Mass Public Opinion Institute 64 Denbigh Avenue Belvedere Harare Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Findings Zimbabwe Post-2013 Elections: A Retreat into Public.

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Mass Public Opinion Institute64 Denbigh Avenue

BelvedereHarare

Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Findings

Zimbabwe Post-2013 Elections: A Retreat into

Public Despair?

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Introduction

In June 2014, the Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) carried out a qualitative study on people’s knowledge about citizen and participation rights as defined in the new Constitution as well as other socio-economic and political issues of concern to them.

The main objective of the study was to gather citizens’ views on their participation in the country’s democratic processes in the context of the new Constitution. Particular focus was on the Declaration of Rights in Chapter 4 of the new Constitution promulgated in May 2013.

In November 2014 MPOI carried out a nationally representative survey on behalf of the Afrobarometer Network. The survey involved 2400 cases and where applicable, results from the qualitative study will be compared with findings from the quantitative study.

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Objectives of the Study

• To gather citizens’ views on their participation in Zimbabwe’s democratic processes in the context of the new Constitution.

• To promote the participation of ordinary citizens and

the democratisation agenda by offering them platforms in which they can speak out their minds regarding things that concern them in their day to day lives.

• To disseminate the findings of the study to various

stakeholders with the aim of influencing the development of scientifically gathered evidence-based policy decisions as well as in programming activities of CSOs.

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Study Themes• Assessment of personal circumstances

• The Constitution• Performance of the Government post the 2013 July

elections• Parliament of Zimbabwe

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FGD Study Methodology• The FGDs were conducted from 23 to 25 June 2014 in the country’s 8

administrative provinces. The provinces where the FGDs were conducted are Harare, Bulawayo, Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, and Matabeleland South. Two FGDs were conducted in each province, one comprising female participants and another consisting of male participants, all of homogenous characteristics.

• The FGD participants were recruited by well-trained recruiters who underwent training on how to select the participants for the discussions, and the sessions were conducted by well trained facilitators.

• Following the FGDs, the discussions were transcribed and translated from the local vernacular (Shona and Ndebele) into English.

• All the 16 FGD transcripts were merged by themes into one document to produce a ‘composite transcript.’ This composite transcript became the foundation upon which the data was analyzed by themes.

• A total of 155 participants out of a possible 160 participants took part in the FGDs.

Afrobarometer Survey Methodology

• Nationally representative sample of adult citizens All respondents are randomly selected. Sample is distributed across provinces and urban/rural areas in proportion to their

share in the national population. Every adult citizen has an equal chance of being selected.

• Face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.• Standard questionnaire allows comparisons across countries and over time.• Sample size in Zimbabwe of 2,400 adult citizens yields a margin of error of +/-

2% at a 95% confidence level.• Fieldwork for Round 6 in Zimbabwe was conducted between 16 and 29

November 2014.

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Fgd Participant Demographic MATRIXProvince Gender Education Ethnicity Age POR

Bulawayo Female Some tertiary + Ndebele 18-34 Urban

Bulawayo Male Secondary complete Ndebele 35+ Urban

Matabeleland South Female Some secondary Ndebele 35+ Rural

Matabeleland South Male Secondary complete Ndebele 18-34 Rural

Mashonaland West Female Secondary complete Shona 18-34 Rural

Mashonaland West Male Some secondary Shona 18-34 Rural

Midlands Female Some tertiary+ Shona 18-34 Urban

Midlands Male Some tertiary+ Shona 18-34 Urban

Masvingo Female Secondary complete Shona 35+ Rural

Masvingo Male Some tertiary+ Shona 18-34 Rural

Harare Female Secondary complete Shona 35+ Urban

Harare Male Some tertiary+ Shona 18-34 Urban

Mashonaland East Female Some secondary Shona 18-34 Rural

Mashonaland East Male Secondary complete Shona 18-34 Rural

Manicaland Female Some secondary Shona 35+ Urban

Manicaland Male Some tertiary+ Shona 35+ Urban

Survey demographicsUnweighted Weighted

GenderMale 50 50Female 50 50

LocationUrban 37 37Rural 63 63

ProvinceHarare 19 19Bulawayo 6 6Midlands 12 12Masvingo 10 10Mashonaland East 10 10Mashonaland West 11 12Mashonaland Central 9 9Matabeleland South 5 5Matabeleland North 5 5Manicaland 13 13

EducationNo formal education 7 7Primary 23 23Secondary 56 55Post-secondary 14 14

ReligionChristian 89 89Muslim 0 0Other 10 11

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Assessment of Personal Circumstances

FGD participants were asked to make a comparison of their life at the time of the study with that before the July 2013 i.e. during the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Most of the participants in 13 out of the 16 FGD groups said things were now worse compared to the GNU period. However, participants in three groups namely Harare male and Matabeleland South male as well as Mashonaland East female had mixed views about their circumstances at the time of the study.

Participants offered diverse reasons why they were sadder now than they were during the GNU era. Some of the primary reasons given include: the liquidity crunch i.e. scarcity of money, a problem that loomed very large among participants; unemployment, company closures and subsequent job losses; and Government’s failure to pay civil servants on time.

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Negative ASSESSMENTS“The way of life is different because things are now more difficult, money is scarce. The commodities are there but there is no money … and it’s now very difficult to get it.” (Harare female)

“…money has become scarce like never before since the July 2013 election. I don’t know how it just disappeared but all I know is that it is no longer there. We used to have money to buy foodstuff but now it’s all gone...” (Bulawayo Male) “I think that our lives before the July 2013 elections were far better than the way we are faring now especially because it is difficult to get money to use…” (Midlands Male)

“...before the elections I could buy items for resell and make some money. At the moment no one has money. Everyone is just getting my goods on credit. There is no money. People are not getting their salaries.” (Bulawayo Female)

“…at the moment we are hopeless. Even if you consider being employed you may not even get paid. The salaries are now so depressing. It is difficult to get any money. ” (Manicaland Female)

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Negative ASSESSMENTS

Unemployment was another key reason given by FGD participants to account for why things have turned worse since the GNU days. The participants bemoaned the fact that many people have lost jobs as many businesses continue to struggle and even close under the difficult environment. For some participants, there was in fact no difference between those employed and the jobless.

“Our lives were much better before, we could get jobs but these days there are no jobs and there is not much difference between one who is employed and one who is not, some go to work for more than three months without pay. Sometimes after the three months you are given as little as $70 or even $20 so we are failing to raise even rent and our lifestyles have deteriorated.” (Mashonaland West female)

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Negative ASSESSMENTS• “As I see it, things are not well. We thought companies would re-

open. More people are being retrenched from their companies and some are not being paid their salaries...the retrenchees do not have anywhere to start from because if they want to start businesses they do not have access to any loans…” (Masvingo Female)

• “All employment and job opportunities are long gone…Even those

who are employed right now, they have nothing because the companies are not paying, there is no money in the country; every month end we always witness people being evicted…” (Bulawayo Male)

• “…life is becoming more difficult for us, we are seeing graduates at

the markets selling commodities, they can’t get jobs, they have nowhere to go and even if you look at the workplace; the situation is such that no one is contracted on a permanent basis” (Midlands Female)

Negative ASSESSMENTSThe way in Government was handling civil servants salaries was also

a matter of concern for the FGD participants:

• “...right now civil servants are getting their salaries on the ‘48 th’ but we will also be demanding money from those who would have borrowed from us. So things are now worse because we used to know that if it’s on the 18th then we would get our money back from government workers but that is no longer the situation right now, sometimes you hear that they get paid on the 28th and once again hear that pay day has been moved to the ‘50th’. Things are now worse and it’s now difficult for us.” (Manicaland Female)

• “… people could go to work knowing very well that they would get their

salaries at the end of the month but right now government continues to shift pay dates, so these are some of the things that are disturbing.” (Midlands Female)

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Most participants saw the GNU as far better than the current government and offered various reasons for that. In support of their claims FGD participants cited among other issues the aspect of scarcity of money, rise in cost of living, the impact of policies and opportunities for investment as some of the reasons they thought the coalition government was better than the post-GNU authority.

