situation of the exorbitant fees that Zimsec had introduced is that the right to education for children is currently vulnerable despite the constitutional provisions. Why do organisations like ZIMSEC not remain guided by that order? We are therefore now asking the government to immediately scrap altogether the examination fees taking into consideration that currently parents are struggling to even register the children’s examination fees. Should an allotter scraping not work in the current environment, what must surely happen is the gazetting of the current examination fees for the next five years so that they do not change, bearing  in mind that the government is expected to be working towards a complete state funded free basic education system. In line with this, gazetting the current examination fees for the next five years, after which the government will be expected to altogether scrap the examination fees is a logical and sincere thing to do” she said. 

Revrend Taylor Nyanhete, the Country Coordinator of Zimbabwe National Coalition of the Rights of the Child said Every Child In School Campaign welcomes this move by the minister but we need guarantees, this shock that we received when fees went up is against the rights of the child and causes parents to be always worrying. It shows our government is no aligning itself to the constitution especially section 75. 

By doing this, the government will show citizens that it is committed to Constitution Section 75 which makes the responsibility of the government to ensure provision of basic education. 

Tag a life International (TaLI) , Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC), Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), Mambure Trust, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), UDACIZA, Justice for Children (JCT), PROWEB, Female Students Network (FSNT), Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI), Research Advocacy Unit, Higher Life Foundation, Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI), Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance, Rebuild Sakubva (RESA), World Vision, Issues Pane Nyaya, Katswe Sisterhood, Zimbabwe Alliance, Girls and Women Empowerment Network Trust (GWEN), Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance, Shamwari Ye Mwanasikana (SYS) Citizen Participation Trust, Shanduko, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation, Zimbabwe Activists Alliance, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Parents for Handicapped Children Association. Umzingwane AIDS Network, Hope Alive Child Network, D.P Foundation, Child and Guardian Foundation, Christian Legal Society, Voice of the voiceless – Multiple Foundation, WWT, HOCIC, Progress Trust (Bubi), Impumellelo Trust, Kwa- Foundation Trust, Scripture Union Bulawayo, Cacile Trust, Sinethemba Women and Youth Trust, Vhulindlela Trust, Revival of Hope Trust, Queens Park Development Association, Sir Humphrey Gibbs Centre, Sir Humphrey Gibbs Centre, Young Women, Youth and Adolescents, Sthandiwe Children’s Home, Rozaria Memorial Trust. 

For more infor: Nyaradzo Mashayamombe Executive Director TaLI; tag.alife@gmail.com  RevTaylor Nyanhete Executive Director ZNCWC nyanhetetaylor319@gmail.com

23 Feb 2020

Introduction

The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and its partners,   SMAIAS, SAPST, ZAN and ZiCHIRe are leading civil society in monitoring the National Indicative Programme (NIP) implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe with support from the European Union (EU). One of the key activities of this project is the publication of research papers. In this regard, the consortium requires the services of a consultant to conduct research on the following topic:  Access to justice for Zimbabweans in the context of judicial reforms and the National Indicative Programme support.

Background

One of the focus areas of the NIP is support for the rule of law through justice sector reforms and increased access to justice for all without discrimination. The Zimbabwean justice system comprises various judicial organs set up by the Constitution, including traditional justice mechanisms, as well as the superior and inferior courts.

Customary courts do not have criminal jurisdiction but they constitute an important part of the justice sector in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas, as they represent the most geographically and economically accessible means for citizens to seek redress.

The EU assistance towards access to justice under the NIP aims to ensure increased access to justice for vulnerable members of society through, among other things, capacity building for the justice system. Support for enhanced performance of the courts will complement efforts towards access to justice for all, through seeking to ensure that the primary justice system, which remains for many the only easily accessible source of redress, performs better in providing fair and equitable justice.

Description of Assignment

The overall objective of the study is to conduct research and produce a report on the topic: Access to justice for Zimbabweans in the context of judicial reforms and the National Indicative Programme support.

The consultant must study:

• The training that judicial officers, including traditional leaders undergo, whether formal or informal before and after appointment, understanding of laws in as far as they relate to women
• The rules of procedure and how these coincide or clash with human rights norms
• A comparative study of the rules of procedure with other regional jurisdictions
• The cost of accessing the justice system, and its impact on access to justice for ordinary citizens, including fees for formal and  traditional leaders courts
• Any comparatives on the cost of justice in the traditional systems
• The linkages between and among judicial officers, including traditional leaders and the Executive, and its role and impact on their discharge of the judicial function. The existence of any mechanisms to insulate judicial officers in their judicial role from Executive overreach, etc.
• The support services available to the judiciary and traditional courts in the discharge of their functions
• The extent to which the traditional courts use principles of natural justice (such as due process, presumption of innocence, right to silence)
• The standards or guidelines used in the delivery of judgment( such as issues of precedent) by judicial courts
• The impact of different cultural norms in the delivery of justice especially to women and vulnerable groups
• Whether there are any review mechanisms for rulings made under the traditional courts
• The gender composition of presiding officers across the judicial system
• How issues of legal representation are handled
• The costs of legal fees and their impact on access to justice
• The state of judicial reform and its implications and impact on access to justice
• Geographical location of the courts in relation to the population of Zimbabwe.

Methodology

The research will be a desk review. The consultant will review various documents which include Government publications and documents, EU documents on the state of the judicial system in Zimbabwe, The EU NIP Zimbabwe documents, prior research papers into the area of study as well as reports from civil society organizations working in this sector. Where possible, interviews with relevant civil society, government and EU officials as well as some programme beneficiaries will be conducted to corroborate desk research findings.

