The National People’s Convention Declaration

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Harare, 24 November 2017

Preamble

We the people, having met on the same day as the inauguration of the new President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, participated in the National People’s Convention and expressed our views in order to actively influence the new government’s agenda.

Cognisant that our society is made up of varying interests, fears and aspirations; through robust interaction, we found convergence on key demands to inform a citizen centered transitional framework towards the Zimbabwe we want.

Re-energised by the enthusiasm and seriousness of engagement based on a deep desire to leave no one behind and for this process of national envisioning to continue at all levels. We engaged, built consensus and adopted the following demands:

Nation Building

1. Devolution of power of power and authority in compliance with Chapter 14 of the Constitution
2. National healing on all forms of past violence particularly the Gukurahundi massacres through an independent and impartial National Peace and Reconciliation Commission
3. Reform of National Institutions such as the security sector, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), State-controlled media, local government institutions, all Parastatals and the National Youth Service to comply with norms and standards of transparency and accountability.

Values, Ethics and Leadership

1. Elected and appointed leaders who represent all Zimbabweans and not just their party supporters, are accountable and uphold principles of good governance
2. An end to corruption, nepotism, patronage and deification of leaders
3. Leaders that do not abuse State or National institutions for personal and political gain

Women’s Rights

1. Access to affordable, acceptable, accessible, social and public services; namely housing, education, health and social protection mechanisms delivered through inclusive, responsive and accountable administrative systems
2. People centred and gender responsive macro-economic policies that create and protect decent jobs, tax justice, financial inclusion and equitable access to productive resources.
3. An inclusive and women centred governance architecture which includes equal representation and participation of women in politics and decision making with strengthened state institutions whose mandate promote democracy and human rights.
4. Accelerating the enforcement of measures to eradicate all forms of violence against women in the home, communities, in the workplace, in public spaces and political affairs.

Youth

1. Education and Skills Development centered on provision of internships in all government departments, subsidies for school fees and adequate facilities for people with disabilities
2. Governance and Elections framework, devolution of Power, introduction of a Quota System for youth in all sectors of governance and leadership and a youth ministry run by the youth themselves.
3. Provision of equitable, inclusive and accessible funding for youth led and run businness enterprises

Social Inclusion and Vulnerability

1. The domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities
2. The establishment and implementation of a Disability Policy through a consultative and participatory process inclusive of all disabled persons
3. Appointment of an individual with a disabiity as the Director of Disabilities with a full secretariat and working budget
4. Self-representation of disabled persons through a quota system in all decision making processes including 10 MPs and 10 Senators in the Legislative bodies

Labour and Employment

1. Decent work and a conducive environment for enterprises in line with Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals through establishment of policy dialogue platforms and strengthening of social dialogue among social partners.
2. Respect for Labour Rights and Human Rights by ensuring elaborate and articulated frameworks for implementation of labour and human rights policy strategies.
3. Establishment of a time bound and inclusive Transitional Authority agreed to by all concerned stakeholders as a critical step towards instituting a legitimate government working towards a developmental state

Governance and Elections

1. Immediate full implementation of devolution of power and authority to Local Authorities.
2. Safeguard local authorities from undue plitical interference by central government
3. Depoliticisation and Professionalization of local authority bureaucracies

Local Governance and Service Delivery

1. Immediate full implementation of devolution and disbanding of the Local Government Board
2. Safeguard local authorities from interference by central government
3. Depoliticisation and Professionalization of local authority bureaucracies

Social and Economic Justice

1. Address odius public debt through a National Debt Audit, reform of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Debt Assumption Act, re-engagement of international financial institutions and eradication of corruption in the country
2. Fulfilment of Socio-economic rights as ascribed in the constitution and adoption of pro-people investment policies that support Informal sector growth
3. Transparency and accountability through pro-poor-budgeting, effective parliamentary oversight and tax justice

Security Sector

1. Immediate alignment of security sector laws with the constitution, return to rule of law as well as establishment of a climate of peace and security
2. Redefinition of security in Zimbabwe in order to balance human and citizen security with the security of state
3. Recognition of the right of citizens to engage in peace and security policy dialogue

Human Rights:

Urgent movement towards constitutionalism and democracy, ending impunity, upholding the rule of law and implementation of institutional reforms including:

1. The repeal of draconian pieces legislations such as POSA and AIPPA
2. The depoliticisation and professionalization of public institutions
3. depoliticisation of access to food, education and health

Freedom of Expression:

1. Implementation of constitutional provisions on freedom of expression, right to information and media freedom specifically amending AIPPA and the Criminal Law Codification Act
2. Respect for the independence of the media though non-editorial interference, stopping the harassment of journalists and the media, guaranteeing internet freedom and transforming the ZBC and Mass Media Trust.
3. Transparent and genuine opening up of broadcast media through non-partisan issuance of licences to the three broadcasting tiers (community, commercial, public).

Land and Natural Resources Governance

1. Non-partisan access and control of public resource, respect of property rights, and fair compensation for acquired land
2. Improved natural resource governance through strengthening of regulatory and oversight institutions e.g Land Commission and Environmental Management Agency
3. Strengthening and supporting the Anti Corruption Commission, establishment of a transparent tendering system in the mining and natural resources sector; declaration of assets by public officials; and removal of tax exemptions or incentives
4. Audit of Marange diamonds production, export, tender system, undervaluation, ZCDC structure and governance

Therefore, as the church, civil society, labour and social movements, we commit ourselves to continuously work together to contribute towards a collective national agenda; to facilitate the empowerment of citizens and to honestly engage the newly established government to find shared solutions.