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Dear All Please find attched the Forum progress report. We are going to have a meeting with the South African government officials Please sent us items which you wish us to raise with the South African government by no later than 19 April 2007 Regards Nora Tapiwa Acting Coordinator ZimCSO Forum 4th Floor Noswal Hal 3 Stiemens Street BRAAMFONTEIN BUILDING A LASTING LEGACY @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
PROGRESS REPORT
This Progress Report assists role players to view what The Zimbabwe Diaspora Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Forum is doing.
1. SUCCESSES IN BUILDING A LASTING LEGACY
The pillars of The Lasting Legacy are:
- Coordinating Zimbabweans in the Diaspora into one main Global Platform
- Creating Diaspora Development Chamber - for all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. – to marshal resources to put thousands of Zimbabweans into business in the Diaspora first and finally Zimbabwe . You don't have to be a member of a CSO to participate at the Development Chamber. Everybody is welcome, black and white.
The Forum has made tremendous successes in its efforts to building this lasting legacy:
1.1 We talked to senior Zimbabwean and senior South African business leaders in South
Africa who encourage time specific deliverables.
1.2 We have enlisted Zimbabwean professors at 8 major universities in South Africa who
have aligned as researchers.
1.3 We had a meeting with all EU representatives in South Africa .
1.4 New Forum offices on 4th Floor Noswall Hall, 3 Stiemens Street , Braamfontein were
opened. The offices are for administration and Business Awareness training, etc
1.5 We have sourced office equipment to start operations with – 1 computer, heavy
duty Xerox printer-fax-photocopier-scanner, furniture etc, all contributed by
Zimbabweans in South Africa .
§ Please contribute more - quality pieces of furniture and computers for the training room by phoning the Forum coordinator on 079 138 3896.
1.6 There are six committees with professional organizations' representatives.
1.6.1 Advocacy Committee – Chaired by Solomon "Sox" Chikohwero, a distinguished
rare freedom fighter who served under both Zanla and Zipra, majored in air
intelligence. This committee is responsible for policy formulation.
1.6.2 Finance Committee – Chaired by "The Baron" Luke Dzipange Zunga, a chartered secretary, author of 3 books and a business person. This committee is responsible for developing business concepts which would turn Zimbabweans into business persons, operating factories and production lines competitively, to produce business barons and baronesses in the near future.
1.6.3 Global Conference Organizing Committee – Chaired by Daniel Molokele, aka
Mnguni of Zinasu fame. As chair of the Forum he lives the "Daniel" of the Bible
and holds Masters in Law. This committee is responsible for the Global
Conference to be held on 6 to 8 December 2007, at Braamfontein Recreation
Centre, behind the Parktonian Hotel.
1.6.4 Gender and HIV Committee – Chaired by Proper Ndlovu, a graduate teacher and activist. This committee aims to bring women participation to the top, etc
1.6.5 Information and Publicity – Chaired by Doctor Ncube, freedom fighter turned educator with Masters in education etc. This committee will embark on awareness campaign once the business is finalized, starting with the upcoming research of Zimbabwean skills database in South Africa .
1.6.6 Humanitarian Committee – Currently chaired by a deputy. We are looking for capable woman leader to head this committee.
1.7 The Forum engaged the South African government through the office of the
Presidency which responded favourably. Foreign affairs have appointed a chief
director who will work with the Forum to address our issues and coordinate our
activities. Home affairs have opened the door to work with the Forum in
immigration matters and hold a meetings soon.
§ By working with the South African government the Forum hopes Zimbabwean elite will participate freely, without fear of the Zimbabwean government, as this is development, not politics. Without new forms of production Zimbabwe will remain doomed. PleaseZimbabweans, Stop analyzing from the fence, expecting someone else to do something.
1.8 Established working collaboration with Mass Public Opinion Institute, South Africa
directorate. The Institute headed by Unisa professor will lead the mini census to
determine the number and skills of Zimbabweans in South Africa and elsewhere
abroad. It is the institute which helped arrange a network of 8 professors who
research, check our work and advise the Forum.
§ Please support this research voluntarily when you hear of the questionnaire
in May 2007. The questionnaire will also be on main websites. Get all your friends to fill it. This information is key to Diaspora development.
1.9 Held meeting with Jewish Board of Deputies to learn how Jews created economies.
1.10. Guided tour of Jewish humanitarian facilities in Johannesburg , for which the Forum
thanks the Jewish leadership.
1.11 Participation in various demos with other organizations, press conferences, radio
and TV interviews, workshops, briefings etc
1.12 The Forum is part of Refugee Department stakeholders working committee.
1.13 Engaged a full time office coordinator – Nora Tapiwa, a previous banker and
resourceful coordinator.