Organization of Work

The consultant will:

• Work closely with SAPST and NANGO and other related consortium partners
• Report to the Project Coordinator

Deliverables

The researcher is expected to submit the following reports:

1. First draft- the researcher will submit a draft report on findings for review by SAPST and NANGO within the agreed time frame.
2. Final Research Paper- one week after SAPST and NANGO has reviewed the first draft and communicated comments to the researcher, the research will produce the final report.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience of the Researcher

The following skills, experience and competencies are required:

• At least a Masters level qualification in a relevant discipline such as law, human rights or development studies
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the judicial sector.
• Detailed knowledge of Zimbabwe’s judicial system

Administration Information

Applications can be hand delivered and addressed to

The Project Coordinator

NIP Monitoring & Advocacy

NANGO

2 McGowan Road

Milton Park, Harare

Or sent via email to: programsmanager.nango@gmail.com  cc: info.nangozim@gmail.com

Deadline: Monday 2 March 2020

23 Feb 2020

Background Introduction 

COMALISO is a Zimbabwean, Ruwa-based liberal think tank – advocates for a free market economy.  We regularly host informal meetings with progressive economists to perpetuate the free market mantra. Such meetings result in a series of discussion points that, if there is a policy implication, we refer them to relevant policy makers. A few months ago, we organised a dialogue meeting of 10 top Zimbabwean economists.  Our motivation was the distortions in the fuel procurement and distribution sector resulting in shortages, distressingly long queues and weekly price adjustments. There is something fundamentally wrong with the current fuel procurement and distribution value chain. It does not seem our government has the answer to resolve this fuel crisis, but we are sure that left to its own devices, a free market economy ‘invisible hand’ can solve our problem.

Zimbabwe’s passenger and commercial vehicles range between three and five million, with a daily consumption of petrol and diesel well over 200 million litres per month. A country that does not produce oil; also with diminishing prospects of producing adequate foreign reserves cannot cope with such a monthly fuel bill under monopolistic conditions. The government has attempted to support ethanol production via a Green Fuels arrangement – deal mired in undefined contradictions. Millions of Zimbabwean’s have spent millions of hours queuing for fuel that is in short supply. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority ZERA is caught in between liberalising the market and proposing pump prices that match the ‘open’ or interbank market for US$. Between February 2019 and now, ZERA has ‘adjusted’ the pump price from RTGS$1.50 to RTGS$20 – a massive 1300% increase in less than thirteen months!

Minister for Finance Professor Mthuli Ncube, habitually labelled ‘neo-liberal’, yet so far, failing to ‘liberate’ the fuel crisis. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is caught in between populism and pragmatism, but this ambivalence creates complications associated with illiberal practices: for example, currency controls resulting in cash shortages, high budget deficit due to large government, and shortage of goods and monopolistic media controls  that lead to what economists term ‘cartelisation’ of the fuel sector. We citizens are not clear what role the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Trafigura, Total, Glencore and IPG play in this complex fuel supply algorithm.  What we know is fuel ends up in bonded storage, but getting it out demands several processes no doubt tied to foreign currency availability and undefined ‘allocation’ systems.

2.   Causes  

Many reasons posited why Zimbabwe is failing to manage fuel deficiency. Our overall take is that government has unnecessarily classified fuel as a ‘strategic reserve’ – surprisingly a narrative congruent with the deposed Rhodesia Front government. Fuel is any other commodity – an enabler of quality life and production. Its widespread usage and intensity of retail access would make it impossible for any government bureaucracy to handle. The current system is flawed, only beneficial to a few suppliers connected to government and extremely detrimental to national productivity. Our economics group observed that:

• Foreign currency shortages and a deliberate (local currency) under-pricing of the product distorts the supply chain.
• Fuel is sold at sub-economic local currency price, hence enticing (some) distributors to illegally export it.
• Subsidised fuel price encourages cross border truckers to refuel in Zimbabwe. 
• Malpractices like hoarding, diverting fuel to the black market, insisting on foreign currency payments distort the market.
• Increased fuel price of fuel does not seem to be reducing demand for the product.

3.   Free market solutions  

Freedom

Our overall submission is that whilst a free market approach is the solution, it is not necessarily the only panacea to all and sundry. In the case of Zimbabwe, bizarre human interplay in whatever economic system is fraught with unlimited potential for rent seeking and arbitrage. As an example, our telecommunications sector is ‘open’ but not competitive – the very reason we have no Vodacom and MTN to offer an alternative to our insane bundle charges. However, in a free market economy, an investor in fuel service stations does it based on procurement knowledge and his/her capital ‘depth’. Thus once issued with a licence – just as a ‘licence’ to operate a supermarket or a large format printing company, the investor procures diesel and petrol from whatever source they consider competitive.

Regulation

There exists sufficient levels of regulation – ZimRA, ZERA and Standards Association – to ensure quality procured is compatible with international standards. The responsibility of ‘regulating’ prices cannot be a preserve of ZERA in a free market economy. ZERA would not have sufficient information on the nature of diversified procurement, thus they must only be restricted to licensing and quality. Like we have observed above, ‘cartelisation’ may be a function of both scarcity and monopoly, but one cannot rule out possibility of price and quantity collusion in the sector. This is where the intervention of the anti-monopolies commission is vital and telling ‘justice’ of a free market economy inevitable.

Cost  

Major determinant of pump prices are storage, handling, duties/taxes, oil company/dealer margins and transportation of the product. Fuel pumps into the Mabvuku storage tanks via a 500km pipeline from Mozambique. Technically, the pipelines are state-owned which again creates supply monopoly and arbitrage opportunities. It may be that Government of Zimbabwe argues how decades of investment in this pipeline cannot be discarded. Besides – goes the argument – our country’s road and rail capacities are incapable of sustaining the 30 million-litre capacity that the pipeline handles. However, we strongly feel petrol station investors can handle their own sourcing and distribution in order to define own cost structure. The current system is rigid and beneficial only to State ‘players’.

