6 Feb 2020
On 31 January 2020, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services gazetted two Statutory Instruments. SI 26 of 2020 regulates Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services while SI 27 of 2020 regulates issues relating to Licensing and Content. This statement sets out MISA Zimbabwe’s preliminary observations on both Statutory Instruments.
SI 26/2020: Broadcasting Services (Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services) Regulations, 2020
This piece of legislation might indicate that the government is now working on the finalisation of the digital migration process that is now about five years behind its original completion schedule.
As stated above SI 26/2020 seeks to define and provide preliminary guidelines required for the roll-out of Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services in Zimbabwe. The Regulations contained in this statutory instrument apply to terrestrial television broadcasting licensees, signal carrier licensees and suppliers of television receivers.
Digital migration refers to the switching of broadcasting from an analogue system to a digital system of broadcasting. The International Telecommunications Union called for this switch to digital because digital broadcasting allows for the broadcasting of higher definition media when compared to analogue broadcasting, much more efficient utilisation of broadcasting spectrum as well as a larger broadcasting range.
A popular example of a digital broadcasting service is Multichoice’s DSTV service. Similarly, once the Zimbabwean digital migration process is complete, viewers will have to require settop boxes or decoders to access television programming.
The Statutory Instrument sets out definitions, licensing requirements for entities that wish to hold broadcasting licenses and those entities that intend to supply set-top boxes or decoders. Section 7 of the Statutory Instrument is of public interest as it deals with the allocation of frequencies once digital migration is complete.
Allocation of frequencies
Section 7(2) states that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe will allocate six high definition channels (technically referred to as a Multiplex) to the public broadcaster, which is the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Section 8 states that ZBC is deemed licensed to broadcast digital television programming.
BAZ will allocate a second multiplex or six high definition channels to licensed commercial television broadcasters. This implies that BAZ will at some point in future, call for applications for digital broadcasting licenses, all things being equal. MISA Zimbabwe submits that it is necessary that a fully constituted BAZ board oversees and handles such a call for applications, not BAZ secretariat.
MISA Zimbabwe also points out that the ZBC has so far failed to generate content for the current single television-broadcasting channel it is utilising, as evidenced by the following key challenges:
• Lack of quality, independent programming that contributes to a plurality of opinions and an informed public;
• Lack of comprehensive news and current affairs programming, which is impartial, accurate and balanced;
• Lack of wide range of broadcast material that strikes a balance between programming of wide appeal and specialised programmes that serve the needs of minority audiences; • Limited coverage to serve all the people and regions of the country;
• Poor educational programmes and programmes directed towards children; and
• Limited support for local programme production, through minimum quotas for original productions and material produced by independent producers.
The allocation of an additional six channels is, therefore, a cause for concern until the government provides a practical turnaround strategy that will see the public broadcaster produce and broadcast modern, quality and relevant programming. In the absence of such a strategy, it would be of national benefit if more frequencies were allocated to commercial broadcasters that have the resources to produce quality content. It is MISA Zimbabwe’s considered view that anything short of transforming ZBC from being a state broadcaster towards being a public service utility, will not lead to effective use of the scarce spectrum.
Section 9 reiterates BAZ’s role in ensuring that the Regulations contained in this Statutory Instrument are complied with. BAZ may also decide which analogue broadcasting services may continue operating after the completion of the digital migration process. Lastly, BAZ may order commercial digital television broadcasters to share their broadcasting infrastructure. Such as order to share infrastructure, will however translate to any reductions in licensing fees.
MISA Zimbabwe’s analysis of the digital migration process is available for download at this link: Digital Terrestrial Migration in Zimbabwe: Challenges & Opportunities.
SI 27/2020: The Broadcasting Services (Licensing and Content) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No. 3)
This statutory instrument contains Licensing and Content regulations. SI 27/2020 contains two main provisions; the first introduces a new category of broadcasting, namely the campus radio station. The Statutory Instrument also sets out new licensing fees.
A “campus radio station” is defined as a “broadcasting service run and owned by a college, university or other educational institution whose programming is exclusively by students and broadcast mainly educational programmes for the training of students in media and broadcasting studies.”
It is important to note that these regulations restrict ownership to the tertiary institution’s administration and does not provide for ownership by the students. Programmes broadcast
on-campus radio stations must be educational and for the training of students in media and broadcasting studies. The regulation misses an opportunity to economically empower the youth in the tertiary institutions by allowing them either partial and or full ownership of the stations.
Noting the forgoing, children in primary and secondary school education are specifically excluded from participating in campus radio stations yet Zimbabwe celebrates children’s broadcasting day annually.
