Organisers of the annual National Citizens’ Convention (NCC) – Citizens Manifesto – have urged Zimbabweans from all walks of life to participate in next week’s indaba aimed at coming up with solutions to problems bedevilling the country.
Citizens Manifesto is a civic convergence platform for citizens, local community collectives, civil society and activists working in solidarity to amplify citizens’ voice and action towards a better Zimbabwe.
The third edition of the NCC will run from November 4 to 6 2020 as a hybrid of online and onsite event in line with Covid-19 regulations.
In a statement this week the Citizens Manifesto urged Zimbabweans to participate in the deliberations.
“This year’s NCC is set to interrogate key questions around Zimbabwe’s ongoing impasse and new abnormalities brought on by the Covid-19 public health crisis,” said the Citizens Manifesto.
“The key aim of the convention is to create an inclusive environment for citizens to participate in the national discourse, defining and building solidarity towards this year’s theme; “#NoneButOurselves: Re-imagining the Future We Want Post-COVID 19.”
The NCC, organisers said, would bring in a suite of participatory and appreciative processes which could help Zimbabweans build from the points of health in society.
“By reconnecting to each other and to the soul of Zimbabwe – we believe that a more dignified and reciprocal social contract – based on broad-based inclusion – becomes possible,” said organisers.
They said information on participation would soon be made available on their website.
Over 20 affiliate organizations and community collectives are co-creating this year’s NCC, with technical committees anchoring different aspects of the convention.
“This platform is living out what becomes possible when diverse communities come together around a clear vision and clear values for regeneration in Zimbabwe,” elaborated the organisers.
Citizens’ Manifesto hosted the inaugural NCC on 20 July 2018, 10 days ahead of the first harmonised election in the post-Mugabe era.
The indaba was graced by the Elders group led by the late former UN Secretary General and former minister of Economic Development in Ghana Kofi Annan and was attended by over 2,000 citizens.
The second NCC was held in September 2019 and co-convened by 25 civil society organisations.
