CWZ pushes for dialogue

by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A newly formed Zimbabwean pressure group, Citizens Watch Zimbabwe (CWZ), is seeking dialogue with South African civic and political movements amid escalating anti-foreign national protests across the neighbouring country.

The organisation says it is ready to engage movements such as March and March, Operation Dudula, and political parties such as Patriotic Alliance (PA) in an effort to “reason together” on the growing tensions surrounding documented and undocumented migration, unemployment and crime.

This follows ongoing protests in South Africa, where some groups have called for the removal of foreign nationals, particularly Africans accusing them of taking jobs, straining public resources and contributing to crime.

CWZ executives convened a strategic meeting in Johannesburg on Wednesday to discuss ways of confronting Zimbabwe’s deepening political and socio-economic crisis, which the organisation believes is largely self-inflicted through years of poor governance, corruption and exclusionary politics.

CWZ President Patience Chard said the organisation intended to pursue constructive engagement rather than confrontation.

“Very soon we will meet with South African civic and political movements to engage one another, but most importantly, whatever outcomes emerge from these meetings, we will call upon all Zimbabweans, both at home and abroad, to unite and confront the real elephant in the room,” Chard said.

The organisation argued that millions of Zimbabweans had not left their homeland by choice, but had been driven out by years of economic collapse, corruption, political purges, unemployment, nepotism, human rights abuses and the shrinking democratic space.

CWZ said continued state capture, lack of accountability, deteriorating public services and the concentration of wealth among politically connected elites had worsened conditions for ordinary citizens.

“While some Zimbabweans travel abroad for professional, academic and business opportunities, the majority in the diaspora were pushed out by bad governance, corruption and polarised politics,” Chard added.

The pressure group further lamented that many Zimbabweans living abroad were now facing ridicule, harassment, exploitation, assault and, in some cases, death, while a small connected elite allegedly continued to live lavishly at the expense of struggling citizens.

CWZ leaders, including chairman Godfrey Skhosana, secretary Wadzanai Kusena, vice chairman Flex Hungwe and vice treasurer Mandla Ndlovu, said the time had come for Zimbabweans to unite and demand accountable leadership capable of restoring dignity, economic stability and hope for future generations.

– CAJ News