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THE ZIMBABWE SOCIAL FORUM (ZSF)
A People's Forum on Peace, Reconstruction and Prosperity in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) is the local extension of the Africa Social Forum (ASF), which was first commemorated in 2000 in Bamako, Mali. The ASF is in turn a prelude to the World Social Forum (WSF) which was first initiated in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001.
The WSF is now an annual event that is deliberately organized to
coincide with the World Economic Forum (WEF). The WEF is a Geneva-based
foundation whose annual meeting of top business leaders, national
political leaders (presidents, prime ministers and others), and
selected intellectuals and journalists is usually held in Davos,
Switzerland.
The membership of WEF's board and the attendance at its
annual meetings is heavily composed of representatives from Europe, the
USA and industrialized Asia. It is widely viewed by social movements as
merely a business forum, where the richest businesses can easily
negotiate deals with one another and lobby politicians from the worlds
most powerful and affluent states, and that the aim is profit-making
rather than solving economic problems such as poverty. It has also been
criticized as an elitist forum for circumventing democratic politics,
and for encouraging non-transparent, secretive decision-making.
The
timing of the of the annual WSF commemoration is meant to signify civil
society voices opposing the high level profit motivated deliberations
at the expense of poor countries and their citizens.
The ZSF is therefore a space where local social movements, NGOs and
other like-minded organizations meet, reflect and map out alternatives
to the current dominant neo-liberal paradigm and corporate-led
globalization processes. The ZSF organised its inaugural public
commemoration on the 9th-11th of October 2003 at the Harare Gardens,
under the theme 'A People's Forum on Peace, Reconstruction and
Prosperity in Zimbabwe' The ZSF commemoration is an annual event,
preceded by a series of mobilisation and build-up activities that is
taking its own shape in the spirit of the WSF.
The Forum seeks to:
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Provide Zimbabwe with a platform for social activists to strengthen popular democracy;
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Critically challenge the status quo of abject poverty, gender
inequality and discrimination, high level corruption, social
insecurity, violence, unconstitutional governance, HIV and AIDS pandemic
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Build a national solidarity network around issues of social political and economical justice
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Create a coalition that will guarantee effective participation in
the annual Zimbabwe Social Forum process, Southern Africa Social Forum,
Africa Social Forum and the World Social Forum.
Participation at the annual ZSF commemorations is open to
organizations, social movements and individuals that subscribe to the
ideals and principles of its Charter adapted from the ASF and WSF
charters and values. Specific activities are informed by participants'
opinions, arising from their unique experiences and local environments.
Since October 2003, ZSF has been able to facilitate the participation
of activists from various social movements, NGOs, CBOs and trade
unions. Activities are organised under the following themes; Gender,
Youth, Labour, Debt and Trade, HIV& AIDS, Human Rights,
Constitutionalism and Governance, Land and Environment, Food Security
and Social Services Delivery. ZSF has, since inauguration held regional
social forums (locally) in Mutare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo, and will
continue to extend this space to other parts of the country.
ZSF Charter of Principles.pdf
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Networks & Social Movements