CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: Civic Society Organisations have been urged to select substance over rhetoric when engaging government so as promote sustainable development.
Speaking during a Zimbabwe Council of Churches capacity-building workshop for CSOs, Midlands State University department of public management and governance senior lecturer Dr Arthur Fidelis Chikerema said CSOs must not use emotions and radicalism but should be natural and pragmatic in their engagement with the government.
Dr Chikerema expressed dismay that most CSOs think they should be always radical and critical of government activities without basing their criticism on verifiable facts.
“CSOs should anchor their programming based on empirical evidence, some do not have an iota of substance and do not have the requisite competency that is needed to engage the government based on verifiable facts,” he said.
Dr Chikerema also said CSOs should have substance as they are the anchor of social accountability, citizen engagement and advocacy processes.
He said they should be able to inculcate a sense of activism among citizens so that they become part and parcel of advocacy and social accountability processes.
Underscoring the importance of being apolitical and abiding by existing laws, Dr Chikerema also highlighted that structureless civic organisations are often caught on the wrong side so as to justify non-existent problems.
“They talk about arrest and harassment by government, but they should comply with government protocols and abide by their Memorandums of Understanding they entered with government.
“Whenever they are going to implement programming in their local set ups, they should follow government protocols and follow the legal framework,” he said.
Dr Chikerema emphasised that the relationship between government and civic organisations seems to be sour based on suspicion and mistrust but urged the two to collaborate persuading each other in policy changes so that their relationship is based on mutual respect, understanding thereby promoting sustainable development.
Midlands director for local government services Charlton Murove went on to say that CSOs can influence comprehensive development in line with national strategies by participating in village and ward development committees.
Community Solutions Zimbabwe executive director Brisky Ncube said CSOs and government should not have a cat and mouse relationship but should complement each other.
“Currently we have the National Development Strategy 1 that is ending in 2025, and that is the benchmark or key point of reference as CBOs so that we are not found outside the law,” he said.
ZCC Midlands regional coordinator Joshua Mhlanga applauded the engagement saying through presentations and discussions CSOs realised key capacity and information gaps that cripple their effectiveness in advocacy and engagement.
A total of 32 CSOs brought from Gokwe, Zvishavane, Kwekwe and Gweru attended.