Licensing fees
SI 27/2020 Introduces high licensing fees for radio, television and webcasting services. An application fee of ZWL$42,500.00 is levied on national television services, national radio services, local commercial radio services, satellite broadcasting services, Video on Demand services and webcasting services.
The annual fees for the above services range from ZWL$110,000.00 to ZWL$1,2 million depending on the respective licensed service. The application fee for community radio licenses is set at ZWL$8,500.00 with an annual fee of ZWL$17,000.00 per annum. Campus radio station licenses will cost ZWL$21,250.00 per application with an annual fee of ZWL$42,500.00.
The current license fee structure maintains the webcasting licensing category which is so broadly defined in the Broadcasting Services Act to include content creators who distribute their content over social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. The application fee for a webcasting service is ZWL$42,500.00 with an annual fee of ZWL$102,000.00 for content providers.
The new fees are denominated in what appears to be ZW$ or RTGS$ but some are pegged in US$ which is a further addition to the monetary policy inconsistencies ravaging the country where the law requires use of the local currency but the tax authorities and now the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Authority require some licensing fees to be paid in foreign currency.
It is unlikely that local broadcasting and media start-ups will be able to afford these excessive licensing fees. More so, when one considers that BAZ and government intend to limit foreign ownership and investments in local broadcasting enterprises to no more than 20%. This means local investors will have to locally source the funds to establish and run broadcasting entities. MISA Zimbabwe notes with concern that the current licensing regime will act as a barrier to local commercial and private players that have an intention to take part in the media and broadcasting sector.
The Statutory Instruments as part of media law reforms?
The two statutory instruments should be read within the context of the media law reform process. It is key to move with speed to review and extensively amend the Broadcasting Service Act in a wholehearted manner.
At a stakeholder consultative meeting at Pandari Lodge in Harare from the 7th to the 8th of December 2018, the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services’ Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana hinted that the government was going to licence ten governmentowned community radio stations and noted that the government had already secured funding for the same. This could explain why the government has gazetted community radio license fees.
It is within this scope that MISA Zimbabwe calls for the government to be holistic in the review of the media laws and the imperative need towards the genuine liberalisation of the industry to strengthen competition, which in case improves the quality of the programmes and support toward the development of the content generation industry. Further, the government should not be seen as using licensing as a technical barrier towards entry into the industry. The law and the fees should in actual fact be aimed at promoting the constitutional provisions that guarantee freedom of establishment as articulated under section 61 (3) “Broadcasting and other electronic media of communication have freedom of establishment, subject only to State licensing procedures that –
1. are necessary to regulate the airwaves and other forms of the signal distribution; and
2. are independent of control by government or by political or commercial interests”
The licensing fees as gazetted technically takes away the right to establish as they are beyond the reach of many, especially in the areas of content creation and aggregation and community broadcasting. As already noted, the government, hopefully, will not use the cost of establishment as justification to register its own community radio stations and cracking down on online content creators.
Ends
23 Jan 2020
Robert Tapfumaneyi, a Zimbabwean journalist with Sly Media Productions, was on 21 January 2020 harassed by MDC Alliance (MDC A) security details while covering the opposition party’s meeting in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mbare. The opposition party President, Nelson Chamisa was addressing the public meeting, dubbed State of the Nation and 2020 Agenda.
Pictures that have since gone viral online show five security details manhandling the journalist as he struggles to break loose from the tight grip.
MISA-Zimbabwe position MISA-Zimbabwe condemns in the strongest terms possible the barbarism exhibited by the MDC A security details more so as it comes on the backdrop of similar incidences against journalists by the party’s supporters in the run-up to last year’s general elections.
The party should keep their security details on a short leash and above all educate them in particular and supporters generally on the lawfulness of journalism as a profession which is enshrined and protected under section 61 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which provides for freedom of the press.
The party should conduct its own internal investigations into these unlawful and shameful acts that pose a great risk to the safety of journalists undertaking their legal and professional duties.
17 Jan 2020
The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) in conjunction with MISA Zimbabwe welcomes the release of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services’ report on the Freedom of Information Bill which was presented to Parliament in December last year.
The report follows the public hearings conducted by the Committee on the Freedom of Information Bill between 19 – 30 August 2019 in Harare, Bindura, Marondera, Mutare, Masvingo, Plumtree, Tsholotsho, Bulawayo, Kwekwe, and Kadoma. The Bill seeks to repeal the restrictive and widely discredited Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
MAZ/MISA Zimbabwe notes that the report generally captures the sentiments and democratic aspirations of citizens who attended and made contributions during the hearings.
The Committee’s report is also a close reflection of the shadow report (find attached herewith), compiled and produced by the two organisations which closely monitored proceedings of the public hearings. Submissions made to the Committee by the two organisations were also substantially captured and reflected in the report.
