Let’s push Zimbabwe to join Open Government Partnership
Transparency International Zimbabwe director Tafadzwa Chikumbu says citizens must use every available opportunity to push the government to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
In 2011, government leaders and civil society advocates came together to create a unique partnership—one that combines these powerful forces to promote transparent, participatory, inclusive, and accountable governance.
The partnership brings together government and civil society organizations to create reforms to open up governments and better respond to citizens needs.
In this process, governments and civil society co-create two-year action plans, with concrete steps—commitments—across a broad range of issues.
This model allows civil society organizations to help shape and oversee governments among other things.
The Zimbabwe government which has been found wanting in terms of availing important information to its citizens is currently not a member of the OGP.
Lack of openness in government processes has resulted in some people taking advantage to loot public funds.
According to the Auditor General’s special report, goods and resources that were earmarked to help in responding to Covid-19 were looted.
The looted resources include donations from such organisations as the World Food Program among others.
Besides the Covid-19 resources, resources that were meant for Cyclone Idai victims also fell victim to looting, while others were left to rot and expire while in warehouses.
Zimbabwe received various donations for the Covid-19 and Cyclone Idai response, but there has not been any distribution matrix that was published by the government.
Speaking during a Twitter Spaces that was held to commemorate the Open Government Week which is running from the 16th to the 20th of May, the TIZ director said it was sad that Zimbabwe is dragging to join transparency initiatives.
Listen to the Twitter Spaces Here:https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1MYGNnyjdVVGw?s=20
‘’We a government that does not want to join the Open Government Partnership with the government that does not want to join the extractive industry Transparency initiative, we have a government that does not want to be involved in any framework that fosters transparency, accountability, and integrity for one reason or the other.
‘’But I do think that with our collective voice we should be able to bring the government to order and ensure that they either join these initiatives or implement the transparency, accountability, and integrity principles within our own frameworks and ensure that the sanctions are actually employed or are implemented especially for those that abuse our public resources,’’ he said.
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) includes 77 countries and 106 local governments – representing more than two billion people – and thousands of civil society organizations
Let’s push Zimbabwe to join Open Government Partnership
