Global Zimbabwe ForumCo-ordinator’s Third Visit to Zimbabwe
5-9th May 2009
Summary Report
Introduction
The International Co-ordinator of the Global Zimbabwe Forum, Daniel Molokele, recently travelled to Harare between 5th and 9th May 2009. The trip was his third working visit to Zimbabwe in the past few months.
The previous visits were conducted in October 2008 and March 2009.During the latest visit to Zimbabwe, the Co-ordinator managed to achieve the following feats among others:
1. NANGO Consultation Conference
On Tuesday 5th May the Co-ordinator joined over 100 national leaders and directors of the Zimbabwean civil society movement at the rainbow Towers hotel in Harare. The conference was organized under the auspices of the national umbrella network, NANGO. Its main agenda was to have a public consultation process on the various topical issues such as the constitutional making and the national healing (transitional justice) processes. At the end of the day, the conference adopted several resolutions as part of the way forward.
2. Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Information
Also on the same day, the Co-ordinator held a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, the honourable Jameson Timba at his office at the Mhunumutapa government offices.The minister issued a personal invitation for the Co-ordinator to attend the Zimbabwe Media Conference that was due to be held at Kariba between 6th and 9th May 2009. Unfortunately, the Co-ordinator ended up not travelling to Kariba due to the protest around the detention of some journalists and activists during that week.
3. Meeting With the IOM Zimbabwe Director
On 6th May, the Co-ordinator held a meeting in Avondale at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) head office with the Country Director. The meeting reviewed the outcome of the joint GZF-IOM consultation workshop that was held in Johannesburg on 4th May. The two organizations are in the process of developing a partnership that will enable them to conduct an international outreach to consult various Zimbabwean communities in the Diaspora on the way forward in the aftermath of the set up of the all-inclusive government in Zimbabwe.
4. Meeting With Air Zimbabwe Management
Also on the 6th May, the Co-ordinator was invited by the Chief Executive Office of the national airline, Air Zimbabwe, to address a special meeting of the national airline’s top executives.Thereafter the Co-ordinator held a separate meeting with the Air Zimbabwe marketing and advertising management team at the airline’s head office at the Harare International Airport. The GZF and Air Zimbabwe are in the process of negotiating for a partnership to help re-launch the national airline within the Zimbabwe Diaspora community.
5. Private-Public Partnership Conference
On 7th May the Co-ordinator attended the opening ceremony of the Public-Private Partnership national conference that was held at the Monomotapa Crowne Plaza hotel. The event was hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister and had a very impressive attendance from several cabinet ministers, various public/state institutions, municipalities and captains of industry. The key note address was given by the guest of honour at the event, the honourable Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, honourable Morgan Tsvangirai.
6. Proposed Ministerial Tour to the Diaspora
Also on the 7th May, the Co-ordinator held a meeting with the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, the honourable Gorden Moyo. The Office of the Prime Minister has mandated the GZF to help it conduct a public outreach by several cabinet ministers to meet various Zimbabwean communities across the Diaspora. If all goes well, the international tour will be conducted in July 2009 to such cities as Johannesburg and London, among others.
7. Setting up of GZF Zimbabwe Contact Office
However, the most far reaching outcome of the latest visit by the Co-ordinator to Zimbabwe was the consolidation of the plans to set up an administrative contact office for the GZF in Zimbabwe. Two separate offices will be opened in Harare and Bulawayo this month to help the Diaspora have a strong presence in the country. The GZF has already appointed a National Co-ordinator and an Administrator for the Harare office and is in the process of finalizing on similar appointments for the Bulawayo office. Six prominent leaders of the Zimbabwean NGO community have agreed to act as national advisors to the GZF Contact office.
Conclusion
It is therefore submitted in conclusion that the latest visit to Zimbabwe by the Co-ordinator was a resounding success. The GZF and the Diaspora community stands to further benefit from the various outcomes derived from this visit especially that of the set up of the national contact office in Zimbabwe.
