Since the formation of the Christian organization in 2000, more than 35 wards and villages have been capacitated to engage in key decision-making at local and national levels.
“The Trust works to build the capacity for communities to participate in issues which directly or indirectly affect them. These include council meetings, elections and the current constitution-making process. As a faith-based organization we believe in the biblical transformation of communities,” said Dumisani Nkomo (40), the Chief Executive, in a recent interview with The Zimbabwean.
Habakkuk also runs a sustainable peace initiative and a public accountability programme, aimed at ensuring that public officials – including ministers, MPs, councillors and civil servants – are accountable to the communities they serve. Through interactive forums, Nkomo said the communities have been able to demand transparency on a variety of socio-economic issues such as health, education, clean water and public finance management.
“After almost four years of community lobbying, 23 boreholes were rehabilitated in Mangwe district. Villagers in Gwanda rural have also managed to advocate for the refurbishment of Bethel , Datata , Dambashoko and Wilikisa primary schools following our capacity building trainings,” said Nkomo. The Trust has also successfully lobbied for the scrapping of user fees for anti-retroviral drugs at Bulawayo City Council clinics. In Mangwe and Tsholotsho, the organization lobbied for transparent use of public funds.
Lee Jati of Nketa has attended several training sessions. “Habakkuk lobbying and advocacy trainings have empowered me a lot. For example before the training ,I was not aware that it is every resident or citizen’s right to access public documents such as council minutes, parliamentary debates and government gazettes. My level of debate at public accountability meetings has greatly improved because of this exposure,” said Jati. He now frequently visits the Trust’s Umkhankaso Centre, an advocacy nerve centre open to individuals and organized civic groups which offers access to free newspapers, 24 hour news channels and a wide range of documentaries.
A villager from Mangwe, Noel Moyo, hailed the organization for facilitating regular meetings between leaders and the villagers.
“Whenever there are problems, Habakkuk has facilitated numerous meetings between the villagers and the local and national leadership. Habakkuk has also taught villagers to organize themselves and tackle challenges facing their areas,” said Moyo. He cited a recent community meeting held at St Theresa Catholic conference centre where villagers discussed the pollution of Matole ward 12 and Nxele ward two dams and the impounding of cattle by the Plumtree town council.
Nkomo stressed that it is a non- partisan organization. “Our focus is on issues and not politics. In 2009 we opposed a budget crafted by the MDC-T dominated Bulawayo Council. We invite every relevant leader to our meetings,” he said.
He and the senior programme officer, Khumbulani Maphosa, were last month summoned by police in Plumtree for allegedly inciting villagers and politicizing meetings. The two officials were freed without any charges being pressed.
“We know this harassment is meant to discourage us from championing the people’s rights ahead of the elections. But we will continue amplifying the people’s voices and no amount of force or repression will stop us,” said the human rights activist. In addition to the involvement of citizen participation in decision making processes, the Trust also runs the Umkhankaso Centre, an advocacy nerve centre open to individuals and organized civic groups.
Post published in: Analysis