• “I really think the GNU was much better than this one. Things are worse now because even money is in short supply, it is not circulating well, the cost of living continues to go high, unlike in the previous government, life has become more difficult than we anticipated. (Masvingo Female)

• “…so you will actually see that there is now a difference on how policies are formulated when compared with the GNU era when one could actually see that things that were being done had impact…” (Masvingo Male)

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Negative ASSESSMENTS• “…during the time of the GNU black people were empowered and

had better living standards… I was able to acquire more things during the GNU period but I cannot do that now.” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “Life of workers under the Inclusive Government was better

because they would get their money on time, and the money was also better compared to today.” (Midlands Male)

• “…During the time of the Inclusive Government, you would get to the bank at any time you think like and you would get your money, even from the ATMs. Nowadays banks sometimes fail to get money…” (Midlands Male)

• “During the era of the GNU I thought there was a lot of hope for the better. We the educated folk we could see the possibility of investing for those who wanted to invest… ” (Manicaland Male)

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Negative ASSESSMENTSThings are not rosy too for some participants who are into vending business. The

participants complained that the vending business is now overcrowded to the extent that it’s no longer lucrative to venture into that type of business. They also expressed concern over the way the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials treat them as they conduct their business:

• “…the tax authorities (ZIMRA) are giving us a torrid time on the road. You are forced to spend the whole day doing nothing by ZIMRA even if you go and buy zapnaks or jiggies they ask you to pay one hundred dollars yet that is supposed to be the profit that you get from your business and if I do that I just come back and sit, so things are a bit difficult now…” (Manicaland Female)

• “…the police raid us vendors when we are in the process of looking for survival. And when they confiscate the goods never think that they will ask you to go with them to the police station; no they will leave you like that and they will share the loot among themselves.” (Harare Female)

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• I am not happy because we used to get some money when we engaged in business but right now we can’t get the money because most of the companies have closed down operations plus there are no jobs. So all of us are now vendors and there is now stiff competition. Money is not there.” (Manicaland Female)

• “I can give an example of those who are into trading;

things were better in 2012, the business would generate money but right now instead of concentrating on selling; one will be busy running; it’s either one is fleeing away from the ZRP or council officials. So life has become somehow difficult and even those who are working are getting it tough.” (Midlands Female)

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Negative ASSESSMENTSThe pre-2013 July elections period also saw many promises being made

by political parties as they were campaigning for votes. As time ticks after the elections, some FGD participants complained about the non-fulfilment of some of the promises.

• “We were told all sorts of sweet nothings, and that led us astray. We were given all the sweet things, sweet words, sweet food, clothing; we were bought so that we could vote for them. That is why we are unhappy...”(Masvingo Female)

• “Because these people we elected, at the time that they were trying to win our votes they were making promises that made us think that indeed if we elect this one things will change. But even now we have never seen some of them; we do not even know where they are.” (Matabeleland South Male)

• They were promising that they will open industries but right now there is no industry; they are actually closing down and people are losing jobs, but they were promising to re-open but people are losing jobs so things are getting worse. They have not fulfilled their promises; they are failing because industries are closing down.” (Harare Female)

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Negative ASSESSMENTSThe corruption scourge was also a thorn in the flesh for some FGD

participants:

• “…the other thing is that the people who are associated with the ruling party have already started amassing wealth…” (Manicaland Male)

• “After the elections things seemed to have taken a turn for worse because from

the time of the elections there were a lot of things like corruption which sprouted so that only those with fat pockets had their way.” (Matabeleland South Male)

• “...there is corruption and no one is there to curb it or question where the diamonds are going. Some people are getting abnormal salaries and there is a big gap between those above and those below.”(Harare Male)

• “I am not happy because there is a lot of corruption. At one point in time we

worked for Council to slash grass but that was for no pay…” (Manicaland Female)

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A few participants lamented the fact that prices of commodities have gone up:

• “The prices of commodities increased, even rentals were increased soon after the elections because people were hoping for a change, that prices would go down but this did not happen; in fact things became worse. Job vacancies were frozen and we lost hope of finding employment. Things continued to worsen for us. I do not have capital to venture into the informal sector. I just wonder what is going on.” (Harare Male)

• “…mealie meal prices have been going up after every three months, prices

of sugar and other goods are also going up.” (Bulawayo Female)

Overall Direction of the Country (Nov 2014)

PercentGoing in the wrong direction 63

Going in the right direction 31

Don't know 6

Total 100

21

Question: Let’s start with your general view about the current direction of the country. Some people might think the country is going in the wrong direction. Other may feel it is going in the right direction. So le me ask YOU about the overall direction of the country. Would you say that the country is going in the wrong direction of going in the right direction?

OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY BY LOCATION & GENDER

Going in the wrong direction

Going in the right direction

Don't know Total

POR Urban 73 22 6 100

Rural 58 36 6 100

Gender Male 67 28 5 100

Female 60 34 6 100

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Question: Let’s start with your general view about the current direction of the country. Some people might think the country is going in the wrong direction. Other may feel it is going in the right direction. So le me ask YOU about the overall direction of the country. Would you say that the country is going in the wrong direction of going in the right direction?

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Positive Assessments Some participants, mostly in Mashonaland provinces, were content with the post-election

situation on the ground. They cited the termination of the GNU as a blessing, arguing that having one political party in charge of governmental affairs enhances accountability and gets rid of inter-party quarrels that were a key feature of the GNU. The existence of a peaceful environment is also cited as another key feature of the post-GNU era.

• “I think our life is very good today because we now have a President whom we know is the one governing the country, and we now have one government so if anything goes wrong we can point out to Mugabe but for now things are going on well because we now have some things that we did not have before. We now even have security and the children are now in school, the teachers are now available so I think our government is really doing a good job.” (Mashonaland East Male)

• “I think our survival is now much better because before we went for the 2013

elections people were afraid of walking around at night because political parties were fighting each other so we were afraid of being murdered but now that we now have one President we can move around anytime we want, whether afternoon or night and no one is victimized.” (Mashonaland East Male)

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Positive Assessments • “… our life seems to be better in the sense that one is able to walk freely on the streets

unlike before when there was fear in the rural areas; people were actually scared of walking on the street and showing their political identity but right now they are able to move freely regardless of which political party is in power.” (Masvingo Male)

• “I am happy even though there are still some disturbances. At the moment I think people have their freedom because if we consider people who died from political violence it is so frightening but now we know we are being ruled by one government.” (Mashonaland East Male)

• “ …but I see that there are less power squabbles as compared to the previous government that was led by two main political parties.” (Masvingo Male)

Some cited availability of basic goods, drugs in clinics, children not being sent away for non-payment of fees as defining positive features a year after ZANU-PF returned to power.

• “...now it is easier to get school fees for the children and hospitals now have medicines.

Generally, basic items needed in life are easier to access. This was not the case in 2013... ” (Mashonaland East Female)

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‘NO Change’ GroupA third group of participants felt there had not been any significant

change between the GNU and post-election periods.

• “People shelved their plans waiting to see the outcome of the elections. After the elections nothing changed. From my point of view, nothing has changed. I am one of those who graduated from college and I was hoping that after the elections things will change, life will go on, but up to now nothing has changed. ” (Harare Male )

• “Personally I did not notice much difference before and after the elections. My

lifestyle has not changed since we voted. I see no change.”(Harare Male)

• “Before the elections were held and during the elections I was hoping that my life

would change. As someone who has a degree I was hoping to find a job that is commensurate with my four-year degree. However, I notice there is not much difference in life before and after the elections. I have not noticed the difference. Things are the way they were before the elections.”(Harare Male)

• “ I have not seen any changes in the way I have been living. I was unemployed before the elections just as I am still unemployed now.” (Bulawayo Female)

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Views on the New Constitution

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Awareness of the new ConstitutionAsked if they have ever heard about the new Constitution of

Zimbabwe, most of the FGD participants replied in the affirmative. However, a majority expressed ignorance on the actual contents of the document since they have not had a chance to peruse the document or even to be taught about its contents.

There was consensus among those participants that were knowledgeable about the constitution that many of the provisions of the new charter need to be implemented. These issues encompassed the need for decentralization, free primary education, free health care, freedom of speech and association, gender issues, citizenship issues and job creation.

Key findings AB6 – November 2014

■More than three quarters of Zimbabweans are ignorant about their new Constitution enacted in 2013.

■More than half subscribe to the view that the new Constitution has to be translated into local languages and copies made available to all citizens so that they have more knowledge about the national charter.


