* WORLD REFUGEE DAY * (pics!)
NCA (National Constitutional Assembly)
ZIMBABWE
Introduction
The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) is a conglomerate of human rights organizations, churches, trade unions, women's groups, professionals and interested individuals. Representatives of civic society have come together to initiate a process aimed at entrenching democratic participation by ordinary Zimbabweans in the making of a new constitution and in the governance of their country and coming up with a "popular constitution" which enshrines principles of equality, protection of citizens' rights and good governance.
NCA'S VISION
A peaceful, prosperous, democratic and united country founded on human dignity and social justice.
NCA'S MISSION/ GOAL
To have a new democratic and people-driven constitution.
Historical Background
The NCA process was started in May 1997, and formally launched on the 31st of January 1998. Numerous activities and critical achievements were made, placing the NCA at the forefront of the constitutional debate and in particular, the constitution-making process since its inception. By 1999, the NCA had established itself as a strong and influential presence in the public affairs of Zimbabwe. They advocated for a no vote to the Government-driven process of instituting a new constitution in the country. The public rallied behind the NCA and her partners and the NO vote was resoundingly carried. With renewed energy vindicated by the expressed will of the people, The NCA immediately returned to the people-driven process of constitutional reform.
During the last week of March 2000, the National Constitutional Assembly began the One Hundred Days of Peace Initiative, which was aimed at promoting peace within the nation in the face of growing political violence.
To mark the initiative, the organization hosted a Peace March on April 1, 2000 which was, unfortunately, disrupted by war veterans and the riot police. Following the disruption of the Peace March, the NCA leadership sought other means of expressing their discontent with the way the country was being governed, without endangering the lives of their membership.
To this end, the NCA decided to host public meetings where panelists from various fields of expertise would be called in to hold discussions with members of the public on pertinent issues affecting the nation.
Thus began the NCA public meetings which started in Harare and have since been spread to the country's different provinces.
What methods and activities are used to obtain the objectives?
Organizing and mobilizing particular sectors of society and the public in general, advocacy and lobbying, awareness raising, mounting legal challenges
Aims of the Public Meetings
• To keep in touch with the NCA membership/constituency.
• To create a platform for dialogue, for people who have ideas but would otherwise not have the platform to express them.
• To enable people from diverse backgrounds to share ideas.
• To expose the talent of various members of the public who would otherwise remain obscured.
• To encourage interaction between experts from various fields and ordinary members of the public.
• To provide a forum for civic education.
• To help members of the public to keep abreast with what is happening on the political, economic and social scene.
• To enable the NCA leadership to update its members on the latest developments within the organization.
• To foster a culture of consultation between members of the public and the leadership.
Aims and Objectives
• To strive to protect, promote, deepen and broaden the concepts and practice of democracy, transparency, good governance, justice and tolerance in the Republic of Zimbabwe.
• To strive for the initiation of a constitutional making process in Zimbabwe, including:
1. engaging in the process or processes of enlightening the General Public on the deficiencies and weaknesses of the current or any constitution of Zimbabwe.
2. participating in any organized forum to discuss the current Constitution of Zimbabwe.
3. prepare a draft or drafts of a new Constitutional order for Zimbabwe.
• To strive to protect, deepen and foster a Human Rights culture and the Rule of Law in Zimbabwe.
• To implement, incorporate and protect in Zimbabwe international Human Rights norms, as contained in important international conventions such as, but not limited to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant of Economic, Social, Cultural Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter of People and Human Rights.
• To work with other similarly minded organizations or individuals in Zimbabwe in establishing or striving to establish in Zimbabwe:
1. a new, tolerant, transparent and democratic, legal, political, social and
economic order
2. a new Constitutional framework upon which good governance can be founded
Through its two-pronged approach, namely massive civic education and pressuring Government, the NCA will continue to push for the establishment of a Constitutional Review process. 2003 has seen the NCA heighten its lobby and advocacy initiatives both inside and outside of Zimbabwe to increase the pressure on the state and to move it from its current steadfast position of being in charge. In 2004 the NCA plans to muster all its support and energies to move the demand for a Constitutional Review process to another level. The next three years are essentially dependent on the progress made for the demand of the review process. Throughout this period, the NCA will strive to strengthen itself through well-targetted Organisational Development (OD) interventions. In the likely but happy event that a new democratic constitution in Zimbabwe is achieved before the general elections of 2005, the NCA will shift focus to educate the masses on their rights as enshrined in the Constitution, police the administration and observance of the constitution by the State, and provide assistance to those denied their constitutional rights.
