adminElita Chikwati in Kadoma
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development is reviewing the draft Community Development Policy by factoring in the new dispensation’s thrust with a focus on devolution, community resilience to climate change, disaster risk management, attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and National Vision 2030.
Developmental agencies and partners have also been urged to take people on board when formulating the policy so that there can be a buy in from the intended beneficiaries and for the success of programmes and projects.
This came out at a validation workshop of the draft community development policy organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).
The workshop which was held in Kadoma last week was attended by representatives from Government ministries and departments, traditional leadership and parliamentarians among others. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development developed a draft community development policy after extensive stakeholder consultations in 2016 and was submitted to Cabinet for validation.
The committee made some critical observations that required to be incorporated into the draft before Cabinet approval was sought.
In 2018 it was discovered that a number of developments had taken place since the last draft was completed and this has seen a review of the document to take on board the new dispensation’s thrust with a focus on devolution, community resilience to climate change, disaster risk management, attainment of SDGs, and National Vison 2030.
The Community Development Policy is now expected to proffer strategies that contribute towards ending poverty, creating employment and sustainably utilisation of resources for the present and future generation.
The draft policy is expected to be complete by December 2020.
Officially opening the workshop, secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mr Melusi Matshiya said community development policy affected people’s lives and therefore there was need to involve people and let them define their own problems and possible solutions.
He said there was need for those reviewing the draft community development policy to be guided by the Constitution and the current development strategy, the national development plan for 2021 and Vision 2030 of having an upper middle income by 2030.
“Community development is a process where community members come together to take collective action and to generate solutions to common problems.
“Community development has been top to bottom approach but we would want to see bottom up approach. We will start at ward level. This is an area where I expect people involvement, there should be inclusivity.
“People should understand Government policies and be able to explain them. Communities should be involved in the selection of projects. We do not give people projects. The participatory approach will ensure the people have ownership. When funds come, let people know how much has come and how it can be channelled to different projects. Let the people come up with their priorities, “ he said.
He said the Ministry which was in charge of community development expected that all Government departments, agencies and development partners be part of that collective wisdom selection so they move with the people together.
“If we just take it down to the people, they may have reservations and it may not be acceptable, perhaps your priority may be wrong.
“I believe people have ideas but they should be given opportunity to participate and move with us, let the people speak and it will be much easier when people work collectively,” he said.
The Ministry acting director for Community Development, Mrs Tariro Chipepera said there was need to capacitate communities on the processes that will be taking place.
“There is a gap existing within our communities. We need to capacitate and raise awareness.
Online Reporter