All set for civic society Angola summit on debt management
Civil society led by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and stakeholders in debt management will today join regional peers in Angola for a parallel summit running concurrently with the SADC Summit in Luanda this month.
The parallel summit – the SADC Peoples’ Summit under the motto “Justice – Meaningful Participation – Inclusion” will run between 16 and 18 August.
This alternative summit aims to discuss issues related to climate justice, democracy, human rights and good governance, economic justice, gender justice, inclusion and youths participation, constituting a heterogeneous space for learning analysis of the social realities of SADC member countries and exchange of experiences of these movements to pressure the official agendas of the States of the continental sub-region.
The summit comes as Zimbabwe and the region are grappling with unsustainable debt burdens while issues around improving public finance management and domestic resource management are topical.
“This Summit is a historic annual gathering of Southern African social movements and progressive groups with the aim of increasing solidarity and collective action for a just, peaceful and prosperous region for all.
“It is usually held at the same time and in the same country as the annual SADC Heads of State and Government. This gives the people an important opportunity not only to lobby SADC leaders, but also to increase popular awareness and political pressure for SADC leaders to consider the demands and recommendations of the poor and marginalised,” said Zimcodd.
The theme ‘Justice – Meaningful Participation- Inclusion’ also highlights concerns about growing repression, authoritarianism and shrinking civic space in the region.
The Luanda Peoples’ Summit will have at least 200 participants representing Angolan Civil Society Organisations, 50 participants from regional organisations and over 500 virtual participants interested in this regional week of solidarity and action parallel to the Heads of State and Government session.-newsday