However, it is our well considered view that parliament should seriously reconsider assigning the oversight role of the enjoyment of the right to access information to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and not the Zimbabwe Media Commission as is currently the case in the Bill.
The Portfolio Committee’s report recommends that annual reports on the number of requests for access to information received and requests for access granted in full be submitted to the ZMC which then submits those reports to Parliament through the responsible Minister. This position is contrary to the views expressed by citizens on clause 18 of the Bill.
During the public hearings, members of the public were of the general view that this responsibility, including the lodging of appeals, should be given to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).
It is our strong view as MAZ/MISA Zimbabwe, that access to information as provided in terms of the Constitution’s Declaration of Rights, is a right which falls under the purview of the ZHRC. This view was unequivocally supported by members of the public that submitted that the ZHRC is better placed to handle appeals on access to information. In Bulawayo, a citizen submitted that it would not be appropriate to launch an appeal with the Zimbabwe Media Commission should one be denied access to their health records. In her view, the ZMC would not be the competent body to arbitrate in a matter in which the Commission does not have the expertise and knowledge to handle an issue pertaining to health.
While the proposed law may prescribe that queries be taken to the ZMC, the law should not bar the ZHRC from hearing any queries about any right enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Insisting on this may create future constitutional problems.
Against this background, MAZ/MISA Zimbabwe implores parliament to reconsider their view and recommendation on this matter.
The other contentious issue pertains to Section 41(2)of the Bill which says that “all statutory instruments under AIPPA shall remain in force as if they have been made under the provision of this Act and maybe amended, replaced or repealed accordingly”.
It is our strong submission that this provision should be considered under the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill which deals with the regulation of the media.
MISA Zimbabwe/MAZ, is however, encouraged by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services’ efforts in their recommendations to flag out potentially problematic clauses in the Bill and urges legislators to take note of these contentions issues and address them as they debate the Bill in parliament.
17 Jan 2020
This report was compiled by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) and the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ)
1. INTRODUCTION
This report summarises key submissions made by Zimbabwean citizens that participated in the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services’ public hearings on the Freedom of Information Bill.
The Freedom of Information Bill, gazetted on 5 July 2019, will be one of the three laws that will repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). The Bill aims to give effect to Sections 61 and 62 of the Constitution which provide for freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information.
The Portfolio Committee conducted these public hearings as required by Section 141 of the 2013 Zimbabwean Constitution. The public hearings were convened in the country’s 10 provinces.
MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ participated in all the public hearings leading to the compilation of this summary report.
2. METHODOLOGY
Subject to the provisions of Section 141 of the 2013 Constitution, the Committee invited members of the public to express their views on the proposed Bill during the public meetings or through written submissions after convening meetings in Harare, Bindura, Marondera, Tsvingwe (outside Mutare in Penhalonga), Masvingo, Plumtree, Bulawayo, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe and Kadoma.
3. ATTENDANCE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Estimated attendance by members of the public are as follows:
3.1 MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ submissions
MISA Zimbabwe made both oral and written submissions to the Committee outlining issues of concern and the gaps in the gazetted Bill in the context of the Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Model Law on Access to Information, and other international benchmarks and best practices.
The oral and written submissions and recommendations on democratising and strengthening the Bill were made at the commencement of the public hearings in Harare on 19 August 2019. The submissions also acknowledged and highlighted some of the positive provisions in the Freedom of Information Bill when viewed against regional and international benchmarks and best practices.
4. SUBMISSIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
4.1 Interpretation:
Members of the public unequivocally supported the move to repeal AIPPA. While there were varying submissions regarding the title of the Bill, there was general consensus on the need to align the Bill with the country’s 2013 Constitution. There were concerns on the lack of public awareness on the parliamentary hearings and contents of the gazetted Freedom of Information Bill. This resulted in low attendances and participation by the general citizenry during the hearings resulting in some of the citizens making submissions or raising issues that were not related to the Bill.
The low turnout, which characterised all the public hearings, could be attributed to poor communication and publicity on the hearings on the part of Parliament. Members of the public submitted that turnout could have been higher if communication and information about the hearings and the Bill had been made well in advance.
4.2 Amendment of Section 7(1) of the Bill
Recommendations were made to the Committee that this section be amended to include verbal requests to cater for those that are unable to write as well as those with other disabilities such as visual impairments. This recommendation came out prominently during most of the public hearings.
For instance, it was well articulated by a villager in Tsholotsho, who buttressed the need for the proposed law to cater for those that are illiterate or have visual impairments for ease of making information requests.
The requirement that information requests only be in writing was deemed to be discriminatory and therefore not in sync with the letter and spirit of Section 62 of the Constitution which provides every citizen the right to access information. A citizen based in Kadoma, proposed that the clause be amended to allow those who cannot write to be assisted by people of their choice.