1.14 Engaged a previous Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance chief economist to prepare Diaspora Development Chamber documentation and systems. The specialist concerned contributes part of his skill and time, and will research jointly with Wits University and Unisa professors and be ready by end of September 2007.
1.15 Selected a theme song to be cut into a CD by end of August. It is a faith based adaptation of a popular gospel artist. Whatever we do we put God first.
§ Please buy this CD when it is out. The proceeds will finance the Global Conference. Recording experts please come forwards to assist.
1.16 The Forum secured appointment with Director of education and the meeting had successful outcomes.
1.17 Secured meeting with Director of Business Against Crime, Dr Graham Wright, to determine how we can help to reduce crime in South Africa . We sent a proposal document to Minister of Safety and Security. A Forum official has established direct links. Both BAC and Ministry of Safety and Security denied that Zimbabweans are at the forefront of violent crime and ministry produced statistics of people arrested for various violent crimes, to prove their point.
1.18 Secured meeting with Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry(JCCI) to establish relations and the Forum can be a member.
2. WORK STILL TO BE DONE
The following work is still to be done.
2.1 Writing up a training manual – we have to change the mindset of a Zimbabwean to
look at going into manufacturing or other business away from petty trading, as the
best option in life.
2.2 Logistics of the Global Conference and holding the conference
2.3 Diaspora Development Chamber business plan, rules and regulations.
2.4 Setting up Diaspora Development Chamber board to be confirmed or amended by the Global Conference in December 2007.
2.5 Conducting the mini census or research under MPOI and awareness campaign for it.
2.6 Finalizing the Forum website. ADSL line is installed.
2.7 Fundraising for these activities and office continuity.
§ The Forum thanks Zimbabweans who have contributed to the Forum activities. To this day there is no foreign donor involved. We appeal for10 Zimbabweans in Diaspora to pledge R1000 each a month for a year. Cashflow available.
2.8 To negotiate for all groups of Zimbabweans in South Africa to be allowed to work in the new ventures, despite their current status.
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Admission of Poor Economic Grasp by Zimbabwe Leadership
The introduction in Tekere's new book has frank admissions by Dr Ibbo Mandaza, hitherto a strong ZanuPF academic and commentator.
Page 6 - African Nationalism, "….or adult suffrage – One Man One Vote – was almost the end-and-be-all of the struggle for national independence."
Page 8 "The State model which the African nationalist inherits …epitomizes…..power and privilege is on hand for the new class of rulers.……….the western value system is taken for granted…..The African nation-state-in-the-making lacks the economic foundations and the anchor …….. to create a national economy"
Page 10 "Here is a petty bourgeoisie class of former school teachers, clerks, educated elites, petty traders….…the leadership had little appreciation of the workings of the economy, completely underestimated its central importance… As former school teachers …….had never perused a balance sheet……..."
Dr Ibbo Mandaza used to plan strategy with senior ZanuPF leadership in Mozambique during the time of the armed struggle and after independence.
3.2 Duty to own and operate businesses
The Zimbabwe nation(black people) did not grasp the duty to own and operate business to produce the goods and the services the nation needed, opting for employment, donor and government favours. The current hyperinflation is a result of low production and imports. Indeed without an economic plan, that will create an industry by black people, to create jobs, growth and provide the state with increased tax revenue, the current fight for democracy is shallow. The book, Economic Growth Strategies by LD Zunga published in 2004, brain storms on these matters.
The Diaspora CSOs Forum wants to focus on economic empowerment or economic incubation, for everyone, not just members of Civil Society organisations. The initial capital will be from Diasporans, later from international financial markets. In Financial markets the first question before considering a financing request is;
- Country of project- the country must have a good rating. South Africa has.
- Nationality of corporate drivers or applicants, more importantly their head office.
Zimbabwe has zero rating, so are corporate applicants from there. It will take years of hard work under a democratic government to get a reasonable international rating.
The correct anchor must be Zimbabweans who left Zimbabwe and are based in South Africa , Britain , etc. For this reason it is impossible to start international financing with organizations domiciled in Zimbabwe . Further those in Diaspora CSOs don't want to be controlled from Zimbabwe either, because that would place themselves under the laws of Zimbabwe where they have run away from, and many had bad experiences there.
4. SCOPE
4.1 SA Government as a Player
We begin the work in South Africa because there are 3 million Zimbabweans here.
The player in this economic empowerment is the South African government. The Forum engaged the Presidency and they have favourably replied. We foresaw that if we approach the South African government, they will refer our organization to Zimbabwe embassy/government for comment before dealing with us. So we had to go to the Zimbabwe embassy with a copy and explain, the same time we delivered to SA government. We had to foresee that in these introductions the first question is, Who is funding them? If Zimbabwe government finds there are international donors it would denounce the Forum and South Africa would probably retreat.
So the Forum did not to pursue donor funding, to increase the prospect of acceptability.
