IN THIS NEWSLETTER

By Lena Vind-Andersen, Information Officer

To the dismay of Zambian NGOs and International NGOs alike, the Zambian president, Rupiah Banda, has given his assent to the NGO-bill on August 28th, thereby finalizing the process of passing the much debated law, which many fear will be detrimental to a free Zambian Civil Society.
The law places strict regulations on NGOs and violates several international treaties as well as the Zambian constitution.
Apart from being detrimental to the development of a free civil society and Zambian democracy as a whole, the law might also conceivably taint Zambia´s image abroad and could have repercussions for the donor communities’ willingness to commit their resources to Zambia.

Land grabs, in Zambia as well as the rest of Africa, are becoming a serious issue of concern, as global corporations are looking at Africa in a different way, not seeing the hungry, but rather, noticing the extensive land mass. FOSUP has analyzed the situation.

Civil Society for Poverty Reduction in Luapula have managed to increase their influence on local development by gaining a seat on the Provincial Development Coordination Committee and in Kafue, citizens are forming a committee to lobby local government over Land issues.

MS Zambia has gone through a review of our Land Rights programme, and recently a manual on Human Rights and Democracy has been published, which is now available on our website.

Read about all this and more in the August newsletter. Please do not hesitate to send in contributions and ideas for the next edition, which is due in October 2009. Deadline for contributions will be October 9th.

MS PARTNER NEWS
Zambia passes restrictive NGO law – NGO’s protest
The Zambian president, Rupiah Banda, has given his assent to the NGO-bill on August 28th, thereby finalizing the process of passing the much debated law, which many say will be detrimental to a free Zambian Civil Society.

The law imposes serious constraints on the work of NGOs:
All NGOs including community based organisations are required to submit themselves to registration which must be renewed every five years. Registration can be denied in the public interest, which is not defined in the Bill. They are also required to report on organizational funding, activities and the personal holdings of their officials. A newly established authorizing board will be responsible for instituting a “code of conduct” to ensure that all NGO activities are in accordance with Zambia’s national development plan. Non compliance can result in cancellation or suspension of registration.

The law thereby blatantly violates regional and international instruments on human rights that guarantee freedom of association, in particular the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1998.

To put it shortly: with the new law, the Zambian Government can now decide who gets to register, how long they can register, what issues the NGOs should work on and where they should be doing it. And the government is very clear on what it doesn’t want: "It is old-fashioned to set up an NGO so that you are going to be at variance with the government ... with the people that have been elected ... When you are going against the government, you are becoming a political party," states Minister of Information, Ronnie Shikapwasha.

The Zambian NGOs are not giving up without a fight however. A demonstration has been planned in Lusaka for Friday 4th of September and efforts to mobilise NGOs nationwide are ongoing. The next step will be to take the government to court on passing laws that are unconstitutional.

For information on the demonstration march please contact: kabaso.bwalya@zcsd.org.zm at
Zambia Council For Social Development. Tel: 211 236219
Click here to read full article on our web site

How to gain influence
If you want to influence development in your local area, you need to be where the decisions are being made. And that is exactly where MS Partner CSPR in Luapula are now.
The branch of Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Luapula Province has secured a seat at the Provincial Development Coordination Committee (PDCC), and is now regularly represented in this forum.
Mr. Joseph Mandandi, who is the Treasurer of CSPR Luapula has been elected as representative and has already presented compiled reports from the member organizations of CSPR at a meeting held in June: “So far we have made recommendations on the increased mining activities in Luapula Province, because this is an opportunity for the communities to make an income. But there are also disadvantages in terms of displacement of people, environmental degradation and deforestation. Reception has been very good. The planning unit consider our input, and even the Permanent Secretary agreed that something must be done on decentralisation. At present neither the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Commerce or the Environmental Council of Zambia has an office in the province. That makes it difficult to protect the communities, says Mr. Mandandi.
Click here to read full article on our web site


Citizens take action in Kafue
Caritas Lusaka has in the past two months been conducting community workshops on decentralization. As a result, citizens are now forming committees to get their grievances heard.
One of the places visited by Caritas was Chiawa. During the workshop participants identified a number of issues affecting them, among them a serious land issue, where a lot of people have been internally displaced because land has been sold to investors. The participants complained that big portions of land have been sold and fenced off including the grave yard. The fencing has also brought about animal/human conflict. The foot paths used by animals going to the river have been fenced off such that animals now pass through the villages where people live. The participants also complained that the money paid by ZAWA to Kafue District does not benefit them and that their member of parliament hasn’t gone back to the constituency to visit them so that they could air their concerns. The participants resolved to form a committee which should lobby the ministries of land and justice over land issues. The participants requested for more sensitization workshops which should also include sensitization on human rights.