4. What is the structure and size of the organization ( organogram)?
AGM
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National Task Force|
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Sub- committees
- Finance & MgmtRegional *
Task ForceSecretariat
Nat. Co-ord -- Media & Info
- Gender
- Youth
- Advocacy & Action
- Disciplinary
- Legal
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Constituency Structures
Ward Structures|
Field Officers
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Admin
AssistantsDep. Co-ord -
< Regional -
Advoc OfficersTrain. & Admin -
Finance -
Information -
Member Organisations
Africa Community Publishing and Development, BICC
Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo Upcoming Traders Association
Catholic Bishop's Conference of Zimbabwe CCJP
Child Family Care Foundation Children's Welfare Forum
Chitungwiza Youth Foundation CHIYSAP
Civil Service Employees Association College Lectures Association of Zimbabwe
Combined Harare Residents Association Commuters Association
Concerned Citizens Coalition Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries
Conscious Youth of Zimbabwe Democratic Party
Ecumenical Support Services Ethics and Enterprises
FODEZI GALZ
Habbakuk Trust Holy Human Harmony
Home Industries Imbovane yaMahlabezulu
Institute for the Advancement of Freedom International Socialist Organisation
IPMZ Just Children
Lawyers for Development Association Legal Resources Foundation
MASCO Mass Public Opinion Institute
Matabeleland Development Society Media Institute of Southern Africa
Movement for Democratic Change MRA
Msasa Project MWENGO
NASCOH National Alliance for Good Governance
National Association for Freelance Journalists National Association for the Advancement of Coloureds
National Association of NGOs National Association of Social Workers
National Children's Organisation of Zimbabwe National Confederation of Trade Unions of Zimbabwe
National Council of Disabled Persons National Development Assembly
NOVASC Padare
Popular Education Collective Prisoners Entrepreneurial Development Programme
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Prolife Association
Public Service Association Red Cross Society
Society for Youth Development Foundation Southern African Young Generation Development Org
SPCA Students Christian Movement of Zimbabwe
TARSC TAZ
The Centre For People Living with HIV/AIDS Theological Association of Zimbabwe
Transparency International Zimbabwe Tuckshop Owners Association
United Parties WIBS
Women and Land Lobby Group Women in Business
Women's Coalition Youth Vision International
ZACRO Zanu (Ndonga)
ZAPU ZBG
Zimbabwe Coalition for Debt and Development Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
Zimbabwe Election Support Network Zimbabwe Ex-Refugees Association
Zimbabwe Federal Party Zimbabwe Law Students Association
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Association
Zimbabwe Liberators' Platform Zimbabwe Music Rights Association
Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children
Zimb. Nat. Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Zimbabwe National Students Union Zimbabwe Open University
Zimbabwe People's Democratic Party Zimbabwe Teachers Association
Zimbabwe Unemployment Benefit Organization Zimbabwe Union of Journalists
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association Zimbabwe Youth Agenda
Zimbabwe Youth for Freedom ZIMBILL
ZIMCET ZIMRIGHTS
Regional presence
Harare, Bulawayo, Matabeleland N, Matabeleland S, Mashonaland E, Mashonaland C, Mashonaland W, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland
5. Does the organization have a clear institutional and organizational framework ( incl. legal registration)?
The NCA's legal status is that it is a common law association of its members. It's rapid growth over the six years of its existence has necessitated a growth pattern which is lean at headquarters or secretariat level and broad in the impact and activity areas of provinces, districts and wards. It has a strong administrative base to support its activities and its institutional positioning is also well defined.
6. Does the organization have a sustainable base(track record)?
Yes, as a membership based platform the NCA draws on the collective, history, capacity, skills and leadership from its members.