4.   Policy options and recommendations

Recently, our government ‘published’ a decree that service stations with free (offshore, Nostro) funds can import own fuel supplies, but not before blundering about outlets ‘designated’ to sell in foreign currency. From the tone of our analysis, one can tell that tinkering with a single component of the value chain will not help much. As it is, even those fuel stations brave enough to sell in local currency are attracting long winding queues. We insist on a battery of policy adjustments that influence the supply and price sides. Remove petrol and diesel from the ‘strategic resource’ category. The State can put in place own strategic reserve system using own infrastructure to enable own consumption.

Allowing private investors to have a second pipeline is sustainable in the end to offer effective competition against State companies, road and rail transport. Zimbabwean consumers are burdened with unnecessary fuel taxes and ‘levies’ – apart from duty – a bewildering array  of levies that act as a disincentive to import fuel, even with free funds.  Zinara road levy, debt redemption, carbon tax, strategic reserve levy, storage and handling charges relating to importation, clearing agency fee, inland bridging, storage and handling related to distribution, secondary transport. By the time one adds the oil company and retailer ‘profit’ margin, pump price is well beyond comparative prices in SADC of around or slightly below one US$ per litre. Again, no one but the State benefits from these levies with no visible improvements to road and rail infrastructure. The issue of ethanol blending does not seem capable of reducing the supply and pump price paradox other than causing more distortions and controversies.

5.   Conclusion

Zimbabwe’s capacity utilisation is under threat of inadequate energy supplies. State-controlled ZESA electricity company is struggling to supply power, thus if we hope to ever improve our country’s economy, this policy proposal must not be viewed a mere subject for ideological debate. There are unfounded suspicions of the so-called self-serving intentions of free market economies, but in what quagmire has ‘State control of everything’ left our country so far? Our submission is policy reform that allows private companies to change the supply and price dynamics of fuel for the good of national production. All plans of economic revival and re industrialisation come to nought without freely available fuel supplies. Let citizens play their role in development and leave government to governance and regulation, not business. Scarcity does not protect the poor but creates privileges for the elite. Zimbabwe has adequate infrastructure to support the oil industry where procurement is liberalised with each company sourcing independently.  

24 Feb 2020

Course Title: BDS and Value Chain Development for MSME Support

Target Group : Project/Business Development Officers /Managers working with MSMEs in NGOs, CBOs, Government ministries and donor organisations.

Purpose/Objective of the Course: To introduce new donor thinking, issues, guidelines and tools in BDS and Value Chain MSME development programmes design, financing, management and evaluation and help participants apply and design and or improve on their MSME support programmes.

Delivery Methodology: Action oriented, competency based and experiential course with a three broad phased approach. First phase consisting of back home action plan development and basic theories concepts, stages and tools, second part field based exercise on value chain study/analysis and improvement process and third phase more concrete approaches and experiences as well as development of BDS and Value Chain Development transfer and application (back home) plan.

Duration: Three weeks of one week block release over three months.

Fees: US$700 tuition including teas and lunches and training materials. Accommodation can be arranged separately.

Dates : April to June 2020.

Venue: Harare

For Enquiries and Registration, contact Empretec at 34 Lawson Avenue, Milton Park, Harare on +2638644119673-4, or Elasto Chikami on +263773466461 elastochikami@gmail.com, or  Costar Baleni on +263716913708 costarbaleni@yahoo.co.uk. Deadline for registration is 31 March 2020.

11 Feb 2020

Regional Coordinator

Duty Station: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with possibilities of travel Organizational Unit: Programmes Type of Appointment: Fixed-term, with possibility of extension Closing Date: 15 February 2020 Starting Date: 1 March 2020

JOB DESCRIPTION

General functions: Under the direct supervision of the Programmes Manager, in coordination with Program Partners and relevant units at the head office. The successful candidate will be expected to work on full-time basis during the assigned period. Among other regional administrative duties he/she is expected to: Contribute towards the development and implementation of the organization’s integrated membership recruitment and retention strategy including its periodic review; Regular communication with members Develop and maintain membership database, and other relevant partners and establish professional relationships with members, partners and other key constituencies; Ensure that the organization and regional messages and activities are covered in all its social media platforms and website; Administer the Regional Office filling system, maintaining, logging ,filling and updating records in prescribed format for subsequent use Coordinate monitoring efforts, measuring results and impact of programs, activities in liaison with head office including reporting on developments and trends in the Region; Provide operational and logistical support towards the implementation of project activities and the fulfilment of Regional Office obligations; Facilitate dialogue and engagement platforms between NANGO and key stakeholders including government officials, parliamentarians and private sector in the Region; To contribute to the development of strategic alliances and networks between and among NGOs and other key stakeholders; Represent the association at high-level dialogue and engagement fora and meetings with the Government of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders from the public sector, private sector and civil society in the Region; COMPETENCIES Professionalism: Strong communication and analytical skills and ability to rapidly process and integrate diverse information from various sources; proven ability in advocacy, management, writing and editing to meet tight deadlines; thorough knowledge of development issues, understanding of, and experience in, dealing with the media; Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. EDUCATION An Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Administration or related field. A first-level University Degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced University Degree. WORK EXPERIENCE A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience either in development, administration or related area, including experience in management of large programs is an added advantage. Previous experience of working with and through partners; Familiarity with local and international NGOs, government and development partners; Knowledge of both Ndebele and Shona is an added advantage. Interested prospective applicants send a motivational letter, curriculum vitae, and copies of certificates to director.nango@gmail.com

WOMEN ARE ENCOURADGED TO APPLY.