Knowledge of Zimbabwe’s new Constitution

Question: How much would you say you know about Zimbabwe’s new Constitution that was adopted in 2013, or haven’t you heard enough to say? [Read out options]

Not

hing

at a

ll

A litt

le b

it

A lo

t

A gr

eat d

eal

Don

't kn

ow 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

30%

48%

11%

5% 7%

Knowledge of new constitution by location

Question : How much would you say you know about Zimbabwe’s new Constitution that was adopted in 2013, or haven’t you heard enough to say? [Read out options]

Not

hing

at a

ll

A litt

le b

it

A lo

t

A gr

eat d

eal

Don

't kn

ow 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

26%

51%

11%6% 6%

32%

46%

10%5% 7%

Urban Rural

Knowledge of the new constitution by gender

Question : How much would you say you know about Zimbabwe’s new Constitution that was adopted in 2013, or haven’t you heard enough to say? [Read out options]

Not

hing

at a

ll

A litt

le b

it

A lo

t

A gr

eat d

eal

Don

't kn

ow 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

25%

51%

13%7% 5%

35%

44%

8%4%

9%

Male Female

Suggested methods to make Zimbabweans knowledgeable of the new constitution

Question : In your view, which of the following would be the best way to enable more Zimbabweans to become knowledgeable about the country’s new constitution adopted in 2013? [Read out options. Accept only one response]

Translate into local language and make copies available to all Zimb-abweans

Have the Constitution read on radio and television

Publicize at public meetings by government bodies, CPSC, Ministry of Justice

Serialize it in newspapers

Have the Constitution read during religious gatherings

Don't know

Do Nothing

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

49%

19%

17%

6%

5%

3%

1%

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Aspects of the new Constitution Participants Want Implemented

• “They don’t want to decentralize to other centres. I will give you an example of passports; isn’t it that they are processed in Harare, so there is need for them to decentralize that service in all provinces so that there is limited travelling.” (Manicaland Female)

• “ I want the Government to implement the devolution of power. They should go around the country trying to survey what needs to be done so that they realise that devolution of power is necessary. Some provinces are more powerful than

the others and better developed. ” (Bulawayo Male)

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Aspects of the new Constitution Participants Want Implemented

Some participants advocated for the implementation of the provision of free health care and bemoaned the lack of adequate drugs in health facilities, particularly in the rural areas. They also complained about the long distances that patients, including pregnant women, walk to the nearest hospital or clinic.

• “….they also promised free health care but we are being asked to buy an injection if a child gets sick. We are being asked to buy medical drugs despite having paid for the treatment of the child, so there is no fulfilment of the people’s wishes.” (Harare Female)

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Aspects of the new constitution participants want implemented

• “…people will die at homes because of lack of money to get treatment yet they promised that people will get treatment free of charge.” (Harare Female)

• “….in Kotwa the hospitals do not have any facilities they refer you to Parirenyatwa or Murewa so you end up using a lot of money to get transport so to the referral hospital.” (Mashonaland East Male)

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Knowledge about the Declaration of Rights

A few participants who were knowledgeable about the Bill of Rights spoke of it as the most important provision of the new Constitution that the government has to implement.

• “There is a lot that I heard but what touched me most is Chapter 4 which talks about the fundamental rights and there is also something on the equality of opportunities between men and women are it at the workplace, on ownership of resources, and so on.”(Mashonaland West Female)

• “…from the rights that have been talked about, I see freedom of expression as the most

important one and they should implement that.”(Masvingo Male)

• “One of them is the right to life, yet we also realise that the same constitution states that

women cannot be sentenced to death while men can. This in itself is violation of the right to life. It was not done properly.”(Matabeleland South Female)

• “Political rights are important because they give me the right to challenge any government that may be in power in Zimbabwe at any given time. I should be able to criticize any policies that will be formulated and implanted without fear.”(Midlands Male)

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Participants’ most important rights

“In my view, freedom of expression and association are the most important. These rights will ensure that the government is accountable.” (Midlands Male)

• “I think the right to life is important because no person has the right to take another person’s life” (Midlands Male)

The issue of decentralisation was also a top priority among many participants. Some participants referred to the provincial councils that are provided for in the new Constitution and yet they have not been established. Participants criticised the current situation where most important services are offered only in Harare and people have to visit Harare to obtain these services

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• People do not need to travel to Harare to obtain a birth certificate” (Manicaland Male)

• “I want all the important offices in Harare to come to Bulawayo as well. It’s not good to board a bus all the time to Harare for every important document that you need (Bulawayo Male)

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Participants’ Most Important RightsThe subject of citizenship was also a popular idea with the participants.

Many of them bemoaned that the concept of being an “alien’ is still in force and many people are still being denied of certain rights because they are deemed to be not citizens, that is “aliens” despite the fact that the constitution clearly stipulates that everyone born in the country automatically becomes a citizen.

• “The constitution says if you are born in Zimbabwe you are automatically a full citizen but this has not yet been implemented. You still need to follow procedures and pay the $50 to be a citizen.” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “…if one is born of parents who are not of Zimbabwean origin then one is regarded as an alien and hence one has to renounce the country’s citizenship.. …if that is a human right then it should not be conditional; that person must not pay anything … there is no need for someone to pay if I was born in this country and they then say just because your parents are foreigners you have to pay such an amount for you to be recognized as a citizen.” (Midlands Female)

• “It is said that there are no aliens anymore but sometimes when one is applying for a passport they are told to first change their birth certificate so that they are considered “citizens” and they end up bribing officials to avoid a lengthy process just to get a passport…” (Mashonaland West Female)

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Participants’ Most Important RightsFGD participants also raised electoral issues as amongst the most important constitutional

issues that should be implemented. They emphasized the need for elections to be held every five years and for all political parties to be able to get the same opportunities to campaign using the media. The need for a maximum of two Presidential terms was very popular with the FGD participants.

• “Our leaders should have 2 terms in office and should not be life Presidents. We want them to give others a chance as it is written in the Constitution.”(Mashonaland West Female)

• “I want to talk about the issue of the two terms; that’s what I want to see implemented under the new Constitution. Any person who is elected President should not stay in power for good; if one serves his or her two terms then he or she should also hand over power to other people.” (Bulawayo Male)

• “I went there with the aim of saying that the President must not serve for more than two terms in office; something that I have talked about before; that for one to be President he or she must 40 years and above. We don’t want youths to lead us because that will create problems for us.” (Masvingo Male)

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Knowledge of the new Constitution

Many participants, especially in Masvingo, were however, not in a position to give their opinion on the provisions of the Constitution that need to be implemented. They professed ignorance of the document and what it entails, and thus could not contribute to the discussion. They blamed their ignorance on the fact that they were never consulted during the constitution making process and also never got a chance to peruse the final document when it came out.

• “I just heard that there is a new Constitution that had just been adopted, but I would lie if I say I really know what it is all about. I do not even know its colours, or where it starts from and where it is going.”(Masvingo Female)

• “It pains me to realize that I voted for something I do not know. If only I would get some knowledge of what is inside the document, I think I would feel better.” (Masvingo Male)

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Knowledge about the new Constitution • “Right now, it’s difficult for me to say this should be implemented

because I don’t know what is in the document. I don’t know what should be implemented. My wish is that if you know where to get it then you can help me by telling me what the provisions are.” (Masvingo Male)

• “In my view the drafting of the new Constitution was done mainly and excessively through political parties given that we are at school most of the times. As Zimbabwean youths or children of Zimbabwe we were never invited to draft the Constitution.” (Masvingo Male)

• “But even though we participated and contributed our ideas; we don’t know what happened thereafter. We don’t know the criterion they used to select some of the things; we only saw them telling us to vote ‘yes’ but we didn’t see if what they were telling us to vote ‘yes’ is what we had wanted included in the new Constitution.” (Masvingo Male)

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Participants’ knowledge about specific rights

Participants have heard about many of the rights included in the new Constitution. These include the freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of political participation, the right to life, freedom of expression, the right to privacy, the right to education, the right to health care, the right to food, the right for women to be employed, the right to identity, children’s rights, decent accommodation, freedom from arbitrary eviction, freedom to support the political party of one’s choice, right to clean water, prisoner’s rights, labour rights and women’s rights

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Perceptions of implementation of fundamental human rights

There was consensus among participants that they have not yet started enjoying their fundamental rights as defined by the new Constitution. Participants blamed the country’s poor governance system for the partial implementation of the Constitutional provisions.

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The right to food and water

The study revealed that most Zimbabweans have not yet started enjoying the right to food and water. Many participants admitted that food is readily available in shops but the problem is that they cannot afford to buy the food for themselves and their families. Participants also lamented the unavailability of consistent supplies of clean water especially in urban areas where some people have resorted to drinking water from unprotected wells and some even buy water from those who have sunk boreholes at their homes.

