CSOs, State relations characterised by mistrust

The Civic Society Organisations have lamented that their relations with the government in Zimbabwe are still characterised by mistrust 35 years after independence.

In an email the CSOs said State and civil society relations in Zimbabwe have been characterised by mistrust and intolerance. They said the relationship continues to be characterised generally by mistrust that manifests itself in continued surveillance, threats and victimisation of CSOs.

"However since the 2013 harmonised elections ZANU PF has displayed some gestures towards tolerance and disposition to engage with CSOs," said the CSOs.

"As part of a rift of measures available to strengthen both internal and external accountability of NGOs to stakeholders; which is expected to partially address issues of mistrust NGOs are proposing to have in place a self regulatory mechanism."

The CSOs said Self-Regulation is the development of common standards and principles for good practice and such sector level self-regulatory initiatives have become an important systems of increasing CSOs' credibility and legitimacy with stakeholders, helping build public trust, protecting the political space for CSOs to operate, and supporting the sharing of good practice and learning.

 
"The strategy of CSO Self Regulation has worked in many countries with a history of serious State repression, i.e. in South African and Nigeria," said the CSOs.

"Self Regulation amongst CSOs helps to curb state interference with their activities and to also ensure a common value system is in place for CSOs which will be binding on the sector. These standards are designed to strengthen the sector, improve the quality and impact of the service delivery by CSOs and increase transparency and accountability by CSOs. This will enhance the level of trust and confidence in the sector by stakeholders generally."

The organisations said In 2006 a code of ethics was developed by NANGO and was adopted by its members, however it was observed that the mechanism had inherit weaknesses of enforcing the code and that it needed to be restructured to be relevant to the current operational environment for CSOs in Zimbabwe.

"Best practice shows that Self Regulation has lots of advantages as compared to one that is driven by the state. Failure to put the self regulation structure in place means that the NGO sector will always be a target of government legislation; the sector is indisputably important and receives significant resources for development work making it a natural and fierce competitor to government for much needed yet shrinking funds," they added.

They said NANGO has taken steps to establish a Self Regulatory Mechanism for CSOs in Zimbabwe.

"A participatory bottom up process that takes into consideration regional and thematic consideration has been initiated," the CSOs reiterated.

"To date Thematic Working Groups have since been established for the Human Rights and Governance Sector, the Persons with Disability Sector, the Lands and Environment Sector, the Humanitarian sector, and the Women and Gender Sector. Once all sector based Working Groups have been established these will constitute the National Steering Committee that shall define key steps that CSOs will undertake to develop the self regulatory framework."