NANGO Information Desk     +263 242 703599           Twitter: @nangozim           Facebook: @NANGOZim

6 Feb 2020

The populations hope for a better living condition. Fine speeches and sham democracy are no longer tolerated. May justice, transparency and accountability be de rigueur!

At the advent of New Year 2020, we, the members of the National Bureau of PFNOSCM / VOIFIRAISANA and of the National Orientation and Strategic Monitoring Committee (CNOSS) of the 22 Regions within it, address our members, the population Malagasy as well as to the populations of the five continents in love with peace, justice and progress, a year during which reign good neighborliness and friendship between peoples and that the fruits of growth will be shared fairly to effectively eradicate the poverty that plagues the majority of people around the world.

The PFNOSCM shares the pain of families in Madagascar, Australia and other corners of the world, victims of floods, fires or other forms of hazards that have caused loss of life, destruction of the environment and fauna and flora as well as considerable material damage.

We congratulate the establishment of the new government which, we very much hope, with the quality of the knowledge and know-how of its members, has a keen sense of Malagasy realities, patriotism and integrity as well as the latitude necessary and sufficient to initiate rapid and shared economic growth to quickly bring the Malagasy out of the unworthy and degrading poverty. That Madagascar and the 25 million Malagasy are not a laboratory where each year, the experiments are repeated for want of satisfaction.

We take this opportunity to share our thoughts on global and national realities which, for the most part, do not go in the interests of the populations, particularly the most vulnerable. Some analyzes and recommendations on major subjects among the multitudes of priorities of Madagascar, which concern issues of concern and areas of intervention of the PFNOSCM and Regional Platforms of Civil Society and associations which are its dismemberments, will thus be raised in this press release.

At the global and sub-regional levels:

• Call for calm and dialogue in the Near and Middle East, and respect for African sovereignty We express our deep concerns at the escalation of violence in the Near and Middle East, and we question ourselves on the consequences, not only on the population of these sub-regions, but also on the real risks of sliding towards a total war whose devastating effects would be catastrophic for all humanity. Let us seek the goodwill of all the actors intervening in these regions, under the aegis of the United Nations, so that a lasting solution is quickly found, and this, in appeasement and mutual respect.

We congratulate the African Union for taking responsibility recently in the search for a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis. Conflicts in Africa must be resolved by Africans and on African soil, according to an approach that responds primarily to our own values and specially to our strategic interests. This initiative must return solely and in a sovereign manner to the African Union. To be able to express its notoriety on the world stage, it must be united and find the proper means of its sovereignty.

At the level of the Indian Ocean:

• The Malagasy islands of the Indian Ocean: the era of colonization is over!
  The PFNOSCM is jealous of the integrity and inalienable character of the entire territory of Madagascar as well as the national sovereignty of the country. We strongly condemn all degrading and humiliating remarks against the Malagasy population and all forms of colonialism on the national heritage. The PFNOSCM pays particular attention to the islands of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean legitimately recognized by the United Nations through resolution No. 39/91 of December 12, 1979 as being a Malagasy property in its own right. We all condemn decisions on the management mode of these islands which do not favor the strategic interest of Madagascar.

We demand a simple restitution of these islands exempt from any possible form of scheming and obscure complicity, and a sound and transparent management of natural and mineral wealth by the Malagasy government in the preservation of the higher interests of Madagascar and its population.

At national level:

• When will the democratic elections on which the confidence of the majority can rest?
  In appearance, the elections which took place from 2018 with the presidential elections and which ended in November 2019 with the municipal and municipal elections mark some progress in the process of democratic alternation in Madagascar. The strong apprehensions about a post-electoral crisis, especially during the presidential elections, have been contradicted by reality despite the tensions that ensued even if they leave frustration hanging out until now. The PFNOSCM which participated within the ROHY movement in advocacy actions to improve with a lot of difficulties the legal framework on the elections in 2017-early 2018, and which was active in the observation of these elections at all levels, remains however convinced that the democratic principles which must govern the elections defined in international, African and regional instruments (SADC) that Madagascar has ratified have not been respected in their majority in the organic laws on elections and in their implementation (principles of inclusiveness, equal opportunities, transparency, honesty, equity, freedom, ..). The violation of the neutrality of the public administration and of judicial independence in favor of the “kandidam-panjakana” or candidates of the majority political party in power to all these elections, denounced by a group of magistrates in the case of municipal and municipal authorities, were flagrant. This justifies to a very large extent the continued decline in voter turnout during these elections. It is a serious sign of a crisis of confidence and legitimacy, and a definite brake on the long-awaited national reconciliation process which the country badly needs for its recovery from the societal problems which plague it. To improve the Malagasy electoral system and restore citizens’ confidence in this system, the PFNOSCM considers that a real political will of all electoral actors must precede the participative and consensual overhaul of the framework legal on the elections, the in-depth review of the approach, the methodology of the preparation of the electoral list and its
  security, as well as a real independence of the CENI and the electoral jurisdictions.
• An effective policy and strategy to fight climate change: an emergency for Madagascar
  We are all witnesses of what is happening in the world in terms of environmental problems with almost irreversible consequences. The Big Island and Indonesia are currently facing major flooding problems while Australia is fighting against the spread of large-scale bush fires across its territory.

Madagascar must learn from it about the deep and distant causes of these phenomena and the PFNOSCM calls on the new government to closely monitor the implementation of the policy and strategies for the fight against climate change and the commitment of each of the citizens. The unreasonable and abusive exploitation of mining, forestry and fishery resources will, among other things, be the cause of an inevitable environmental and food crisis in Madagascar, to the detriment of the future generation.