4.3 Amendment to Section 6
The public made submissions that Section 6 of the Bill be amended to allow for the declassification of information. While there was general consensus on the need to declassify information, there were varying submissions on the timeframe within which information should be declassified. AIPPA provides for the declassification of information after 25 years.
During the public hearings, the Portfolio Committee received suggestions on accessing information pertaining to minutes of meetings and deliberations of Cabinet and that of its Committees. It was recommended that these be declassified after a period ranging between five (5) and 20 years. It was also suggested that the Agenda of Cabinet deliberations should be made public.
Participants in Kwekwe argued that only information relating to national security should be classified for at least six months and that the rest of the information should be made available to the public in the shortest possible time. In Masvingo, it was pointed out that there was need to declassify information after 15 years to allow government to be accountable on some of its deliberations and decisions.
In Marondera, a citizen said information relating to natural disasters, for example, needed to be declassified immediately in order for citizens to access vital life saving information. Cabinet deliberations on Cyclone Idai, were cited as one of the examples for which information could have been disclosed or made available within the shortest period.
4.4 Amendment to Section 17 of the Bill:
The overwhelming recommendation from across the 10 provinces was that Section 17 of the Bill that allows for the charging of fees to access information must be amended or totally done away with.
A substantial number of participants argued that fees to access information should be scrapped completely especially where it concerns translation fees, since all languages are equal. Others suggested that access fees should be fixed at an affordable percentage rate for the generality of citizens.
In Harare, for example, one of the participants proposed that the fees be pegged at not more than 1 percent of the salary of a civil servant. In Bulawayo, it was suggested that the fees should not be more than 1 percent of the poverty datum line as not all citizens were gainfully employed.
In Plumtree, a citizen argued that this Section contradicted Part IV of the Bill that permits citizens to access information in a language of the applicant’s choice yet Section 17 permits the charging of a translation fee. After all, the participants argued, Section 6 of the Constitution recognises the country’s 16 official languages. Citizens were generally in agreement that the fees in question should not be an impediment to the exercise and enjoyment of a right.
4.5 Amendment to Section 8 of the Bill:
Citizens recommended that this section be amended with the number of days to process an information request reduced to within one to seven working days. Some information is required immediately for one to exercise their rights and there is no justification why one must wait for 21 days.
A citizen in Bindura said it was unreasonable to wait for 21 days for the replacement of a certificate which may be important in securing employment. A journalist in Masvingo also said it was not necessary to wait for 21 days for information that could be released at the click of a button.
Another citizen in Mutare said there was need to categorise information so that information which is not sensitive is easily availed in the public interest and particularly for journalists who will be discharging their constitutionally guaranteed professional duties.
4.6 Amendment to Section 35 of the Bill:
Overwhelming submissions were made on the need for appeals relating to denial of information requests to be lodged with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission or a Competent Court of Law and not with the Zimbabwe Media Commission as its constitutional mandate is on media regulation.
In Bulawayo, a citizen submitted that it would not be appropriate to launch an appeal with the Zimbabwe Media Commission should one be denied access to their health records. In her view, the ZMC would not be the competent body to arbitrate in a matter in which the Commission does not have the expertise and knowledge to handle an issue pertaining to health.
Another resident in Marondera, said the Zimbabwe Media Commission is not decentralised in all provinces as is the case with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, making it difficult, therefore, for citizens living in areas where the Zimbabwe Media Commission is not represented, to immediately lodge their appeals.
4.7 Other recommendations included among others:
1. Recommendation to factor in penalties or fines for Information Officers who do not grant information requests as required by the Bill. A citizen in Kwekwe expressed disappointment that the Bill was silent on the measures and consequences for officers who unjustifiably deny citizens the enjoyment of a right.
2. Removal of the clause that says all statutory instruments under AIPPA will remain in full force. Some of these clauses are not constitutional and leaving them in effect, undermines the right to access to information.
3. Need to clearly define what constitutes public information against private information in order to prevent private institutions from unnecessarily refusing to disclose information in the public interest, safety and security. Recommendation for the decentralisation of public institutions in the context of devolution. Citizens in rural areas such as Tsvingwe, Plumtree and Tsholotsho, said they have to walk long distances to access information from public institutions that are far away thereby incurring costs for transport and accommodation.
4. The need for a framework for the establishment of community radio stations and information hubs. Citizens expressed disappointment that they were not aware of the public hearings until the last minute were it not for the efforts made by MISA Zimbabwe/MAZ in that regard. They implored Parliament to make information easily available by having parliamentary sub-offices in respective districts.
