Increasingly difficult to work

MS partner Batsiranai has succeeded in getting schools to teach orphans for free.

DUE TO AIDS and increasing poverty, the average life expectancy in Zimbabwe has plummeted from 50 years in 1995 to about 35 years. Some 70 percent of the population still lives below the poverty line. Politically, the situation is also extremely difficult. Democracy is going through a tough period, and the work of international organizations is viewed with suspicion from official quarters.

A weekly radio program focusing on the needs and rights of disabled people is produced by MS-partner NASCOH.

Radio show about the disabled

MS, the Danish Association for International Cooperation, in Zimbabwe (MS Zimbabwe) works to increase public participation in development, and to promote the rights of poor and marginalized groups.

In 2004, we focused on civil society, health, management of natural resources, and vocational training. The work within the civil society sector is most often carried out in collaboration with larger network organizations that specialize in lobbying and advocacy within different areas.

One example is the handicap organization NASCOH that, among other things, produces a weekly radio program on the needs and rights of disabled people. NASCOH also plays an important role as an advisor to the government on political questions regarding the disabled.

Within the health sector, the majority of our partners are organizations that work with hiv and aids through, for example, information and education campaigns, or by giving support to orphans.

The activities are generally aimed at society in general, in order to ensure broad support for the fight against the disease. In the course of 2004, several organizations have been successful in rallying popular and political support to back up prevention and care measures as related to aids. One partner, Batsiranai, has convinced schools to teach orphans for free.

Taking part in drafting new environmental legislation

Our work with natural resources and vocational training presupposes advocacy and education within a range of subject areas. Our partner Environment Africa, for instance, took an active part in formulating new laws to protect the environment.

The training offered by the partners to the locals is the type of help that will enable them to help themselves. This has helped various groups form incomegenerating projects.

MS Zimbabwe has also supported various activities outside the partnership program through the socalled Solidarity Fund. The flexible framework of the fund has made it possible to co-operate with a broader circle of organizations in civil society.

Doubt as to the safety of our employees

The political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe means that MS and its partners still face very great challenges. Nonetheless, our partners were in most cases successful at carrying out their activities in 2004.

However, doubt as to the safety of the development workers in the rural areas meant that we had to reduce the number of workers and postpone recruiting new ones until after the parliamentary election in March 2005.

At the same time, implementation of new legislation has tightened control with NGO work in Zimbabwe; this could make MS’ work extremely difficult. All local and international NGOs are, as of now, subject to government control, which means that an organization and its activities could be banned at any time.