The PFNOSCM, as a civil society, wishes to contribute its share of brick to the design, implementation and monitoring of all policies and strategies to effectively fight climate change throughout the territory of Madagascar by involving each citizen.
 

• Alert to the risk of total disappearance of forest cover, fauna and flora! The year 2019 is still marked by a markedly worrying decline in Madagascar’s forest cover caused by land clearing linked to disorganized and anarchic internal migration, and favored by corruption where impunity reigns. “Between 50,000 and 100,000 hectares of forest are destroyed each year” 1. Malagasy fauna and flora, at least 80% of which are endemic, have so far been prey to wild predations. They are also marked by the impact of climate change amplifying the social and economic vulnerability of the population already with a low capacity for resilience. They are irreplaceable and cannot be restored, at least for the most part. Without a rigorous commitment and supported by a set of consistent measures, our already greatly reduced forest cover is doomed to total disappearance. The economic losses and the ecological damage that this will cause are of great concern. The political decision taken by the government to cover all of Madagascar with forest since this year is a good initiative but insufficient to deal with the threats that constantly threaten our flora and fauna. The PFNOSCM calls on decision-makers to urgently develop and initiate a common vision of sustainable development translated into coherent sectoral policies, guaranteeing integrated development.
   
• Contaminated water and health threat in Fort-Dauphin: transparency and urgent measures are necessary if the case is proven

In the context of mining in Madagascar, a study on the quality of water near the operating sites of QMM in Fort-dauphin was carried out by a British NGO called Andrew Lees Trust. The results published on December 20 , 2019 in the English newspaper “Reuters”, concluded that the waters around the sites would be contaminated 350
times lead and 63% higher in uranium compared to the normal rate recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This situation is believed to be the cause of the various diseases that affect neighboring communities. 1 “In Madagascar, lemurs and their forest threatened by poaching”, Le Monde April 22, 2019

Faced with this circumstance, the PFNOSCM requests the Malagasy Government to observe and monitor this situation closely in order to avoid any human contamination.

• For an effective security policy respecting human rights Despite the declared will of the current government to combat urban and rural insecurity reflected in the measures taken to
  bring the police together and the purchase of several lots of military equipment, the scourge continues to haunt the minds of every citizen at all times. Children and adolescents are particularly affected, and there are also a growing number of cases of significant physical violence. The use of force going beyond established limits, compounded by the inability of institutions to deal effectively with crime and violence, only increases the insecurity of
  populations. The recurrence, lately, of elements of police force threatening or shooting point-blank with weapons of war, innocent civilians seem to reveal the hierarchical insubordination which reigns there, certainly favored by nepotism and corruption.

The prosecution, the security forces and the prison system have not developed the capacities necessary to provide an effective response, through legitimate action, prevention and repression, to crime and violence. Justice is profaned, and becomes a source of frustration and challenge to the order established when the judicial authority accepts
money or other gifts and favors from a person or group or if it is under the control of an occult force which dictates the verdicts. This is how the cycle of violence, and therefore permanent insecurity, is born and reproduced.

For the PFNOSCM, the security problem cannot be solved by violence even if it takes legal cover, and a fortiori when it is abused beyond measure, because violence calls for violence. It would be difficult to eradicate insecurity without an approach integrating citizen security in the concept of human security according to which the citizen is protected against unemployment, famine, the threat of climatic vagaries (current case of the rice farmers of  Ambatondrazaka who see their rice fields, their main sources of income, destroyed by the flood) or abuse of authority (case of the farmers of Ambohitrimanjaka who see their rice fields forcibly backfilled without their free consent). The citizen must also be protected from corruption, impunity and nepotism. This vision of security policy must rest on a solid democratic foundation where decentralization with necessary and sufficient resources as well as decision-making power gives strength to the fokonolona who take control of their destinies (fokonolona tompon-draharaha).

• Is town planning a lever for development?
  Malagasy cities are not immune to the global phenomenon of rapid urbanization amplified by the economic crisis chronic and insecurity in rural areas. Without going exclusively into the demographic aspect, we tackle the problems of urbanization by the capacity of cities to accommodate the flow of the rural population and the increase in the urban population. Public infrastructure, including basic equipment, has not been adequately maintained for decades, requiring new infrastructure as part of a development
  plan and urban plan for the renovation of neighborhoods and the extension of cities to follow the increase in urban population . This rapid and disorderly extension of Malagasy cities is reflected in the proliferation of constructions illegal in the absence of building permits or even laxity and corruption in the issuance of building permits by the municipalities. To confine oneself to this logic of building permits would be insufficient to explain the problem to eradicate the phenomenon of illegal constructions. In terms of housing, the successive public authorities do not have a clear vision on this subject and have not given priority to the construction of social housing to house vulnerable groups whose last achievements date back to the years 60 and 70, following the example of the city of Antananarivo with the construction of the cities of Analamahitsy, Ampefiloha, Mandroseza, Ambodin’Isotry and 67 hectares.

For the PFNOSCM, priorities must be given to the extension of Madagascan cities by the development of land in the immediate vicinity of the portals of each large city to be able to erect constructions of economic housing, at moderate rent with basic equipment such as markets, health infrastructure and basic education to welcome new migrants. Such a perspective requires an urban plan with practical consequences such as the expropriation of land targeted in consultation with the municipal authorities concerned and the participation of the public, of which civil society would be one of the major pillars for the success of the operation. This participation of civil society is provided for by the provisions of the new town planning law within the framework of public consultation to validate the future town planning plan. This approach is put forward for the simple reason that the State no longer has land to carry out the visions contained in the urban and development plans to be drawn up by the municipalities. The protection of the vulnerable layers of the population must be taken into account in the perception of a harmonious city and is considered as an essential element, a lever for the development of the city.