5. MISA ZIMBABWE AND MAZ FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 There was higher attendance in urban areas than in rural areas. This could have been due to transport and logistical challenges. To this end, MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ recommends that Parliament increases the number of meetings per province, especially in rural areas so that members of the public do not have to travel long distances to venues of such meetings.
5.2 There was poor communication and lack of information about the public hearings and the Bill, which accounted for the low turnout at these meetings. In that regard, Parliament should mount intensive nationwide publicity campaigns for purposes of raising awareness ahead of their public outreach programmes to enable greater citizen participation.
5.3 There was a generally noticeable gender parity in terms of the attendances. However, there was gender disparity in terms of participation and contributions to the hearings as male members of the public dominated in the contributions submitted during the hearings. For future hearings, there is a need to deliberately target and mobilise more young people and women to participate.
5.4 The majority of the people who attended and participated in the public hearings were not satisfied with the provisions of the draft Bill. We therefore recommend that the submissions that were made by members of the public, representative bodies and organisations, be adequately captured and debated for inclusion in the Freedom of Information Bill.
Quotable quotes from across the country
Farai Matebvu- Regional Co-ordinator and Editor in Chief of Science Explorer Africa Network:
“The Zimbabwe Human Right Commission and not the Zimbabwe Media Commission is the appropriate guardian of human rights in Zimbabwe including the right to access information. So the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission’s mandate will allow it to interpret the right to access information in a significantly wider context and therefore, it should be given the task of overseeing the protection and promotion of the right to access information.”
Denzel Gwebu of Christian Legal Society:
“The ZMC should not be the appeal body with regards to information request denials but the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.” He also said the response time to information requests should be reduced from ,”21 days to at least five days … there should be a penalty for information officers that do not grant requests based on their personal decisions.” Philasande Ndlovu, Plumtree ” Why charge (for) a ( translation ) fee when all the 16 of our languages are equal.”
Donald Nyarota – representative of Manicaland Media Committee Alliance Trust:
“We have private institutions that hold information that can be of public interest. Talk about Econet, talk about construction companies and non-governmental organisations. All of these have got information and for them not to be mandated to publish or to have information accessed, it means that it is already a limitation in terms of access to information.”
Development Watch Issue: The 2022 Mid-Year Budget Review Statetement
Development Watch Volume 4, Issue 5
Development Watch Volume 4, Issue 4
1 Nov 2019
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has deployed observers at the two polling stations and the Ward Collation Centre in the Chiredzi Rural District Council Ward 12 by-election. The by-election is being held in accordance with section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the resignation of the previous councillor, Cllr Andrew Ndebele, of the ZANU-PF party who was elected in the July 31 2018 harmonised elections.
The Nomination Court sat on Wednesday 25 September 2019 to consider applications from prospective candidates to fill the local authority seat vacancy. At the close of nomination, two candidates were dully nominated; Mazhata John of the MDC Alliance and Rukanda Arnold of ZANU-PF.
There are two polling stations in the by-election, namely Farm 26 Church and Zhou Primary. This midday Situational Statement is based on reports received from ZESN observers. By midday, the following observations had been made:
Political environment
As of midday, the political environment had been reported to be peaceful, without any incidents observed, which is in keeping with observer reports received during the pre-election period.
Set up and opening of polling stations
ZESN observers reported that both polling stations opened on time with all essential polling materials including ballot boxes, ballot papers, indelible finger markers, voters’ roll, the ZEC official stamp, available.
Voting process and procedures
As of midday, ZESN observers had reported that voting had been proceeding well, with all polling procedures being duly followed.
Party agents
It is commendable that election agents for both parties were present at both polling stations. This affords political parties first hand observation of the polling process and assists parties to raise credible objections whenever they have them as well as appraising themselves of the extent to which the conduct of the by-election adheres to set procedure and guidelines.
Assisted voters
Only a few voters had been assisted to vote as at midday on account of visual impairment and old age. For instance, five voters had been assisted to vote as at 0941 hours at Zhou Primary Polling Station and only two had been assisted around 1100 hours at Farm 26 Church polling station.
Turned away and redirected voters
Even though the voters’ roll was displayed outside the polling stations three days before polling, there were some voters, albeit few who had been turned away because their names were not in the voters’ roll while others brought inappropriate identification documents, such as an expired passport. For example, only four had been turned away at Zhou Primary School by 0952 hours and none Farm 26 Church polling station. Similarly, as few as five voters had been redirected, particularly from Farm 26 Church polling station to Zhou Primary School polling station around 1100 hours.
Voter turnout
Indications are that there will be a very high turnout for this by-election because as of midday over 50% of the registered voters had cast their votes.
