Zimbabwe’s SA civic grouping to meet to discuss ways to help

By Tichaona Sibanda
24 November 2006

Twenty-eight of Zimbabwe’s civic society organisations based in South Africa are to meet Saturday in Johannesburg for their second annual general meeting.

The meeting at the Holy Trinity church in Braamfontein will seek to find ways of improving communication among Zimbabweans working and living in South Africa.

Nora Tapera, co-ordinator of the CSO’s said apart from reviewing events of the past year, the meeting is also expected to discuss the burning issue of both political and economic refugees, many of whom are finding it difficult to settle down in South Africa.

‘We will discuss issues of concern to most Zimbabweans based in South Africa and this means looking at the refugee situation, what the problems are and how best these issues could be handled. We will also look at how Zimbabweans can be empowered to venture into businesses. Basically this is a meeting aimed at improving the way Zimbabweans live and work in South Africa,’ Tapera said.

Chairperson of the CSO’s Daniel Molokela said in a statement, Saturday’s meeting also seeks to co-ordinate the forum’s common vision and strategy in the struggle for a new democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe.

‘The vision of the forum is of a democratic Zimbabwean society where all citizens are able to participate in all decision-making processes that have an impact on their lives be it at home or abroad. The mission of the forum is to promote civil society by uniting and strengthening the CSO sector to enable it to influence development policy and advocate for a new prosperous and democratic Zimbabwe,’ he said.

Molokela said the strategic objectives for the forum are to establish a strong and vibrant Zimbabwean civil society in the Diaspora that is well suited to serve the interests of the poor through building the capacity of the CSO sector.

‘We seek to influence development policies in Zimbabwe, and ensure that all government programmes and policies effectively serve the needs and interests of all the nation’s citizens,’ he said.