7. What financial, human and material resources does the organization have at its disposal?
International donor funds, staff, regional offices (wide presence), is a known and recognized platform and the active participation of its members at all levels. NCA has managed to harness a range of key and strategic skills to accomplish its task.
8. Where does the organization get its funding from?
Mainly international donors, with some input from its member organizations.
Organisation
Funding Partner
Area(s) Funded
NCA
• CIDA (Canada)
• SIDA (Sweden)
• HIVOS
• NORAD
• Organisation Development (OD)
• Cross-cutting
• Cross-cutting
• Cross-cutting
9. Is the organization part of formal and/or informal networks?
And how can these networks be valued in view of the sector plan?
The NCA is the largest most well known network. It maintains close links and ties with the other major networks, like the Crisis in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development and the Poverty Reduction Forum.
These networks are important since they encompass much of civil society organizations. thereby increasing the reach of the sector plan both in terms of organizational reach and also more importantly content and issues.
10. Is the work of the organization embedded in the local community ( community based)?
Yes. Public meetings, workshops are held in different communities at venues selected by the communities. Participatory methods and disscusions are used to ensure participation by all. The NCA leadership now spans across all levels from grassroots community leaders to academics.
11. Does the organization have the ability to support smaller community based organizations through capacity building?
Yes, part of the strategy of the NCA is to build the capacity of its membership, many of whom are community-based organisations.
12. Does the organization have the potential to carry out advocacy and Lobby activities at the local and/or national level?
Yes, the NCA can be credited for raising the political debate in Zimbabwe. It does this through public meetings, workshops and the elctronic media.
13. Is the political and socio-economic environment conducive for obtaining the organization's objectives?
No; since many obstacles are placed in the way of the NCA. Yes; because it is precisely the causes and base of the current political and socioeconomic environment that the NCA is challenging and proposing an alternative to. The state sees the NCA as the opposition and has chosen to deal with them as an opposition. The increasing levels of poverty, hunger and repression will enable the mobilization efforts of the NCA. Obstacles are many, e.g., repressive laws that are used to deny the NCA permission to conduct public meetings. The banning of the only independent daily newspaper in the country, the Daily News, has shut the door for open communication with the public especially through the placing of advertisements. The phenomenal decline in the standard of living has aided the process of mobilising people as people seek solutions to their problems. Training is required in crisis management, facilitation, training of staff who in return train others in facilitating the NCA agenda in the communities.
14. What are the needs of the organisation in terms of capacity building (for instance in terms of human resource development, organisation strengthening and institutional development)?
Human Resource Development, organizational strengthening, Constitutional processes, strategic capacity, Advocacy & Lobbying techniques.
15. What is the added value of the organization in the human rights and/or peace building landscape in the country ( and/or in the southern African region)?
As a platform, the NCA contributes to the growing social movements in the region. Civil society participation is now being seen outside the domain of highly formal NGO's who lack rootedness. Broad based platform that amplify the voice of the people and facilitate public participation adds to the debate and discussion of the role, function and positioning of civil society organizations in challenging the sociopolitical conditions in the individual countries and the region. As a social movement the NCA brings both the visible and the invisible structures together to challenge the status quo. Most donors and in fact most civil society programs do not engage with the invisible. It is the invisible that are key to forcing the parameters of social change.
16. How could the organization be part of the human rights and peace building sector plan?
The NCA can be supported as a resource and in terms of its own capacity building and political positioning needs.
And what are the assumptions and risks from that perspective?
• One assumption is that the NCA has the capacity to play this role.
• Perceptually, the NCA is always closely linked with the country's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
• Infiltration by state spies and agents whose aim is to find weaknesses in the NCA, cpitalise on them and bring the NCA down.
As a result, the NCA finds itself having to side-track from its charted path often in order to deal with the erupting crises (e.g. the banning of the Daily News). The NCA looks back somewhat ruefully at the fact that they did not upgrade their quarterly publication to a weekly or even a daily paper before the banning of the Daily News
Address: 348 Herbert Chitepo Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 4 736338 / 730431-2
Fax: +263 4 721146
E-mail:
Contact person: Edna Zinyemba (Acting Coordinator)