Conclusion
ZESN will continue to observe polling right up to the closing of polling stations and counting and collation of votes. The network will also release a statement and a report of the by-election with its recommendations.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
RESEARCH
Assessment of primary health care system performance in Zimbabwe.
Deadline: 9 November 2018 (12.00 hours)
Objective
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and its partners, i.e. SAPST, SMAIAS, ZAN & ZiCHIRe seeks proposals from Consultants to carry out an assessment of primary health care service delivery in Zimbabwe and publish a research paper from the findings.
Primary health care (PHC) is the backbone of a health system and quality PHC initiatives have been recognized as fundamental to improving health outcomes. The strength of the country’s primary care system can deliver equitable health services and secure the health of communities A critical review of the evidence on quality of health care as well as an evaluation of why the country has been underperforming on important health outcomes is essential in the implementation of the National Indicative Program (NIP).
The research is intended to evaluate the quality of health services offered at local health centres in Zimbabwe from 2014 to date, ascertain how well health services are being delivered at local health centres; based on community experiences and to determine the value that people place on public health service delivery. The study is also expected to help unveil factors that are responsible for consumer satisfaction and explore the extent to which service delivery, inputs, health financing, and governance limits the performance of Zimbabwe’s primary health care system. The Consultant is also expected to conduct country comparisons to benchmark PHC performance in the country.
Methodology
Apart from key informant interviews and / or focus group discussions, the Consultant will conduct a desk review of existing data, reports other studies and various documents which include EU documents on the state of health in Zimbabwe, the EU NIP Zimbabwe documents, prior research papers into the area of study as well as reports from civil society organizations working on health and community engagement. Where possible, interviews with key stakeholders within the health sector and relevant government and EU officials as well as some programme beneficiaries will be conducted to corroborate desk research findings.
The Consultant is expected to track and evaluate some of the following indicators;
Organization of Work
The consultant will:
Deliverables
The researcher is expected to submit the following reports:
Qualifications, Skills and Experience of the Researcher
The following skills, experience and competencies are required:
Application Procedure
Interested Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their suitability for the assignment:
Proposal submissions in sealed envelopes marked CSO NIP RESEARCH must reach the following address by 12:00 hours on 9 November 2018: NANGO Head Office, 15 Bodle Avenue, Eastlea, Harare.
Alternatively applications can be submitted electronically to programsmanager.nango@gmail.com cc: info.nangozim@gmail.com
1 Oct 2019
Zimbabwe should allow civil society organisations to flourish as part of the country’s democratisation agenda, European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen said on Friday.
Olkonnen was speaking at the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) expo in Harare. The EU envoy expressed concern at what he described as a shrinking civic space against the strides NGOs make in economic development.
“Civil society has an important role to play as Zimbabwe thrives to attain middle income status by 2030 as it compliments the work done by the government.
“Therefore the civil society is not an opponent but an ally in development,” Olkkonen said.
Olkonnen added: “An empowered civil society is a crucial component of any democratic system as it promotes pluralism, inclusiveness and democratic governance.”
Recently, there has been a spate of arrests and abductions of trade unionists, civil society members and political activists with some alleging torture by State security agents.
In a statement read on her behalf by director Langton Ngorima at the same event, Public Service Minister Sekai Nzenza acknowledged civil society’s role in development.
Nzenza said government, however remains worried by constant interference by some organisations dabbling in local politics.
“We have noted with disappointment the continued interference in the political domain by certain NGOs and other civic organisations which is unfortunately straining the relationship with the government,” Nzenza said.
She warned that government was considering deregistering organisations that have failed to meet requirements.
“Very soon we will be publishing a press release of NGOs that remain live in our registers but have never bothered to comply with requirements.
“Failure to respond to conditions set by government will result in automatic deregistration,” she said.
27 Sep 2019
Joint statement made by African civil society leaders on the xenophobic attack on African foreign nationals in South Africa
We the undersigned leaders of civil society across the African continent are deeply concerned about the ongoing xenophobic attacks on African foreign nationals residing in South Africa. We deeply regret this unfortunate incident that has claimed the lives of our African brothers and sisters and led to the destruction of their properties and businesses.
We are worried that these attacks regress Africa’s common economic and development agenda enshrined in Agenda 2063 and stands in the way of attaining the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) recently put in place by our governments to ensure that Africans become prosperous. More than this, the spate of violence undermines our common heritage and value systems as the African people. These actions also negate the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, are inhumane and undermine progress that has been made to advance human rights across the continent.
We condemn in its entirety these barbaric acts and call on both the government of Nigeria and South Africa, including the African Union to take decisive steps and come up with a comprehensive plan of action to address this issue while encouraging our brothers and sisters affected by these attacks to stay calm and safe.