• National education policy: for a change of paradigm and approach

Human beings are at the center of everything. If a given community can live peacefully, in harmony with its environment and in complementarity, it is because the human beings who compose it, that is to say men, women, elderly, young, children, all faiths, political tendencies and social and ethnic origins combined, educated or not , rich in the values that form their identity, have the intelligence to organize themselves, to pool and value each other (mifanome hasina) to build a united living together, capable of asserting themselves and growing up against all kinds of external influences due to an inevitable  globalization. How to build a profile of Malagasy which can meet this ideal? This is, from the point of view of the PFNOSCM, the fundamental question that must be answered by any
education policy in Madagascar.

To subjugate and exploit a people as they pleased, the colonizers used education to destroy their identity, that is to say, the “backbone” which allows them to assert themselves in their fullness in the face of the other. In the era of independence, this mental breakdown continues in other forms to serve a bourgeois class that controls the economy and political power. Adult literacy is neglected. National education remains problematic because we let it drag the debate on the choice of policy and program adapted to the needs and realities of the country. The educational program of students in public schools changes from one regime to another and we do not care about the disaster that this causes in the construction of the Malagasy Man. The creation of several ministries for national education “consecrates, in part, a highly fragmented functioning of the education and training sector, thus making its coordination difficult” 2. The catastrophic result of the last exams is accompanied by an amoral attitude (flight of baccalaureate subjects) is not only a strong signal of the failure of the Malagasy education system. More than that, it is the image of a malagasy mal society
educated who loses his practical sense, his critical sense, his moral sense, his sense of honor, in short his identity. Because of this dysfunction, the school can only be a factor of selection and social inequality.

For the PFNOSCM, the problem of education in Madagascar goes far beyond the questions of the budget devoted annually to national education (insufficient or not) or calendar (holidays in winter or in rainy season). It is through education that we build a Nation. A national education policy and strategy based on the needs and interests of each successive regime in power is fatal for the future of future generations and for the future of Madagascar. The education sector must remain an area of Malagasy sovereignty, and a priority of priorities. The formulation of an education policy must start from a new paradigm which takes account of historical dimensions, which is based on the construction of an ideal Malagasy profile living in a desired community, which highlights the “Soatoavina Malagasy” according to a long-term vision shared by all Malagasy in their rich diversity, and which
sharpens the capacity to face the evolution of the world.

********************
To conclude, it is clear that the challenges remain multiple and complex. The complexity of the situation comes all simply the unconsciousness of national and multinational minorities invaded by egocentrism, the thirst for power and money, which consequently endanger the security, the environment and the social conditions of the majority. Because of unreasonable globalization, each country including Madagascar is not spared the harmful consequences of conflicts and global issues that concern all of humanity (climate change, food security, poverty and migration, water, energy, halieutics resources…). The PFNOSCM calls upon the civic and patriotic awareness of each Malagasy and of all the citizens of the world for a healthier and more responsible attitude towards the future of our common planet and of humanity as a whole.

6 Feb 2020

The populations hope for a better living condition. Fine speeches and sham democracy are no longer tolerated. May justice, transparency and accountability be de rigueur!

At the advent of New Year 2020, we, the members of the National Bureau of PFNOSCM / VOIFIRAISANA and of the National Orientation and Strategic Monitoring Committee (CNOSS) of the 22 Regions within it, address our members, the population Malagasy as well as to the populations of the five continents in love with peace, justice and progress, a year during which reign good neighborliness and friendship between peoples and that the fruits of growth will be shared fairly to effectively eradicate the poverty that plagues the majority of people around the world.

The PFNOSCM shares the pain of families in Madagascar, Australia and other corners of the world, victims of floods, fires or other forms of hazards that have caused loss of life, destruction of the environment and fauna and flora as well as considerable material damage.

We congratulate the establishment of the new government which, we very much hope, with the quality of the knowledge and know-how of its members, has a keen sense of Malagasy realities, patriotism and integrity as well as the latitude necessary and sufficient to initiate rapid and shared economic growth to quickly bring the Malagasy out of the unworthy and degrading poverty. That Madagascar and the 25 million Malagasy are not a laboratory where each year, the experiments are repeated for want of satisfaction.

We take this opportunity to share our thoughts on global and national realities which, for the most part, do not go in the interests of the populations, particularly the most vulnerable. Some analyzes and recommendations on major subjects among the multitudes of priorities of Madagascar, which concern issues of concern and areas of intervention of the PFNOSCM and Regional Platforms of Civil Society and associations which are its dismemberments, will thus be raised in this press release.

At the global and sub-regional levels:

• Call for calm and dialogue in the Near and Middle East, and respect for African sovereignty We express our deep concerns at the escalation of violence in the Near and Middle East, and we question ourselves on the consequences, not only on the population of these sub-regions, but also on the real risks of sliding towards a total war whose devastating effects would be catastrophic for all humanity. Let us seek the goodwill of all the actors intervening in these regions, under the aegis of the United Nations, so that a lasting solution is quickly found, and this, in appeasement and mutual respect.

We congratulate the African Union for taking responsibility recently in the search for a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis. Conflicts in Africa must be resolved by Africans and on African soil, according to an approach that responds primarily to our own values and specially to our strategic interests. This initiative must return solely and in a sovereign manner to the African Union. To be able to express its notoriety on the world stage, it must be united and find the proper means of its sovereignty.

At the level of the Indian Ocean:

• The Malagasy islands of the Indian Ocean: the era of colonization is over!
  The PFNOSCM is jealous of the integrity and inalienable character of the entire territory of Madagascar as well as the national sovereignty of the country. We strongly condemn all degrading and humiliating remarks against the Malagasy population and all forms of colonialism on the national heritage. The PFNOSCM pays particular attention to the islands of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean legitimately recognized by the United Nations through resolution No. 39/91 of December 12, 1979 as being a Malagasy property in its own right. We all condemn decisions on the management mode of these islands which do not favor the strategic interest of Madagascar.