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The right to food and water

• “Indeed food is widely available in shops but because of the meagre salaries and the huge bills we have to pay, we are no longer able to buy enough food to last the whole month for our families.”(Harare Male)

“We have not started enjoying that right because in the rural areas many do not have access to clean water. Where I come from during the rainy season people drink water from the same streams where cattle drink water. So people are drinking dirty water.” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “We use water from unprotected wells and it is not very clean, sometimes donkeys leave their waste in the water. It’s not very practical for people to boil water because sometimes they will be coming from the field and they will be very tired.” (Masvingo Female)

• “Personally, I have not seen people benefiting from those rights; the right to food and water. I say so because sometimes I forced to eat the food that I don’t like because it the only food that is available. The first thing is that I am being forced to drink unclean water. But because I don’t have an option I just end up drinking.”(Midlands Male)

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The right to health care

Asked if they have started to enjoy the right to health care as stipulated by the Constitution, virtually all participants were in agreement that Zimbabweans have not yet started enjoying this right. Participants complained about the lack of medication in hospitals and clinics, and the long distances that patients have to travel to the nearest health facility especially in rural areas;

• “One problem is that the clinics are very far away from where we are staying. So even if health care is declared free, or if it becomes affordable, we still have the challenge of having to travel very long distances to get medical attention.”(Mashonaland Female)

• “On the issue of medical treatment, only those who have money are being treated. If you do not

have money you will just die without receiving any treatment and many are indeed dying.” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “Though the government is trying, it needs to do more. The sight of patients in government hospital such as Gweru General is pathetic. The machines being used to help patients are far below standard; the government is also failing to buy blankets for patients even during this winter season.”(Midlands Male)

• “Good health is needed, but they are putting priority on money instead of people’s health. We are required to part with money just to get a health card and before you even get the chance to tell them what your problem is. Therefore the right to health is not being upheld.”(Masvingo Female)

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The right to health care

Only a small number of participants had positive things to say about the health care systems in their areas.

• “As for me I think health care issues are still okay in my area because we have village health workers (vana mbuya hutsanana) who move around in the neighborhood to explain health related matters and again we are able to maintain hygiene.”(Masvingo Male)

• “If you look closely you will see that people that are HIV positive

are getting their ARVs for free even though the drugs are being brought in by non-governmental organizations instead of the government. The fact is that Zimbabweans are somehow getting help with health care. We commend that.”(Midlands Male)

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The right to education There was near consensus among participants that the right to education is

being enjoyed in Zimbabwe. However, a few participants pointed out that there are currently many setbacks to the enjoyment of this right, as education is very expensive and this disables some students to continue with their education.

• “I think education is one of the successes of Zimbabwe. We have always enjoyed the right to education.”(Harare Male)

• “The only children who are learning are those who go for extra lessons. For some of us we cannot afford the school fees and we cannot afford the extra lessons too. So our children go to school but there is no productive learning.”(Mashonaland East Female)

• “The right to an education is not yet for all. The constitution states that primary education should be free for all. The poor were happy thinking that the children would receive primary education for free but this is as yet to happen. No one is learning for free.”(Manicaland Male)

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Freedom from arbitrary evictionMost participants in the study were of the thinking that the right to “freedom from eviction” is

not yet being enjoyed in Zimbabwe.

• “I don’t think it exists in Zimbabwe. So many people were given residential stands before the election, but they were evicted just after the election. We saw Ranger vehicles coming to destroy their nicely built houses. So the right is not working.”(Bulawayo Male)

• This right of not to evicted is not working at all in Zimbabwe. They just made it and put in the cupboard. We see messengers of court daily bringing summons to the people for eviction order from the court, so it doesn’t work.” (Bulawayo Male)

• “What is happening is that if you decide to leave your field fallow for a season you may find a stranger who has come from as

far as Mutare using your field. The village heads are reallocating our fallow fields. Newly married couples are also being given our fallow fields. We are always in constant fear that our fallow fields will be reallocated.”(Mash East Female)

• “My grandfather is a village head in that area; they were just relocated and promised money. Up to this day they have not

received any money. Some are living miserable lives but have no option. They do not have decent accommodation because the Government did not fulfil its promise.” (Harare Male)

• “In as much as the people would have been settled illegally, but I think there is need for the government to come up with an alternative that if we evict these people then they will be accommodated at such a place.”(Midlands Female)

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Freedom from arbitrary evictionIn some areas of the country, participants indicated that some evictions

were politically motivated, with people being victimised for supporting opposition political parties. Some female participants also bemoaned the common practice that women should not possess land in their own right but have to be under their husbands and sons before they can get a piece of land to utilise.

• “A-a-h, I agree that this right is not being respected because I am one of the Marange victims. We were relocated from our Bocha area and we left our forefathers’ graves behind. We were chased away. We are now staying in the sandy area of Odzi. So I don’t think the right is being respected.”(Harare Male)

• “In our area if you have a bumper harvest and the village heads or chiefs suspect that your plot is fertile they may take it away from you and give it to their children.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “There are some big fish who can take advantage of their influence, who might just get

attracted to your land and grab it by force. I don’t think this right could ever work properly in Zimbabwe.” (Bulawayo Male)

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Freedom from arbitrary eviction• “Women, it is said, should not own pieces of lands. This

forces us to register pieces of land under the names of our sons, but what will happen to the girl child when we are gone?”(Matabeleland South Female)

A minority of participants were of the opinion that Zimbabweans are enjoying the freedom from eviction as they do not live in fear of eviction.

• “These days if you do your things according to the law, like properly buy your stand, build own house and then get your title deeds; I think nobody will come to evict you.”(Mashonaland West Male)

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Right to Personal SecurityJust like all the other rights, most participants in the study

indicated that they are not yet fully enjoying the right to personal security. Many participants pinpointed the police as an institution that is now known for harassing civilians instead of protecting them.

• “We live in a society where the police are given so much authority; more authority than us citizens. The police can do whatever they decide to do with you. They may accuse you falsely, convict and punish you in that street and nothing is done to address the injustice.”(Harare Male)

• “These days if you are beaten up by someone you can go and report and that person will be arrested and sentenced accordingly.”(Mashonaland West Male)

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Right to Personal Security• “There isn’t any personal security. The fact that you always live in fear of being

robbed if you get home after dark is evidence to this.”(Bulawayo Female)

• “I also don’t think we have started enjoying the right to personal security. It’s very risky walking at night. It has become scarier now after the amnesty that was granted recently. Criminals who had only started serving, some who had committed serious crime are on the loose.”(Bulawayo Female)

• That right is not practical in Zimbabwe because I was once thrown into jail cells when I had gone to report a case. I got to the camp and the police were wearing the ZANU-PF regalia and I had gone to report a case of being violated by ZANU-PF supporters. I ended up in the cells myself.”(Bulawayo Male)

• “….let’s say you have been robbed or that there has been a break in at your home, the police do not make follow ups especially if they know that there won’t be much financial gain from that, so personal security is not there.”(Midlands Female)

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The right to personal security

• “I think it’s the issue of money that is affecting all the other things in the sense that if you go to report a case in order to get some assistance, they will demand a bribe from you, so our right will also die a natural death because we don’t have the money for that.” (Midlands Female)

“We have people in South Africa who were granted asylums who are afraid of coming back to their own country for fear that they will be labelled sell-outs”(Matabeleland South Female)

• “There isn’t any security. We are all afraid of each other. We cannot speak freely about what we think because we do not know who the next person you are talking to is. You may say whatever you feel like saying yet your audience may twist things and accuse you of all kinds of crimes. Your security will be put at risk.” (Matabeleland South Female)

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Right to personal security

Another view that was held by some participants was that the personal security situation has vastly improved in Zimbabwe, particularly from the era of the GNU. These participants felt that since political parties were no longer at each other’s throat, personal security had also improved. Some also praised the justice system as having improved, thus ensuring that people feel more secure about themselves and their rights at a personal level.

• “In the past people used to get beaten up so much compared to now, these days we can move around with no fear.”(Harare Female)

• “I think that personal security is improving in the country because I think these days you can take your case to a court of law and can be assured of getting justice delivered.” (Midlands Male)

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The right to political rights

An overwhelming majority of participants were in agreement that Zimbabweans are not enjoying their political rights. Many participants indicated that they are living in fear politically and that they are not free to openly declare the political parties that they support.

• “We are yet to enjoy that right because of coercion in all things. We are being coerced to do things that we don’t want to; they are just telling us to do that against our will. We don’t have the power to reject that.” (Harare Female)

• “They said that if we voted for a party they did not want we would be evicted. Some of us had our own parties that we wanted to vote for but we were forced not to.” (Mashonaland West Female)

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• That is one right that one cannot exercise in Zimbabwe if they want to live in peace. For you to be secure make sure you are associated with the ruling party” (Manicaland Male)

• “I think the right to political affiliation only applies in countries like America, where there is still democracy being exercised with opposition parties co-existing. In Zimbabwe, the moment you want to join a political party other than the ruling party, someone is appointed by the state to victimize you.”(Manicaland Male)

• “We have not started enjoying political rights because we do not even

have the freedom to belong to political parties of our choice there are always people inhibiting us and forcing us to belong to parties we do not like, so we are not really free at the moment.”(Mashonaland West Female)

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• “There is no freedom to political participation here.

So many people have so many things to contribute to political parties but they cannot because there is no freedom.” (Bulawayo Male)

• “If one wants to derive maximum political benefits

from politics then one has to align with ZANU-PF whether one supports MDC or whatever, so aligning with ZANU-PF will ensure that things move on smoothly for you.”(Midlands Female)

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The right to political rightsHowever, a few participants were of the opinion that the right to political rights exist.

