Not all change is good change: Military state vs theocracy in Zimbabwe Standpoint Zimbabwe has been far from a safe haven for women and the LGBTQ+ community. Small steps have been made toward progress. However, with homosexuality being an outright punishable offence and one in three women in Zimbabwe being the victim of sexual abuse, while one in four has suffered physical abuse, it has been made abundantly clear to us that Zimbabwe, as it stands, is not safe for us. Now, on the eve of this historic election, it may be the case that the potential “change” we are hoping for may also not include us. By Anonymous
Citizen’s Perceptions and Expectations – The Government We Want Interview In May 2023, the SIVIO Institute in Zimbabwe presented the findings of their survey related to Zimbabwean’s level of satisfaction with government performance. The report aims to influence political campaigns by highlighting key issues that Zimbabweans are not happy about and to shape public electoral decisions. We spoke to Tendai Murisa, Director of the SIVIO Institute, to get his insights into the report and what it would take for Zimbabweans to get the government that they want. By Katrin Seidel and Tendai Murisa
The 2023 elections will test EU’s re-engagement with Zimbabwe Interview Hugo Knoppert coordinates the Zimbabwe Europe Network (ZEN), a network of European secular, faith-based and developmental civil society organisations that support projects and partnerships in Zimbabwe. While welcoming the European Union’s attempts to re-engage with the government of Zimbabwe, Knoppert expresses concern that Europe’s short-term geopolitical interests will undercut EU support for human rights and civic freedoms and its censure of state repression in the country. By Katrin Seidel and Hugo Knoppert
Between rocks and hard places – Zimbabwean youth and the challenges of political participation Standpoint The participation of youth in governance spaces is not impressive. That is not to say that they have no desire to participate: they are inhibited by various structural and institutionalised barriers. Genuine spaces for political participation are limited and policy-making processes work from the top down. Even where policy is supposed to address their concerns, there is scant consultation with the youth in governance and developmental processes. By excluding young people from key decision-making positions and processes, this perpetuates a cycle of harmful policies and programming that is at best irrelevant, and at worst dangerous By Lloyd Pswarayi
“Supporting Zimbabwe to get free and fair elections is not an event but a process”: The Role of the EU Election Observation Mission Interview The European Union deploys one of the largest observer missions to monitor the 2023 Zimbabwe elections. We spoke to Dr McDonald Lewanika, politics and development professional, about the importance of the verdict by EU election observers and what contributions European actors can make to assist Zimbabweans in getting the elections they want. By Katrin Seidel and McDonald Lewanika
Leveling the playing field for political parties in Zimbabwe's 2023 election - the role of election observation and monitoring Analysis At a time when the continent has been hit by a spate of coups reminiscent of past military regimes of the 1980s, ensuring the 2023 elections in Zimbabwe are held to the highest standards has the potential to rekindle the hopes and promises of democracy in the continent. However, this will depend on whether the African Union and the Southern African Development Community will commit to seeing Zimbabwe adhere to principles governing elections in the continent. By Author: Tinashe Sithole
The Elections We Want Dossier On 23 August 2023, Zimbabweans will head to the polls to vote for councillors, members of parliament, and a president who will represent them for the next five years. Much has been said about the shortcomings of past Zimbabwean elections, resulting in lost opportunities for real change. The dossier explores perspectives from Zimbabwean activists and citizens as they continue to struggle for free and fair elections despite growing authoritarianism and political violence.
Call for Contributions – Urbanisation in Africa: Realities, Aspirations and Solutions Project The Heinrich Böll Foundation invites African researchers and urbanists to contribute briefs that shed light on some of the key challenges and blind spots in African urban development. The contributions will be collated into a reader exploring alternative visions for African city-making that often go unnoticed or are neglected in the prevailing discourse, and thus challenge dominant city planning narratives. With this, the foundation intends to kick-start debates between relevant African and European stakeholders to reflect on effective strategies towards building inclusive and sustainable cities.
How can collaboration ensure public spaces are designed and managed for all in African cities? A series of reflections on urban public spaces with support from the Heinrich Böll Foundation. By Western Cape Economic Development Partnership
It’s Time for the G7 to deliver on Africa Under Germany’s presidency, the 2022 G7 Leaders’ Summit invited Senegal, which holds the rotating chair of the African Union (AU), Argentina, India, Indonesia and South Africa. South African researcher Mikatekiso Kubay explains how the G7 can be genuine development partners to Africa. By Mikatekiso Kubayi