We demand a simple restitution of these islands exempt from any possible form of scheming and obscure complicity, and a sound and transparent management of natural and mineral wealth by the Malagasy government in the preservation of the higher interests of Madagascar and its population.

At national level:

• When will the democratic elections on which the confidence of the majority can rest?
  In appearance, the elections which took place from 2018 with the presidential elections and which ended in November 2019 with the municipal and municipal elections mark some progress in the process of democratic alternation in Madagascar. The strong apprehensions about a post-electoral crisis, especially during the presidential elections, have been contradicted by reality despite the tensions that ensued even if they leave frustration hanging out until now. The PFNOSCM which participated within the ROHY movement in advocacy actions to improve with a lot of difficulties the legal framework on the elections in 2017-early 2018, and which was active in the observation of these elections at all levels, remains however convinced that the democratic principles which must govern the elections defined in international, African and regional instruments (SADC) that Madagascar has ratified have not been respected in their majority in the organic laws on elections and in their implementation (principles of inclusiveness, equal opportunities, transparency, honesty, equity, freedom, ..). The violation of the neutrality of the public administration and of judicial independence in favor of the “kandidam-panjakana” or candidates of the majority political party in power to all these elections, denounced by a group of magistrates in the case of municipal and municipal authorities, were flagrant. This justifies to a very large extent the continued decline in voter turnout during these elections. It is a serious sign of a crisis of confidence and legitimacy, and a definite brake on the long-awaited national reconciliation process which the country badly needs for its recovery from the societal problems which plague it. To improve the Malagasy electoral system and restore citizens’ confidence in this system, the PFNOSCM considers that a real political will of all electoral actors must precede the participative and consensual overhaul of the framework legal on the elections, the in-depth review of the approach, the methodology of the preparation of the electoral list and its
  security, as well as a real independence of the CENI and the electoral jurisdictions.
• An effective policy and strategy to fight climate change: an emergency for Madagascar
  We are all witnesses of what is happening in the world in terms of environmental problems with almost irreversible consequences. The Big Island and Indonesia are currently facing major flooding problems while Australia is fighting against the spread of large-scale bush fires across its territory.

Madagascar must learn from it about the deep and distant causes of these phenomena and the PFNOSCM calls on the new government to closely monitor the implementation of the policy and strategies for the fight against climate change and the commitment of each of the citizens. The unreasonable and abusive exploitation of mining, forestry and fishery resources will, among other things, be the cause of an inevitable environmental and food crisis in Madagascar, to the detriment of the future generation.

The PFNOSCM, as a civil society, wishes to contribute its share of brick to the design, implementation and monitoring of all policies and strategies to effectively fight climate change throughout the territory of Madagascar by involving each citizen.
 

• Alert to the risk of total disappearance of forest cover, fauna and flora! The year 2019 is still marked by a markedly worrying decline in Madagascar’s forest cover caused by land clearing linked to disorganized and anarchic internal migration, and favored by corruption where impunity reigns. “Between 50,000 and 100,000 hectares of forest are destroyed each year” 1. Malagasy fauna and flora, at least 80% of which are endemic, have so far been prey to wild predations. They are also marked by the impact of climate change amplifying the social and economic vulnerability of the population already with a low capacity for resilience. They are irreplaceable and cannot be restored, at least for the most part. Without a rigorous commitment and supported by a set of consistent measures, our already greatly reduced forest cover is doomed to total disappearance. The economic losses and the ecological damage that this will cause are of great concern. The political decision taken by the government to cover all of Madagascar with forest since this year is a good initiative but insufficient to deal with the threats that constantly threaten our flora and fauna. The PFNOSCM calls on decision-makers to urgently develop and initiate a common vision of sustainable development translated into coherent sectoral policies, guaranteeing integrated development.
   
• Contaminated water and health threat in Fort-Dauphin: transparency and urgent measures are necessary if the case is proven

In the context of mining in Madagascar, a study on the quality of water near the operating sites of QMM in Fort-dauphin was carried out by a British NGO called Andrew Lees Trust. The results published on December 20 , 2019 in the English newspaper “Reuters”, concluded that the waters around the sites would be contaminated 350
times lead and 63% higher in uranium compared to the normal rate recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This situation is believed to be the cause of the various diseases that affect neighboring communities. 1 “In Madagascar, lemurs and their forest threatened by poaching”, Le Monde April 22, 2019

Faced with this circumstance, the PFNOSCM requests the Malagasy Government to observe and monitor this situation closely in order to avoid any human contamination.

• For an effective security policy respecting human rights Despite the declared will of the current government to combat urban and rural insecurity reflected in the measures taken to
  bring the police together and the purchase of several lots of military equipment, the scourge continues to haunt the minds of every citizen at all times. Children and adolescents are particularly affected, and there are also a growing number of cases of significant physical violence. The use of force going beyond established limits, compounded by the inability of institutions to deal effectively with crime and violence, only increases the insecurity of
  populations. The recurrence, lately, of elements of police force threatening or shooting point-blank with weapons of war, innocent civilians seem to reveal the hierarchical insubordination which reigns there, certainly favored by nepotism and corruption.

The prosecution, the security forces and the prison system have not developed the capacities necessary to provide an effective response, through legitimate action, prevention and repression, to crime and violence. Justice is profaned, and becomes a source of frustration and challenge to the order established when the judicial authority accepts
money or other gifts and favors from a person or group or if it is under the control of an occult force which dictates the verdicts. This is how the cycle of violence, and therefore permanent insecurity, is born and reproduced.

