Programmes

Citizen participation and accountability for social cohesion

Objective 1

Objective 1: Citizens including marginalised groups are empowered to address justice and peace issues affecting them through constructive peace building approaches

Objective 2

Objective 2: Duty bearers and decision makers are responsive, transparent and accountable to the community needs

Objective 3

Objective 3: Strengthening the capacity of CCJP-M secretariat and its structures in advocacy, documentation and publication of human rights violations

Strategic objective 1: Enhanced capacity of ZHOCD partners, women, youth and PWD, to monitor implementation of the devolution process.

Strategic objective 2: ZHOCD partners, women, youth, PWDs undertake joint action for improved accountability and transparency at district, provincial and national levels.

Area of implementation: Mutasa ward 18,21, 22, 24 and 27

Traditional leaders indaba in Vumba

Traditional leaders refresher training on traditional leaders act

Closing session by the local village head in Mutasa ward 19 after the legal education campaign

A group photo after the citizen duty bearer engagement session in Makoni District

People with disability voice forum in Mutare rural ward 18 in collaboration with Tariro foundation.

Stories of Change

 Women taking action to promote access to health care

District: Mutasa District

Ward: Ward 13

Duty bearer engaged: Local Council

Mutasa ward 13 community members had difficulties in quickly accessing the nearest health care centre. Citizens with non-critical health conditions would travel more than 17 km to and from St Barbaras mission, which was the only mission hospital in the ward. In addition, they could travel longer to St David’s Bonda Mission Hospital, another health facility in the district. Some sick people had to hire cars to get to the clinic or stayed at home until they recovered. Maternal and child health care services were equally affected and unplanned home births were high.

There was a need for a clinic to serve five (5) villages namely Magadzire, Nyasvimbo, Nyamurundira, Mupatsi and Dirorimwe. Building a healthcare facility was on the ward development plans. The community mobilised resources, including devolution funds from the government, and constructed the clinic. However, the clinic could not be opened due to the absence of medical equipment.

In 2024, CCJP-Mutare, an organisation in the Human Rights Consortium, facilitated Women Voice Forums in the ward, prompting the women to raise the issue of the non-functional health centre in their community. The women agreed to approach the local councillor for the issues to be addressed.

It took a short period for the equipment to be purchased and for the clinic to be opened. Pregnant women can now deliver at the clinic, although there are no houses for nurses to stay in and plans to construct a mother’s shelter are still in progress. The right to human life is now being protected. In a focus group discussion conducted in December 2024 the women who spearheaded the process said, “We are glad that as women we can stand for our rights, and the rights of other women, which was something that we struggled to do alone. In most cases we would want a male counterpart to accompany us”. Another woman said, “Due to CCJP [Mutare] interventions our eyes were opened, and we are able to stand for ourselves”.

The Human Rights Project continues to ensure that women can advocate, demand and defend their rights through engaging relevant duty bearers.