We welcome the steps already taken by some governments and further encourage the use of diplomatic routes and launching of a joint-national campaign against crime and xenophobia by tapping into the expertise of civil society and the private sector in these regards.
We further commend the calls of civil society colleagues globally, and particularly in Africa, who openly condemn these attacks. We encourage them to work with the government and the people of South Africa in developing plans and actions capable of bringing these attacks to a halt.
We are convinced that those who perpetrate these heinous acts do not reflect the values that South Africans cherish and uphold, hence we call on leaders of thought, clergy, public servants, politicians, business and civil society in and out of South Africa to speak up against these attacks; which no doubt could reverse gains already being made on attaining the Sustainable Development Goals across the continent.
In order to bring an end to these acts and ensure they don’t recur, law enforcement agencies should act in a timely manner and bring the perpetrators to justice.
We call on the media as an integral part of the civil society community to use their platforms in educating and sensitizing citizens on the ills of xenophobia and its implications on unity and social cohesion of Africans.
As we continue to monitor the situation and follow up on government interventions to address this crisis, we commit, as civil society, to using our organisational platforms to raise awareness on the need for Africans to become more accommodating and see each other as one within the context of Ubuntu- I am because you are.
Signed
National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), Zimbabwe
Nigeria Network of NGOs, Nigeria
African Monitor, South Africa
Civicus, South Africa
West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Ghana
Africa Platform, Kenya
RESOCIDE, Burkina Faso
JOINT Liga de ONGs em Mocambique , Mozambique
Concertation Nationale de la Société Civile du Togo (CNSC-TOGO) , Togo
Afrikajom Center, Sénégal
Collectif contre l’Impunité et la Stigmatisation des Communautés (CISC), Burkina Faso
25 Aug 2019
MISA Zimbabwe urges the Zimbabwean authorities and the police to swiftly investigate the case involving the reported assault and abduction of Bustop TV comedian Samantha Kureya by unidentified armed men from her home in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mufakose.
These acts of lawlessness cannot be allowed to continue with impunity given the serious risk they pose to the security, life and limb of vulnerable Zimbabwean citizens at large. The Zimbabwean government has an obligation to protect and ensure the safety and security of its citizens at all times.
The armed and masked men reportedly forced their way into the house around 10 pm and assaulted Kureya’s family members as well, including minors. Her brother has since filed a police report at Marimba Police station. The report number is RRB 4149688.
In February this year, Kureya, otherwise popularly known as Gonyeti, and her colleague from Bustop TV were detained and fined after police held that a satirical skit they produced in 2016 amounted to public nuisance. During their brief detention in February, the Bustop TV pair were warned that their satirical skits were growing more political.
Citizens, including journalists and online content creators, should feel secure at all times and moreso in their homes, as provided for under Sections 51 and 52 of the Constitution which provide for the right to human dignity and personal security.
In addition, Section 61 provides for freedom of expression and freedom of the media which also includes freedom of artistic expression, scientific research and creativity and academic freedom.
Failure to get to the bottom of this matter risks spawning a wave of similar wanton acts of lawlessness and instilling fear in citizens exercising their right to free expression as provided for by the Constitution.
25 Aug 2019
Amazing, but true! Despite a multitude of challenges people with disabilities (PWDs) face in accessing social media and the social trappings associated with it, findings by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Accessibility Report 2012, following a survey in 52 countries,revealed that social media has the greatest impact in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities (PWDs) in social, economic , political and cultural processes. This inclusion also encompasses an impressive array of developmental areas including healthcare, primary education, secondary education, tertiary, professional and lifelong education, employment and government services based on the survey data. This is despite that physical impaired users usually have difficulties in using input devices; Visual impaired users usually have difficulties in seeing display devices; hearing impaired users have difficulties in hearing audio information; and, people with learning/cognitive disability usually have problems in understanding system operations.
This contribution is closely followed by mobile phones, which, despite being one of the newer technologies from the ICT assessed, constitute the second-most valued ICT with regards to its contribution for PWDs. In particular, the use of mobile phones is instrumental in allowing the independent living of PWDs.
The exponential rise of social media resonates solidly with an observation made by a prolific writer and the world’s best known observer and analyst of global trends for more than 30 years, John Naisbitt, who made this poignant observation in 1982: “The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many.”Naisbitt was well ahead of his time, and with the advent of social media and its evident global proliferation, his analysis has been vindicated – no other communication platform allows the ordinary individual to generate and disseminate, at times almost instantaneously, one’s ideas, thoughts viewpoints and information to a wide and diversified audience as social media. No other communication platform has the ability to put information in the hands of many as social media. Person to person, country to country, continent to continent and global communication has been enhanced exponentially, scaling new heights in economic, social, political and cultural cooperation and development.