Land Grabs: A direct infringement on Land Rights
Countries with surplus money are pushing to find land, water and good climate. And more global corporations are looking at Africa in a different way, not seeing the hungry, but rather, noticing the extensive land mass.
The international hunger for farmland is causing unrest around the world as farming has become a serious business with an estimated one billion people going hungry by the end of 2008.
Countries with surplus money are pushing to find land, water and good climate. But the world is not only short of food, it’s also short of fuel. And the demand for agro-fuels seems to be insatiable; more global corporations are looking at Africa in a different way, not seeing the hungry, but rather, noticing the extensive land mass. Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sudan, Senegal and Zambia are all good examples of where foreigners have invested in agricultural resources. Major drivers of current land grabs are the increasing global food insecurity, petrol dollars, agro-fuels and the current credit crunch. The people suffering from this land grab phenomena are the poor – therefore we need to protect them through communal land titles while pushing for sound land policies. Thus writes Michael Muleba from Farmer Organisation Support Programme in this article, which details the scale of the international land grabbing.
Click here to read full article on our web site


Regional think tank on governance established by SADC-CNGO
Although a significant proportion of SADC member states are enjoying relative peace and stability, the SADC Region continues to grapple with a variety of political, governance, peace and security challenges which vary in form and magnitude from country to country.
The Southern Africa Development Community Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (SADC-CNGO) has therefore established a Think Tank for Governance, Peace and Security, where all organizations working in the areas of governance, democracy, human rights, peace building, elections and conflict resolution at regional level were invited to participate.
“The need for organised and coordinated civil society to help accelerate regional integration in this regard, and as contemplated in the SADC Treaty, cannot be over-emphasised,” says SADC-CNGO executive director Boichoko A. Ditlhake in a press statement announcing the first meeting of the think tank in August 2009.
The meeting came up with engagement strategies on how civil society would work with the SADC organ on peace and Security and various member countries at a broader level. Among priority areas of engagement agreed upon by the meeting were the early Warning Systems; Democracy and elections, mediation, human security, good governance and the civilian component of the SADC Stand By Force
For further information on this issue please contact SADC-CNGO at E-mail: abied@sadc-cngo.org.bw


Climate change declaration leaves mountain to climb to reach just global deal in Copenhagen
Rich countries have failed to breathe new life into the international climate change negotiations at the G8 and Major Economies Forum, refusing to state by how much they will reduce carbon emissions by 2020, says ActionAid.
“Ask the 230 million hungry people in sub-Saharan Africa, who are already suffering the impact of climate change if they can wait until 2050. Their declaration shows none of the urgency, ambition or action needed to get us on track,” says Angela Wauye, ActionAid’s Food Rights Coordinator.
“We need substantial cash on the table if we are to broker a deal this year.”
Adverse weather conditions are affecting twenty of the 41 developing countries identified by the FAO as in hunger crisis or vulnerable to production shortfalls. In Indonesia, Kenya, Jamaica, Bangladesh and Zambia, climate impacts have contributed to local food price inflation.
“The global target the G8 agreed to – a 50% cut in global emissions by 2050 – is too far away. The G8 need to reduce their emissions by 40% by 2020 against 1990 levels. They have given another signal that the world is off track to reach a global deal to tackle climate change. We are a long way from the kind of breakthrough needed this year by December in Copenhagen.“ It is estimated $182 billion is needed to help developing countries to tackle climate change by 2020.


SADC Civil Society meets in Kinshasa, DRC
The Southern African Development Community Council of Non-Governmental Organisations is holding the 5th Civil Society Forum, running under the theme “Transformation of SADC: Towards equitable and people centered regional integration.”
Within the overall theme, the forum will deliberate around issues of Regional Economic Integration; Action against poverty; Peace building, conflict resolution and construction of strong and democratic states; Transformation of SADC; and Transparency and accountability within the extractive industries.
This year’s forum will include a set of other exciting but strategic events which include the launch of the SADC Gender Barometer and Handbook by the Gender Alliance and panel debates on TV stations that broadcast in SADC Countries. Organizations with research papers, books and other publications that they wish to share with others will also be able to do so.
The forum is open to wider civil society, cooperating partners and stakeholders. Already, over 120 organizations have indicated availability to participate in this year’s forum to be held in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Venus Hotel from 3rd to 5th September, 2009.
For more information contact:
Ivy Mutwale, Capacity Building and Networking Manager, SADC-Council of NGOs,
Tel: +267-3912982; Cell: +267-75424468; E-mail: ivym@sadc-cngo.org.bw
Visit the website: www.sadccngo.org


MS GLOBAL NEWS

MS Sudan: Resource centers make room for democracy
MS Sudan supports resource centers because access to information is crucial in strengthening local democracy in Southern Sudan.
“Here will the library be and the offices will be over there,” Mawa Malish Isaac says. He is the manager of Morobo United Youth Association (MUYA) in Southern Sudan.
Mawa Malish Isaac is standing on a big heap of earth and he is pointing at two smaller piles next to him. Before the end of the year, the piles will turn into the first resource centre in Morobo.
“In Southern Sudan, it is very difficult for people to access important information. There are no libraries and only few people are able to buy books or access the internet. Also, the resource centres provide the communities with a place where they can meet and discuss their problems, learn about their rights and duties as citizens and get knowledge about the coming elections. This is crucial in our work to strengthen local democracy in Southern Sudan,” Lars Anderskouv, director of MS Sudan, says.
Click here to read full story on MS Sudan's web site