The Forum will engage donors later - for training, scholarships, skills development, trade and immediately for the Global Conference and research by Mass Public Opinion Institute.
The Zimbabwe economy is owned by South African companies. Our fight for democracy will mostly benefit South Africans and Asians, even with an early economic plan in our struggle.
4.2 Member Contributions
Similarly the Forum decided not to ask for contributions from the membership at this stage, although the power is there in the constitution The moment we ask for money, people expect a deliverable. We chose to approach a few Zimbabweans and within the executive community to contribute until we complete the business plan and produce a prospectus identifying specific deliverables. Asking for money early will jeopardize contributions to the development capital.
So the Forum deliberately withheld requesting membership contributions.
4.3 Mode of Entity
We chose a NPO, since it is going to be a mass movement. The Chamber will be a
Sec 21 and the Fund a Limited company. We are in the process of preparing the memorandum, articles and management tools for the last two.
4.4 Research
We need to research how many Zimbabweans are in South Africa , their needs and dispersion, for planning. From this we create a database. Without going into detail, a database is necessary when we approach International money markets, to unlock a US$16 billion or Diaspora capitalization potential.
The database will be private, and is not to help Zimbabweans assimilate as South Africans or to help South Africa government for that matter. But it will be used to negotiate work related permits for those engaged in the Diaspora development projects.
5. DEVELOPMENT CHAMBER
The Forum will create the Diaspora Development Chamber and an independent Board of the Chamber. The process is explained on the green Forum Policy Document. The board will be a mixture of corporate(for skills) and CSO representatives(including UK , Botswana , Namibia USA etc). The majority of board members will be representatives of organizations, with few appointees.
6. MANAGEMENT TOOLS
The rules and regulations, management systems, prospectus etc are part of a thorough research already under way, with a full time researcher from 1 April 2007. The documents will be made available to 8 universities and Zimbabwean business leaders in South Africa to study and help moderate the final product for final approval by the Global Conference which will take over and oversee all matters therefrom.
7. ROLES OF THE FORUM AND DEVELOPMENT CHAMBER
7.1 The Forum will facilitate leadership training, drawing from inside and outside of
Zimbabwe with emphasis on development.
7.2 The Chamber will focus on facilitating business and skills training
While the Chamber will be incubating business persons in the Diaspora, it will negotiate with the Zimbabwean government(whoever it is) with the assistance of South Africa, to finance land surveying, food production and major infrastructure projects so that there is electricity, water, telecommunications, housing, etc. Then the Diaspora business model be will trans-located into Zimbabwe to start factories, create jobs and provide tax base for a democratic government to function.
8. PUTTING DIASPORA INTO BUSINESS
From early 2008 the Fund will start to seed funding into Zimbabweans into manufacturing. A separate document has an overview how this is going to be done.
9. DIASPORA AND DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE
Looking at March 2005 elections Civic society in the Diaspora tried to raise donor funding for civic education in rural areas, but the priorities were set by donors who do not have the kind of money we needed for civic education in the rural areas either. We did not succeed. A new strategy was necessary, away from face-value opposition politics into development strategy.
Mugabe operates a structure of about 2 000 people(paid from his unaudited budget), which runs parallel to ZanuPF but not controlled by ZanuPF party structures or MPs or ministers. This structure manifests in the rural areas. In fact ZanuPF is a shell, with the heart operating outside. The structure ensures that he returns MPs and himself, by controlling the rural areas, monitoring who arrives and leaves and routing opponents. Rural population vote for Zanu not individual candidates. If there is opposition the structure springs into action, supported by police and army but not controlled by them either. In the urban areas the state machinery applies. If all civic organizations were to demonstrate in rural areas, where he is driving more people to, Civic society would strike at the vein of Zanu. To untangle this Mugabe structure peacefully requires a minimum of R150 million a year. But Black Zimbabweans are employees and can't raise it(there lies the weakness). Only a big pool of business persons can voluntarily raise this kind of money, not foreign donors.
Without own funds for competitive elections, the successor to Mugabe can inherit and exploit this set up, and even with the fairest election, democracy may not win. Further, a democratic government would not be viable without fast economic growth in the first 5 years. Even the South African economy has not reached the acceleration that would be needed in Zimbabwe then. Where would the investors come from and who will own the money or the economy?
After all debate the answer is - we need a flourishing black business economy. In Zimbabwe you can't do it now. The Diaspora can.
But the Diaspora has huge unsettling problems which are caused by the environments where they are, not Zimbabwe . When a person crosses the border he/she is faced with huge challenges for survival - housing, jobs, permits, language, xenophobia, and it takes years to get the person settled. The majority don't make it. If these Diaspora problems were solved the Diaspora can have awesome influence in Zimbabwe .
This is the background – why the Forum.
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