News / Regional
Church, CSOs conduct several dialogues in Matabeleland
29 Aug 2015 at 10:16hrs | Views
Since 2013, the Church and Civil Society Forums (CCSF) members have conducted several dialogues in partys of Zimbabwe which include areas such as Mberengwa, Sadza, Muzarabani, Birchnough Bridge, Nyanga, Plumtree, Shamva, Guruve, Binga and Chivi.
An email from the consortium of the organisations involved states that in Matabeleland three of the sustained dialogues are being convened by Bulawayo Agenda, since 2013 when the initial Baseline survey to map the local conflict resolution mechanisms was conducted in Matopo, Plumtree and Lupane.
"Using the sustained dialogue approach, in the three districts, the communities identified three conflict areas most prevalent in their communities," reads the email. "In Plumtree and Matobo access to grazing land emerged as the key conflict issue while in Lupane language was the key issue as characterized by the inability of staff in Government departments failing to converse in the local Ndebele language."
The consortium indicated that using the problem tree analysis framework, community leaders identified the causes and symptoms of the conflict issues identified.
"Working with traditional and church leaders with almost half of these being women and youths in the respective districts, the dialogues have provided a regular platform where key developmental gaps are interrogated and solutions proffered," reads the email. "An average of 80% of the participants in the dialogues has consistently attended the dialogue sessions since inception, a positive sign of commitment by local leadership."
The consortium states that in Lupane, the local community in Menyezwa lament the gradual erosion of the Ndebele language in formal learning institutions (Primary and Secondary schools) as epitomized by the teaching of the language by non Ndebele speakers teachers The new Constitution of Zimbabwe Under Section 5.1.1. provides for equitable development and promotion of indigenous languages.
"Local leaders are asking for the deployment of teachers proficient in the Ndebele language by the Civil Service Commission. Furthermore, the community is calling for the establishment of a teacher training college," reads the email.
An email from the consortium of the organisations involved states that in Matabeleland three of the sustained dialogues are being convened by Bulawayo Agenda, since 2013 when the initial Baseline survey to map the local conflict resolution mechanisms was conducted in Matopo, Plumtree and Lupane.
"Using the sustained dialogue approach, in the three districts, the communities identified three conflict areas most prevalent in their communities," reads the email. "In Plumtree and Matobo access to grazing land emerged as the key conflict issue while in Lupane language was the key issue as characterized by the inability of staff in Government departments failing to converse in the local Ndebele language."
"Working with traditional and church leaders with almost half of these being women and youths in the respective districts, the dialogues have provided a regular platform where key developmental gaps are interrogated and solutions proffered," reads the email. "An average of 80% of the participants in the dialogues has consistently attended the dialogue sessions since inception, a positive sign of commitment by local leadership."
The consortium states that in Lupane, the local community in Menyezwa lament the gradual erosion of the Ndebele language in formal learning institutions (Primary and Secondary schools) as epitomized by the teaching of the language by non Ndebele speakers teachers The new Constitution of Zimbabwe Under Section 5.1.1. provides for equitable development and promotion of indigenous languages.
"Local leaders are asking for the deployment of teachers proficient in the Ndebele language by the Civil Service Commission. Furthermore, the community is calling for the establishment of a teacher training college," reads the email.
Source - Byo24News