MS Jordan: Theatre in Jordan sparks tears and joy
Several people in the audience began to cry when the young participants in a theatre project in one of Jordan's refugee camps gave a selected audience a preview on their show. The project is – among other Danish organizations – facilitated by MS ActionAid Denmark.
Her scream sounds louder than the sound of a freight train clamping the brakes on steel rails. But 22 year old Suhair Abu Aljna's scream does not come from the cold steel of a train. No, it comes from the sorrow and anger connected to the memory of a father, who died way too young.
”Why did you leave me?” the young, Palestinian girl shouts with tears in her eyes as she bangs her fists against the concrete wall. When Suhair's story ends a few minutes later, the applause roars like a thunderstorm on the little improvised stage in the Palestinian refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Zarqa.
The idea behind the project is that professional artists help the young people to communicate their stories by using artistic means. For the young participants, who are used to always being told by adults what to do, this is a whole new experience.
Click here to read the full story on MS Jordan's web site

MS ZAMBIA NEWS

New manual on democracy and human rights available now
A new manual for facilitators teaching communities and holding workshops about Human Rights and Democracy is now available for download on our website.
The manual has been produced by the MS Zambia Knowledge and Strategy team on Transparency, Accountability and Justice (TAJ). It is based on a participatory approach to learning and contains facilitator’s hints and lots of group exercises, introducing the principles of human rights and democratic participation in an easy to understand manner. Along the way it explains terms and concepts like constitutional democracy, transparency and accountability and discusses ways of participating in democratic practices. The manual is currently being printed and hard copies will be available at request from the Country Office. Meanwhile, feel free to download the on line version.
Click here to download the Manual on Democracy and Human Rights


ActionAid and MS merger news
The process of establishing a General Assembly for ActionAid Zambia has been moved forward and steps to analyse the organisational framework of our merged organisations are underway.
Due to the fact that the term for the current AA Zambia board expires in October 2009, the Change Management Committee (CMC) has deemed it prudent to move forward the process of establishing a General Assembly for AA Zambia. The General Assembly will be in place by end of September 2009, in time to elect a new board.
The merged strategy paper has been presented and commented on by all stakeholders, including staff members and partners of the two organisations. It currently only awaits the input of the AA Zambia board before it will be sent to MS Denmark and AAI regional offices for final consideration.
The process of merging the organisational structures has begun well by having conducted a meeting with joint MS/AA staff representatives and heads of departments, who have come up with a recommended structure for both programmes and administration teams. These recommendations will form the basis of the consultancy to be undertaken shortly, to determine the final structural changes.


Land Rights review findings and recommendations
MS Zambia was visited by the Land Rights programme review team in August 2009. In general, the team found the programme to be very relevant to the Zambian context.
The review team was headed by COWI consultant Bente Topsoe-Jensen and also included MS Denmark Land Rights coordinator Maria Justiniano and MS Nepal Programme Officer Ganga Parajuli, as well as Action Aid Programme Manager Carol Mukosa, MS Zambia Country Director Finn Petersen, MS Zambia Deputy Director Nachilala Nkombo and Programme Officer Maurice Nyambe.
The team welcomed the peer review approach as a learning process contributing to the MS goal of being a knowledge based organization and stressed that they had enjoyed a very interactive process; including meeting with several partners and stakeholders during their stay. Not surprisingly, it was found that the main problems in Zambia stem from the dual land tenure system and the fact that there are no clear regulations and procedures for the administration of customary land. “It is important that chiefs are held accountable by both the government and Civil Society, not in the least because the international drive for land grabs is accelerating. There is need for a transparent system,” Bente Topsoe-Jensen said, and stressed that it is vital to understand the present dynamics of the system. She recommended more research be done to strengthen evidence based advocacy efforts. Maria Justiniano noted that MS Zambia’s partners are well equipped to take up this task: “With a strong national partner and good links between the local and the national level you have a good base for conducting advocacy,” she said. Bringing a uniquely Nepalese perspective to the Land Right’s programme, Ganga Parajuli was impressed with the linkages between MS Zambia’s programmes: “It has been good to see that the Local Democracy theme is so tightly linked to the Land Rights theme. We do not have that in Nepal, and in this sense the visit has been a great learning experience for me.”
Based on the country specific land rights reviews in Nepal, Zambia and Tanzania, a synthesis report will be published in October this year.


New design on the MS Zambia web pages
Go check out the new design on MS Zambia’s webpage.
While the Danish MS Zambia pages were restructured last year, time has now come to do the same for the English country pages. The pages are now structured similarly to the Danish ones, divided into a general introduction page and tabs to access articles, partner information and contact details. We have added a vacancy page, available through the link on the front page, where free positions will be posted. Please note that our country programme strategies, annual reports as well as publications by MS Zambia, such as brochures and manuals can still be accessed by clicking the “documents” link at the bottom of the front page. Here you will also find the fundraiser directory.
Click here to see our new web site

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