CLOSURE OF CIVIC SPACE
The Citizens’ Cabinet is extremely concerned by the continued assault on the civic space as demonstrated by the latest statement from the Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Tafadzwa Muguti. A few weeks ago Mr Muguti announced new requirements for CSOs to operate in the province. These Include signing new MOU’s with his office as well as cumbersome submissions of budgets, calendars and monthly reports to his office. In the latest statement, Mr Muguti has effectively announced a ban on non governmental organizations operating in the province. We reiterate our position that the action taken by Mr Muguti is not only impractical, but also, more importantly, is unconstitutional. That the moves by the Harare PDC follow similar attacks against non governmental organizations by the Masvingo PDC gives reason to believe that this pattern points to a coordinated nationwide effort to curtail the operations of non governmental organizations. Yet, our constitution recognizes the right of citizens to associational life and freedom to organize. We therefore call on the government to urgently cease and desist from this ill-advised and unconstitutional path. Instead, Government must recognize that civil society, the world over, is an important partner for development and an indispensable watchdog for citizens’ rights and freedoms. Anything contrary to this, does not have a place in democractic dispensations. Whatever concern the government has must be resolved through dialogue with the sector and it’s representative bodies. We view these developments as symptomatic of social breakdown and they highlight the need for an inclusive social dialogue to reestablish a new social contract between government and citizens. Our government must be reminded that in a democracy the authority to govern is derived from the people, hence all efforts designed to hinder free democratic participation are rejected with the contempt they deserve.
ABUSE OF COVID-19 RESOURCES
We note with great concern revelations in the latest Cabinet briefing on the abuse of Covid-19 resources by the Harare and Chitungwiza municipalities. We have long made calls for transparent and accountable use of resources mobilized to fight the covid pandemic. Given the worsening state of the pandemic and growing loss of lives, we find it unconscionable and indeed outrageous that those entrusted with public funds to fight the pandemic would abuse them. We have reason to believe that the latest revelations are just a tip of the iceberg and call for thorough investigations and auditing of Covid-19 funds with the view to hold culprits to account. We therefore demand the setting up of a committee of inquiry into Covid-19 funds and the management of public funds in general. It is most concerning that while public funds are plundered https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/zimbabwe reports that to date 6484 people have died of malnutrition, 3835 from violent crimes, and 2717 have committed suicide in addition to the 3193 who have died of Covid-19. That calls for the utmost responsibility in the management of the limited public resources available to fight the pandemic and address the many other pressing socio-economic needs.
EXTENSION OF THE LOCKDOWN AND ABUSE OF CITIZENS BY THE POLICE We call on the government to be sensitive to the plight of the citizenry who have effectively been under some measure of lockdown for over a year and a half. The restrictions, uncertainty and stress from the lockdown have taken a heavy toll on citizens. Many have lost sources of livelihoods and loved ones and mental health has become a whole new pandemic on it’s own. Furthermore, despite our earlier warning in previous bulletins, abuse of citizens by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police under the guise of enforcing lockdown measures has reached alarming levels similar to the Chihuri days. Poor citizens and small scale entrepreneurs, trying to eke a living under the most difficult conditions, are subjected to harassment (including beatings and outright looting of their wares) and extortion by the police on a daily basis. We wonder why the government is turning a blind eye to this. By continuing to extend the lockdown without measures to provide social protection to citizens and hold rogue law enforcement agents accountable, the Government must realize that it has given a blank cheque for the police to abuse citizens. We demand that the minister responsible for the police, Mr Kazembe Kazembe, issue a ministerial statement in parliament outlining what measures the government is taking in response to the rampant reports of abuse of citizens by the police under the guise of enforcing lockdown measures. We also demand to know what the government is doing to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.