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SADC
Council of NGOs call for collective and effective response to the
problems facing the region
SADC Council
of Non-Governmental Organizations (SADC-CNGO)
May 10, 2005
http://www.africapulse.org.za/index.php?action=viewarticle&articleid=2336
JOHANNESBURG:
The SADC Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (SADC-CNGO),
constituted by member organisations from Angola, Botswana, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, met in Johannesburg,
South Africa from the 2nd - 4th May 2005 to develop strategies
for engaging with broader SADC agenda and to ensure a more systematic
and substantive civic participation and involvement in the economic,
social and political development in the region. Observing that the
SADC region is faced with a number of challenges, particularly the
increasing levels of poverty, deprivation and hunger, unemployment,
HIV/AIDS, governance and democracy, unsustainable debt, unequal
world trade regime, slow pace of regional economic integration and
gender disparities. These challenges require a concerted effort
from governments, civil society, business and other stakeholders.
Noting however,
the deteriorating operating environment of civil society organizations
in some member-states, as evidenced by, among others:
- The rapid
enactment of legislation that restricts fundamental freedoms of
expression, association and assembly of the citizens of the region;
Declining levels of funding both nationally and internationally,
affecting operating capacity of development NGOs;
- Further noting
with concern the situation in Zimbabwe where civil society is
still under the threat of the NGO Bill and under constant harassment;
Swaziland where citizens do not enjoy constitutionally guaranteed
rights and freedoms, and the DRC where civil society is operating
under precarious political environment.
We therefore
call on our national governments and SADC as a collective to:
- Engage in
constructive dialogue with SADC-CNGO and other stakeholders at
both national and regional level to ensure a collective and effective
response to the problems facing the region;
- Adhere and
enforce SADC Principles on electoral processes;
- Establish
national and regional Social Development Funds to support civil
society and reduce dependence on international donors;
- Ensure and
guarantee enabling environment for civic participation, freedom
of expression & association and the repeal of all legislation
contrary to this objective;
- Seek urgent
resolution to the crisis in Zimbabwe and acceleration of constitutional
democracy in Swaziland.
The SADC Council
of NGOs calls on the people of SADC to actively participate in the
operationalisation of the SADC structures and programmes. We further
call on all civic organisations in SADC to join us in supporting
DRC civil society during the upcoming general elections.
Contact:
Abie Ditlhake, General Secretary at +27 (0)72 746 6397 or +267 (0)71
689 891
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