ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Civil Society APRM Sensitisation Workshop

The Zimbabwe APRM Popular Sensitisation (ZAPS) Project hosted a workshop on February 26, 2021, involving the Zimbabwean government, the APRM Secretariat, and civil society organisations (CSOs). The event focused on the role of CSOs in enhancing accountability and transparency through the APRM process. Participants from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia shared experiences, emphasizing the need to avoid politicising the review process, the value of unified CSO collaboration, and the importance of involving youth and providing civic education to ordinary citizens.

• The Zimbabwean government expressed commitment to the APRM process, with Ambassador Raphael Faranisi stating that President Emmerson Mnangagwa's focus on transparency in governance is intended to improve democracy, sustainable peace, stability, and economic development. The government is currently conducting consultations to establish the national structures required to implement the APRM.
• Civil society organisations are viewed as essential catalysts for reform within the APRM framework. Their role is to promote accountability, transparency, and good governance through advocacy, lobbying, and petitioning, as well as by providing research and reports on governance issues.
• Lessons from other SADC countries highlight three primary requirements for a successful APRM process: ensuring the review remains free from political manipulation, providing technical and financial support to CSOs, and fostering collaborative participation between CSOs and their respective governments to rebuild trust.
• Specific recommendations for Zimbabwe's APRM journey include establishing a dedicated CSO working group, ensuring equal stakeholder representation in the National Governing Council (NGC), involving youth to gain insights into governance perceptions, and using online platforms and civic education to maintain momentum and simplify the process for citizens.

APA

Simelane, N. (2021). ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Civil Society APRM Sensitisation Workshop. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZAPS-Report_26Feb2021.pdf

Chicago

Simelane, Nkanyiso. ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Civil Society APRM Sensitisation Workshop. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZAPS-Report_26Feb2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Simelane |first1=Nkanyiso |title=ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Civil Society APRM Sensitisation Workshop |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=26 February 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZAPS-Report_26Feb2021.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{simelane2021zimbabwe, author = {Simelane, Nkanyiso}, title = {{ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Civil Society APRM Sensitisation Workshop}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZAPS-Report_26Feb2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }