Making government accountable for socio-economic injustices: challenges for Zimbabwean social movements
- Authors: Nyamweda, Amorlett Gamuchirai
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Economic conditions -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58102 , vital:58557
- Description: imbabwe's socio-economic development crisis revived citizen agency and birthed several social movements. The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges that social movements face in holding the Zimbabwean government to account for Zimbabwe’s crisis. Three social movements, Occupy Africa Unity Square, #Tajamuka/Sesjikile and #ThisFlag were selected for in-depth qualitative inquiry. The study examined their activities between 2013 – 2020 during which time they were the most prominent social movements in Zimbabwe. Primary data was derived from social media and key informant interviews. Secondary data was derived from a desktop review of textbooks, commentaries, social movement documents, journal, and online newspaper articles. Using the Thematic Data Analysis technique, data was organized into three themes namely the socio-economic challenges faced by Zimbabweans, the role played by social movements to bring the Zimbabwean government to account for the socio-economic development crisis and the challenges social movements encountered in the process. The Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) found that social movements collectively engaged in protest action, lobbying, shutdowns, and legal action to make the government accountable for socio-economic injustices. In exacting government accountability, Zimbabwean social movements encounter the challenges of overreliance on social media, limited civic space, a decline of social movements, individual centered movement leadership, disengaged citizenry, absence of strategic plans, an uncooperative government and disunity amongst activists. This study recommends social movements’ leaders to develop protracted strategies for mobilisation beyond urban centers. It also recommends that movements prioritise socio-economic reforms and development projects which bring material benefits to citizens as these are more likely to be realised in the immediate future as opposed to political reforms. To revamp the Zimbabwean economy, the study recommends the citizens of Zimbabwe to be more actively involved in the affairs of their country, the armed forces to establish strong institutions and reconsider the role they should play to ensure socio-economic or political transformation and the government to demonstrate political will to deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe by instituting political reforms. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Implementation of the Zimbabwe National Orphan Care Policy: implications of partnership between government and civil society
- Authors: Chimange, Mizeck
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Political participation -- Zimbabwe , Civil service -- Zimbabwe , Political leadership -- Zimbabwe , Public administration -- Zimbabwe -- Citizen participation , Orphanages -- Zimbabwe , Orphans -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government , Zimbabwe -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11435 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007188 , Political participation -- Zimbabwe , Civil service -- Zimbabwe , Political leadership -- Zimbabwe , Public administration -- Zimbabwe -- Citizen participation , Orphanages -- Zimbabwe , Orphans -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government , Zimbabwe -- Social conditions
- Description: The study focused on the exploration of the implication of partnership between the government and civil society organizations in the implementation of the Zimbabwe National Orphan Care Policy (ZNOCP). The study was carried out in Masvingo District in Zimbabwe to explore on the feasibility of inter-organizational interaction in policy implementation and how it affects the service delivery system. The study incorporated government departments, civil society organizations and ward councillors who stood as the custodians of the people. The study was intended on unveiling the different contextual aspects that exist between government departments and civil-society organizations (CSOs) as individual and separate entities and how the compromising of their values would affect the partnership. Looking at the hierarchical and bureaucratic features of government institutions, the study also intended to understand how this could be concealed and compromised with CSOs‟ open agendas in public policy implementation to ensure effective service delivery to the people. The 5C protocol, critical variables in policy implementation which are policy content, context, capacity, commitment of those entrusted with the implementation process and also clients and coalitions were used as the yardsticks. These variables acted as a yardstick on which to analyze the partnership between the Zimbabwean government and the civil society in the implementation of the Z.N.O.C.P, their different attitudes, bureaucratic settings, organizational culture, values, norms, and how their readjustments or failure affect the service delivery system. It also became imperative to look at the government legislations that govern the CSO space of operation and financial aspects to understand the implications of partnership between government and civil society. An understanding of these aspects leads to an increased understanding of the feasibility of state-CSO partnerships and its implications on policy implementation.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An exploration of the causes of social unrest in Omay communal lands of Nyami Nyami district in Zimbabwe: a human needs perspective
