Harare
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been working in Zimbabwe since 1980. It has witnessed firsthand the dramatic changes that took place in Zimbabwe from the very beginning and supported the work of civil society organisations in times of crisis.
The work of the Foundation focuses on re-establishing the rule of law, liberal democracy and a free market economy, which have been virtually destroyed by the repressive regime currently in power.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Harare advocates the protection of the remaining democratic and constitutional liberties with the aim of expanding these once political change has taken place.
News
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Unseen but present: Plight of intersex people
Kudakwashe Maiswa, born Yvonne, faces constant scrutiny when traveling due to a mismatch between their intersex identity and official documents, which still identify them as female. Intersex individuals, like Maiswa, experience legal and social challenges in Zimbabwe, where the legal system only recognises male or female identities. This lack of recognition, coupled with societal stigma, impacts their ability to access basic rights and identity documents. Despite their struggles, Maiswa advocates for greater awareness and policy reforms to ensure intersex people are legally recognised and respected.
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Sino-Africa must be equal partners
CHINA’S geopolitical ambitions and economic influence make it a major player in global politics and economics. With a staggering GDP of US$18,5 trillion, a population of 1,4 billion, and foreign exchange reserves around US$4 trillion, China’s interactions with other nations carry immense weight. This is particularly true for Africa, and the recent 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) held in Beijing between September 4 and 6 provided a key opportunity to assess the evolving Sino-Africa relationship.
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SADC Summit: A huge blow to democracy
In the lead-up to the SADC Summit, Mnangagwa’s government has intensified its repression. Human rights defenders and political activists are being harassed, prosecuted, persecuted, and imprisoned. Civil society has been silenced as the government issues vague but likely severe threats against those considering Kenya-style protests. Even the organisation of the People’s SADC Summit (a gathering of civil society organisations from SADC nations) has been scaled down and moved to a few days before the official summit, breaking with tradition.
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Heroes’ Day: Allow people to enjoy freedoms
As Zimbabwe celebrates the 44th Heroes Day on Monday, it is imperative to remember this legacy of resistance and the fight for justice. However, this year’s commemoration comes amid a tense atmosphere in Harare, as the city prepares for the SADC Summit from August 17 to 18. The State has reacted with a heavy-hand, arresting opposition politicians, civil society members, clergymen, and student activists in an apparent crackdown on ‘dissent’. It has shown zero tolerance for any criticism of those in power, creating an atmosphere of fear that now engulfs the country.
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Tackling the Bulawayo water crisis
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city, is currently facing one of its most severe droughts, exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern. The city's vulnerability to drought has led to a severe water availability crisis, with increasing demand and decreasing supply. Over one million residents are facing acute water stress with limited access to clean and safe water. Despite the implementation of a 120-hour water-rationing plan in December 2023, the situation remains critical.
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Empowering female journalists
In a bid to promote gender parity in the media industry, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) recently hosted a groundbreaking workshop for early-career journalists, with a special focus on empowering female journalists. The three-day event, which drew over 30 young journalists from across Zimbabwe, delved into critical topics such as financial reporting, photography, AI in the newsroom, women empowerment, data journalism, climate change, and sustainable reporting.
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Currency Collapses
On April 5, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) introduced a new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), backed by 2,522 kg of gold and US$100 million in foreign currency reserves. Despite the declining use of the gold standard globally, Zimbabwe adopted this system to de-dollarise its economy and address currency and exchange rate issues, which saw the previous Zimbabwean dollar lose about 114% of its value between January and March 2024.
Social Media
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"I’m very grateful to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. I've had connections with the Foundation for quite some time. In fact, about ten or fifteen years ago, I attended a training session at their centre in Germany focused on leadership. At the time, I was the leader of the opposition, and I was pleasantly surprised when I learnt that the Foundation wanted to honour me. Moreover, I would be the first sitting President to receive this honour, as previous recipients were typically recognised while in opposition. I feel greatly honoured to be receiving the Africa Freedom Prize from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. I see this as an acknowledgment of the principles and beliefs I stand for, as well as a way to promote liberalism—even though liberalism sometimes carries a negative connotation. I was part of a movement that replaced a party in power for 43 years, and similarly, the ANC in South Africa lost its majority, reshaping the political landscape. Now we have a liberal government in Seychelles, and a liberal influence in South Africa and Zambia. People are increasingly recognising the value of liberalism. This prize is not only a recognition but also a reminder to keep working hard for our people and to remain true servants of the people. I’m both happy and grateful." President Wavel Ramakalwan. #FNFreedomPrize #Up4Democracy https://www.freiheit.org/sub-saharan-africa/intergenerational-co-leadership-and-future-freedom-africa
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Thank you to President Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles for joining us at Weber House today. President Wavel is in South Africa to receive the 2024 Africa Freedom Prize. The #FNFreedomPrize is currently LIVE here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/XUH6FpkHbUg?si=0tiV6yLWn_HbHN5P
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The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom's Sub-Saharan Africa regional office recently hosted a training session for National Unity Platform #Uganda 🇺🇬 trainers in Johannesburg. The "Promoting Civil Liberties in East Africa" publication sparked interest among the trainees. FNF is committed to advancing civil liberties and freedoms across Africa. You can find the publication here 👉 https://bit.ly/3YEUwzf