Some interpreted the right to vote as an indication that all is well in the category of political rights in Zimbabwe. Some also saw the ability for political parties to hold rallies as evidence of the existence of political rights in Zimbabwe;

• “I have the right to vote, I voted in the referendum, in the last harmonized elections so I think personally I am enjoying the right to political rights.”(Harare Male)

• “I think we are enjoying that right to some extent because I have noticed in the previous month in the media that many political parties are holding rallies.” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “I think that the people here in Zimbabwe have the right to participate in the

politics of the country. People are free to join political parties of their choice. Of course there are few incidents of ‘political intimidation and harassment’ associated with exercising one’s right to belong to a political party of own choice. Overall, I think people have that freedom.”(Midlands Male)

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Political vs. socio-economic rights

A majority of participants in the study were of the opinion that political rights are more important than socio-economic rights because they are the pillar that is necessary for socio-economic issues to be established. According to this group of participants, good leadership is the lifeline of the economy and social issues.

• “My opinion is that politics is the master science; it controls all spheres of life. Politics begins with legislation then determines policies like the indigenization policy and the like. So I think political rights are more critical than the rest of the rights will follow.”(Harare Male)

• “For a country to have a new government or anything for that matter, it all revolves around

politics. We need to first sort out the root of all things that is politics. Everything emanates from politics; politics is at the centre of everything. So if political issues are sorted first then everything will be fine.”(Mashonaland West Male)

• “….for there to be jobs or good education or hospitals the starting point is politics right from the top and that’s where Ministers who then plan what to do emerge from and the bottom will take shape.”(Manicaland Female)

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Political vs. Socio-Economic Rights

• “…..the political leader is the one who controls economic activities so if I can have political rights first then I can be able to get the energy to vote for either A or B and then I will be able to get everything; so political rights should come first.”(Masvingo Male)

• “I say political rights are critical because in order to enjoy these more important social rights like right to clean water, the politics should be ok…. If there is no political desire, then it does not matter how much effort people put in trying to claim their social rights.” (Midlands Male)

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A few participants shared the view that in any situation, survival comes first before politics. They argued that politics is not as important as the ability of people to survive and put food on their tables. Another few participants however, indicated that both political and socio-economic rights are equally important as they work hand in hand and complement each other.

• “Socio-economic rights are more important because they are the pivot of our life. These refer to things that we do on a daily basis; things that we do in order to get money, what we eat, the protection and where we live. So that is more important than political rights.” (Masvingo Male)

• “I think economic issues are more important because if the economy is good we do not care who is in power. We just want leaders to ensure that we have all we need. If we have good standards of living we are not bothered by who is in power, we won’t be bothered even if there is no one in power. “(Mashonaland East Female)

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• “I think social and economic rights are the ones most important because these affect our day-to-day livelihoods in the communities we live together.” (Midlands Male)

• “I want to say that socio-economic rights are more important because they form the base that enables someone to get shelter and for other things to happen and then I will be able to participate in politics.” (Midlands Male)

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People Speak on Government Performance

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Positive assessmentsAmong some of the positive assessments included, decrease in political

violence, alleviation of fear amongst people, scrapping of water and electricity bills in urban areas; children not being sent away for non-payment of school fees, scrapping of maternity fees at health institutions, distribution of agricultural inputs and exposure of corrupt activities:

• “They did fulfill their promise of scrapping water and electricity debts owed by the public…” (Manicaland Male)

• “ZANU-PF made some promises towards the elections saying that they were going to write off debts (residential and electricity bills) if we voted them into power and they fulfilled that; so that was positive.”(Manicaland Female)

• “The right thing that the Government did was to slash council debts for urban dwellers…the slashing of bills really helped us…” (Midlands Male)

• “ Firstly I see that they wrote off debts for example electricity and may be water bills…that was good for us because I was in arrears where I used to lodge and was a relieved man…”(Masvingo Male)

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Positive assessments

Government’s distribution of agricultural inputs (seed and fertilizer) to farmers after the July 2013 elections was also acknowledged by FGD participants as a positive step:

• “I am not sure if it was the party or not but we received fertilizer and

seed. We are grateful for that. Our lives have improved. We planted and harvested.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “...We got inputs like seed and fertilizer. They remembered us during the last farming season. People used the inputs and had bumper harvest. I am one of the people who benefited from free inputs…” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “I am not sure how they performed in other areas, but in my area they provided seed for everyone...all were provided with the seed regardless of which party they supported.” (Masvingo Female)

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Positive assessments

The fight against corruption also got thumbs up from a number of FGD participants:

• “I think the good thing that they have done so far is to expose the city council corruption. Those people were stealing money. At least now the country knows that there are people who steal so much money. Even though the culprits were not caught, the citizens now know what is happening.” (Harare Male)

• “I think the major thing they have done is close loopholes that enabled money to be stolen in parastatals. They pegged a ceiling for the salaries of Chief Executive Officers and Town Clerks at $6000. Of all the things they have done since the elections, this development was the best. They closed all the loopholes in parastatals like GMB, ZESA, PSMAS and others which I have not mentioned by name.” (Mashonaland West Male)

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Positive assessmentsA key issue raised by participants from Mashonaland

provinces (Mashonaland East and West) was that the ZANU-PF Government has managed to mitigate fear amongst people.

• “What I think has been done by ZANU-PF is that they have removed our fear in the communities where we live because we had become very vulnerable and unprotected but since ZANU-PF came into power we have seen the law taking its course so many people are now reporting when they are wronged.” (Mashonaland East Male)

• “Political violence has decreased but we still live in fear.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “Personally, I think the good thing they have done is maintaining peace in the country, there is no war or political violence. Political violence has decreased since ZANU PF won the elections. We are free and that is good.” (Mashonaland West Male)

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Among some of these things are: increase in school fees, removal of

teachers’ incentives, failure to implement policies that are well

formulated, no tangible results from the fight against corruption;

failure to fulfil election promises, lack of accountability, workers’

failure to get salaries on time, lack of development, corruption,

absence of rule of law.

• “Looking at the Government’s manifesto we were imagining that once they got into power we would all afford suits and some of us would be going to work. But what I see is that all the promises they made have not been fulfilled. I have not even noticed the impact of the diamonds. They told us that the diamonds would boost our economy but in actual fact things are getting worse.” (Harare Male)

• “The Government lied to us and that is bad…the Government promised us empowerment, employment and indigenization but they have done so little to achieve this. They have not even bothered themselves with employment creation; unemployment is still high in the country.” (Mashonaland West Male)

Negative Assessments

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None of the Harare and Matabeleland South female participants singled out any positive thing done by ZANU-PF after the July 2013 elections. While some FGD participants highlighted the positive things that the ZANU-PF Government had done post-2013 elections, it was interesting to note that some FGD participants (especially in Matabeleland) had a difficult time trying to point out positive things that had been achieved by the post GNU Government.

“I have not seen anything that they have done right since the elections of July 2013. Things are getting worse.” (Mashonaland West Female)

“I am still trying to figure out if there is anything that they actually fulfilled, I am not aware of anything that they fulfilled. Maybe there is. ” (Masvingo Female)


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• “They have promised so many people but haven’t fulfilled their promises...that they are going to create employment and factories are going to re-open, but instead, the factories are closing and people are left jobless.” (Bulawayo Male)

• “What I see as wrong are the promises that they made but have not fulfilled them, because the moment that you promise someone something then you raise that person’s hopes and one will be expectant; saying my future is bright but if you fail to meet those set targets then that becomes problematic. The elderly are still suffering; orphaned children are still suffering, so that makes us bitter.” (Midlands Female)

• Most of the things they used to campaign vanished into thin air. If you look at it they had started talking about rural electrification but that just vanished into thin air, and the things that were promised are not there now”. (Matabeleland South Male)

Negative assessments

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The issue of corruption is something that FGD participants spoke strongly against and there was a feeling that the current Government has not done much to combat the social vice:

• “The bad thing that the Government does is take its citizens as fools. On the issue of corruption, they played with our minds. They expose corrupt people but after two or three months nothing has been done. They play with our minds. We neglect our economy while focusing on corruption yet nothing is done to address the corruption…” (Harare Male)

• “Personally what I have seen when this Government came into power is

that there is too much corruption. There is no rule of law. If a person decides to go and seize a vehicle that will just happen without any action being taken against that person. There is too much corruption and it’s starting from the top. So even if a person is arrested no action will be taken because the person will simply bribe the police and the case dies a natural death. So corruption is stalling development in our country, the country is not going anywhere because this is too much.” (Harare Female)

Negative assessments

Key findings (November 2014)

■ Over two-thirds of adult Zimbabweans believe the level of corruption in the country has increased over the past year.

■ Government receives poor ratings in the fight against corruption and generally incidents of corruption are underreported because people fear possible consequences.