- Authors: Musona, Mambo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Human rights -- Zimbabwe -- Omay Communial Lands , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8192 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1372 , Human rights -- Zimbabwe -- Omay Communial Lands , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Description: One of the responsibilities of every government is to make provisions of basic needs for its citizens. The situation in Omay resembles people living during the dark ages when there was no constitutional government. The government should in accordance with the priorities of its people be seen to be improving the lives of its citizens by providing health, education, roads, communication facilities, and participation in decision making especially on issues that have a bearing on their lives. The human needs theory postulates that one of the most ideal ways of resolving protracted conflicts is by helping people meet their needs. Human needs are not for trading according to conflict scholar John Burton, implying that if one does not meet his or her needs he/she might do anything to strive to meet them. The people of Omay have been deprived of their needs in all facets; first the previous government relocated them to create Lake Kariba for the hydroelectric plant. They were not compensated. They were dumped on very arid, tsetse fly infested mountainous areas adjacent to game reserves and national parks where they have to make do with wildlife; some that destroy their few crops (elephants) and others that kill them or their animals (lions). As a minority group they have been engaged in social unrest and small skirmishes with government and other, bigger ethnic groups as a form of resistance. A deliberate affirmative action to channel funds towards raising their living standards and develop their area so that they meet their needs could be the panacea to the social unrest.
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- Date Issued: 2011
The role of the judiciary in protecting the right to freedom of expression in difficult political environments: a case study of Zimbabwe
- Authors: Ndawana, Duduzile
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Zimbabwe -- Politics and government , Mass media -- Zimbabwe -- Law and legislation , Freedom of speech -- Zimbabwe -- Law and legislation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11109 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/99 , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government , Mass media -- Zimbabwe -- Law and legislation , Freedom of speech -- Zimbabwe -- Law and legislation
- Description: The right to freedom of expression is with no doubt one of the most important rights in all democratic societies. The southern African sub-region is however lacking when it comes to the protection of this right. There are either highly repressive laws which result in the right being practiced but to a limited extent. In other cases the media is owned by the elite in society which results in the majority not being represented in the independent media and at the same time, the public media is often abused by the governing elite. The scene is therefore that both the public media and private media are representative of the elite. The research seeks to explore the protection of human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression in politically volatile environments. The research focuses on Zimbabwe but comparative analysis has also been drawn with other jurisdictions moreso South Africa. It is important to note that Zimbabwe has ratified both the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights both of which protect the right to freedom of expression. It is however not enough that states ratify international and regional instruments without domesticating the instruments at the national level. The domestication of the international and regional instruments is meant to ensure that individuals enjoy these rights. Freedom of expression is highly volatile in Zimbabwe. The legislature has been accused of taking away the right which has been granted to citizens by the Constitution through its highly repressive laws. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), and the Official Secrets Act are some of the laws which have been put under spotlight in Zimbabwe. There is therefore a conflict between the legislature, the press and individuals in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe like many democratic states, there is separation of powers between the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The legislature is the decision making structure that enacts policies in their capacity as representatives of the people; the judiciary is the mediating body that adjudicates decisions between the organs of state as well as between those organs and individuals and the executive enforces decisions. The findings of the research are that despite the ratification of international and regional instruments dealing with the right to freedom of expression and the protection of the right to freedom of expression in the constitution, there still exist repressive laws in Zimbabwe which to a great extent limit the right to freedom of expression. These laws in light of the prevailing environment in Zimbabwe are often used to deprive citizens and journalists of information and their right to freedom of expression. The judiciary finds itself in a difficult position as the executive does not comply with its rulings. The independence of the judiciary, in light of the environment is also compromised by the threats to the judges, the appointment process and ‘gifts’ given to the judges for example, farms. The research analyses the history and theories of freedom of freedom of expression in Zimbabwe, the laws regulating the right and the case law dealing with this right. Finally there is a comparison between Zimbabwe and South Africa and conclusions and recommendations are made based on the discussion in the dissertation. Among the recommendations is that civil society should be involved in educating individuals especially journalists about the right to freedom of expression. Further, the judiciary should also take a more proactive approach in the protection of the right.
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- Date Issued: 2008