For the over 1 billion PWDs globally (15% of every population) , and critically, for the 2.4 nillion PWDs in Zimbabwe, who suffer from a documented lack of access to fundamental rights and freedoms that other people in society take for granted, social media holds unbriddled potential for ensuring disability inclusion in all spheres of social, economic, political and cultural life. The UNCRPD, bedrock of human rights for PWDs, equalisation of opportunities for PWDs and removal of the multifacetted barriers that legitimate disability discrimination calls, in Article 8 for all socially-conscious organs of the society to raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of PWDs;combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to PWDs, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life;nurture receptiveness to the rights of PWDs;promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards PWDs;and foster awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of PWDs.
The exponential rise of social media as the premier mode of communication is evidenced by rapid growth of social media; shift toward using social media on mobile devices; emergence of new accessibility options; increasing reliance on social media to communicate and achieve everyday tasks, and ; international shifts towards seeing social media as a democratic tool with strong potential for social inclusion.Social media is evidently not a passing fad and harnessing the full potential of this invaluable media would result in immense economic, social, and political benefits for PWDs.
The assessment also revealed that, more than any other ICT in use today, mobile devices and services have by far the greatest impact on independent living for PWDs. At the basic level, feature phones provide a means of on-demand communication for the user through both SMS and voice calls. This in itself can enable independent living by ensuring that emergency services, family members, personal aides, assistive and everyday services are just a call or text away.
Basic mobile phones, even in the Global South, have proved invaluable in providing a means of on-demand communication for users with disabilities through both SMS and voice calls. They have evidently had the greatest impact on independent living for PWDs.
At a more sophisticated level, smartphones address the unique sensory, physical and cognitive needs of customers with disabilities. A variety of smartphones are rated for hearing aid compatibility. Customers can enjoy open or closed-captioned multimedia content and use face-to-face video chat applications or dedicated video relay services to communicate via sign language. They are also able to access content non-visually through screen reading applications, customize alert settings to use a combination of audible, visual and vibration alerts and take advantage of voice-commands, adjustable font sizes, predictive text and a range of other innovative features, accessories, and third-party applications. By providing access to a wide number of computing functions, smartphones also exhibit social media capability and its attendant advantages of promoting the inclusion of PWDs in healthcare, primary education, secondary education, tertiary, professional and lifelong education, employment and government services. They therefore provide an avenue for PWDs to reconstruct disability imagery through skilful dialogue in disability inclusion content. They are designed for portability and are easily worn or carried by a user, unlike a laptop computer or television set.For PWDs, having a mobile device increases independent living not only because of the wide range of services that can be accessed, but also because this type of device allows access to those services (including emergency services) immediately at the time of need and from anywhere in the network.
An analysis of the characteristics of social media – participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness – reveals that these are the very principles that social inclusion is built on. Econet has been able to build national awareness on a number of social issues through an SMS quiz competition, leveraging successfully on the principles of participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness. Disability problems are multiple, interrelated and interconnected, requiring integrated and holistic solutions that address this interconnectedness. This requires that multilateral stakeholders come together to act collaboratively, collectively and inclusively to ensure disability inclusion using the expertise at their disposal. Disability organisations will provide disability-specific services across all the areas of the convention; civil society organisations will mainstream disability into their programs, policies, activities, plans and strategies; social media service providers will ensure awareness through an appropriate disability SMS quiz competition and society will integrate PWDs into their public and political activities. When stakeholders collaborate this way, they will be able to approximate the v-formation adopted by wild geese when migrating from cold to warmer climates, which is the epitome of teamwork. They reach their destination faster as they will be uplifted by the morale and encouragement of thers just like wild geese flying in the thrust of others and there is no drag or resistance; just like wild geese, which honk to encourage each other, the team also constantly encourages each other. Also just as wild geese rotate leadership in flying point when one becomes tired, secor specific competences among the multilateral stakeholders will allow each stakeholder to lead as need arises. Just like wild geese that will help out each other and remain with a faltering goose until it is able to rejoin the formation, the inclusion team will assist each other to achieve inclusion goals. When social media comes into contact with other inclusive forcess in society, its potential as a megatrend that can transfom the ives of PWDs in all spheres becomes heightened considerably and it becomes plausible to conceive it as a panacea for disability exclusion. Social media providers can play a preponderate role in disability inclusion in Zimbabwe, if and when they decide to exercise the option for inclusion.
The author, Lovemore Rambiyawo, is the Acting Executive Director of National Asociation of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) is an umbrella body to 70 disability organisations in Zimbabwe. NASCOH is a member of the Non State Actors Alliance – a disbility chapter under NANGOThe writer can be reached at: nascohdisability@gmail.com