■ Zimbabweans generally feel helpless in terms of what they can offer in order to combat the social vice.

Perceptions of corruption over the past 12 months

Question : In your opinion, over the past year, has the level of corruption in this country increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

Perceptions of level of corruption by province

Question : In your opinion, over the past year, has the level of corruption in this country increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

Increased somewhat / Increased a lot

Stayed the same

Decreased somewhat /

decreased a lotDon't know Total

Harare 81% 9%8%

1% 100%

Bulawayo 76% 12%11%

1% 100%

Manicaland 75% 7%10%

8% 100%

Midlands 72% 11%12%

5% 100%

Mashonaland Central 72% 8%12%

7% 100%

Mashonaland East 65% 25%3%

6% 100%

Matabeleland South 59% 23%7%

11% 100%

Masvingo 60% 16%20%

4% 100%

Mashonaland West 55% 21%18%

6% 100%

Matabeleland North 33% 44%9%

14% 100%

Total 68% 16%11%

6% 100%

Ratings on government’s fight against corruption

Question : How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say: fighting corruption in government?

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Some participants expressed unhappiness over Government’s failure to fulfill their promise to award civil servants a salary increment. Closely interwoven with this was disappointment over failure to ensure that civil servants get their salaries as and when scheduled:

• “I want to say that they are not clear about pay dates for civil servants because they are being changed time and again.” (Masvingo Male)

• “The Government has been changing salary dates for civil

servants quite a lot…" (Bulawayo Female)

• “Civil servants were promised salary increments but up to now they are still complaining that their salaries haven’t been increased.” (Mashonaland East Female)


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The failure by the Government to repair roads and failure to provide adequate water, problems to obtain cash, maternity fees and drug shortages drew the ire of FGD participants:

• We were promised that roads would be refurbished but the roads still

have potholes. The bus fare from Murehwa to where I stay is too high because the road is bad. We are not happy about anything at the moment.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “…one bad thing they have done is that our councilors in the rural

areas promised that the roads were going to be refurbished. They said motor graders were going to be used to repair the roads. Right now if someone buys a new car and uses the roads he will have to replace the shocks after only a week. We don’t know what is going on; we don’t know what it will take to have the roads repaired. Soon the rainy season will be here and the roads will become worse. We were promised that the road would be repaired but this has not been done!” (Mashonaland West Male)


Fairly/very badly Fairly/very wellDon't know/Haven't heard enough

Total

Creating jobs 86 12 1 100Fighting corruption 80 17 3 100Narrowing income gaps 78 20 1 100Providing reliable electricity supply 77 19 5 100Improving living standards of the poor 77 22 1 100Maintaining roads and bridges 73 27 1 100Ensuring enough to eat 72 28 1 100Managing the economy 72 27 1 100Providing water and sanitation services 68 31 1 100Keeping prices down 55 44 1 100Improving basic health services 54 46 1 100Rreducing crime 50 49 1 100Addressing educational needs 47 53 1 100

Evaluation of the performance of the national government

Question: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say? [Interviewer: Probe for strength of opinion]


Evaluation of the performance of local government

Question: What about local government? I do not mean the national government. I mean your municipal or local government council. How well or badly would you say your local government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say? [Interviewer: Probe for strength of opinion]


Mai

ntai

ning

road

s

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

78%

64%

21%

29%

1%

7%

Don't know/Haven't heard enough Fairly Well/Very Well Fairly Badly/Very Badly

Local government – maintenance of roads by location & gender

Question: What about local government? I do not mean the national government. I mean your municipal or local government council. How well or badly would you say your local government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough about them to say? [Interviewer: Probe for strength of opinion]


Urb

an

Rura

l

Mal

e

Fem

ale

POR Gender

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

55%

42%

50%45%

27%33%

30% 32%

17%21%

18%21%

1% 2% 2% 2%1% 1%

Very Badly Fairly Badly Fairly WellVery Well Don't know/Haven't heard enough

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• “The issue of water on taps; we are getting water once or twice per week but in light of this irregularity where people are getting water once per week or per month they don’t even consider not billing the people for that, instead they continue to send water bills to residents yet residents are getting water once per week or month.” (Harare Female)

• “There is a problem of cash so I think the Government is not doing its best to ensure that there is a healthy flow of cash and they have also made education unaffordable and schools are deteriorating especially in the rural areas I am not sure about the towns but in rural areas children are no longer learning well so things have really worsened.” (Mashonaland West Female)

• “With regard to employment, youths can’t get jobs, they spend the whole day on the streets, water from the city council is a problem, we are not getting enough water and power supply from ZESA is not sufficient.” (Manicaland Female)


Incidence of lived poverty (Nov 2014)

Question : Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family; gone without...?

Food

Water Medical care

Cooking fuel

Cash income

Never 52 44 43 46 9

Just once or twice 19 17 24 16 14

At least several times 29 39 32 38 78

Don’t know - - 1 0 -

Total 100 100 100 100 100

Incidence of lived poverty by location

Question : Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family; gone without...?


Urban Rural

At least once(Just once or twice, Several times, many times & always)

Food 33 56

Medical care 52 59

Water 59 42

Cooking fuel 76 40

Cash income 86 94

Incidence of lived poverty by province

Question : Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family gone without...?

At least once (Just once or twice, Several times, many times & always)

Food Water Medical Care Cooking Fuel Cash IncomeHarare 35 83 58 83 94Bulawayo 36 59 39 84 68Midlands 37 55 65 51 91Mashonaland West 41 42 52 32 90Masvingo 51 58 56 49 95Manicaland 51 43 55 45 88Matabeleland North 56 29 43 13 100Mashonaland East 57 49 55 39 87Mashonaland Central 69 54 66 57 98Matabeleland South 69 58 71 68 100

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Proposed measures to bridge government’s performance gaps

• The need for change – “giving others a chance” was a popular response amongst a number of participants across all the 16 groups.

• “A, am thinking that there may need to change the leadership, they need to change the leadership and then start to change all the things that have been there and start on something new... ” (Harare female)

• “They should give another government a chance. A new government will bring new changes, if they fail then another government comes in.” (Mashonaland East female)

• “I think we should have a change of government so that we can see if there will be any difference with the new government we might get a better deal with it.” (Mashonaland West Female)

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Whilst many participants were clamouring for a change of government , a few felt that such a route might be blocked and hence the option that might be available is that of retaining the government but injecting new blood into the system. These participants felt that the youths can play a critical role in this respect:

• “I do not advocate for regime change but I think there is too much recycling in the government. We need to replace the old people with new ones.” (Harare male)

• “He should give a chance to the younger people to rule this country. He should encourage his whole train to resign and give the younger people a chance... ”(Mashonaland East male)

• “It seems as if the youths i.e. those up to 35 years as they say; are not being involved in decision making processes. We are not being heard. It seems as if these old men are sometimes bereft of ideas yet there are certain things that we know and have also learnt about; and can also contribute…” (Masvingo Male)

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Quite a big number of FGD participants were of the view that the Government needs to intensify the fight against corruption also in order to bridge the performance gaps.

• “Personally I see that they are failing; if they can manage to deal with issues of corruption which we see as the main thing that is ruining this country. So there is need for them to deal with the scourge of corruption because everyone is engaging in that… I think everything will be okay. ” (Masvingo Male)

• “There is need to eradicate corruption and again the leaders must be

removed so that there is new leadership in place. Again they also need to come up with new ideas so that we are able to survive…” (Masvingo Male)

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Proposed Measures to Bridge Government’s Performance Gaps

A large number of participants felt that some of these loopholes can be plugged through fulfilling the promises that the ZANU-PF Government made prior to the 2013 harmonised elections.

• “I think they should honour the promises they make to the people during the campaigns... ” (Mashonaland West Male)

• “They should quickly deliver their promises.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “I think ZANU-PF should give people the jobs that they promised...”

(Mashonaland West Female)

• “What about if they implement what they would have promised and stop

greediness and giving each other a chance, may be things will be good for us?” (Manicaland Female)

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A few participants spoke about the need for the Government to mend relations with other countries (particularly western nations) as a prerequisite to bridge the performance gaps.

