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Community News Bulletin - Issue 4
Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
February 11, 2012

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CCDZ intensifies outreach work in Masvingo districts

In the month of December 2011, with five activities mainly targeted at Masvingo districts. C.C.D.Z continued with its community outreach programme, updating Zimbabweans on the current Constitution making process, the implementation of the Global Political Agreement as well as Minimum Conditions of a Free and Fair Election. An average of 150 people per each gathering attended the meetings. The decision to increase CCDZ's work and presence in Masvingo is informed by reported cases of increased intimidation led by war veterans and ZANU PF activists.

The meetings were held in Gutu. The first three meetings were held in Gutu at Matizha, Maungwa and Chisheshe Shopping Centers. The other two were held in Masvingo high-density suburbs, Rujeko Township with the last one being held at Chivi Growth Point. C.C.D.Z worked alongside Community Based Organizations which include Masvingo United Residents Association (MURA), Chivi Residents Association (CHRA), Gutu Youth Forum and Community Tolerance, Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD).

Several issues arose during these civic discussion meetings. On polling station based voting, there was a general fear that citizens will be vulnerable to retribution by losers in their constituencies. The issues of continued harassment and intimidation were topical. The participants also spoke about the importance of an independent electoral body to run the elections and expressed doubt about the independence and capacity of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to deliver credible elections. Similarly, the demand for a professional and non-partisan security sector as well as unbiased and informative media was very prominent.

The issue which however took centre stage was that of the neglect ion of the people in the province by the political leadership. An elderly woman at the Chivi meeting expressed her disgruntlement with the status quo saying that the political leaders have neglected the people who voted them into power. She said politicians elected into office by the people must always serve the people saying in Shona,'kana muchida zvedu tipeiwo (if you want good things from us then do the same to us as well).

Most of the participants who attended the meetings professed ignorance about the Constituency Development Fund (C.D.F), with some saying they only heard of it in the media when the budget was announced." Takangoihwavo ichitaugwa navaBiti pabudget, zvakahoitika sure kwazvo ndimi munoziva, dzimwe nhambo mari yacho ichi muzhira kuuya. Zvizhinji haikona zvinongopererako, kuno mounza mafufu, (We just heard about it when Minister Biti was announcing the budget) said Mrs. Masekesa, a prominent human rights activist in Rujeko Township.

With regards to public hearings on The Electoral Amendment Bill, CCDZ noted that 87% of the people who attended the meetings did not participate in the process. Councilor Adrian Mazambani of Gutu South Ward 8 explained that, they only got the message about the hearings on the eve of this programme. He complained that besides being denied information by political opponents, there are some officials within the same political parties who also sit on information for their own selfish gains and mileage.

One old woman in Chivi whom we cannot name for her safety said that she did not personally go because her views will not be taken seriously. We have said many things which we want our leaders to do but to no avail, she said. This view was also echoed in Rujeko Township and at Gutu where participants stated that political tensions were high during the Constitution making outreach hence they were afraid it could happen again, maybe this time resulting in an increase in violence.

Meanwhile, the people in Masvingo generally CCDZ for establishing Community Working Groups (CWGs) to spearhead local-level/community organizing. "This allows having meaningful and appropriate programmes based on knowledge of the place, contrary to a situation whereby people just come from any other part of the country to impose their programmes," said Mr. Matubvunye, a member of Chivi Residents Association.

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