For the PFNOSCM, the security problem cannot be solved by violence even if it takes legal cover, and a fortiori when it is abused beyond measure, because violence calls for violence. It would be difficult to eradicate insecurity without an approach integrating citizen security in the concept of human security according to which the citizen is protected against unemployment, famine, the threat of climatic vagaries (current case of the rice farmers of  Ambatondrazaka who see their rice fields, their main sources of income, destroyed by the flood) or abuse of authority (case of the farmers of Ambohitrimanjaka who see their rice fields forcibly backfilled without their free consent). The citizen must also be protected from corruption, impunity and nepotism. This vision of security policy must rest on a solid democratic foundation where decentralization with necessary and sufficient resources as well as decision-making power gives strength to the fokonolona who take control of their destinies (fokonolona tompon-draharaha).

• Is town planning a lever for development?
  Malagasy cities are not immune to the global phenomenon of rapid urbanization amplified by the economic crisis chronic and insecurity in rural areas. Without going exclusively into the demographic aspect, we tackle the problems of urbanization by the capacity of cities to accommodate the flow of the rural population and the increase in the urban population. Public infrastructure, including basic equipment, has not been adequately maintained for decades, requiring new infrastructure as part of a development
  plan and urban plan for the renovation of neighborhoods and the extension of cities to follow the increase in urban population . This rapid and disorderly extension of Malagasy cities is reflected in the proliferation of constructions illegal in the absence of building permits or even laxity and corruption in the issuance of building permits by the municipalities. To confine oneself to this logic of building permits would be insufficient to explain the problem to eradicate the phenomenon of illegal constructions. In terms of housing, the successive public authorities do not have a clear vision on this subject and have not given priority to the construction of social housing to house vulnerable groups whose last achievements date back to the years 60 and 70, following the example of the city of Antananarivo with the construction of the cities of Analamahitsy, Ampefiloha, Mandroseza, Ambodin’Isotry and 67 hectares.

For the PFNOSCM, priorities must be given to the extension of Madagascan cities by the development of land in the immediate vicinity of the portals of each large city to be able to erect constructions of economic housing, at moderate rent with basic equipment such as markets, health infrastructure and basic education to welcome new migrants. Such a perspective requires an urban plan with practical consequences such as the expropriation of land targeted in consultation with the municipal authorities concerned and the participation of the public, of which civil society would be one of the major pillars for the success of the operation. This participation of civil society is provided for by the provisions of the new town planning law within the framework of public consultation to validate the future town planning plan. This approach is put forward for the simple reason that the State no longer has land to carry out the visions contained in the urban and development plans to be drawn up by the municipalities. The protection of the vulnerable layers of the population must be taken into account in the perception of a harmonious city and is considered as an essential element, a lever for the development of the city.

• National education policy: for a change of paradigm and approach

Human beings are at the center of everything. If a given community can live peacefully, in harmony with its environment and in complementarity, it is because the human beings who compose it, that is to say men, women, elderly, young, children, all faiths, political tendencies and social and ethnic origins combined, educated or not , rich in the values that form their identity, have the intelligence to organize themselves, to pool and value each other (mifanome hasina) to build a united living together, capable of asserting themselves and growing up against all kinds of external influences due to an inevitable  globalization. How to build a profile of Malagasy which can meet this ideal? This is, from the point of view of the PFNOSCM, the fundamental question that must be answered by any
education policy in Madagascar.

To subjugate and exploit a people as they pleased, the colonizers used education to destroy their identity, that is to say, the “backbone” which allows them to assert themselves in their fullness in the face of the other. In the era of independence, this mental breakdown continues in other forms to serve a bourgeois class that controls the economy and political power. Adult literacy is neglected. National education remains problematic because we let it drag the debate on the choice of policy and program adapted to the needs and realities of the country. The educational program of students in public schools changes from one regime to another and we do not care about the disaster that this causes in the construction of the Malagasy Man. The creation of several ministries for national education “consecrates, in part, a highly fragmented functioning of the education and training sector, thus making its coordination difficult” 2. The catastrophic result of the last exams is accompanied by an amoral attitude (flight of baccalaureate subjects) is not only a strong signal of the failure of the Malagasy education system. More than that, it is the image of a malagasy mal society
educated who loses his practical sense, his critical sense, his moral sense, his sense of honor, in short his identity. Because of this dysfunction, the school can only be a factor of selection and social inequality.

For the PFNOSCM, the problem of education in Madagascar goes far beyond the questions of the budget devoted annually to national education (insufficient or not) or calendar (holidays in winter or in rainy season). It is through education that we build a Nation. A national education policy and strategy based on the needs and interests of each successive regime in power is fatal for the future of future generations and for the future of Madagascar. The education sector must remain an area of Malagasy sovereignty, and a priority of priorities. The formulation of an education policy must start from a new paradigm which takes account of historical dimensions, which is based on the construction of an ideal Malagasy profile living in a desired community, which highlights the “Soatoavina Malagasy” according to a long-term vision shared by all Malagasy in their rich diversity, and which
sharpens the capacity to face the evolution of the world.

********************
To conclude, it is clear that the challenges remain multiple and complex. The complexity of the situation comes all simply the unconsciousness of national and multinational minorities invaded by egocentrism, the thirst for power and money, which consequently endanger the security, the environment and the social conditions of the majority. Because of unreasonable globalization, each country including Madagascar is not spared the harmful consequences of conflicts and global issues that concern all of humanity (climate change, food security, poverty and migration, water, energy, halieutics resources…). The PFNOSCM calls upon the civic and patriotic awareness of each Malagasy and of all the citizens of the world for a healthier and more responsible attitude towards the future of our common planet and of humanity as a whole.