• “The first and most important thing is to mend our relations with western countries. This

is important because the truth is that all the African countries that are developing it’s because they have good relations with western countries. It is said that three-quarters of the investors in South Africa are western investors. Here in Zimbabwe our three-quarters investors are the Chinese through the Look East policy. When we look at productivity, the western investors are much better than the eastern ones.” (Harare Male)

• “If there are countries that are willing to help us; then they should give such countries an

opportunity to do so; let them come in to assist.” (Harare Female)

• “... a bird cannot fly using one wing. The Government should not be self-centred; they should find investors from other countries. That is what will develop our country and regain its ‘bread-basket of Africa’ status.” (Mashonaland West Male)

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The need to come up with investor friendly policies was also mentioned by FGD participants as they came up with ways on how the Government can plug the current performance gaps:

• “Yes, I think the problem is not on looking to the west, the main problem in this country is on investments. If they could have policies governing investments I think our country will develop.” (Harare Male)

• “I think it needs to reverse the indigenisation programme. The country has been affected by capital flight ever since this policy was implemented. Investors are no longer interested in investing in this country. This is why there are high unemployment levels.” (Bulawayo Female)

• “...I think we need someone who shall attract investors in the country.” (Bulawayo male)

• “I was of the view that there is need for government to review some of its policies like the indigenization policy; these are some of the policies that have destroyed us. We are working but we are not different from youths who are doing nothing, we are not getting anything; the salaries that we are getting are below the PDL, so I think the government should review that. ” (Midlands Female)

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A few participants were of the view that consultation of the public is the panacea to the performance gaps that are evident in governance processes.

• They also need to listen to advice, even picking a person from the street and ask him or her about what needs to be done instead of just consulting amongst themselves there. They need to just pick people from the streets and let them speak out freely about what they want to see done and they should listen and act accordingly. ” (Harare Female)

• I think the Government should reduce the wide gap between the ordinary citizens and the ‘ruling elite’.... I think the government should come back to the people and find out our grievances. When they go back to their offices they should then plan and implement projects. They should not just have meetings in their offices and discuss matters when they do not know what is happening on the ground. ” (Mashonaland West Male)

• I think there is need for them to go back to the people and ask them if they are happy with

whatever they are doing but the problem is that once they are in positions they don’t care about those people who elected them into power and they will simply do whatever they want and continue to put in place their own policies oblivious of what the people want... ” (Midlands Female)

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A few FGD participants believe that a governance institutional framework like the GNU could cover up for the performance gaps that currently exist. For example a female participant from Manicaland was of the opinion that; ‘things would move on if we were to return to the Government of National Unity. A male participant from Mashonaland East province was of the view that there is need for President Mugabe to intervene in some situations while another participant from the same province felt that there should be an age limit for the MPs who should not ‘contest for such positions once they reach the retirement age.’ Yet other infrequent suggestions proffered by FGD participants included the need to ‘bring back former industry leaders’ (Mashonaland West Male); and devolution of power to different authorities. A female participant from Bulawayo emphasised on the need for the Government to devolve power:

• “One of the most repeated calls during the constitutional outreach meetings was the fact that power should be devolved to different localities. The Government needs to implement this so that each province administers its own resources. Lupane has gas, the gas should be used to develop Lupane, those with diamonds should use them to develop their areas and those with nothing should then be assisted.”

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• The need to delineate the party from the Government was also mentioned. A few participants felt that things can improve if there is a clear distinction between the Government and the ruling party.

• “I think there is need for the Government to depoliticize things, there should be a difference between ZANU-PF as a party on its own and government as a standalone organ and an institution which looks after the people’s interests, so the government must stand alone because you will discover that it will persist to parrot ZANU-PF interests if such politicization continues to exist. And that’s one thing that we have always known as we were growing up, so whenever there is mention of government I think about Mugabe, I also think about ZANU-PF, so there should be some difference in my opinion and government must be independent of the party. ” (Midlands Female)

• “I think the Government should teach all the top guys in our constituencies so that they can come back to us so that we are able to present our grievances to them so that they can get to the very top because in most cases the last time that we see our MP is during the campaign period; so our grievances will never get there. So in my view Government should help MPs so that they know what we want as well as what our expectations are. ” (Masvingo Male)

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For some participants the only option left is to surrender everything in the hands of God:

• “Of course things can change but the first thing should be to put everything before God because as it is things cannot change on their own in Zimbabwe. There is need for the whole country to unite and pray for the leadership so that things can change, because as it is we can do everything on our own or do whatever but things will not change.”(Manicaland Females)

• “No! We are now trusting in God only. I don’t think we still have another plan.” (Matabeleland South Male)

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PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

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Awareness of Parliament of Zimbabwe

Generally, most of the participants had heard about the Parliament of Zimbabwe. However, though the participants had heard about the Parliament of Zimbabwe, most were quick to point out that they were not aware of what happens in that house.

• “I have heard about that; I don’t know much about that.” (Manicaland

female)

• “Yes I have heard, but what they will be discussing on, or what comes out,

I don’t know.” (Bulawayo male)

• [All at once] “We have heard about it but we don’t know what they do. We

don’t know.” (Midlands females)

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Access to hansard reports (parliamentary debates)

Most of the participants from the FGDs indicated that they do not have access to reports on Parliamentary Debates (Hansard reports). Rather information about what happens in Parliament reaches the people through their elected Member of Parliament (MP) and traditional leaders such as the village head. The excerpts below also suggest that the participants do not only lack access to the reports, but that some of them have never heard of the (Hansard reports).

“I have not seen any of the documents and I am not even aware of what transpires in Parliament. I only know that it is in Harare so we only know the members of Parliament who come to us and they sometimes tell us what happens in Parliament but they usually come towards elections when they want our votes ---” (Mashonaland East male)

“We don’t know about those reports; we only hear about the word ‘Parliament’ but don’t know what happens there.” (Harare female)

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“We don’t have access to these reports, whatever we know about what happens in Parliament comes through the village head; we have no personal access to the reports at all.” (Mashonaland East, Male)

The very few individuals, especially in Midlands, that indicated that they have access to the Hansard reports said that they do so through the local Constituency Centers.

• “We get them from the Constituency Center in our area. I think the Hansard reports are available for all. Parliament prints those documents as minutes to show what transpired in parliament on the days they sat, what was discussed, what was said and who said it.” (Midlands Male)

• “There was an information center at Mkoba hall and that’s where we used

to get information there, but they have since left, I don’t where they went.” (Midlands Female)

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Access to the MP to Raise an Issue

FGD findings indicated that FGD participants do not have access to their MPs when they need to raise an issue at a local level. The following quotations are evidence to this observation.

• “To tell you the truth; these people are not accessible except during the

campaign period when they will be looking for our votes; that’s the only time that you see them; not when they have won the elections; it’s a lie, you won’t see them. To say the truth I have never seen my MP after elections.” (Harare female)

• “We hardly have access to our MP. Even when we happen to have a meeting

where the MP is supposed to address the people, we are often addressed by someone representing the MP. The MP does not even come to address the people but the representatives. He came during the period of campaigns and gave us lots of T-shirts to wear. After winning the elections, it has become very difficult to see him in the area.” (Mashonaland East female)

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Views on the public’s ability to hold their MPs accountable

Participants expressed the view that Zimbabweans do not have the power to hold their Member of Parliament accountable. The reasons given were that that people do not know how to go about it and that it is difficult to arrange meetings with the MPs and therefore follow what the MPs are doing in order to hold them accountable.

• “I think the public has the power to hold the MP accountable but if you do not

know that you have that power then you cannot use it. People should be educated on this.” (Harare Male)

• “--- for one to call him right now and request to meet with him and discuss something that has gone wrong in the community he will tell you he has no time for you” (Matabeleland South Male)

• “I think we the people do not know how to approach our MPs or any other avenue of getting our views to him. That is our problem; we do not know who to give our reports to.” (Mashonaland West Female)

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Citizens’ Views on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)

Two major observations were made; firstly, that the people did not have knowledge about the CDF.

• “Personally, I did not know that there was such a fund and the MPs are given such money” (Mashonaland East female)

• “We have never heard about the Constituency Development Fund” (Matabeleland

South Female)

The second finding is that the few participants who had heard about the fund strongly felt that the CDF was not useful.

• “These funds are problematic; we actually had to hear about this fund through the grapevine that the MP was allocated some certain amount of money but there is nothing to show for that ---” (Harare Female)

• “We have not seen where they have worked. We keep hearing that such funds were

availed but we do not know how they were used.” (Mashonaland East Male)

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Views on the Constituency Information Centre

Except for a few participants from Manicaland males group, Midlands, Bulawayo and Masvingo males, the majority did not know about the existence of Constituency Information Centre. Participants openly acknowledged that they were hearing about the Centre for the first time in the FGDs.

• “I too did not know that such a Centre existed so I was thinking that maybe they do not want the public to know about the office.” (Harare Male)

• “We don’t have knowledge about them, this is the first time we have heard

about these centers.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “We don’t know where it is. It’s not there. Our only form of communication

is the vehicle, once you see it; then you know that the MP was once here.” (Manicaland Female)

• “This is my first time to hear about the information centre here.”

