MS-Zimbabwe supports a successful Social Forum

MS-Zimbabwe was happy to support Zimbabwe Social Forum 2004, which turned out to become a real success, proving the vitality of a wide range of civic actors. “A People’s Forum against Poverty, Gender Inequality and all Forms of Oppression”

17. November 2004

This years’ Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) was held on the 28th – 30th of October in Harare, as the second edition of its kind. The ZSF is now an annual event, taking its own shape in the spirit of the World Social Forum, which seeks to address the challenges of global development and to oppose the negative effects globalisation and neo-liberalism. In this sense the ZSF constitutes a platform for all Zimbabweans where to discuss and come up with strategies on how to cope with the prevailing problems that the people in Zimbabwe are facing today. MS, who has supported development activities in Zimbabwe since 1983, views the Social Forum as an important upcoming movement to address the developmental challenges of today and was happy to promote the ZSF 2004. Even more so as the event turned out to become a real success fulfilling its purpose and objectives to a high extend.

Zimbabwe Social Forum 2004

Those who had a chance to attend the second Zimbabwe Social Forum witnessed a hive of activity and enthusiasm during the three days, stirred by the vivid participation of more than a thousand activists and visitors. Fortunately the ZSF team had been able to secure a suitable venue at Harare Sheraton Gardens, despite a previous ban by the police. When the event and venue was officially approved, the organising team managed to mobilise for vast participation within a very short space of time. Funds were raised to hire buses and coaches from the major cities of Mutare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kadoma and Masvingo in order to assist people from all parts of the country to participate in the ZSF.

This year the ZSF was organised under the banner “A People’s Forum Against Poverty, Gender Inequalities and All Forms of Oppression” and focused on a number of thematic clusters such as: Gender, Youth, Labour, Debt and Trade, Land and Environment, Constitutionalism and Governance, HIV/Aids, Food Security and Social Services Delivery. Based on these themes the program was promising a range of interesting sessions from morning till late. Four huge tents provided the possibility of housing four different sessions at the same time, and despite the lively debates and the seemingly never-ending flow of questions from the audience the discussions were generally marked by timeliness and discipline, which made the program run smoothly and satisfactory. Please view the full program details below that are reflecting the plenty of vital issues and concerns raised during the event. Besides discussion sessions, activities also included seminars, speeches, displays, cultural performances, marches and workshops.

In essence, the ZSF was a platform for sensitising and educating the general populace on the causes of the present challenges to development at local, national and global level. Secondly, and even more important, the ZSF endeavoured to come up with coping strategies and find a way forward.

In general the overall objectives of the ZSF are to:

• Build a national solidarity network around issues of social, political and economic justice and the effects of corporate globalisation and help society come up with alternatives.
• Provide Zimbabwe with a platform for social movements and activists to strengthen popular democracy and constitutional rule.
• Fight the causes of poverty, oppose violence and gender inequality, and to combat the HIV/Aids pandemic and its effects on society.
• Create a coordinated space based on autonomous thematic groups that will ensure effective civic participation in the annual ZSF as well as the Southern African, African and World Social Forum.

A Steadily Expanding Movement

The Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) movement was born last year at the inaugural ZSF in October 2003. This opening event successfully kick started the shaping of an animate local movement in the spirit of the World Social Forum. Participation in the ZSF is open to all organisations, social movements and individuals that subscribe to the ideals and principles of the ZSF Charter.

Since the inaugural ZSF, the movement has grown steadily stronger through improved organisational structures as well as ample effort put into public sensitisation in order to reach out to the grass roots and mobilise mass participation by the people and organisations that are interested in the ZSF. Provincial outreaches and thematic public meetings have anchored this process and increased participation in the ZSF National Council, the Organising Committee and various Sub-Committees. The appeal has so far successfully allured a broad range of different social actors including HIV/Aids groups, gender groups, youth organisations, workers movements, debt and trade organisations, students unions and faith based entities (see list of all active stakeholders below). 

A Momentum of Civic Activity 

The organisers and participants at the ZSF 2004 are truly right to comment on the event as an imposing success in view of the level of activity, the open and gainful nature of the discussions, the peaceful course of events, and not least the increased participation by a wide range of civic groups and activists, including some that do not normally claim such a space. Let alone the fact that it was possible to seek approval for such a gathering and bring together a thousand activists must be described as a successful achievement under the current system. Furthermore the smooth and peaceful course of events without any interferences or disturbances caused by overheated debates or arguments leaves behind an image of the ZSF as a movement of peaceful civic action.

In this respect the ZSF was able to claim space for deeper solidarity and push the Zimbabwean civic movements towards a more definite struggle against social, economic and political injustice. The active participation by more than a thousand activists visibly enriched the motivation and confidence among those groups that are committed to change wrong into right and prepared to make a difference. And indeed it was a “People’s Forum”.

The Future

In order to advance and develop the ZSF will continue to seek solidarity with other social activists and progressive organisations in Zimbabwe as well as with external national, regional and international social movements. In December ZSF will participate at the Africa Social Forum in Lusaka, and next year a delegation will attend the World Social Forum in Brazil. Unfortunately participation in this year’s World Social Forum in India failed due to lack of funding. With the aim to ensure effective future participation ZSF wants to develop a strategy to secure funds for the attendance at such meetings. The exposure to regional, continental and international forums provides vital opportunities to learn and share experiences on how to address the persistent challenges to global development. In this respect the ZSF can contribute to the strengthening of worldwide solidarity platforms and gain from the existing linkages and networks. 

Though the level of activity and participation was rather satisfactory this year, the ZSF will maintain its emphasis to reach out to the public and mobilise a wider group of civic actors. The intention is to mobilise local movements to organise thematic social forums throughout the year and make it become an all year activity. The thematic meetings will be centred on the same clusters that guided the discussions and sessions at this year’s ZSF. These activities are also part of the preparations for hosting the Southern African Social Forum in 2005, where the members and participants of the ZSF will get the chance to exhibit their vibrancy.

The motivation is evident, especially after this year’s success of which installed a great deal of confidence in the ZSF movement. Thus proving its relevance to common social and developmental objectives, MS-Zimbabwe is keen to maintain and develop its contact and cooperation with the Zimbabwe Social Forum.

Programme for Zimbabwe Social Forum 2004

Thursday 28 October 2004

HIV/Aids: access to treatment
Governance: the prospect for elections in 2005 (conditions and legitimacy)
Labour:
- The national labour market and the erosion of living wage
- NGO workers and the NGO bill
- Women and work
Peace and rights: Violence and victims – war against people
Debt: People’s struggles against debt – strategies for fighting indebtedness
Service Delivery: Housing, health and water
Gender and Women’s Rights: Unpaid care work reg. HIV/Aids – a gender issue
Land: testimonies – farm workers and child labour
Media: The operating conditions for media in Zimbabwe
Youth Forum:
- State of the education sector
- Co modification of education
- Open music and artist session
- Students movements
Evening Public Meeting: Struggle against all forms oppression