BY STAFF REPORTER 

Media and arts experts have called upon Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) to strengthen colloborations with artists and journalists in packaging development information for effective advocacy for improved citizens livelihood and open societies.

Speaking at the African Philanthropy Network APN Assembly running from the 4th – 8th of November in Victoria Falls, the arts and media experts bemoaned how the various sects have been worked in silos to the detriment of civic engagement and citizens participation in development work.

The APN Assembly has brought together over 200 delegates drawn from at least 20 countries as a platform to explore innovative Pan-African ideas that address the economic inequalities, social injustices and environmental concerns that confront the continent.

APN researcher and Tanzanian based journalist Karen Chalamilla said that CSOs, media practitioners and artists need to see value in each other.

“The crux of the matter is that CSOs, media and artists need to see value in each other’s work. These three parties share a lot in common in the work that they do in inspiring change,” said Chalamilla.

“Artists have the capacity to reach wider audiences that CSOs cannot ordinarily reach while the media have the necessary skills to harness information and use various mediums to prompt actions that bring about change.”

Prominent Zimbabwean artist Chirikure Chirikure said that there’s scope for artists and CSOs to forge partnerships that amplify developmental messages.

“Artists need to be equipped to understand the work of CSOs beyond just being commissioned to do one or two songs or to produce artistic works that are not sustainable,” he said.

“Philanthropy institutions need to include the media and artists in the formulation of their programs such that art practitioners can mainstream development work as part of their craft.”

Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) Programs Manager Nigel Nyamutumbu said that the synergies between artists, CSOs and the media must consider the operating environment for journalists and advocacy for strengthening the media for accountability has to be amplified.

“For the media to effectively play its role of holding power accountable, informing society and as a conduit for the enjoyment of free expression, stakeholders in the civic society and artists need to be mobilized to advocate for an improved policy environment for the media,” said Nyamutumbu.

“The media on the other hand must appreciate the concerns of CSOs and capacitated to articulate developmental issues and to amplify the work of artists.”

The APN is running under the theme “Collective freedom from collective struggle” and has among the dignatries top government officials including Arts, Sports and Culture Secretary Nicholas Moyo, veteran film director and producer Daves Guzha and prominent civic society activist Brian Kagoro.

BY STAFF REPORTER 

1 November 2024

The Zambezi River Authority has issued an update on the water levels at the Kariba lake, revealing a sharp decrease due to low inflow.

The current lake level stands at 476.14m, a significant drop from last year’s level of 478.07m.

The usable live storage volume has also decreased dramatically, from 17.90% in 2023 to just 4.46%.

This translates to a reduction from 11.59 billion cubic meters (BCM) to 2.89 BCM, a worrying trend for power generation and water supply between Zimbabwe and Zambia

BY NOTHANDO DUBE & NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Educators in Zimbabwe have been crying out for decent salaries for over five years, with their salaries eroded by the high cost of living and harsh economic conditions.

We recently had a one-on-one interview with the ZIMTA president, Akuneni Maphosa, who shared his insights on the issue.

“Allow me to explain briefly about salaries for heads and teachers generally. Our issue is that, in October 2018, teachers were generally getting a US$540 salary. Such that, we put it across to the government that they stole from us, because, with the mix-up that came with the RTGS currency, whereby 1 US dollar was said to be equivalent to 1 RTGS, that is where we lost our value for money.”

Maphosa emphasized that ZIMTA has a research department that tracks the market and determines the minimum salary required for teachers to survive.

“We found out that a teacher must earn US$1 200, but what we wrote to the government, looking at the average figure, considering that we still have not reached US$540 of 2018, we submitted US$840 to National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), where we negotiate with the government on salaries.”

He highlighted the shortfall in the recent US$40 increment offered by the government.

“When you look at the amount of the US$40, we were given recently, as we know that our salaries have a component of US dollars and Zim dollars, but when we look at it from the US dollar value, our entry grade is US$479, such that there is a shortfall of US$361 for us to get to the US$840, that is for grade D1.”

Maphosa stressed that ZIMTA is pushing for quarterly reviews to reach the desired salary.

“We are saying the government should have quarterly reviews of these salaries.”

He outlined ZIMTA’s three-pronged approach to address the issue: negotiating at NJNC level, pursuing job evaluation, and professionalizing the teaching service.

“We believe that this is the route that will enhance the earnings for the educators in the country.”

Additionally, Maphosa mentioned that ZIMTA is also pushing for the establishment of a Civil Service Bargaining Council, which would allow for collective bargaining and binding agreements with the government.

“We are currently working with the government and Public Service Commission to ensure that this is put in place.”

Maphosa concluded by emphasizing ZIMTA’s commitment to engaging with the government.