(Masvingo Male)

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Assessmen t o f th e R o l e o f th e P a rl ia men t o f Zimb a b w e

The general thinking among FGD participants is that the parliament is no playing its role of ensuring transparency and openness of executive activities. Reasons given by participants in support of their views varied but the major ones include the issue of widespread corruption, control of Parliament by ZANU-PF and the powerful Executive perceived to dictate things for the Parliament. Those that perceive Parliament to be powerless argue that it exists merely to rubberstamp decisions made by the Executive.

• “I think things are not well because it appears the cabinet has more power than

the legislature. Our Parliament has been reduced to a mere rubberstamp for whatever the executive does --- the issue is that they listen to the President and his Cabinet members; that’s all there is. Even the Cabinet members all they do is attend meetings, get their allowance and go back.” (Harare Male)

• “I think that the Cabinet is more powerful that the Parliament in Zimbabwe. I

therefore think the Parliament will not be able to monitor the work of the foreman.” (Mashonaland West Male)

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The influence of ZANU-PF in the decisions made by Parliament was a persistent theme across the discussions. The participants who held this view seem to think that ZANU-PF Parliamentarians always act in a partisan way to protect each other instead of ensuring transparency and openness of Executive activities.

• “We are talking about ZANU-PF here so as long as it is ZANU-PF

we know that the comrades will always stick for each other, so I do not think any effective monitoring will take place. ZANU-PF has always been corrupt and this will never change so it’s difficult for any one of them to be monitoring his fellow colleague. So they just share the loot amongst themselves.” (Mashonaland East Male)

• “I think this state has been ‘militarised’ and ‘ZANU-fication’ is the

problem. One is at risk of being an enemy of the state if they stand up in Parliament and point out that something has been done wrongly ---” (Harare Male)

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Though with varying eminence, corruption came out persistently across all the discussions on the role of Parliament. It was considered a critical factor militating against Parliament’s ability to ensure transparency and openness of executive activities.

• “--- they are not working; they are the ones who are engaging in corruption. You

can’t expect your child to be a pastor when you are a thief.” (Manicaland Female)

• “We think that the Parliament cannot do anything because the issue of corruption

starts at the top; starts with the executive in the government. So the Parliament does not have the power ensure transparency and openness of the executive’s activities.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “In my view there is a lot of corruption in Parliament so there is need for an

overhaul if things are to move smoothly, because they have been stealing money from long back.” (Masvingo Male)

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Participants in all the FGDs also gave their opinions on the role of the Parliament of Zimbabwe in terms of scrutinizing whether the government’s policies have been implemented and whether they are having the desired impact. The major findings are that (a) participants did not have enough knowledge to provide an informed assessment and (b) those who knew believe that the Parliament was failing to hold the executive branch accountable.

• “In my opinion, the Executive is in control; no decision can be made in Parliament

without having come from above. ---. So I don’t think the Parliament can do nothing about the Executive.” (Harare Male)

A few other groups also argued that there is no difference between the Executive and Parliament since same individuals are found at both levels. Again, the issue of corruption rears up its ugly head.

• “The Parliament and the executive is one and the same thing. Those who are in the executive either hold constituencies in Parliament or are ministers ---” (Harare Male)

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Participants’ opinions were also sought on the performance of Parliament in terms of providing financial accountability. The common position was that Parliament is failing to provide financial accountability. Again, participants think that Parliament cannot effectively play this role as long as Parliamentarians are corrupt themselves.

• “I think they are not providing any oversight because they are

looking at feeding themselves so that they improve their own lives.” (Matabeleland South Male)

• “This Parliament is not doing anything because the people who are

in Parliament are the same people who are abusing funds, so you can’t carry out an audit of the funds you are abusing ---” (Masvingo Male)

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For some participants, the fact that they have not yet seen evidence on the ground of what the Parliament has done means that it has failed to deliver the required results.

• “I have not seen anything that they are doing, everything is

just difficult.” (Manicaland Female)

• “Nothing is being done by the Parliament. The diamond

companies in Chiadzwa are said to have donated fifty thousand dollars to the people of Marange but the MP of that area is said to have diverted that money into his child’s account. The issue was talked about but nothing was done to him and the money was never recovered.” (Manicaland Male)

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However, a number of participants indicated that they did not have enough knowledge about the role of the parliament to give an informed opinion.

• “I’d say it’s difficult for us to really know or say what is happening in the cabinet or Parliament because we do not know what happens there.” (Mashonaland West Female)

• “Some of us know virtually nothing about the operations of the

Parliament. We would kindly request the MP to personally come to us instead of sending the village head to talk to us on their behalf.” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “My knowledge is very limited on that issue.” (Mashonaland East Male)

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Participants’ views were also sought on the role of the Parliament in protecting the rights of citizens by monitoring policies and examining potential abuses of power, arbitrary behavior, and illegal or unconstitutional conduct by government. The common position among participants was that Parliament has utterly failed in this regard. Many reasons were proffered in support of this position and these varied across provinces. But the major ones are the selective application of the law by the law enforcement agents and rampart corruption that is believed to have affected even the Parliamentarians themselves. Most of the participants who cited the selective application of law as a sign that the Parliament has failed were of the opinion that ZANU-PF party sympathizers, compared to others, are treated as if they are above the law.

• “... the rule of law is applied in accordance with who is involved. If it involves a person like me then the law will be used but that will not be the case with the big guys ...” (Masvingo Male)

• “The rule of law depends on whose home you are coming from, if you are coming from

the MDC, the law really takes its course as it is supposed to, but if you are coming from ZANU-PF it’s a different story…” (Manicaland Male)

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Another frequently cited reason associated with Parliament’s failure to deliver on its role to ensure the upholding of the rule of law is, again, the issue of corruption:

• “I agree with what is being said by the other speakers because I don’t think the Parliament is doing its job well. The corruption we are talking about starts with them so they will not be able to deal with it” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “I don’t think they are playing their role because there are cases whereby some people say they bribed the judge presiding over a case. So I don’t think they are playing their oversight role” (Mashonaland East Female)

• “I think that Parliament is not doing its job in terms of ensuring that the

rule of law is upheld especially if we consider what the police force has become of. The police force is so corrupt that all they are thinking about is how to raise money through bribes…” (Mashonaland East Female)

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Key Issues from the Study

There were mixed views among participants regarding assessment of their circumstances as of June 2014 in comparison with the period before the July 2013 elections.

Participants’ assessments can be categorized into two groups of positive and negative evaluations with most of the assessments falling into the latter. A small third category of FGD participants said they did not see any change in their lives after the termination of the Government of National Unity.

Most participants in 13 out of the 16 FGD groups said things were now worse as compared to the period prior to the July 2013 elections.

Government’s policies of scrapping water and electricity bills were a major relief to many urban participants in Zimbabwe. This was also listed as the most important achievement by the ZANU-PF Government after the July 2013 elections.

Study shows that the Government of Zimbabwe still has a lot of work to do to fulfil the expectations of Zimbabweans.

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Key Issues from the Study FGD participants suggested a number of interventions to bridge the current

performance gaps. Many participants were aware of the existence of the new Constitution (adopted in

May 2013), but very few of them were knowledgeable about the actual contents of the document.

Although participants were aware of the specific rights that apply to them, they said they had not yet started enjoying these rights in practice.

Although a majority of participants were aware of the existence of Parliament, virtually none of them had knowledge of what transpires in this House.

Participants indicated that there is very little access to local Members of Parliament (MPs)

Study showed that there was very little knowledge of the now defunct Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Constituency Information Centres (CICs) among participants.

There was consensus among FGD participants that the Parliament of Zimbabwe has failed to deal with the Executive in ensuring transparency and openness of executive activities, holding the executive accountable of its actions, providing financial accountability and upholding the rule of law.

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Recommendations

• The Government should devise strategies (for example putting in place relevant and efficient mechanisms for development of human capabilities and appropriate social safety nets) to mitigate the impacts of some policies that have produced negative consequences for the welfare of the citizens.

• Government should demonstrate sustained political commitment to curb rampant culture of corruption in both the public and private sectors but more on the former where it has become a way of life. Not doing so will result in citizens losing much of whatever trust they still have in political leaders and institutions.

• The Government, working with other stakeholders like civil society, must embark on nation-wide public education aimed at raising awareness of the provision of the new Constitution, particularly on the Declaration of Rights.

• The Parliament of Zimbabwe should make itself more relevant to the public by scaling up its engagement and that of the MPs with the public and constituencies. In particular, there is need to ensure that parliamentary debates reach the public which is apparently interested in what is happening in Parliament.

• The Parliament of Zimbabwe through its various Parliamentary Portfolio Committees should do more to call its sister branch of Government – the Executive – to account.

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The End & Thank You

Mass Public Opinion Institute 64 Denbigh Avenue Belvedere Harare Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Findings Zimbabwe Post-2013 Elections: A Retreat into Public.

Documents

qualitative study

fgd participants

fgd study methodology

quantitative study

new constitution

female participants

participation rights

citizens views