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E-mailThis week, ROHR Zimbabwe joined other progressive organizations within the region at the 7th Annual Southern Africa Civil Society Forum Meeting and the SADC CNGO (Council of Non-Governmental Organisations) roundtable meeting in Johannesburg South Africa. The high level yet grounded and interactive multi-stakeholder policy dialogue was entitled ‘SADC Governance and accountability - Taking stock’.
The Forum attracted civil society leaders from all countries to discuss the civil society positions and proposals for consideration by the SADC Heads of States Summit ahead of the 2011 Ordinary Heads of States Summit which will be held in mid-August in Luanda, Angola.
The dialogues were aimed at achieving the following objectives:
1. To bring diverse views for critical engagement with development challenges facing the SADC region and the continent at large;
2. To create space for collective and in depth examination of regional, continental and global policies, processes and institutions and their effectiveness and impact on the citizens of the SADC region;
3. To create a platform for broad based generation of ideas and regional policy proposals as a contribution of non-state actors to addressing the development challenges in the region.
The dialogue, pitched at the highest possible level, drew participants from accomplished civil society activists, independent analysts, former and current senior government officials, members of SADC Secretariat and of the United Nations, scholars, media, private sector and international cooperating partners.
ROHR Zimbabwe Executive Director Mr. Tichanzii Gandanga praised the forum for coming at a crucial time ahead of the SADC summit in Angola and said “The Forum provided civil society within the region the opportunity to formulate the basis of engagement with SADC leaders in Angola, as well as to brainstorm and share views, ideas and notes on human rights and democratization issues within the region”.
Speaking from Johannesburg ROHR South African Chapter Coordinator Mr. Reason Machengere said, “The discussions were fruitful and focused on issues bedeviling the region as well the ways to mitigate them”.
The 7th Annual Southern Africa Civil Society Forum Meeting Highlights in brief:
- Malawi joins Zimbabwe, DRC, Madagascar and Swaziland as hot spots in SADC.
- Issue of free movement within SADC.
- Lack of cohesive regional development strategies.
- Challenging SADC Heads of State on the suspension of the SADC tribunal among others.
ROHR Zimbabwe will publicize the full resolutions when it’s finalized by the Forum.
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For Peace, Justice and Freedom
